Social Media and Screen Time – Message from the Principal
Term 1 has been very full but seems to have gone so quickly. It was wonderful to see so many of our families spending time together on Sunday at the Cultural Festival, making new friends and experiencing the many traditions of our school community. On a darker note, there has been a lot in the […]
Seeking the Truth: The Power of Deep Questions
One of the most important habits we can nurture in children is the desire to seek the truth. In a world full of information, opinions and quick answers, learning to question and think deeply is an essential skill that will serve students throughout their lives. With over 28 years of experience as an educator in […]
Community Unity
“Nothing gives greater delight than learning united with virtue.” Marsilio Ficino The principle of unity is deeply embedded in the foundational heart of Ficino School. What does this mean? It means that we are united by the beauty of the present moment in which we all share. We all choose to be here, to be […]
The Importance of Service
It is a delight to welcome you all back to Ficino School for 2026. We have just under 30 new students joining us this year, including of course our new Year 1 families. It has been good to meet some of you and hear how well your children have settled into their new school. Some […]
The Golden Thread – December 2025
At Ficino School, we completed the academic year in traditional fashion with our annual carol service and Prize Giving. It was delightful to have former pupil and current Board member, Rowan Ashton, as our guest speaker. In both Rowan’s and my addresses, two important facets of a Ficino education stood out – the Pause and […]
A Christmas Message from the Principal
The end of another year is almost upon us, and the Christmas season is just beginning. In many parts of the world this is celebrated in the darkest months, with the Christmas message and the resulting good cheer a beacon of light in the middle of winter. In New Zealand, we are fortunate to have […]
Learnings from the Italian Renaissance – Message from the Principal
This week in our Wednesday assemblies, we have been treated to some wonderful presentations from our Year 8 students. They have each chosen a place of interest from the recent Renaissance Trip and researched the topic in considerable depth. Each student has put together a slide presentation to accompany their delivery, which has largely been […]
Philosopy and Leadership – Message from the Principal
Philosophy is one of the unique subjects that Ficino students take every week, from Year 1 right through to Year 8. The word ‘philosophy’ not surprisingly has its roots in Ancient Greek and literally means ‘love of wisdom’. As part of their philosophy studies this term, some of our senior students have been investigating leadership, […]
The Value of Exams – Message from the Deputy Principal
Today is the final day of exam week for our students. At Ficino School, students are assessed both formally and informally throughout the year. The assessment questions are based on the learning objectives taken from the Cambridge curriculum. This means that the children should are not surprised by assessment questions and are able to show […]
The Importance of Unity
Eighty years ago today, the United Nations Charter was agreed upon following the devastation caused by two horrific world wars. Although there are conflicts in many places today, none have so far escalated to the levels of a third world war. The United Nations has been the primary instrument to keep alive the express wish […]
