There's great enthusiasm for science at Kaitao Middle School with its laboratory seeing a new lease of life.
The school's science specialist teacher Deborah Mitchell has recently taken part in the Royal Society of New Zealand Science Teaching Leadership Programme. Funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Mrs Mitchell spent six months with Crown research institute Scion. The programme aimed to develop her leadership skills and to lead the improvement of science teaching at her school.
"Being a part of the Royal Society's programme has just reinvigorated my personal passion for me and provided me with a bit more confidence in the importance of having science as a subject too," Mrs Mitchell said. "My time on the programme has also opened up my eyes on where science can take you, the breathed of opportunities is huge."
The science lab has been transformed into a fun place to learn and Scion has funded lab coats for the students. "It's been pretty unloved, run down, but that's just in the nature of science learning for teachers, it tends to be the curriculum area that's left out. Now we've brought a bit of aroha into the room and establishing it as a much more engaging learning area. [The lab coats] have these kids coming in excited and feel like they are scientists, they're chuffed."
