Lyonsgate Update Dec. 5, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Thank you for your generous contributions to our school’s and students’ charitable outreach projects for the upcoming holiday season. The Elementary students raised $490 to help support a family (see photo above), and toy donations for the CityKidz toy drive are starting to come in. Toys can be donated up to Wednesday morning; they will be dropped off to CityKidz Wednesday afternoon.
This Week’s Classroom Update
While the official start of winter is still a couple of weeks away we sure are getting a taste of the upcoming cold temperatures! The Toddlers have been working very hard on learning how to put on and take off all their winter gear. This self care skill helps build confidence, requires both fine and gross motor skills, and provides a sense of order as the children learn the sequence of steps to getting dressed and undressed. To support this new learning our prepared environment has low hooks so the toddlers can hang up their items, a bench to sit on to take on/off pants and boots, and a cubby for indoor shoes. The children who have mastered “the coat flip” model it for those still learning as we use language that is specific and encourages effort: “You’re working hard to get your arm in your coat,” or “I can see you’re pulling the zipper up by yourself.” We celebrate progress as much as perfection as their independence grows in small, steady steps.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: CityKidz Toy Drive Deadline.
- Thursday, December 18: Last Day of Fall Term. This is the last full day of classes before the winter break.
- Friday, December 19: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2: Winter Break. Lyonsgate is closed for the winter holiday.
- Monday, January 5, 2026: First Day of Winter Term. We welcome Lyonsgate students to the new year and the new term.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: CityKidz Toy Drive Deadline. This is the last day to donate toys to the CityKidz toy drive. CityKidz accepts new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0 to 12. Not sure what to buy? Check out this list with their kids’ top toy requests.
Casa Parent Observations: Casa North Observations | Casa South Observations
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Community Outreach Project: Holiday Hope. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you for your tremendous support of the students’ craft and bake sale during our Elementary Open House. Their hard work was rewarded with our community’s generosity, raising $490 to help a family in our community have a happier holiday. The older students have been shopping at Wal-Mart and Fortino’s for the items on their wish list, and our donations will be delivered to St. Matthew’s House next week. They were thrilled to be able to choose warm clothes, fun pajamas, Barbies, and craft kits for other children.
- Friday, December 12: OWL #3: Body Image. Students in Years 4-7 will be attending an OWL workshop about “Body Image,” learning about physical diversity and examining the messages we receive about bodies, health, and beauty from our families, communities, and media. They are kindly reminded to complete the reading assignment found at the bottom of the page listing follow-up activities to do after attending the workshop on “Images in Popular Culture (Media Literacy).”
- Thursday, December 18: Class Party. The Elementary students will be celebrating the last day together before the winter break with a class party. Following outdoor recreation time, we’ll be having a pizza delivered for lunch! Students are welcome to bring along any of their regular lunch items to supplement, and will still need their water bottle. We’ll have a variety of fun activities available for students in the afternoon, including a craft station, games room, music zone, reading room, and a short movie screening on the main floor. Students are welcome to bring a sweet treat or salty snack to donate to the treat buffet, with a friendly reminder to leave anything containing nuts at home.
Elementary Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 28, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
With the first winter storm upon us, here is Lyonsgate’s “Snow Day” policy: we follow the lead of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB). If they call a snow day, both Lyonsgate campuses will also close. We will email all Lyonsgate families and post the closure on the school website as soon as HWDSB makes the call, usually just after 6:00 a.m., and if you see elsewhere that HWDSB schools are closed, you can know that Lyonsgate is also closed (please note: sometimes the Catholic board (HWCDSB) will cancel buses but keep schools open; we do not follow HWCDSB closures). Lyonsgate students and staff travel to Lyonsgate from all over Hamilton, and beyond, and HWDSB considers road conditions in the whole area.
Besides storms and snow days, it is also the season of giving. Please see below for details of a toy drive at the Primary (Casa & Toddler) campus and an outreach project fundraising sale at the Elementary campus on Monday.
See below for an update from the Elementary program!
This Week’s Classroom Update
With winter break only a few weeks away, the energy in the Elementary classroom remains high, with new lesson cycles and group activities. Over the past two weeks, all of the students received the fourth Great Lesson: “The Story of Communication in Signs,” which tells the tale of one of the greatest human innovations: an alphabet. The lesson is meant to both spark interest in the reasoned study of language and to demonstrate the connecting threads between different subject areas. The story begins with humans finding a way to communicate across distance and time, to be able to leave messages, pass on knowledge, and keep records. With the aid of a few impressionistic charts, the students imagine the enormous impact of this human invention and activity from the Lascaux caves in France to ancient Sumer, Egypt, and to the Phoenician traders who developed and spread phonetic alphabets, all the way to ancient Greece and Rome. The lesson typically ends with students exuberantly shouting or gently whispering, “Thank you, Phoenicians!”
The conscious development of gratitude is an important part of a Montessori approach to life and learning. By guiding children to reflect upon their blessings or good fortune with a sense of appreciation and contentment, we help them diminish feelings of envy and resentment. By developing gratitude for the efforts and endeavours of others, they learn to accept imperfection and focus on improvement. Gratitude helps us move on from disappointment and difficulty. Even in our academic studies, there is a place for wonder, awe, and gratitude, as these are the sparks needed to set alight new dreams and aspirations. As each child continues along their own path, choosing which pursuits bring them the greatest sense of fulfillment and security, the gratitude they carry will help them to persevere through difficulty, and inspire compassion for those without our same luck or opportunities. Compassionate thinking will shape their words and actions, and ultimately build and strengthen their personal relationships and communities.
In preparation for the holiday season, the students generously committed to an outreach project helping members of their community. They chose to register for the Holiday Hope program through St. Matthew’s House in Hamilton, and sponsor a local family to receive groceries and personal gifts this December. With the goal of raising $350 to create a bit of holiday joy, they have communicated, collaborated, and achieved their goals of preparing a variety of sweet treats, jewelry, and bookmarks to sell at their Open House after-school on Monday, December 1. All members of our Lyonsgate Montessori community are welcome to visit the Open House between 3:15–4:15 p.m. to see displays of the children’s work and do a little shopping for a great cause!
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Monday, December 1: Elementary Open House and Charity Sale.
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: CityKidz Toy Drive Deadline.
- Thursday, December 18: Last Day of Fall Term. This is the last full day of classes before the winter break.
- Friday, December 19: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2: Winter Break. Lyonsgate is closed for the winter holiday.
- Monday, January 5, 2026: First Day of Winter Term. We welcome Lyonsgate students to the new year and the new term.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: CityKidz Toy Drive Deadline. This is the last day to donate toys to the CityKidz toy drive. CityKidz accepts new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0 to 12. Not sure what to buy? Check out this list with their kids’ top toy requests.
Casa Parent Observations: Casa North Observations | Casa South Observations
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Monday, December 1: Open House and Charity Sale. The Elementary students are excited to welcome family and friends to our after-school Open House on Monday, December 1st. Visitors are welcome to arrive anytime between 3:15-4:15 to view displays of the students’ work from the first term. The students will also be hosting a bake and craft sale to raise money for their charity outreach project, sponsoring a local family through St. Matthew’s House to receive groceries and gifts for the holiday season. There will be bookmarks, bracelets, baked goods, and hot chocolate available! The children will be operating a cash-only sale, and are very appreciative of small bills and coins.
- Wednesday, December 3: Upper Elementary Outing. The Upper Elementary students will be travelling on the public bus up the mountain to visit the Wal-Mart on Upper James Street. They will be using the proceeds of their bake and craft sale to shop for gifts on the wish list of their adopted family. Students in Years 4-7 are kindly reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt for this outing, and to be prepared with their Presto card or cash bus fare.
Elementary Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 21, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
See below for an RSVP for our “Introduction to Elementary” event on Thursday, Nov. 27; while especially intended for parents of Casa students in their third or fourth year, and who will be turning 6 in 2026, all Lyonsgate parents are welcome to attend to learn about Lyonsgate’s Montessori Elementary program. This week’s classroom update shares the wealth of progress we are seeing in Casa South.
This Week’s Classroom Update
Learning and education, especially in a student-led program such as Montessori, is never a smooth upward trajectory. Development and progress, at times, come in periods of great and rapid progress, and at other times through periods of rest, contemplation, observation, and comfort with where we’re at, what we know, and what we can do.
Casa South is starting to see students take some big steps forward in their Montessori educations. First-year students are finding their comfort and place in the classroom and amongst their peers, second-year students are realizing how much they know and how much they can do, and third-year students are embracing their classroom-leader roles and completing big work that fills them with pride and confidence in their abilities. Lyonsgate strives to educate the whole child, and we are seeing learning and development in all areas: learning to regulate our own emotions when we are upset or frustrated; discovering new physical abilities when working with manipulative materials or playing at recess; realizing that we know how to count to a certain number, respond in French, or write short phrases; and doing the hard work of learning who we are and how we want to be seen and treated in our social relations.
One way that we are encouraging them to navigate their social lives is the use of a “peace rose.” When children experience conflict, they take the rose to their friend, which means that they get to express their feelings; they pass the rose to their friend who then gets to respond. It was introduced a few weeks ago and now the students are using it independently to resolve their small personal conflicts with each other.
It is a joy and a privilege to witness and be a part of children’s growth, learning, and development. As the first term begins to wind down, we can’t wait to see what your children have in store for the rest of this school year and beyond.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Thursday, November 27, 3:30-4:15: Parent Education: Introduction to Elementary. While especially intended for parents of Casa students in their third-year and who will be turning 6 in 2026, all Lyonsgate parents are welcome to attend to learn about Lyonsgate’s Montessori Elementary program. Lyonsgate’s Elementary Montessori guides will present, “A Cosmic Education: The Montessori Approach to the Elementary Years.” Casa students are welcome to remain at the Primary campus for after care while parents attend the session at the Elementary campus. Please click here to RSVP your attendance. Thank you.
- Thursday, December 18: Last Day of Fall Term. This is the last full day of classes before the winter break.
- Friday, December 19: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2: Winter Break. Lyonsgate is closed for the winter holiday.
- Monday, January 5, 2026: First Day of Winter Term. We welcome Lyonsgate students to the new year and the new term.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Thursday, November 27, 3:30-4:15: Parent Education: Introduction to Elementary. While especially intended for parents of Casa students in their third-year and who will be turning 6 in 2026, all Lyonsgate parents are welcome to attend to learn about Lyonsgate’s Montessori Elementary program. Lyonsgate’s Elementary Montessori guides will present, “A Cosmic Education: The Montessori Approach to the Elementary Years.” Casa students are welcome to remain at the Primary campus for after care while parents attend the session at the Elementary campus. Please click here to RSVP your attendance. Thank you.
Casa Parent Observations: Casa North Observations | Casa South Observations
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Friday, November 28: OWL Workshop #2. Students in Years 4-7 will be attending the second OWL workshop about Media Literacy. They will be learning about different types of media and thinking about the messages they receive through popular culture, as well as from their family and friends. Following this workshop, students have a short follow-up assignment to complete at home with their families, as well as readings to prepare for the next workshop in December.
- Monday, December 1: Open House. The Elementary students are excited to welcome family and friends to our after-school Open House on Monday, December 1st. Visitors are welcome to arrive anytime between 3:15-4:15 to view displays of the students’ work from the first term. The students will also be hosting a bake and craft sale to raise money for their charity outreach project, sponsoring a local family through St. Matthew’s House to receive groceries and gifts for the holiday season. There will be bookmarks, bracelets, baked goods, and hot chocolate available!
- Wednesday, December 3: Upper Elementary Outing. The Upper Elementary students will be travelling on the public bus up the mountain to visit the Wal-Mart on Upper James Street. They will be using the proceeds of their bake and craft sale to shop for gifts on the wish list of their adopted family. Students in Years 4-7 are kindly reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt for this outing, and to be prepared with their Presto card or cash bus fare.
Elementary Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 14, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Parent-Teacher conferences are coming up from Nov. 17-21. Sign-up is available below if you still need to book a conference timeslot. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed to students on Friday, Nov. 21, but childcare will be available during your conference. Meet Ms. Early below!
This Week’s Classroom Update
My name is Ms. Early, the new English-language Assistant in Casa North. It has been a wonderful few months now in our classroom, filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection. The students have especially enjoyed “Making Tea” lately – they take great pride in carefully choosing a flavour, pouring the water, steeping the tea, and then enjoying a warm cup while sitting at a table with friends. It has been a beautiful way to practice patience, grace, and care of oneself.
This week, we also made cardstock poppy crafts in honour of Remembrance Day. The students created their own poppies using a quatrefoil stencil, sponging red paint, and then cutting and gluing a black circle into the centre. They were then offered the opportunity to further practice their scissor skills by cutting their poppies from the cardstock. The mindful art experience opened gentle conversations about peace, gratitude, and remembering those who have cared for others. At circle, we read the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae.
We have been ending our days with joyful music and songs that include plenty of movement and actions. The students all participate happily in this time to sing together, express themselves, and unwind after a busy day of learning and exploring.
It is always such a pleasure to witness their growing independence, kindness, and enthusiasm each day. Watching the children build new friendships and strengthen relationships from previous years has been lovely. With the buzz of a busy classroom quietly settling into normalization, I look forward to what discoveries the colder months will bring.
Warmest regards,
Ms. Early.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Friday, Nov. 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed to students on Friday, Nov. 21, to accommodate Parent-Teacher conferences. Childcare is available during your conference. Please click here to select your conference timeslot.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Thursday, November 27, 3:30-4:15: Parent Education: Introduction to Elementary. While especially intended for parents of Casa students in their third-year and who will be turning 6 in 2026, all Lyonsgate parents are welcome to attend to learn about Lyonsgate’s Montessori Elementary program. Lyonsgate’s Elementary Montessori guides will present, “A Cosmic Education: The Montessori Approach to the Elementary Years.” Casa students are welcome to remain at the Primary campus for after care while parents attend the session at the Elementary campus. Please click here to RSVP your attendance. Thank you.
Casa Parent Observations: Casa North Observations | Casa South Observations
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Friday, November 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parents are invited to sign-up for a conference to discuss their child’s recent achievements, current work, and upcoming goals. Please follow this link to sign-up for a P.D. day conference with your child’s lead guide, Michelle for students in Years 1-3, and Marissa for students in Years 4-7. If you are unable to attend that day, please contact your child’s lead guide to arrange another time. While the students have the day off, on-campus child care is available during your conference time. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
- Friday, November 28: OWL Workshop #2. Students in Years 4-7 will be attending the second workshop in the O.W.L. program on media literacy. They will be examining popular stories to identify what messages or values are being communicated. Following this workshop, students have a follow-up assignment to complete at home with their families, as well as reading before our next workshop in December.
- Monday, December 1: Open House. Families and friends are invited to join us for an after-school Open House to see displays of the children’s work from the first term. The classroom will be open to visitors from 3:15-4:15, with aftercare still available for students. The students will also be hosting a bake and craft sale to raise funds for their community outreach project. The upper elementary students have chosen to “adopt-a-family” through St. Matthew’s House for the holiday season. They will be shopping for groceries, winter necessities, and fun gifts to make their adopted family’s holiday season a little brighter.
Elementary Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 7, 2025
Hi Lyonsgate Families,
We have an update from the Toddler classroom for you all to enjoy this week. Sign-up for Parent-Teacher conferences is below, as well as info about the Elementary class’s upcoming field trip. There are also some great photos in the gallery.
This Week’s Classroom Update
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This month in Toddler the children are really working on friendships during outdoor play. They are learning how to make things together as a group. They are enjoying tracing each other bodies with chalk and seeing how different everyone’s body is. They are also learning from each other how to jump off the balance beam and make sure there is enough space between everyone. The children are also really engaged in language work, and in learning how some animals live on land and some animals live in the water. We have talked about how some animals in the water jump in and out of the water to go places and others use their tails in different ways to move. We have talked about animals on land and where they would see these animals in every day life. For example, they would see cows on farm lands but we would see dogs and cats either in our home or places we visit.
As colder weather approaches, we please ask that you send your child to school with everything they would need to be outside for the duration of the day’s weather. Also, if you could kindly label everything as things tend to get blended in hallways and we want to make sure we are sending your child home with the right hats and gloves.
Thank you,
The Toddler team.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Friday, Nov. 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed to students on Friday, Nov. 21, to accommodate Parent-Teacher conferences. Childcare is available during your conference. Please click here to select your conference timeslot.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Thursday, November 27, 3:30-4:15: Parent Education: Introduction to Elementary. While especially intended for parents of Casa students in their third-year and who will be turning 6 in 2026, all Lyonsgate parents are welcome to attend to learn about Lyonsgate’s Montessori Elementary program. Lyonsgate’s Elementary Montessori guides will present, “A Cosmic Education: The Montessori Approach to the Elementary Years.” Casa students are welcome to remain at the Primary campus for after care while parents attend the session at the Elementary campus. Please click here to RSVP your attendance. Thank you.
Casa Parent Observations: Casa North Observations | Casa South Observations
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Wednesday, November 12: Class Field Trip. All elementary students will be travelling by public bus to attend the Brott Education Concert: Blast Off! Orchestra in Orbit at FirstOntario Concert Hall. The class will be leaving campus by 8:55 a.m. so please help your child prepare to arrive on time! All students should arrive wearing their red Lyonsgate t-shirt. Students planning to use cash are asked to bring it in a securely closed plastic bag labelled with their name on Monday, November 10, and those using a Presto card are welcome to bring it in advance or on the morning of the concert. After the performance, students will return to school for lunch and their regular physical education class.
- Friday, November 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parents are invited to sign-up for a conference to discuss their child’s recent achievements, current work, and upcoming goals. Please follow this link to sign-up for a P.D. day conference with your child’s lead guide, Michelle for students in Years 1-3, and Marissa for students in Years 4-7. If you are unable to attend that day, please contact your child’s lead guide to arrange another time. While the students have the day off, on-campus child care is available during your conference time. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Elementary Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 31, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Sign-up for Parent -Teacher conference times is available below. This week, we have a classroom update from Elementary. We are also wishing you all a restful, candy-filled weekend after the excitement of Friday. Be sure to check the sections below for important dates and information.
This Week’s Classroom Update
The Elementary classroom is always a busy hive of activity, with lots of communication and collaboration! To work effectively together as a social group, it is important for each child to have an understanding of their own family’s culture, as well as that of their friends and others in our community.
During the elementary years, children experience an intense drive to discover and adopt the culture that surrounds them. In the early years, an absorbent mind develops the fundamental skills of physical autonomy and communication in order to navigate the world outside the womb. From around the age of six, children employ their reasoning minds to study the motivations, behaviours, and consequences of human culture. This second stage of development is marked by a growing awareness of the interconnectedness of life, and the importance of human community to meet our fundamental needs.
As we move through the fall season, the children are developing their experience of time, living with the rhythm of seasonal change, witnessing the cycles of the natural world, and discovering days of significance for their human community. Learning about the reasons for these days, as well as how to observe them, contributes to each child’s understanding of social norms and shared experiences beyond the family. The goal is to introduce awareness of the diversity of cultural expression in human communities while also emphasizing what they have in common. We are planting seeds of interest that may germinate later for some children, while laying dormant in others.
This term, we began by learning about the significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as some of the history and traditions of Indigenous groups such as the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Inuit. They heard the creation story of Turtle Island and traditional ways of life on this land. They learned about what happened when settlers arrived from Europe, and learned about the 94 Calls to Action for Canadians to work toward reconciliation.
At Thanksgiving, they discussed our material and spiritual needs, and expressed gratitude for all the things humans have been gifted and achieved. For Diwali, they heard the story of Ramayana, and talked about how in the conflict between good and evil, our courage and compassion can lead to the triumph of light over dark. They also worked in teams to create rangoli designs with coloured salts, and experienced the impermanence of all things when their beautiful art was simply swept away.
Last week, the children enjoyed talking about their own Halloween traditions, and preparing for the holiday with silly jokes, scary songs, and baking some pumpkin bread to share. They also had a great time finding symbols of Halloween on an indoor scavenger hunt, and visiting our haunted classroom library for a spooky sensory story.
Through classroom explorations of days of significance, from their origin and traditional observances to where and how they are honoured today, the children deepen their understanding of themselves and others. As they move beyond the tangible elements of these days and focus more on the ideals reflected, the children can consider which virtues are most important to them, and begin to construct their own sense of morality and justice. This is a key part of Montessori’s commitment to education toward a more peaceful world. In the coming weeks, the students will continue this important work as they learn about other days of significance, such as Remembrance Day, Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.
We look forward to welcoming you into the classroom soon for parent observations through November, and at our after-school Open House in December!
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Friday, Nov. 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed to students on Friday, Nov. 21, to accommodate Parent-Teacher conferences. Childcare is available during your conference. Please click here to select your conference timeslot.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- November 4, 5, and 6: Casa Show & Share. Show & Share is an opportunity for Montessori students to invite their parents into the classrooms to show them some of the materials they work with. Show & Share takes place at the end of your child’s school day, from 3:30-4:00, and you will be visiting the classroom with up to 6 other families. We ask that phones and other devices are please not used to take photos or video during Show & Share; thank you. Please click below to select a day for your Show & Share visit:
- November 4 – June: Casa Parent Observations. Beginning Nov. 4, Casa parents are invited to book an in-class observation during the morning work cycle. Observations are an option and not a requirement, and bookings are open for the rest of the school year. You are welcome to schedule one observation each term (the current fall term, the winter term from Jan.-March Break, and the spring term from late-March-June). Please click the link for your child’s classroom below to book your observations:
- Thursday, November 27, 3:30-4:15: Parent Education: Introduction to Elementary. While especially intended for parents of Casa students in their third-year and who will be turning 6 in 2026, all Lyonsgate parents are welcome to attend to learn about Lyonsgate’s Montessori Elementary program. Lyonsgate’s Elementary Montessori guides will present, “A Cosmic Education: The Montessori Approach to the Elementary Years.” Casa students are welcome to remain at the Primary campus for after care while parents attend the session at the Elementary campus. Please click here to RSVP your attendance. Thank you.
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Tuesday, Nov. 4-June: Parent Observations Open. Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
- Wednesday, November 12: Class Field Trip. All Elementary students will be travelling by public bus to attend the Brott Education Concert: Blast Off! Orchestra in Orbit at FirstOntario Concert Hall. The class will be leaving campus by 8:55 a.m. so please help your child prepare to arrive on time! Each student will need either a children’s Presto card to travel for free on the HSR transit system or $3.75 exact cash fare for each direction ($7.50 total). If your child does not yet have their own Presto card, please visit your local library and show your child’s library card to receive one, and far enough in advance to ensure it is activated before the trip. Students planning to use cash are asked to bring it in a sealable plastic bag labelled with their name on Monday, November 10, and those using a Presto card are also welcome to bring it in advance.
- Friday, November 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parents are invited to sign-up for a conference to discuss their child’s recent achievements, current work, and upcoming goals. Please follow this link to sign-up for a P.D. day conference with your child’s lead guide, Michelle for students in Years 1-3, and Marissa for students in Years 4-7. If you are unable to attend that day, please contact your child’s lead guide to arrange another time. While the students have the day off, on-campus child care is available during your conference time. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 24, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This week, we have a classroom update from Casa South French Language Assistant, Mme Gervais. For Casa and Toddler families, we have an RSVP for an upcoming Parent Education session, and sign-ups for Show & Share and in-class observations. There is also information about Elementary parent observations and important details for some Elementary outings and trips.
This Week’s Classroom Update
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Hello! I am Elise Gervais. I am the French Language Assistant in the Casa South classroom. I am new to Casa South but not so new to Lyonsgate. I was the Toddler Montessori Guide for many of the students who are now in Casa. It is a wonderful opportunity to witness all the growth and development of the ones I have known from before, and also to meet new students and discover each of their unique, intricate personalities.
Throughout the day, I am speaking French to the students and using French language materials to build their vocabulary, and each day just before lunch we have a French circle where we sing French songs and read French books. I am always amazed at children’s ability to adapt and absorb everything in their environment, especially at this age. I have been impressed by their capacity and enthusiasm to learn new things and acclimatize to the routine and habits of being at school.
The students are already able to understand most of the frequently used French phrases that I have been using from the beginning of the year such as, “Lave-toi les mains s’il te plait” and “Choisis un travail s’il te plait.” Sometimes I can hear them quietly singing some of the songs we have been singing at circle time while they are working or getting ready to go outside.
This is a song that we have been singing about the leaves falling:
Les Feuilles (to the tune of Freres Jacques)
Les feuilles tombées, les feuilles tombées,
C’est l’automne, c’est l’automne
Rouge, orange et jaune
Rouge, orange et jaune
C’est l’automne, C’est l’automne
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Friday, November 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed to students on Friday, Nov. 21, to accommodate parent-teacher conferences (child care will be available during your conference). Sign-up for conference timeslots will be available soon.
- Halloween: We know that Halloween is a very exciting time for children. However, we ask that costumes and candy are not brought to school, and are saved for after-school fun with family and friends.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Monday, Oct. 27: Fall/Winter lunch menu starts. You can view the lunch menu under “Parents” on the school website, and you can see which week we are on on the school calendar.
- Wednesday, Oct. 29: Casa and Toddler Parent Education Session. Casa and Toddler parents and caregivers are invited and encouraged to attend our next Parent Education sessions, running concurrently from 3:30-4:15 on Wednesday, Oct. 29, covering the concept of independence as relevant to the different age groups. Please click here to RSVP.
- Toddler: “We will explore the language and ways that we encourage children to learn to care for themselves, their classroom, and the world around them.”
- Casa: “We will explore how we help your children grow their independence skills using Montessori materials such as Dressing Frames, and Care of the Environment and language activities”.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Casa and Toddler field trip to Brantwood Farms. Casa students will travel by school bus from Lyonsgate to Brantwood Farms. Barring traffic delays, we intend to depart Lyonsgate on the bus at 9:30. Toddler parents and students can meet the Toddler staff at Brantwood from 9:45. The program runs for 2 hours from 10:00-12:00, with a snack break (provided by Lyonsgate). Cost for the field trip, payable by cash or e-transfer to accounts@lyonsgate.ca, is:
- Casa students: $25
- Toddler parents and students: $17/person (ie. $34 for one parent and child).
Lyonsgate students will enjoy apple picking, pumpkin picking, farm animals, a wagon ride, and a corn maze. Tours run rain or shine so please ensure students are wearing appropriate outer and footwear for the day’s weather. Each student is asked to bring 1 or 2, clearly labelled, durable reusable bags to bring home apples, pumpkin, and popcorn cob (Toddler parents, bring a bag for yourselves as well).
After the field trip:
-
- Toddler students will enjoy lunch with parents after the field trip and can return to Lyonsgate at 1:00 p.m. for regular afternoon nap, activities, dismissal, and after care.
- Casa students will return to Lyonsgate by school bus and will have their regular lunch at 1:00, followed by afternoon work cycle or nap at 1:45, with regular dismissal and after care.
- November 4, 5, and 6: Casa Show & Share. Show & Share is an opportunity for Montessori students to invite their parents into the classrooms to show them some of the materials they work with. Show & Share takes place at the end of your child’s school day, from 3:30-4:00, and you will be visiting the classroom with up to 6 other families. We ask that phones and other devices are please not used to take photos or video during Show & Share; thank you. Please click below to select a day for your Show & Share visit:
- November 4 – June: Casa Parent Observations. Beginning Nov. 4, Casa parents are invited to book an in-class observation during the morning work cycle. Observations are an option and not a requirement, and bookings are open for the rest of the school year. You are welcome to schedule one observation each term (the current fall term, the winter term from Jan.-March Break, and the spring term from late-March-June). Please click the link for your child’s classroom below to book your observations:
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Wednesday, October 29: Upper Elementary Outing. During the afternoon work cycle, students in Years 4-7 will be travelling by public bus up the mountain and hiking down the Bruce Trail. They are kindly reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts, and bring along their child fare-free Presto card or bus fare ($3.75 cash in each direction). Students should be prepared to hike in any weather in comfortable closed-toe footwear. They are welcome to bring along a pocket-size, nut-free and nutritious snack (e.g. granola bar, dried fruit) and water bottle.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Halloween. Elementary students have a regular school day with community lunch, while the students from the Primary campus enjoy a field trip to a local farm. While we save costumes and candy for celebrations with family and friends after school, Elementary students can anticipate some fun, Halloween-themed activities during the day. Please help your child to remember to leave their candy, chips, and chocolate at home to enjoy in the coming weeks.
- Tuesday, Nov. 4-June: Parent Observations Open. Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
- Wednesday, November 12: Class Field Trip. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be preparing to attend the Brott Education Concert: Blast Off! Orchestra in Orbit, learning about the instruments of the orchestra, concert etiquette, and studying a few of the pieces we will hear played live. All Elementary students will be travelling by public transit to and from the concert hall during the morning work cycle. Each student will need either a children’s Presto card to travel for free on the HSR transit system or $3.75 exact cash fare for each direction ($7.50 total). If your child does not yet have their own Presto card, please visit your local library and show your child’s library card to receive one, and far enough in advance to ensure it is activated before the trip. Students planning to use cash are asked to bring it in a zip-closure plastic bag with their name on it on Monday, November 10.
- Coming Soon: Friday, November 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 17, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This week’s classroom update introduces Casa North French teacher Mme Murati, who provides a summary of the French program and lists some of the phrases, songs, and books your children are familiar with from school. We also have information and RSVP for the next Toddler and Casa Parent education session on Oct. 29, the details for the Oct. 31 Casa and Toddler field trip, and all of our busy Elementary student information.
This Week’s Classroom Update
Bonjours chers parents d’élèves,
I’m Mme Murati, the French teacher in Casa North. I am on my 14th year of teaching French at Lyonsgate. “Je suis très heureuse de débuter une nouvelle année scolaire!” Thank you to all the parents for informing your children that one of the teachers speaks only French in the classroom. They were well prepared!
In Casa North, we gather for “French circle” daily where the students learn how to greet in French, to introduce themselves, express their emotions and feelings, and preferences for food, animals, etc. We sing lots of French songs, we read French books, and do finger plays.
Phrases we learn:
- Comment ça va?
- Ça va bien
- Ça va comme-ci comme-ça
- ça va mal
- All students learn how to introduce themselves to others in French (name, age, where they live): “Je m’apelle (name), j’ai (age) ans, et j’habite à Hamilton.”
Songs we have been singing:
- “Bonjour, Bonjour!” by Alain le lait
- “Petit Escargot”
- La Famille Tortue”
- “Pomme de Reinette et Pomme d’Api”
- “Frère Jacques”
Books we have been reading:
- “Trop de carottes!” by Katy Hudson
- “Les écureuils qui se querellent” by Jim Field
- “Est-ce que je peux jouer?” by Mo Williams
- “Veux-te jouer dehors?” by Mo Williams
Merci de votre confiance,
Mme Murati.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Friday, Oct. 24: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Wednesday, Oct. 29: Casa and Toddler Parent Education Session. Casa and Toddler parents and caregivers are invited and encouraged to attend our next Parent Education sessions, running concurrently from 3:30-4:15 on Wednesday, Oct. 29, covering the concept of independence as relevant to the different age groups. Please click here to RSVP.
- Toddler: “We will explore the language and ways that we encourage children to learn to care for themselves, their classroom, and the world around them.”
- Casa: “We will explore how we help your children grow their independence skills using Montessori materials such as Dressing Frames, and Care of the Environment and language activities”.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Casa and Toddler field trip to Brantwood Farms. Casa students will travel by school bus from Lyonsgate to Brantwood Farms. Barring traffic delays, we intend to depart Lyonsgate on the bus at 9:30. Toddler parents and students can meet the Toddler staff at Brantwood from 9:45. The program runs for 2 hours from 10:00-12:00, with a snack break (provided by Lyonsgate). Cost for the field trip, payable by cash or e-transfer to accounts@lyonsgate.ca, is:
- Casa students: $25
- Toddler parents and students: $17/person (ie. $34 for one parent and child).
Lyonsgate students will enjoy apple picking, pumpkin picking, farm animals, a wagon ride, and a corn maze. Tours run rain or shine so please ensure students are wearing appropriate outer and footwear for the day’s weather. Each student is asked to bring 1 or 2, clearly labelled, durable reusable bags to bring home apples, pumpkin, and popcorn cob (Toddler parents, bring a bag for yourselves as well).
After the field trip:
-
- Toddler students will enjoy lunch with parents after the field trip and can return to Lyonsgate at 1:00 p.m. for regular afternoon nap, activities, dismissal, and after care.
- Casa students will return to Lyonsgate by school bus and will have their regular lunch at 1:00, followed by afternoon work cycle or nap at 1:45, with regular dismissal and after care.
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Monday, Oct. 20: Diwali. Elementary students will be participating in lessons and activities to learn about the history and celebration of Diwali.
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate students of all ages are invited to meet up at Beulah Park after dismissal for some free play. This is also a wonderful chance for parents to socialize and get to know some of the other families. If your child’s routine dismissal plans are altered by planning to go to Beulah Park, please let us know via email to elementary@lyonsgate.ca. We hope to see you there! Regular after-care will still be offered on campus until 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 29: Upper Elementary Outing. During the afternoon work cycle, students in Years 4-7 will be travelling by public bus up the mountain into the Westcliffe neighbourhood and hiking down the Bruce Trail back to our area of Kirkendall North. They are kindly reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts, and bring along their child fare-free Presto card or bus fare ($3.75 cash in each direction). Students should be prepared to hike in any weather in comfortable, closed-toe footwear. They are welcome to bring along a pocket-size, nut-free and nutritious snack (e.g. granola bar, dried fruit), and water bottle.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Halloween. Elementary students have a regular school day with community lunch, while the students from the Primary campus enjoy a field trip to a local farm. While we save costumes and candy for celebrations with family and friends after school, Elementary students can anticipate some fun, Halloween-themed activities during the day. Please help your child to remember to leave their candy, chips, and chocolate at home to enjoy in the coming weeks.
- Wednesday, November 12: Class Field Trip. We are thrilled to be attending the Brott Education Concert: Blast Off! Orchestra in Orbit at FirstOntario Concert Hall to hear orchestral music inspired by the cosmos, from famous classical compositions to popular movie themes. All students will be travelling by public transit to and from the concert hall during the morning work cycle. Each student will need either a children’s Presto card to travel for free on the HSR transit system or $3.75 exact cash fare for each direction ($7.50 total). If your child does not yet have their own Presto card, stop by the desk at a Hamilton Public Library and show your child’s library card to receive your fare-free card. Please keep an eye on our weekly updates for more details as we get closer to the big day!
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 10, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This week, we have details about the Casa and Toddler field trip on Oct. 31, an update from the Toddler class, and a reminder about sick students.
Illness Prevention: Please do not send children to school if they have exclusionary symptoms (see: Sick Child? Here’s What to Do). If you feel your child requires symptom relieving medication to attend school, we ask that you please keep them home. Symptom relief medications inevitably wear off during the school day and we often end up calling you to pick up a sick child mid-day, and they can still spread germs to other children and staff. Thank you.
This Week’s Classroom Update
The toddlers have been busy building independence this month! As we move into the second month of the school year, the children are feeling more settled and secure in their classroom routines which allows them to learn and explore with growing confidence. Many children are joyfully practicing taking off their shoes and putting them on independently, setting their lunch table with a placemat and required tableware, and cleaning up their items when done. It is wonderful to hear them confidently exclaim, “I did it!” when completing a task on their own. We are also seeing excellent progress in emotional regulation –waiting for their turn for snack or for a favourite material provides daily opportunities for patience and respect for others. It is a joy to witness their growing sense of community and self-reliance each day!
As the weather is starting to get colder and more layers are needed, we please ask that you label any hats, mitts, jackets, etc., that are brought in. Thank you very much!
The Toddler Team.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Monday, Oct. 13: Thanksgiving Holiday. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Friday, Oct. 24: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Casa and Toddler field trip to Brantwood Farms. Casa students will travel by school bus from Lyonsgate to Brantwood Farms. Barring traffic delays, we intend to depart Lyonsgate on the bus at 9:30. Toddler parents and students can meet the Toddler staff at Brantwood from 9:45. The program runs for 2 hours from 10:00-12:00, with a snack break (provided by Lyonsgate). Cost for the field trip, payable by cash or e-transfer to accounts@lyonsgate.ca, is:
- Casa students: $25
- Toddler parents and students: $17/person (ie. $34 for one parent and child).
Lyonsgate students will enjoy apple picking, pumpkin picking, farm animals, a wagon ride, and a corn maze. Tours run rain or shine so please ensure students are wearing appropriate outer and footwear for the day’s weather. Each student is asked to bring 1 or 2, clearly labelled, durable reusable bags to bring home apples, pumpkin, and popcorn cob (Toddler parents, bring a bag for yourselves as well).
After the field trip:
-
- Toddler students will enjoy lunch with parents after the field trip and can return to Lyonsgate at 1:00 p.m. for regular afternoon nap, activities, dismissal, and after care.
- Casa students will return to Lyonsgate by school bus and will have their regular lunch at 1:00, followed by afternoon work cycle or nap at 1:45, with regular dismissal and after care.
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Elementary Request: We kindly ask that plastic toys, stuffed animals, over-size backpack-charm toys, and make-up kits be left at home. Thank you.
- Friday, October 17: OWL Workshop 1. Students in Years 4-7 will be attending “Workshop 1: Sexuality and Values,” having completed their orientation to the OWL program at their first meeting in September. Students will be bringing home their OWL handbook with the reading assignments and follow-up activities that day. There are no required readings to prepare for the first workshop.
- Wednesday, October 29: Upper Elementary Outing. During the afternoon work cycle, students in Years 4-7 will be travelling by public bus up the mountain into the Westcliffe neighbourhood and hiking down the Bruce Trail back to our area of Kirkendall North. They are kindly reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts, and bring along their child fare-free Presto card or bus fare ($3.75 cash in each direction). Students should be prepared to hike in any weather in comfortable, closed-toe footwear. They are welcome to bring along a pocket-size, nut-free and nutritious snack (e.g. granola bar, dried fruit), and water bottle.
- Wednesday, November 12: Class Field Trip. We are thrilled to be attending the Brott Education Concert: Blast Off! Orchestra in Orbit at FirstOntario Concert Hall to hear orchestral music inspired by the cosmos, from famous classical compositions to popular movie themes. All students will be travelling by public transit to and from the concert hall during the morning work cycle. Each student will need either a children’s Presto card to travel for free on the HSR transit system or $3.75 exact cash fare for each direction ($7.50 total). If your child does not yet have their own Presto card, stop by the desk at a Hamilton Public Library and show your child’s library card to receive your fare-free card. Please keep an eye on our weekly updates for more details as we get closer to the big day!
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 3, 2025
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This week, we have the first update from our Elementary class for you, as well as an upcoming special Thanksgiving lunch for Casa and Toddler students.
This Week’s Classroom Update
It has been a beautiful start to the school year in the Elementary environment! The classroom is buzzing with activity and the sound of children collaborating and creating together. Through September, students received three of Montessori’s Five Great Lessons, a series of stories that invite children to use their imaginations in pursuit of understanding how their world came to be, with wonder, awe, and gratitude.
On the first day of school, they heard a tale of “The Coming of the Universe,” which lays the foundation for explorations in geology, physics, and chemistry. This led to further lessons on the Big Bang, volcanoes, the elements, and even molecular models.
During the second week, students were invited to a story about “The Coming of Life,” which reflects on the emergence of life in the oceans, and how life adapted and diversified over millions of years. From discovering invertebrates like trilobites and geoducks to deeper investigations of mammals, the children’s passion for learning about other creatures is evident! They’ve been busy researching and recording facts, drawing diagrams, and are now beginning to construct models and dioramas of interesting marine mammals and marsupials.
Most recently, they continued with “The Coming of Humans,” which helps them identify the most important gifts of humans: their ability to use their minds, their emotions, and their hands to achieve great things. They were called upon to use their imaginations to think about how early humans lived, from Homo habilis and Homo erectus to the Neanderthals. We focus on the importance of human invention, compassion, and collaboration to achieve our common goals, and our role in caring for each other and our planet.
On Thursday, the students were eager to join together with more than 250 Montessori students at an annual Charity Run raising funds for the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre. While many were excited about the athletic challenge of the day (completing a 1 km or 2 km race), all of our students took great pride in their social goals for the day: supporting friends and classmates, celebrating students from other schools, and mentoring younger children. They brought tremendous school spirit and camaraderie to the event, and we couldn’t be prouder of their focus on good sporting conduct and enjoying a beautiful day together.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Monday, Oct. 13: Thanksgiving Holiday. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Friday, Oct. 24: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Sat./Sun., Oct. 4 & 5: Telling Tales Festival. Canada’s largest children’s book festival. 9:45-5:00, Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Park. Admission is free, register here: https://tellingtales.org/festivals-events/telling-tales-festival/
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Friday, Oct. 10: Thanksgiving Lunch. The lunch caterer, Wholesome Kids, will be providing a special Thanksgiving lunch on Friday, Oct. 10. Students will enjoy sliced roasted turkey with gravy, peas & carrots, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, whole wheat baguette, and fresh fruit (all appropriate allergy replacements will be provided).
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Casa and Toddler field trip to Brantwood Farms. [Toddler Parents: please plan to attend the field trip with your toddler student].
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Thursday, Oct. 23: Park Play Day. Lyonsgate families are encouraged to meet up at Beulah Park after school for socialization and play.
- Friday, Oct. 24: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
