Harbour role proves good fit for Logan
Will push resource kit
Porirua Harbour education coordinator Rebecca Logan is putting much of her spare time into the role, but her job as a mother will come first.
The science teacher at Wellington East Girls’ College is on parental leave and is just days from having her second child.
The Titahi Bay resident said the newly created education coordinator role, which is part-time, would fit well with mother duties.
‘‘I wasn’t really looking for any work for when I was on leave, but this role was advertised and I saw the job description.
‘‘I thought, ‘Wow, this looks perfect’. The hours are flexible and it’s in a field I’m passionate about.
‘‘It helps me to stay hooked into the education sector, when I was looking at a long time out of it.’’
Thanks to funding from the Philipp Family Foundation charitable trust, a free resource has been created that will go into Porirua schools.
It utilises the Living Waters series of documentaries produced by Porirua film- maker Cheryl Cameron, and gives examples of how teachers can implement class work and field trips that take in the Porirua Harbour and catchment.
It is aimed at year 5 to year 10 schoolchildren.
Logan’s role will be to promote the resource, co- ordinate field trips and projects and provide professional development for teachers.
Classroom work could involve water sampling, studies of marine life, adopting a part of a local stream or other activities, she said.
Ultimately, the resource could help to create a better understanding of the harbour and its catchment, wastewater and stormwater issues, she said.
‘‘ It needs to be fun. That’s important.
‘‘And it makes learning real, because the harbour is in everyone’s backyard.
‘‘I’m confident there will be good take-up from the schools – we’re already receiving good feedback.’’
Her first task was to host an allday workshop last week to introduce interested teachers to the resource and conduct a tour of student- friendly sites along Porirua Stream and Motukaraka Point.
‘‘I’m not going to be the one talking to kids, but will give support to the teachers, connecting them to the right people.
‘‘I know how tough it is for them to do all this themselves.’’
Logan said as well as extra money coming in, the co-ordinator role was personally fulfilling.
‘‘We’ve been in Titahi Bay for three years and this is a great chance for me to contribute to my community.
‘‘That’s very important to me.’’