30 November, 2024

BIS students dive in to marine conservation studies

Focus on the ocean… Sienna Bakalich (left) and Lucie Knight from Belmont Intermediate School with their hand-drawn mural in Devonport. The group’s other members were Joe Porteous and Owen Hawk.

Students at Belmont Intermediate School are keen to raise awareness among beachgoers heading out this summer about the need to protect the fragile marine environment.
The school’s Year 8s started studying the topic in August, with around 330 students involved across 11 classes.
They were divided into small groups, which have undertaken various related activities.
One group last week chalked a message on the concrete wall on Victoria Rd near Kerr St. Others have made posters and created presentations.
Teacher Nacquita Kahn said she was impressed by the students’ dedication to finding ways to communicate what they had learned.
“Most have produced artwork and reached out to local places in order to display their pieces.”
Several groups contacted the Flagstaff, including Hartley Roborgh and Oliver Glenn, who made a poster about overfishing.
The chalk-mural group sent a summary of their project findings.
As well as considering local beaches, the study topic focused on the internationally significant Takapuna Reef, advocating for it to become a protected area. Students visited the reef and the protected reef at Goat Island.
Groups also looked at ways to support the work of non-profit marine organisations.
The project, which is a major annual focus at the school, is done in partnership with EMR (Experiencing Marine Reserves), an experiential national learning programme about marine conservation.
Kahn said she was thankful for the wider community support for the students’ work.
They had variously contacted Devonport and Takapuna libraries, local cafes and dairies, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board (getting no response) as well as media outlets.
Responses from the libraries and cafes to displaying their work had been mostly favourable.
“I have been impressed by the dedication from these learners and the way they have investigated additional avenues and pivoted when met with resistance to their initial ideas,” Kahn said.