Message from the Principal

Welcome back to the new school year. We have been blessed with clear skies and warm weather for our first week; which some might have hoped for more of during the holiday period.  We were very fortunate to have around thirty volunteers from the School of Philosophy, who on Waitangi Day, the day before school opened, helped transform parts of the school from a building site back into a school ready to receive the children on Tuesday morning.

In the week prior to school starting, the teachers spent three days together on a residential course, rejuvenating their own love of study and fine material.  We immersed ourselves in studies on the Renaissance, Plato, Sacred Geometry and Shakespeare as well as having some more practical sessions on Learning Styles and the essential precepts of a Ficino School education.   The enrichment from this will help inspire and inform classroom activities for the year ahead.   Our assemblies this week have focussed on the fundamental order and pattern that can be seen all around us in the natural world.   This underlying natural geometry was understood by ancient civilizations, and revived in part by the work of Marsilio Ficino during the Italian Renaissance.  Through his academy, many of the leading artists of the time used these principles and proportions to construct their paintings, sculptures and buildings.

May you find time to connect with the beauty and harmony of the natural world which is so evidently abundant and accessible in this country.

Peter Crompton

Notices

New Parents & Class 1 Lunch – Thursday 16th February – 12.30pm
A finger food lunch for all New Parents and Parents of children in Class 1 will be held on Thursday 16th February in the school villa from 12.30pm.   This will be a wonderful opportunity to socialise with the Principal and other parents.  A notice has been sent home with the children today.   Please would you return the reply slip on Monday if you are able to come.

School Picnic – Sunday 26th February – Long Bay – 10 – 2pm
A notice with further details will be sent home with the children next week.  Meantime, please mark this date on your calendar.

Parents Meeting – Monday 27th February 6 – 7.30 pm – School Hall
The Parents Meeting takes place on Monday 27th February at 6 pm in the School Hall.   Drinks and finger food will be served from 5.45pm.  The main purpose of this evening is to provide an opportunity for you to hear what is in stall for the year ahead from the class teacher.   There will also be an opportunity for Year 5 and 6 parents to hear about the Intermediate years at Ficino and to ask questions of past pupils and recent graduates about transference to secondary school.   The evening will begin with a welcome by the Principal.

Open Morning – Saturday 17th March
Please note we are having two Open Mornings this year, with the second one being on a Saturday.   As many students as possible will be required to attend school on this day.   Details to follow.

Music Lessons
This year we are able to offer individual music lessons in the following instruments:-
Piano, Violin, Cello, Viol da Gamba, Clarinet, flute and guitar.  We would also like to offer the Trumpet but we need more students for Mr Logger to be able to come to school.
All students from the 2011 waiting list have been placed with teachers for 2012.  There is only one lesson slot still available for the violin, but teachers of all the other instruments still have available lesson space.
Mrs Toni Reihana will be taking the Year 4 Recorder lessons and the Recorder Ensemble this year and she is offering Flute lessons for students from Year 5 upwards.  She will demonstrate the flute and speak to the students at the beginning of their Singing Lesson on Monday.
The Recorder Ensemble will be held at Monday lunchtime.   The string Ensemble will continue to be held at Thursday lunchtime.
Our Recorder stock has become rather depleted.  I would be most grateful if families of earlier recorder students might be able to find a stray school recorder or two in their homes and return them to the office.  No questions asked!!
Any interested families for any instrument should collect an application form from the Office.
Margaret Brickland

After School Chess Club
The after school Chess Club will start on Tuesday 21st February at 3pm.   Children from all classes are welcome.

French Lessons for Children at Ficino School – Tuesdays 3.15 – 4.15pm
Make the most of your child’s natural abilities to learn a new language.   This is a professionally designed course with lots of fun activities, drama, music and games.   Contact marousssia@lcfclubs.co.nz to register.

Ficino After School Care (FASC)
Please remember that all bookings for FASC need to be made through the school office either by email office@ficino.school.nz or by phone 6233385.    Thank you.

Assemblies on Friday
All parents are invited to attend the school assembly on Fridays – see the calendar for Good Works and Commendation assemblies as well.

Uniform Shop
The School Uniform shop will be open on Wednesdays from 2.30 until 3.15.

Term 1 Events, 2012