There is something special about Arataki School. When you walk in you can feel a warmth and a connection. Perhaps it comes from our name, Arataki means to “lead” or “guide”. In our place we are all leaders and we believe that every child who walks through our door is the leader in their own educational journey.
Student learning is the focus at Arataki School. Everything we do must add to student learning and achievement. We are committed to ensuring that as a school we respond to the changes in the world around us and we prepare our children for their future. Our team of dedicated staff provide rich and varied opportunities for our tamariki to gain the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their education and beyond.
Our New Zealand Curriculum supports personalised learning pathways and in each class we are committed to ensuring that every child has a personalised learning path and have ownership and responsibility for their learning. For those students and families who have attended Montessori Preschool and want to continue in Montessori education we are proud to be able to offer this at Arataki School.
Montessori@Arataki (M@A) was established in 2016 to provide Montessori Primary education in Mount Maunganui for children aged from 6 to 11 years. Our teachers ensure that children receive the benefits of the Montessori philosophy and curriculum delivered within the framework of Arataki School, the New Zealand Curriculum and National Standards for Primary Schools.
M@A is fully integrated within Arataki School, giving the children access to the wider school programmes, facilities, social and sporting activities.
Montessori@Arataki is supported by the Tauranga Montessori Education Trust (TMET), which provides stewardship, advocacy, fundraising, Montessori resources, and support for the ongoing development of the programme. Day-to-day management of the Montessori unit remains the responsibility of Arataki School and its leadership team.
M@A offers an enriching and challenging Montessori curriculum. Teachers facilitate creativity, independent thinking and responsibility through a specially prepared environment. Within this prepared environment the child is able to work at their own pace with a logical sequence of activities and materials. Teachers make careful observations and record each child’s progress.
The environment and class culture excites the imagination and entices the primary age child into a quest for knowledge. Historical timelines, pictorial charts, mathematical materials, collections of specimens, stimulating discussions, a teacher to facilitate and support learning … stimulates independent thinking and drives individual progress and learning at the child’s pace.
