Education for sustainability
Te Kura O Papatuanuku Wairarapa Earth School fosters a passion for science and technology through hands-on garden-based learning. Our primary charitable purpose is the advancement of education. The project's core focus is education for sustainability.
All our projects are based on the future-focussed, overarching sustainability theme - using the connection with a healthy future for our planet as a key to engaging students in science, technology, engineering, maths, art and design and matauranga Maori.
The project-based learning approach, in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge, is used to capture student passion and interest in the project.
Sustainability is a critical issue for New Zealand – environmentally, economically, culturally, politically, and socially. We need to learn how to live smarter to reduce our impact on the environment for future generations. The future-focus theme of sustainability is evident throughout The New Zealand Curriculum. It is integral to the vision, principles, values, and key competencies, and provides relevant and authentic contexts across the eight learning areas. Education has a crucial role to play in providing the knowledge base that will support critical thinking and discussion on this subject, teaching science and technology as key competencies to achieving sustainable societies (Taylor et al. 2015).
Earth School has four main objectives:
To empower students to take informed action for a sustainable future.
Provide students with access to healthy, fresh kai and the skills to grow, cook and preserve their own fruit and vegetables.
To use project-based outdoor learning to teach STEAMM subjects (Science, Technology, Art, Maths and Mātauranga Māori.
To build a sustainable and resilient Wairarapa community.
Our long term goal is to develop a Centre for Sustainability at South End School in Carterton, where science and technology student led enquiry comes to life in the garden classroom. To develop a central Wairarapa learning hub for people of all ages supporting the wider Wairarapa community towards sustainability and science literacy.
Our People
We have a large and diverse operations team some who give their time as volunteers and others are funded through specific projects.
Sarah Wright - Founder.
Emilie Fleur Neubauer - Founder, Project Coordinator, Biologist
Tom Conwell - Landscape Architect
Leo Mehrtens - Market Gardener/Landscaper
Jules Austin and Jane Dowers - Teaching Assistants
Jason Markham - beekeeper
Ra Smith - mātauranga Māori expert, storyteller
Lucia Zanmonti - photographer, beekeeper, horticulturist
Odette Rowe and Davina Thompson - medicinal plant experts
Julie Jones and Richard Goodyear - Educational Consultants
Our trustees
We have an active board of trustees from diverse backgrounds and skills, all give their time voluntarily to meet monthly with the operations team to build better outcomes for our students and community.
Lisa Birrell - Chair
vacant - Treasurer
Jason Markham - Trust secretary
Joanna Hehir
Ra Smith
Lauren Spicer
Our partners
Te kura o papatuanuku was founded as a partnership between the Wairarapa Montessori Charitable Trust, South End School, Kuranui College, and Makora College. We are so very grateful to the students of these three schools for their ideas and enthusiasm. Other partners are listed below:
Kuranui College
Carterton Lions
South End School
Boomerang Bags Carterton
Carterton District Council
Wairarapa Permaculture group
Community Fruit Harvesting Wairarapa
Danu Natural
Fernridge School
Pakaraka Permaculture
Pure Wairarapa
Thunderpants
King St Art
Victoria University School of Architecture
Zero Waste Wairarapa
Our Supporters
We gratefully acknowledge the following funders for their recent financial support, alongside business sponsors who have donated their time and products in addition to the many community organisations who have generously donated to our project:
Ruamahanga Restoration Trust
Masterton District Council
Ticehurst Timber Carterton
Carterton Lions
Wairarapa Aerial Imaging Ltd
Wairarapa Building Society (WBS )
Roy and Jan Mace Foundation
Tararua REAP - Tindal Foundation
Creative Communities
Lotteries Community Fund
Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS)
Cameron Family Farms
Carterton District Council
Curious Minds MBIE
Organic NZ Project Gro
Pure Wairarapa
Trust House