Learning at FVHS

What is Arataki?

The key concept behind Arataki is to ensure that all of our students belong to the Forest View High School community. Each student is connected to a person who is their champion in all aspects of school life. This happens through having key people in the school who care for you, know you, and celebrate your successes. Likewise, they will also let you know when you need to improve, and together you set goals to achieve for the year.

Arataki is part of the holistic wellbeing of our young people. We have a responsibility to ensure that when our students leave us they are not only educated and have gained qualifications, but also have the life skills required to be successful. These include understanding personal finances, navigating the world of drugs and alcohol, working alongside others to achieve team goals, making phone calls, setting up a bank account and IRD number, understanding tax, and knowing how to access support services in the community.

Each student has Arataki for 15 minutes per day, where their Arataki teacher is able to check in and ensure there are no pastoral concerns to follow up. There are also longer Arataki sessions each week following assemblies, whether full school, lake, or year level.

Each Arataki class is year-level specific and lake-based (e.g. Year 11 Whakamaru, Year 12 Arapuni). Arataki time can also be used for guest speakers, tertiary provider visits, and other year-level events. Using this time ensures core classroom learning is not interrupted.

Arataki teachers are your main point of contact with the school and will be in regular communication regarding wellbeing, attendance, achievements, and academic progress.