Te Tari Pūtaiao (Science Department)

Kia ora whānau,

At Bay of Islands College, Te Tari Pūtaiao (Science Department) brings together 11 diverse areas of Science to provide outstanding quality teaching and learning opportunities for learners at all levels. These include Junior Science, Robotics & Coding, and Agriculture & Horticulture for Year 9 & 10 learners, and General Science, Biochemistry, Physics, Earth & Space Science, Agriculture & Horticulture Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Education Sustainability Management, and STEMM Academy for Year 11 to 13 learners.

As a roopu (team), we are committed to promoting and developing equity policies and best practices for all our learners. As part of this initiative, we have just launched the STEMM Academy at BOIC in partnership with Pūhoro STEMM Academy. Coined by Leon Blake for Ngā Kura-ā-iwi o Aotearoa, Pūrau is a whakaaro Māori representation of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Mātauranga (STEMM) that derives from pāngarau, hangarau, pūtaiao, and pūkaha.

At Bay of Islands College, we recognize the unique position we have in Aotearoa where we have access to 2 knowledge systems: Mātauranga Māori and Western Science. At BOIC, we celebrate mātauranga Māori as a rich knowledge ecosystem underpinned by kaupapa and tikanga Māori (Te Pūtahitanga: A Tiriti-Led Science Policy Approach for Aotearoa). It is our hope as a team that through this kaupapa, we are better able to ensure our learners have equitable access to Pūrau (STEMM) education and pathways, thus better equipping them to pursue high-value careers and revolutionize the Science landscape here in Aotearoa.

Another kaupapa that we strive our best to support is making learning visible for all learners and whānau. As part of this, all kaiako from te Tari Pūtaiao have created class sites to support learners and whānau in accessing their learning remotely. These class sites can be accessed from the 'Our Team' tab at the top of this page and is a good way to get to know your tamariki's kaiako and connect with what they are currently exploring in Science. If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me, Mr. Jayatheeswaran Vijayakumar (Jay), at vkr@boic.school.nz.

Nga mihi nui,

Jayatheeswaran Vijayakumar

Head of Faculty for Science

Bay of Islands College