Lyonsgate Update April 22, 2024
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Parents of Casa students, you may have heard your children speaking about “Ms. Goruk” over the last few weeks. Stef Goruk is a Montessori Guide coming back to work after taking time off to start a young family. Ms. Goruk is covering recess periods for both Casa classes and is also our new on-call supply teacher.
Please see below for updates from your children’s Montessori levels.
[Apologies for the lack of photos this week]
Hello Toddler Families,
This week, we have been expanding our outdoor time whenever we can. We have begun to have our afternoon snack outside. Please remember to send a sun hat and apply sunscreen in the morning before school. We will reapply it in the afternoon prior to afternoon recess.
This week we rescued a worm and watched it push itself back into the ground on the other side of the fence. Springtime is an excellent time to get outside and involve your toddler in some of the practical life activities related to gardening. Raking, bagging old leaves, digging out or pulling weeds, are all wonderful gross motor activities that involve your young child in important work that contributes to their family, and it makes the environment more beautiful. Being included in these tasks offers a huge confidence boost as well. Spring is such a magical yet short season. We could all benefit from more time spent outdoors.
Ms. Gervais.
It’s Earth Day!
This is a day when we focus even more than usual about the ways we take care of our planet. Now that our side of Earth is warming up and days are getting longer, we can see many changes around home and school. We gave the children a homework task of looking for signs of spring, which they responded to with some good observations, including:
“I saw yellow flowers.”
“There are tulips at my house but I don’t know what colour they are yet.”
“There was a huge spider in the playground, we told everyone not to step on it.”
“When will the ladybugs come back?”
“We can take our coats off!”
“I saw a robin on the ground, it was looking for worms, ew!”
There have been reminders from some of the children to others to let the new leaves keep growing rather than pick them, and to let bugs go about their business undisturbed. We will be germinating a variety of seeds to explore the beginning of plant life cycles and transplanting them to watch the next steps. We’ll also be diving into our blue box to recycle leftover paper into new sheets to use in other activities.
We hope you are also noticing the changing season and all the colour it is bringing. Here at school, we are very happy to see then end of snowpants, boots, hats, mittens, etcetera; we can all take our coats off!
Ms. Robinson.
Thursday, April 25 — Upper Elementary Outing
Upper Elementary students are reminded to be prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, their Presto card, and comfortable footwear for this month’s outing. The students will be taking public transit up the mountain to hike in the Iroquoia Heights Conservation. Students are welcome to bring along a simple nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle, and should be prepared for whatever weather we may encounter!
Thursday, May 2 — Parent Education Event
Our next Parent Education Event will be taking place after school on Thursday, May 2, from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to learn more about our math curriculum through a series of lessons with the Montessori materials, as well as activities to help your child maintain their math skills over the summer break.
Please note, all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA at 3:20 that day ahead of the parent presentation.
Students whose families are attending the Parent Education Event will be included in the aftercare program (with no charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30. All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Casa child care that day, by Tuesday, April 30.
July 29-August 2 — Montessori Summer Fun Camp
Registration is now open for our Montessori Summer Fun Camp! Elementary students and Casa graduates are invited to join Marissa and Michelle for a week of classic camp fun with outdoor games, art projects, science demonstrations, and water play. Our activities will adapt to the interests and imaginations of our campers, and also include outings to the HAAA park playground and splash pad nearby. Full and half-day options are available. Follow the link below for more details and registration!
Montessori Summer Fun Camp — Details and Registration
from the Classroom Historians
Colin and Beck.
Lyonsgate Update April 15, 2024
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Now that March Break, early Easter, and the eclipse are behind us, we are back to regularly scheduled programming. You’ll be happy to know that there are no important dates to know for the next couple of weeks (and yes, stating that means something will probably come up).
The Spring/Summer lunch menu starts today for Casa and Toddler students. You can always find the lunch menu here: https://lyonsgate.ca/lyonsgate-lunch-menu/ and you can check which week we are on here: https://lyonsgate.ca/lyonsgate-calendar/
Please see below for updates from your children’s Montessori levels:
Hello Toddler Families,
Although holidays and celebrations and exciting celestial events can be exhilarating, routines provide predictability and stability for young children. Routines are inevitably altered or interrupted by fun things like a holiday or visits from relatives, or sometimes by not so fun things like an illness. All of these experiences offer a chance to build resilience and adaptability. Adaptability is one of the many superpowers of toddlers. They have been adapting to new environments and experiences since their birth not so long ago. Simultaneously, they have been gathering information about the world and trying to find their place and purpose in it.
Although they are capable of accepting and adapting to changes, it is important to remember that they are in a sensitive period for order. The past month with March Break followed by the Easter holidays, followed by the eclipse, has brought a lot of disruption to our routines in the toddler community. We have observed children reluctant during drop off in the morning and even at home time.
I am curious to know what the experience of the eclipse was like for the young children in our community. It is a special event, one that all of us in Hamilton will only experience once in our lifetime in this particular longitude and latitude. It caused some confusion and chaos to all of the lifeforms under the sun in our small part of the grid. Flowers close up, and animals and insects are tricked into thinking it is night. Some of our toddlers were aware of the eclipse. One child woke up from a nap and said, “Are you excited to see the moon pass in front of the sun?” This is the best way to approach it. Welcome new experiences and be open to new information. Leave the familiar routine for a moment and pause and celebrate this unique moment in time that we have together.
Here is a great song about the sun, which explains what it is made of and how all life on earth is because of the sun. “Without the sun, without a doubt there would be no you and me.”
“Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill.
It has been a very busy couple of weeks in Casa: March Break, a long weekend, solar eclipse, and the explosion of spring. The children have been excited to share stories of all their adventures and experiences.
Children are a marvel when you watch the inner resilience that they are born with. They don’t look through their lives with the lens of failure or success, but of one with enthusiasm and zest. They are just as excited to speak of things that didn’t go well as those that older students and adults deem as successes.
Maria Montessori saw this and prepared all her activities with a control of error. The children can explore and experience with the activities on their terms. The gift of the guide is to see that learning is happening and not to interrupt it. As they proceed through the planes of development, the children will learn. Our goal is to nurture their enthusiasm and in turn their resilience.
Academia is only one goal of a Montessorian, but the whole child’s cosmic learning and inner self is our enthusiasm.
Mc. Canessa.
Welcome back, Eva!
We are happy to welcome back Eva Sale Garcia, a student teacher who will be joining the class for the next two weeks as part of her A.M.I. teacher training in Colorado, U.S.A. Many of the children may remember Eva from her time observing our classroom last year, and will be receiving some of their lessons from her as she completes her teaching practicum.
Thursday, May 2 — Parent Education Event
Our next parent education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, May 2 from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to learn more about our math curriculum through a series of lessons with the Montessori materials, as well as activities to help your child maintain their math skills over the summer break.
Please note, all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA at 3:20 that day ahead of the parent presentation.
Students whose families are attending the parent education event will be included in the aftercare program (with no charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30. All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Casa child care that day, by Tuesday, April 30.
SAVE-THE-DATE!
Friday, June 14 to Saturday, June 15 — Elementary Senior Sleepover
In June, students in Years 3-6 have the option to join Marissa and Michelle on campus for a Friday night sleepover! This will celebrate our third year students’ transition from lower to upper elementary, and all the privileges and responsibilities that come with being a senior student. For those students who wish to attend the sleepover, we’ll be having a pizza dinner, followed by an evening of fun activities before settling into our sleeping bags for the night. We’ll enjoy a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning before heading home for the weekend. More details to come!
July 29-August 2 — Montessori Summer Fun Camp
Registration is now open for our Montessori Summer Fun Camp! Elementary students and Casa graduates are invited to join Marissa and Michelle for a week of classic camp fun with outdoor games, art projects, science demonstrations, and water play. Our activities will adapt to the interests and imaginations of our campers, and also include outings to the HAAA park playground and splash pad nearby. Full and half-day options are available. Follow the link below for more details and registration!
Montessori Summer Fun Camp — Details and Registration
from the Classroom Historians
“This week the uppers and lowers have been werking on their french playes, including making props. Some of the uppers have been practising and learning decimals and surfus area. Both uppers and lowers are werking on literature circles including no talking and city of ember.”
Theo and Brett.
Welcome to the Spring Term
Welcome to the spring term of the 2023.2024 school year. We can't wait to hear all of your children's March Break stories, and to watch them continue to learn and develop. Their experiences, and their work so far this school year, make the third term an exciting one as Montessori students flourish during this time.
Here are your reminders, information, and important dates for the next few weeks:
- Graduate Photos: students graduating from the Casa and Elementary programs this year will have their graduation photos taken by Lifetouch this Thursday, March 28.
- Upcoming Easter Holidays and PD Day:
- This Friday, March 29, is Good Friday. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
- Next Monday, April 1, is Easter Monday. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed (no foolin').
- Monday, April 8, is a PD Day. This is the PD Day moved from later in April due to the solar eclipse. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
- Casa Observations Continue: Parent observations continue throughout the spring term. If you haven't signed up for an observation yet, please check your email for "Casa In-Class Observation Sign-Up" sent March 1 (or email us at admin@lyonsgate.ca).
- Renovation Update: Lyonsgate was a busy place over the March Break. Our brand new heating and cooling system is installed and operational. We now have more control of the heat in the school wing of the building, and central air conditioning.
- Measles Information from Public Health:
Hamilton Public Health Services is advising all individuals, especially those returning from any international travel, to monitor themselves and their children for any signs and symptoms of measles. If you develop symptoms of measles while abroad or after you return to Canada:
-
- Limit contact with other people.
- Call your health care provider or a walk-in clinic and notify them about your symptoms before an in-person appointment, so they can take proper precautions. Wear a well-fitting respirator or medical mask when seeking care.
- Tell the health care provider where you have travelled and if you have been vaccinated against measles.
Measles symptoms begin 7-21 days after infection and may include:
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- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis, i.e., pink eye), sensitivity to light
- Red rash lasting 4-7 days
Thank you.
Lyonsgate Update March 4, 2024
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
This is the last week before the March Break. Have a wonderful, restful, or adventuresome, two weeks everybody and we’ll see you on Monday, March 25.
It’s a gradual return to full-time schooling when we return as we have an early Easter this year with Good Friday and Easter Monday falling on March 29 and April 1 respectively, followed by the rescheduled PD day on April 8 (originally April 19) due to the total solar eclipse that day.
Hello Toddler Parents,
It was wonderful to observe parents coming into the classroom with their children for Show and Share. It was heart-warming to see children touring the environment with such enthusiasm and pride.
Please remember to consult the weather each day before sending your child to school and send the appropriate outerwear. It seems like such a mixed bag of temperatures from one day to the next.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour à Vous Tous!
We are almost at the end of our winter term. We have been practicing many songs:
- Meunier tu dors
- Pomme de reinette
- Les sept jours de la semaine
- Tête, épaules, genoux…
- Sur le pont d’Avignon
- Le petit navire
- Dans mon sac à dos
Action songs helps build confidence, language development, memory recall, listening skills, coordination, and following of directions.
We continue to work on “les opposés,” naming and matching colours, animals, transportation, weather, different foods, and seasons.
I’m looking forward to our upcoming term and introducing more fun exciting activities!
Bonne semaine mes chères familles!
Mme Renée Perazzo.
The students are excited to be wrapping up the second term of school and anticipating lots of fun over the spring break! For the past nine weeks, the children have worked hard to improve their reading, writing, and math skills, while also working hard to care for the classroom and each other. They kept their hands busy with collaborative model-building in geography and demonstrating heart functions in biology. They read beautiful stories and shared their thoughts in literature circles and laughed a lot as they acted in short plays for reader’s theatre or French class. They learned karate and kick-boxing, tried a variety of dance styles, and returned to soccer skills, with senior students stepping into coaching roles. They learned more about human history and the important inventions and events that have shaped our culture, and others’. They delighted in experimenting with new artistic styles, and are thrilled to reveal their own artistic works to you this afternoon at the Elementary Art Show. We are looking forward to a great final week of the term, and hope you all enjoy a wonderful spring break!
Warmly,
your Elementary Team.
Open Classroom Art Show — TODAY
Family members are invited to join us as the Elementary campus is transformed into a gallery of student artwork! The classroom will be open to visitors from 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Our student fundraising team will be selling brownies and cookies in support of KidsSport Canada, which helps children access sports programs in their communities with registration fees and equipment, so be prepared with your sweet tooth and some change! We look forward to celebrating and sharing the children’s work with you.
Elementary Progress Reports — Friday, March 8
Keep an eye out for your child’s progress report, which should be accompanying them home from school this Friday. While there are no parent-teacher conferences scheduled at the end of the second term, parents are always welcome to contact us to discuss how things are going at school. We look forward to meeting with all families at the beginning of June.
March/April Scholastic Order
Your child recently brought home a flyer from Scholastic with spring deals on books for all ages, with many more titles available on their website. If you would like to be included in our April shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Friday, March 15.
To receive free shipping, simply include our class code: RC144312 when checking out, and your order will be grouped together with others from the school, and shipped to campus. Please let us know if there are any surprise or gift items in your order you would like to be kept hidden from your child, and we’ll set it aside for you to pick up discreetly. Happy reading!
from the Classroom Historians
Lyonsgate Update Feb. 26, 2024
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Toddler Show & Share is this week; please see the Toddler section.
Also, the weather forecast for this week is a bit of a wild one. Please keep an eye on the forecast for each day to ensure children have the appropriate outer wear for the day.
Hello Toddler Families,
This week, we are offering a Show and Share. This is a wonderful chance to come into the classroom with your children and explore together. It is an opportunity for your child to show you around and maybe even give you some lessons!
If you still need to register for a Show & Share visit, please see the email “Toddler Show & Share Sign-Up” sent Feb. 20.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour Chers Parents,
“Merci!” to all the parents that came to our Parent Education event last Thursday. I just want to add that all the language activities we presented to you that lead to reading, it’s the same process of teaching French. For example: Moveable Alphabet, Sandpaper Letters, Sound Games, Classified Cards, and reading small books phonetically are all Montessori materials and activities practiced in French. Once the students master those activities in English, they are introduced in French as well.
Lately, we have worked on three different communication phrases:
- Quelle est ta couleur préferée?
- Quelle est ta saison préferée?
- Quel est ton animal préferé?
Songs:
- Un éléphant qui se balancer…
- Un petit pouce qui dance
- Une souris verte
Our Casa North students enjoyed a collection of books written by Mo Williams:
- Quelqu’un a pris mon ballon!
- Pas facile d’attendre!
- Veux-tu jouer dehors?
Bonne semaine à tous!
Mme Murati
Upper Elementary Outing — Thursday, February 29
Upper Elementary students are reminded to be prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, their Presto card, and comfortable footwear for this month’s outing. The students will be taking public transit to Princess Point to access the Desjardins Recreation Trail for a winter hike. Students are welcome to bring along a simple nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle, and should be prepared for whatever weather we may encounter!
Open Classroom Art Show — Monday, March 4
Family members are invited to join us as the classroom is transformed into a gallery of student artwork. The classroom will be open to visitors from 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Sweet treats prepared by our student fundraising team will be available for purchase in support of KidsSport Canada.
from the Classroom Historians
Emmett and Eloisa.
Lyonsgate Update Feb. 20, 2022
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
We hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend and found time for great Family Day activities. Here are your updates of important dates, RSVPs, and news and info from your children’s teaching staff.
This Week:
- Toddler Parent Education: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 3:00-3:30 p.m. Please enter through the grey door off the parking lot, and please resist the urge to peek into the playground for a quick wave.
- Casa Parent Education: Thursday, Feb. 22, 3:45-4:30. Your children’s Casa guides will be discussing “A Path to Reading.” Please enter through the grey door off the parking lot, and please resist the urge to peek into the playground for a quick wave. If you plan to attend, please RSVP here: https://go.oncehub.com/CasaFebParentEducation
Coming Up & Ongoing:
- Casa Open Classroom Observations: Parents of Casa students are invited to contact their child’s classroom guide to arrange a date and time for a 20 minute observation in your child’s Montessori classroom, during the morning work cycle. Please contact your child’s Montessori guide at:
- Ms. Beach in Casa North: casanorth@lyonsgate.ca
- Ms. Robinson in Casa South: casasouth@lyonsgate.ca
- Toddler Show & Share: Show & Share in the Toddler classroom will take place Wednesday, Feb. 28, to Friday, March 1. You will be welcomed into your child’s Montessori environment with up to five other families between 3:30-4:00 to enjoy some of your child’s favourite activities with them. Sign-up will be emailed separately.
- Elementary Open Classroom Art Show: On Monday, March 4, from 3:15-4:15, family members are invited to join us as the classroom is transformed into a gallery of student artwork. Sweet treats prepared by our student fundraising team will be available for purchase in support of KidsSport Canada.
- Free Screening from Anderson Therapy: Lyonsgate Montessori School collaborates with Anderson Therapy Services to provide a holistic approach to education and developmental support for students. This collaborative effort ensures that students receive the individualized attention and support necessary to thrive at school, and in life. Anderson Therapy Services is offering free screening services for parents, ensuring early detection and intervention for any potential developmental concerns in children. This proactive approach empowers parents with valuable insights and support, and promotes the well-being and healthy development of children.
Ms. Craigie, Learning Resource Specialist.
Please click the image below for contact, query, and booking information.
Greetings Toddler Families,
I hope all is well and that you all enjoyed a relaxing Family Day weekend.
Please join us for our parent education session on: “The Social-Emotional Life of Toddlers: insight on how to talk to young children with respect, help them develop communication skills, and build resilience and self-regulate.”
The mental health of children has always been an integral part of the Montessori community: “We must study the profound and mysterious psychology of the little child, observe its development, and find what we can do to help,” Maria Montessori.
The Montessori approach advocates for children to listen to their inner voice, follow their instincts, and make choices. The guides are committed to protecting the emotional well being of each child. Children are encouraged to express their emotions and build healthy relationships through clear communication and respect.
In Understanding the Human Being, Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro, M.D., writes,” It is our responsibility to children, and, therefore, the future of humanity, to provide them with a model for relationships with other people that involves respect for the individual and that allows everyone who lives together to express an opinion and make decisions …The child wants freedom and respect, and we should create a family and social groupings in which these values are real and operational.”
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
I have heard many coworkers say that they had struggled with math before learning the Montessori way. The students in Casa South have been working hard to learn and master these concepts.
Our younger students have been exploring Number Rods(representation of numbers one to ten that involves gross motor movement), gathering to play the Memory Game of Numbers (holding a number in mind and retrieving that number of objects from a different area of the classroom), using the Golden Beads (a tangible representation of quantity and place value up to the thousands), and just counting everything in sight. Many of the numeracy activities in Montessori involve moving the body to aid in memory, which might be tracing sandpaper numbers or walking across the room to gather items.
Our older students have been working on making number rolls (writing numbers in sequence, starting at one and continuing as high as they can), working with the Strip Board to add and subtract up to eighteen, and playing the Stamp Game (adding and multiplying numbers up to the thousands). Next they may move on to delve into regrouping, fractions, and division.
In the Montessori classroom, we follow the child and our children are showing us that they’re excited to learn and understand the world through mathematics.
Thanks for reading.
Ms. Dewey.
With only four days of school last week, the students were very busy with their regular lessons and independent studies. Some of the children were delighted to conduct demonstrations and experiments with sea and land breezes while others learned more about tectonic plates. Following weeks of collaborative research, older students were excited to come together and share their research in the pastoral culture of the Maasai of east Africa. We also want to thank everyone who joined us for our Parent Education Event on Mental Health and Wellness. We look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming student art show on March 4th!
Marissa and Michelle.
With photos in the gallery from the Classroom Historians, Charlie and Leo.
Upper Elementary Outing — Thursday, February 22
Upper Elementary students are reminded to be prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, their Presto card, and comfortable footwear for this month’s outing. The students will be taking public transit to Princess Point to access the Desjardins Recreation Trail for a winter hike. Students are welcome to bring along a simple nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle, and should be prepared for whatever weather we may encounter!
Elev8 Dance — Friday, February 23
The class will be attending P.E. outings at Elev8 Dance on Friday afternoons throughout the month of February. Please help your child remember to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt on Friday, February 23, for our final dance class this term!
Open Classroom Art Show — Monday, March 4
Family members are invited to join us as the classroom is transformed into a gallery of student artwork. The classroom will be open to visitors from 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Sweet treats prepared by our student fundraising team will be available for purchase in support of KidsSport Canada.
Lyonsgate Update Feb. 12, 2024
Happy Monday Lyonsgate Families,
A few notes for the week(s) ahead:
- Friday, Feb. 16, is a PD day and both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Monday, Feb. 19, is the Family Day statutory holiday and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
- See the Elementary section for RSVP and details about their Parent Education event this Thursday.
- Parent Education events for Toddler and Casa parents are next week on Wed., Feb. 21, and Thurs. Feb. 22, respectively.
Greetings Toddler Parents,
This past week we had the pleasure of welcoming a new student into our community. It was heartwarming and fascinating to observe the other children gather around to marvel at this new little person. Some children took on a nurturing role while others just stared (probably a little too closely) and asked questions like, “What is his name?”
We enjoyed the strangely tropical weather for February and the children were able to shed their hats and mittens and use their hands to build with blocks outside on the picnic table. It was nice to feel the warm sun on our faces and see some of the children able to leave their boots at home in favour of running shoes and light jackets. At the same time, I wondered how we should introduce the wisdom of climate action to small children who are getting ready to inherit this planet. Most of the teaching that occurs in our environment happens by modeling the desired, most responsible behaviour. At the moment, we compost all of our food waste in the classroom, and we recycle all paper and plastic. These are good daily habits. Is there something more we could be doing?
Ms. Gervais.
We are so excited to invite all of you to come observe in our Casa classrooms, not only to observe your child but the classroom as a whole. The observations will take place during our morning work cycle and can happen throughout the rest of the school year after contacting your child’s guide to set up a time.
While observing, it is important to note that you are there to watch, not interact, so that you are able to get the best interpretation of the classroom. In the words of Maria Montessori, “the adult must respect the concentration of a child as that of a researcher or an artist.” The Casa class belongs to the child and we are visiting their space.
Observation is one of the most important parts of our days. Observing the children and the class as a whole allows us to meet everyone’s needs, understand the children and the classroom, as well as help us adjust things accordingly. Observing children in the classroom allows us into the secret world of the child by letting us know what they do and why they do them. Each time we observe we can decide one of two things: 1. to act on our observation, or 2. to not act. Other times, when observing, we are just learning more about the child.
“Wait while observing. That is the motto for the educator. Let us wait and be always ready to share in both the joys and the difficulties which the child experiences. Let us have endless patience with [their] slow progress and show enthusiasm and gladness at [their] success.” — Maria Montessori.
Ms. Briar Beach.
Flower Arranging Sign-Up: Thank you for all of the beautiful bouquets of flowers for the students’ Flower Arranging activity. We would love it if our Casa families could please sign up for a second round as we head into the spring term:
In class this week there was a lot of enthusiasm for work with the pin map material, identifying the countries within a continent, as well as important bodies of water. In biology, students learned more about the cardiovascular system, exploring the characteristics and functions of different types of blood cells. The students also had a great second visit to Elev8 Dance on Dundurn! There was a lot of laughter and fun as they played a series of partnered movement games, a balance challenge, and practiced a dance routine. Some of the students were surprised to learn at the end of class that they had been studying ballet, with practice at fundamental movements such as tendu, tombe, and bourree!
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Parent Education Event — Thursday, February 15
Our next parent education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, February 15, from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to discuss a Montessori approach to supporting children’s mental health and social wellness during the Elementary years.
Please note, all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA at 3:20 that day ahead of the parent presentation. Students whose families are attending the parent education event will be included in the aftercare program (with no charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30.
All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Casa child care that day, by Tuesday, Feb 13.
Elev8 Dance — Friday, February 23
The class will be attending P.E. outings at Elev8 Dance on Friday afternoons throughout the month of February. Please help your child remember to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt on Friday, February 23, for dance class!
Open Classroom Art Show — Monday, March 4
Family members are invited to join us as the classroom is transformed into a gallery of student artwork. The classroom will be open to visitors from 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Sweet treats prepared by our student fundraising team will be available for purchase in support of KidsSport Canada.
Lyonsgate Update Feb. 5, 2024
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
We have a few updates for you this week, but unfortunately no photo gallery. The illnesses that have been spreading amongst the children the last couple of weeks took down a few staff members last week too.
Casa Open Classroom Observations: Parents of Casa students are invited to contact their child’s classroom guide to arrange a date and time for a 20 minute observation in your child’s Montessori classroom, during the morning work cycle. Please contact your child’s Montessori guide at:
- Ms. Beach in Casa North: casanorth@lyonsgate.ca
- Ms. Robinson in Casa South: casasouth@lyonsgate.ca
Primary Parent Education: Parent Education events for Casa and Toddler families will take place in a couple of weeks:
- Toddler Parent Ed.: will take place on Wednesday, February 21, from 3:00-3:30.
- Casa Parent Ed.: will take place on Thursday, February 22, from 3:45-4:30.
We will have more details next week.
Toddler Show & Share: Show & Share in the Toddler classroom will take place Wednesday, Feb. 28, to Friday, March 1. You will be welcomed into your child’s Montessori environment with up to five other families between 3:30-4:00 to enjoy some of your child’s favourite activities with them. Sign-up will be available later this week.
April PD Day Switch: As you may have seen, the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, as well as a few other area school boards, have moved an upcoming PD day to Monday, April 8, due to the total solar eclipse. Lyonsgate is following suit and the PD day originally scheduled for April 19 will now be on Monday, April 8. Please click here to view the full release from HWDSB including Hamilton Public Health’s support for the move.
This past week in the Toddler classroom there have been a lot of emotions. When we notice a child that is experiencing some big emotions we offer our support and attempt to figure it out with the child. Working with toddlers requires some detective work because most of them have not developed the self-awareness or the language skills to express their emotions. We are working on that.
The first thing we consider is if there is a biological that needs attending to? Are they uncomfortable physically? Are they hungry or tired or not feeling well? Next we might try to figure out if there is something in their world that might be affecting them emotionally. Is there a new baby at home? Has their routine been altered in some way and they are struggling to recalibrate? Are they trying to navigate the delicate social dynamics of the classroom?
Sometimes the answer is simple. We had a child last week who was simply tired. Trying to get through the day was like trudging through sand so when it came time for nap they were very grateful and they slept more than usual and woke up in a much better mood.
Other times it is more complicated. There might be things happening at home that we don’t know about. Perhaps there are renovations happening or relatives from out of town visiting which has led to some shifts in the normal routine. Anything out of the ordinary can disrupt a child’s regular routine and make them more vulnerable to big emotions.
We acknowledge these emotions and begin to help them name and tame them: “I can see that you are feeling sad right now and you are missing your mother.”
Then we might try to anchor these emotions by reminding them about the familiar routine: “Well, let me tell you what is happening next. We are going to have a snack and then we will go outside and play and very soon it will be home time. You are almost there!”
Or we might help them solve a social problem in the classroom: “I noticed that you were working on that puzzle and someone took some of the pieces away. That is frustrating! I can see that you are feeling frustrated right now. Maybe we can ask them if they can give back the puzzle pieces so that you can finish the puzzle.”
It probably isn’t easy to be a toddler and it will be a while before they will be able to manage and regulate their emotions. The best we can do to help them is to validate where they are at, help them talk about it, and model emotion intelligence in ourselves. We can set the stage for good mental health when we help them express and manage their emotions.
Ms. Gervais.
This Casa update highlights one of our perennial Practical Life activities — silver polishing. “Why bother to polish silver these days?” is a commonly asked question; what is the purpose? It’s a reasonable question; who has time to take care of such high maintenance items? The short answer is, we do!
Why do we do it? There are a few reasons for this work. It invites concentration as children follow a logical a sequence of steps to achieve a goal. It is very satisfying to bring a dull and tarnished surface to a lustrous finish. Also, it brings awareness to the difference between metals, silver and stainless steel for example. Inevitably, the question arises, “Where does tarnish come from?” This opens the door to discussions about the chemical reaction involved — oxidation — new vocabulary, and a little science is added to the activity.
And finally, it brings beauty to our classroom whether it’s a vase for flower arranging, a candelabra, or a shoehorn, etcetera. So if you have any silver at home that could use a polish, Casa children will be happy to put a shine on it.
Ms. Robinson.
from the Classroom Historians
Hi Everybody,
Recently, the upper elementary students went on a hike at Princess Point. Some of the upper elementary started lit circles this term. A few of the fourth year have been practicing long division and flat bead frame. Some of our younger students have been using the story cubes and using their imagination to make a story. Some of the students have been making model of a canyon. Have a great week.
Written by Sam.
Photos by Harrison and Sam
Elev8 Dance — Friday, February 9
The class will be attending P.E. outings at Elev8 Dance on Friday afternoons throughout the month of February. Please help your child remember to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt on Friday, February 9, for dance class!
O.W.L. Workshop 5 — Friday, February 9
This second half of this month’s O.W.L. workshop on gender will be held from 9:00-10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 9.
Parent Education Event– Thursday, February 15
Our next parent education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, February 15, from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to discuss a Montessori approach to supporting children’s mental health and social wellness during the Elementary years.
Please note: all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA at 3:20 that day ahead of the parent presentation. Students whose families are attending the parent education event will be included in the aftercare program (with no charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30.
All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Casa child care that day, by Tuesday, Feb 13.
Lyonsgate Update Jan. 29, 2024
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
A few upcoming dates to note as we head into February:
- Feb. 15: Elementary Parent Education (see Elementary section for details and RSVP)
- Feb. 16: PD Day
- Feb. 19: Family Day statutory holiday
2024.2025 Registration Payment and Signatures
Thank you for your 2024.2025 registration form submissions. If you still need to make your initial payment, please do so as soon as possible. You can find the payment options and dates here: https://lyonsgate.ca/returning-student-sibling-tuition-fees-and-schedule/. If you have any questions, please email Sarah at accounts@lyonsgate.ca.
Signatures: On Thursday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 2, we will have your registration forms ready for signatures.
- Primary Parents (Casa & Toddler): please come to the glass foyer after dropping off your children to sign the hard copy of your registration form. Thank you.
- Elementary Parents: please come to the front porch before picking up your children at the end of the day to sign the hard copy of your registration form. Thank you.
Beginning next week, we will begin offering available spaces to families on our waitlists.
This past week, we had a delightful but brief encounter with snow. We took full advantage of the moment and worked together to build a snow wall, using containers from the shed. This provided lots of opportunity for heavy lifting and sensory exploration. Small children are all scientists. They conducted experiments with the snow using all of their senses. We admired the snow falling from the sky, the children took off their mittens and handled the snow and many of them tasted the snow which is a sacred rite of passage for children. Eating day old snow was discouraged.
“Good morning! How are you??” Is a familiar greeting at drop off. As educators, this is our first opportunity to gain information about your child, how they are feeling, and how we can help support them during the day. Please let us know if there is anything out of the ordinary or remarkable about your child. Did they sleep well? Rise early? Not eat breakfast? Upset about a lost stuffy?? Excited about a grandparents’ visit? All of these pieces of information and a quick health & wellness check-in give us insight into the care that your child needs to have the best possible day and learning experience.
Ms. Gervais.
“The teacher’s task is not to talk, but to prepare and arrange a series of motives for cultural activity in a special environment made for the child.” — Maria Montessori.
January always seems to be the pivot month for me in Casa. The children return from vacation and seamlessly fall back into the swing of things. They come back with the confidence of knowing the rhythm of the classroom. They come back to the smiles of all their friends who they have built relationships with. They come back to knowing what they know they know.
We as educators are afforded the privilege to look back on how far they have come: dressing independently, working confidently on classroom activities, and playing with friends with care and patience.
Some call January the dark and gloomy month, but in the world of Montessori all our little seeds are beginning the journey to poke their heads up from the soil and show all their radiant colours of knowledge, emotional growth, and independence.
Ms. Canessa.
Although it was a short school week, the students were busy! Several students completed independent projects, including a diorama of an NHL game and a research poster about lacrosse, while others continue investigating black holes, stars, and even pomegranates. Younger students have been exploring the concept and measurement of time in geography and human history. Some were introduced to the BC/AD timeline and learned to represent their ages in years on a graph, while others started building a timeline of human inventions and important events for each century of the common era. Many students also enjoyed an introduction to the cardiovascular system in biology. The Upper Elementary students happily finished off the week with a foggy hike at Princess Point and fun discoveries like turkey tail fungi and improvised fishing lines. Next week, our Classroom Historians Sam and Harrison will bring you the kids’ perspective!
Marissa and Michelle.
Elev8 Dance — Friday, February 2
The class will be attending P.E. outings at Elev8 Dance on Friday afternoons throughout the month of February. Please help your child remember to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt on Friday, February 2 for dance class!
O.W.L. Workshop 5 — Friday, February 2
This month’s O.W.L. workshops on gender will be held from 9:00-10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 2, and Friday, February 9. Activities and readings from Home Link #4 will help your child connect with the previous workshop and prepare for the next topic.
Parent Education Event — Thursday, February 15
Our next parent education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, February 15, from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to discuss a Montessori approach to supporting children’s mental health and social wellness during the Elementary years.
Please note, all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA at 3:20 that day ahead of the parent presentation. Students whose families are attending the parent education event will be included in the aftercare program (with no charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30.
All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Casa child care that day, by Tuesday, Feb 13.
Lyonsgate Update Jan. 22, 2024
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Reminder: this Friday, Jan. 26, is a PD Day and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
Construction Update: we had an exciting week last week as the Primary campus’s new roof and heating system installation moved to the rooftop above Lyonsgate. There were trucks and cranes and noise from above. We commend the work crews for accommodating to our presence and needs as they paused work while children were nearby, and for working through the bitter cold and snow. It’s been amazing to see the children’s capabilities of working through these distractions, and their gift of concentration throughout this process. We are extremely grateful to all of you for your patience and understanding as we look forward with excitement to the improvements to the building.
Summer Camps: While we suffer enjoy the winter weather, please be aware that registrations for summer camps will open soon. The City of Hamilton posted last week that registration for Camp Kidaca summer camps begins February 7 at 8:00 a.m.! For more info and to register, visit hamilton.ca/campkidaca. Here are few more summer camp listings:
- https://www.rbg.ca/things-to-do/courses-camps-programs/camps/summer-camps/
- https://www.ourkids.net/camp/hamilton-camps
- https://www.ymcahbb.ca/camp/day-camp
- https://camps.mohawkcollege.ca/
- https://www.todaysfamily.ca/programs/summer-day-camps/
- https://rec.mcmaster.ca/programs/youth-camps-march-break-summer/camps
- https://redbook.hpl.ca/taxonomy/term/11658 (camps listing from Hamilton Public Library)
This week in the Toddler classroom, we have been experiencing a lot of banging and drilling over our heads because the school is in the process of getting a new roof. Initially, some children were disturbed by the loud noises, but as the week went by most of them became accustomed to the sounds and were able to sleep through it! Toddlers are remarkably adaptable.
They take great comfort in their routine and familiar habits but they can accept interruptions and disruption when it is explained to them what is going on. We let them know that the roofers were using various tools and that they were doing their work and that it would be finished soon. We overheard another child telling a friend, “Don’t worry. It’s just the roofers using their tools. It will be over soon.” One child used humour to cope with the drilling noise by stating, “It sounds like a fart!” It was nice to witness such kindness, resilience, and healthy coping skills.
Outside, we are busy putting mittens and hats back on the toddlers during recess. Naturally, it takes a bit longer to get everyone ready to go outside with all of their cold weather gear. If you have time to allow your toddler to practice doing some of the work of getting dressed independently it would really help us here at school. They can pull their legs through their snow pants and find their feet. They might be able to finish zipping up their jacket once you have started it. They can step their feet into their boots while holding onto a wall or a piece of furniture for balance, and they can work on putting on their own hat. Mittens are a bit tricky. We find that putting the coat on after the mittens helps to keep them on a bit longer.
Ms. Gervais.
Salut tout le monde!
On commence très bien l’année!
Here we are, already started our second term. The children have adjusted very well after being away for the winter break.
They have been enjoying some new and familiar activities; some with different objects to enrich the French vocabulary.
We have been counting whenever the opportunity arises and singing some of my favourites:
- Le petit navire
- Sur le pont d’Avignon
- Dans mon sac à dos
- Tête, épaules, genoux…
- Les jours de la semaine
- Des chansons échos
Books are such great resources to help expand vocabulary, imagination, and knowledge. If you have any French children’s books at home, please feel free to send them with your child to share with their friends. Merci!
À la prochaine!
Mme Perazzo.
The Elementary students were busy last week with new explorations in geography, history, and art! Many students continued their study of the physical earth, learning more about the different layers of the Earth, its tectonic plates, and the build-up of sedimentary layers. In history, Upper Elementary students developed their vocabulary around the different phases of history, learning about the transition of some cultures from pastoralism to an agricultural lifestyle. Lower Elementary students were excited to learn more about the style of Eric Carle, and began their own process of preparing painted papers, based on warm or cool colours, for future cut-and-paste creations. The students had a great time visiting the karate dojo again, with enthusiastic cries of “ki-yah” as they pummeled the kickboxing bags or practiced their jab-cross punch combinations.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Upper Elementary Outing — Thursday, January 25
Upper Elementary students are reminded to be prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, their Presto card, and comfortable footwear for this month’s outing. The students will be taking public transit to Princess Point for a winter hike. Students are welcome to bring along a simple, nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle, and should be prepared for mud!
January Scholastic Order
Your child recently brought home a Scholastic book flyer, offering discounts on books for families and encouraging a love of reading. Many popular series and children’s classics are available through the monthly flyers, with even more titles listed on their website. Every purchase you make from Scholastic earns bonus bucks for our classroom, which we use for new library books, art supplies, and music materials.
If you would like to be included in our January shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Friday, January 26th.
To receive free shipping, simply include our class code RC144312 when checking out, and your order will be grouped together with others from the school, and shipped to campus.
Orders placed from the January flyer after that date will be included in our February order. Please let us know if there are any surprise or gift items in your order you would like to be kept hidden from your child, and we’ll set it aside for you to pick up discreetly. Happy reading!
from the Classroom Historians
Josephine.
