Dear Parents,

I hope that you all had a happy and restorative holiday period. The children came back to school feeling invigorated and the teachers report that engagement with the learning process has been encouraging.

When we partner with parents, we fully acknowledge that you are your child’s best advocate, cheerleader and emotional anchor. Harvard research affirms that children who expressed “feeling loved by parents” showed the highest positive association with student flourishing among all the factors examined. Parental love is powerful. The love children experience at home remains deeply consequential in their lives. Schools and communities matter, but your bond with your child is the stable foundation on which their lives are built. With you as their secure base they feel safe to explore the world.

Educational research also emphasises the need for meaningful connection between student and teacher. At Ficino we have a series of purposeful routines that enable us to engage with your child. These small encounters ensure that they feel seen, heard and valued. We also model genuine warmth in passing; offering smiles, words of encouragement or praise. When difficulties arise, we endeavour to respond quickly and consistently, so that the children learn that they can depend on their teachers to support them.

We want your child to thrive. Cultivating good daily habits is an important aspect of this. Through learning to serve others, volunteering or engaging kindly with younger students the goodness cup is filled. One positive act reinforcing the next. That is why being part of a House is so important. Taking part in the life of the school underlines our shared values and mutual commitment to be our best. VanderWeele (2016) found that close social relationships, are among the strongest predictors of long-term wellbeing and longevity. Our visiting past students are testament to the strong attachments that were formed during their time here. They love to come back and share their fond memories.

We also want children to leave Ficino with a sense of purpose, understanding that they have something of value to bring to the world. This is why we focus on building character. When we acknowledge and appreciate their individual strengths, the students can cultivate the positive qualities that come most naturally to them.

Thank you for the love that you have bestowed on your children. Teaching them is our privilege. Together we make a great team.

If you would like to learn more about character strengths, please visit: https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths-via

If you would like to learn more about human flourishing, please visit: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/

Lorna Travis, Deputy Principal