Lyonsgate Update Dec. 4, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed this Friday, Dec. 8, for Parent-Teacher conferences. Please sign-up for a conference time slot if you haven’t already done so. The link to sign up was sent as a separate email on Friday, Dec. 1. (If you are unsure which class to sign up for, please contact us). Child care is available during your conference.
A few other notes:
- Please see the Elementary section for some important upcoming dates.
- Registration for the 2024.2025 school year will open this week. Look for a separate email soon.
- Winter weather is here! Please make sure your child has appropriate outerwear for the weather each day. Label everything!! Please try to avoid cloth/fabric/knit gloves and mittens when there is snow or wet conditions.
Hello Toddler Families,
It was really wonderful to see all of our families come out for Show and Share last week. It was interesting for us to observe the various reactions to having parents come and visit in the Toddler environment. There was so much enthusiasm, and sometimes a little confusion about what to do with their parents in the room.
As we move into colder weather, please remember to send your child to school with warm and cozy outdoor gear. Most weather can be tolerated and enjoyed if the appropriate clothing is available. We will be going outside everyday throughout the winter.
Going outside each day is an important part of our routine at school. If we find ourselves inside during excessively rainy days we make the best of it, but we all feel the difference.
Richard Louv has written a number of books about something he calls “nature deficit disorder.” He encourages parents and caregivers to make an effort to get children outside more so that they can reconnect with nature. It is essential for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of everyone, especially children. Going for walks in the woods can provide educational experiences that cannot be reproduced in the classroom. Richard Louv explains that as a species it seems that we have forgotten that we are part of nature and this disconnection between ourselves and the natural world has lead to a profound loneliness.
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv offers some excellent advice on how to incorporate more outdoor time into your child’s day.
Ms. Gervais.
Greetings from Casa,
This past week your children welcomed you into their classrooms to show you some of the work they currently enjoy doing; it was lovely to see all of you sharing this time together. This week, the guides will again welcome you to our classrooms for some adult conversation about some of the other work and development that has been going on this past term — not only what your child has been doing, but also how and possibly why they spend so much of their time at school polishing, counting, sorting, arguing, problem-solving, sounding out letters, and so much more.
This is also an important opportunity for us to listen to your observations and questions about your child’s development and growth. Communication between home and school is vital to understanding their needs and interests. This helps us as we provide a space where your child can meet these needs and follow their interests as they continue to grow. Although one term is coming to an end there are still many more months to come and much work/play to be done!
We’re looking forward to meeting with you later this week,
Ms. Robinson and Ms. Beach.
Monday, December 4 — Open Classroom
Please join us in the classroom after school on Monday, December 4 for our first open house of the year! Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15 – 4:15 to see displays of the children’s work from the first term. When arriving, please come up the front porch to the Maple Room door. The children will be happy to welcome you inside!
Wednesday, December 6 — Class Field Trip to W. J. McCallion Planetarium
All Elementary students will be travelling by chartered school bus to the W.J. McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University to learn more about our solar system. The field trip will take place during the morning work cycle, with students returning to campus for outdoor time and lunch. All students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts for the trip!
Friday, December 8 — Parent-Teacher Conferences
Students will enjoy a P.A. day on Friday, while parent-teacher conferences take place. Please remember to sign-up for your conference time slot in advance. Child care is available for students while their parents are attending conferences.
from the Classroom Historians
“Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders are working on elements projects. Last Friday the third to sixth graders went rock-climbing. They were able to try new things like climbing with a harness and bouldering. The Fatty Legs literature circle wrote letters from Olemaun or made-up characters about their life at residential schools.”
“For the first snow of the season we have hot chocolate.”
“Cheers!”
“He is working on his elements project with nitrogen. He’s making a slideshow.”
Lellie and Georgia.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 27, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We have a busy couple of weeks this week and next. Here are your reminders and link information, and please see your Lyonsgate calendar for details:
- Nov. 27-30: Primary (Casa and Toddler) Show & Share. If you still need to sign up for a Show & Share visit, please find the link in your update email.
- Wed., Nov. 29, 3:30-4:15: Casa-to-Elementary Orientation. Casa parents interested in learning more about our Elementary Montessori program are invited to an information event at the Elementary Campus. See the calendar for details and to schedule an Elementary observation. Or, check the Elementary section below.
- Fri., Dec. 1: Elementary Rock Climbing (year 3-6 students). Please see the calendar or Elementary section for details, and click here if you need to complete Gravity Climbing Gym’s waiver.
- Mon., Dec. 4, 3:15-4:15: Elementary Open Classroom. Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15 – 4:15 to see displays of the children’s work.
- Wed., Dec. 6: Elementary Field Trip. Elementary students will travel by school bus to the W.J. McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University during the morning work cycle.
- Fri., Dec. 8: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed to students for Parent-Teacher conferences. Childcare is available during your conference timeslot. Please see your recent “Lyonsgate Update” emails to select a conference timeslot.
Hello/Bonjour,
I want to start off by saying how wonderful each one of your children are. It’s been wonderful getting to know them and working with all of their unique personalities. For those of you who may not be familiar with me I am Ms. Craigie/Mme Craigie and I will be helping guide your children in their French language acquisition this year. Here in the Toddler community, we focus our attention on introducing a second language as we know that the sensitive period for spoken language is from 7 months to 3 years, with the entire sensitive period for language being from birth to age 6. We are currently learning new words and phrases in French such as “Merci” “peux-tu laver les mains” “au revoir” “bonjour” and many more. We are also singing a few songs that some our second year toddlers remember from last year, and it’s been really lovely to see the first years joining in, c’est merveilleux!
I look forward to spending the year being a part of the children’s day, and getting to know all of you as well.
Ms. Craigie.
The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, and what will the children do then…
The feel of winter is in the air! The excitement is building toward the holiday season. We have even heard the rumblings of holiday carols in our cloakroom. With the change in season comes the addition of hats, mittens, sweaters, snowpants, and boots. Please try to have your children’s items labeled so we can ensure they are dressed for the cold weather in the clothing you have sent in. The children have been busy practicing zippers and independently putting on hats and mittens. The older children have enjoyed helping our younger students and assisting them with dressing for outside.
Show and share is next week, and we are all very excited to welcome you into our classroom. The children are very excited to show you their favourite activities. This is a very special time to share this special space that the children call theirs. They will be excited to tell you about their activities, share their knowledge, and maybe teach you a thing or two. Their ability to complete these activities with independence and skill is breathtaking. Their pride will be notable through their smiles and confidence.
We look forward to seeing you all and welcoming you into the “Casa Dei Bambini” (Children’s House).
Ms. Canessa.
Wednesday, November 29 — Casa-to-Elementary Information Event
Casa parents interested in learning more about our Montessori Elementary program are invited to an information event on Wednesday, November 29, from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. at the Elementary campus. Join Montessori guides Marissa and Michelle to talk about the transition from Casa to Elementary, take a tour of the campus, and learn more about the benefits of a Montessori approach to the elementary years. Childcare for Casa students will be available at the Primary campus for families attending the event.
Parents of children in their final year of Casa are encouraged to arrange an observation of the Elementary classroom in action by emailing elementary@lyonsgate.ca for available dates. Observation time slots are typically available Mondays through Thursdays, during the morning work cycle from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Friday, December 1 — Rock-Climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym
Students in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be having morning P.E. classes at Gravity Climbing Gym. Please remember to complete the climbing waiver for your child in advance, and send in a printed paper copy with your child to school. Students in Years 1 and 2 will continue with their regular afternoon P.E. class.
Monday, December 4 — Open Classroom
Please join us in the classroom after school on Monday, December 4, for our first open classroom of the year! Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15-4:15 to see displays of the children’s work from throughout the first term.
Wednesday, December 6 — Class Field Trip to W. J. McCallion Planetarium
All Elementary students will be travelling by chartered school bus to the W.J. McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University to learn more about our solar system. The field trip will take place during the morning work cycle, with students returning to campus for outdoor time and lunch. All students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts for the trip!
Friday, December 8 — Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parents are invited to sign-up for a conference with their child’s lead guide. Child care is available during your conference.
from the Classroom Historians
“3 and 2 years have been working on planet projects and 1 years have been working on plasticene projects. Uppers have been working on thier math – like flat bead frame, geometric forms, and peg board, and all of the uppers have been doing Element Research. 3 & 2 years have been doing bead frame and racks and tubes.”
Akasha and Cohan.
“These students are sketching a comic book.”
“My friend is using the adverb grammar box.”
“A first-year is cutting out the letter W to practice how to recognize it and how to draw it.”
“Working on the large bead frame, expanding the multiplicand to multiply by units and tens.”
“This person is playing the theme song from Super Mario. I can’t get it out of my head!”
photo captions by – Matteo
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 20, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Friday, Dec. 8, is a PA day for fall Parent-Teacher conferences. Please see your update email to sign up for a 20-minute conference timeslot. Some classes have conference timeslots available after school during the week leading up to the conferences.
Other Reminders:
- Show & Share for Casa and Toddler families is next week, Nov. 27-30. Please see last week’s update for details, and click the link in your update email if you still need to sign up for a Show & Share day.
- Elementary families: please also see last week’s update for details of the Gravity Climbing waiver requirement.
Walking to the Park
This week, we ventured out to explore our community. We brought along a little basket to collect treasures such as colourful leaves, small rocks, and wood chips. We found ourselves at the local park and the children climbed on the equipment, played the outdoor xylophone, and spun around on the merry go round. It was a refreshing change from the school playground and the walk to and from the park made for some interesting observations. It was a reminder about how differently young children view and experience the world.
Small children do not walk in a straight line. They do not take the most efficient route. The sidewalk was optional for them despite our encouragement to walk with us on the paved route. The children noticed particular details that captured their interest. One house had a wooden train and some bird houses situated at the top of the fence posts. We had to pause and look at them. This was a useful observation because it gave us a clue to as to where to turn on our way back to the school.
We embarked on this new adventure because our playground was not available for a few days. I am so happy that we were nudged out into the neighbourhood to explore our community.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour à vous tous!
Nous voici déjà en novembre! Quelle belle saison!
Chantez avec nous!
C’EST L’AUTOMNE!(Frère Jacques)
Les feuilles tombent! (x2)
C’est l’automne! (x2)
Rouge, orange et jaune! (x2)
C’est l’automne! (x2)
We made poppies and have been practicing “O Canada” in honour of Remembrance Day.
We also enjoyed eating some roasted pumpkin seeds and made delicious muffins from our field trip pumpkin.
I have included the recipe for you to enjoy at home.
Looking forward to seeing you at Show and Share!
Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Mme Renée Perazzo
Wednesday, November 29 — Elementary Information Event
Casa parents interested in learning more about our Elementary Montessori program are invited to an information event on Wednesday, November 29, from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. at the Elementary Campus. Join Montessori guides Marissa and Michelle to talk about the transition from Casa to Elementary, take a tour of the campus, and learn more about the benefits of a Montessori approach to the elementary years. Childcare for Casa students will be available at the Primary campus for families attending the event.
Parents of children in their final year of Casa are encouraged to arrange an observation of the Elementary classroom in action by emailing elementary@lyonsgate.ca for available dates. Observation time slots are typically available Mondays through Thursdays, during the morning work cycle from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 23 — Upper Elementary Outing
Upper Elementary students will be taking public transit to the McMaster University Museum of Art for the exhibition of “Crossing Border: Coins from Around the World.” We will have a guided program from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and then enjoy our packed lunches from home on campus before returning to school for the afternoon. Please remind your child that they will need to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt and bring bus fare or their Presto card for this outing.
Monday, December 4 — Open Classroom
Please join us in the classroom after school on Monday, December 4, for our first open house of the year! Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15 – 4:15 to see displays of the children’s work.
from the Classroom Historians
Last week a lot of people wanted to play footy tennis (football with a tennis ball). Some of the fourth years have been practicing angles and the second and third years are making reading logs. The uppers have also been practicing a new song called the periodic table song. Graphic novels are a popular type of book right now, like dog man.
Matteo.
Photo captions by Akasha and Cohan:
“This second-year student is writing alliteration sentences outside in the sun.”
“This first-year student is doing Stamp Game addition in the Maple Room.”
“This third-year student is writing in her journal at the circle table in the Oak Room.”
“These students are watercolour painting in the art room. They are experimenting with “crying dots” which is when you put drops of water on your paper first and then put drops of colour in them, and then tip the paper.”
“These sixth-year boys are working on percentages in math in the Oak Room.”
“These students are working on the science experiment for the law of gravity. First they need to fill a glass bowl with sand, then they put a ping-pong ball in the sand, and then a metal object on top. Then they put a towel over the bowl and shake it really hard. Then they take off the towel and the ping-pong ball will be on top of the sand and the metal object will be underneath the sand.”
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 13, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This Friday, Nov. 17, is a PD Day and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
Elementary Families:
- If you still need to sign up for an LRS conference with Kim on Friday, please do so using the link in the update email.
- Rock climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym is coming up on Dec. 1. Please see the Elementary section for details of the waiver requirement.
Casa and Toddler Families:
- Show & Share is coming up the week of Nov. 27-30. 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 and takes place at the end of the school day. You will be visiting the classroom with up to 5 other families. Please see your update email for the sign-up link.
All Families:
- Parent-Teacher conferences are Friday, Dec. 8. Sign-up for 20-minute time slots will be available next week. There is no school that day, but child care is available during your conference.
Hello Toddler Community,
This past week was a quiet week. A virus kept some of the children home for most of the week. By the end of the week many had returned and the room felt busy and dynamic again. When children are away the other children really notice and feel their absence.
They ask about each other and some can easily name all of the absent children. Everything in the environment — the activities, the furniture, and even the people, the teachers and the other children, become points of reference for the children. They rely on the predictability of the environment and small changes disrupt their sense of order. They notice these details because they are developmentally sensitive to order during these early years.
Young children have a remarkable ability to absorb an enormous amount of information and skills within a very short time. While they are gathering impressions of the world they are also busy classifying and categorizing this information. During this time they are seeking order to make sense of the world. You might notice your child lining up shoes in the hallway or building a Lego tower out of only blue blocks. The other day we witnessed a child get up out of his chair to move the mop from one hook over to the other hook because that is where it goes. Things that are out of place and people that are missing are noticed. We were so happy to welcome back our friends after they had been away.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour la Famille Lyonsgate,
Bonjour au retour des matinées froide d’automne!
As the days get shorter and colder, here in Casa North our students are practicing their “clothes” French vocabulary and cold/hot activity (chaud/froid).
Lots of interactions are happening in the cloakroom:
- “Aidez-moi s’il vous plaît. Merci.” “de Rien!”
- “Aidez-moi avec mon manteau zip-zip, Madame” (It is a funny one!).
Currently, we are working on two different songs:
- “Une Souris Verte”
- “Fais Dodo, Colas mon Petit Frère” (It’s a French lullaby for young kids)
We enjoyed reading books of Carlos (Ex. Carlos, Le Carlin …La Star, Le Tricheur, and Le Touriste, written by Aaron Blabey). Carlos is the most selfish and grumpy pug in the world. The children love those books and always laugh loudly.
Last Friday, we did a group circle where we discussed Remembrance Day, read a story, and listened to trumpet music. During the last week, we made poppies (we cut, glued, and painted them with a black center) and encouraged the children to wear them on Remembrance Day.
Passez une bonne semaine.
Mme Murati, Casa North.
It’s Getting Cold!
Please remind your Elementary child to bring cold weather items such as gloves, a hat, and coat to school. Even if your child doesn’t plan on wearing them, they may find themselves wanting these items during our 45-minute outdoor time or when working or attending lessons outdoors. Thank you!
LRS Conferences — Friday November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, please use the link in your update email to sign-up for a conference time by Wednesday, November 15. Child care is available for students whose parents are in conference.
Gravity Climbing Waiver and Details
Students in years 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Elementary program will be rock climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym.
Waiver info from Gravity: Each climber will need a completed Gravity Climbing Gym Release Form. The release must be signed by their own parent or court appointed legal guardian. Participants who have attended events within the last 2 years at Gravity may already have a waiver on file but we recommend you call us to confirm. The form can be completed online at the following address: http://www.gravityclimbinggym.com/release-form
When completed, parents will receive a pdf copy of the signed form. Please print this pdf and send it in to school with your child. This gives Lyonsgate the ability to verify that each participant has a completed waiver prior to the day of the event. Lyonsgate will bring these forms on the day of the event to speed up the check in process.
from the Classroom Historians
Last week we were celebrating Diwali and so you can see a lot of people working on rangoli. We also had a lot of elements research, as you can see in some of the photos below. A lot of kids were making flowers and other stuff for Remembrance Day, which was this weekend. I saw a lot of people French knitting, working on projects, and doing all sorts of math. The sixth year students were working on percentages. There is definitely a lot of art in the school. I saw a lot of sketching and colouring.
Nash.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 6, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Last week was a busy one with the Casa and Toddler trip to Puddicombe Farm and the Elementary students’ trip to the Brott Education Concert.
We have a quiet week this week. Next week sees a PD day on Friday, November 17. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed but Elementary will be hosting LRS conferences with Kim.
- Elementary Families: please check the Elementary section for details of the LRS conferences; the sign-up link is in the email version of this update.
Hello Toddler Families,
This week in our community, we continued to explore the large pumpkin in our classroom. We must thank Mrs. Findlay for this because she had so many great ideas about how to use our pumpkin. After painting it, washing it, and hammering golf tees into it, we brought it outside to be pushed around by the toddlers. The pumpkin was heavy and awkward to manoeuvre and we witnessed two children working together to roll it back to the shed.
Maria Montessori observed that young children are naturally drawn to activities that require great strength: “Nature seems to be telling him, ‘You have agility and skill and now you must become strong.’” form <em>The Absorbent Mind</em>.
This phenomenon is called “maximum effort.” Young children are drawn to carry and push heavy objects to build their strength and coordination, and to test the limits of their capabilities. There is a great need to climb and defy gravity, balance, and walk with objects in their arms. It is a period of great stamina and independence. It is our responsibility to offer opportunities for these experiments to happen and to honour these natural tendencies to build strength and coordination.
Ms. Gervais.
Good Morning, Casa Families!
What an eventful few days we had last week! Tuesday in particular was quite busy, starting with our field trip to Puddicombe Farms and ending with Halloween. It was a cold day but we were lucky to have the sun shining for our visit. We had the pleasure of riding around the orchards on a sixty year old train and a wagon pulled by a tractor (which was temporarily stuck on the tracks for Casa South!), there were animals to see, and we learned about how pumpkins grow. Each class was able to choose a large pumpkin to bring back to the classroom before we took a snack break. Then we all piled on the bus and rumbled back to school for lunch and a low key afternoon. On Wednesday, we were regaled with stories of spooky decorations, favorite costumes, and reminiscing about the field trip. Funnily enough, most children said that their favorite part was riding the big yellow bus.
After such a busy week, we hope you’ve all taken the weekend to get some much deserved rest.
The Casa Teams.
LRS Conferences — Friday, November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, please use the link in your update email to sign-up for a conference time. Child care is available for students whose parents are in conference.
November Scholastic Order
Your child recently brought home a Scholastic book flyer, offering discounts on books for families and encouraging a love of reading. If you would like to be included in our November shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Thursday, November 9th. Orders placed from the November flyer after that date will be included in our December shipment. 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
Halloween
Last week for Halloween we carved pumpkins and did a scavenger hunt that was exciting. We made paper pumpkins and painted pictures of pumpkins. At the orchestra there was music and a lot of noise. I liked the singing.
Josh.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 30, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families, and Happy Halloween Week!
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. Thank you.
Our Casa and Toddler students are also excited about their field trip to Puddicombe Farm tomorrow, and our Elementary students will be taking a trip to see the Brott Education Concert on Thursday.
As a Registered Early Childhood Educator working in a Montessori program I am at home with so many of the core values of my training. How Does Learning Happen, Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years shapes my day as children are viewed as “competent, capable of complex thinking, curious, and rich in potential. They grow up in families with diverse social, cultural, and linguistic perspectives. Every child should feel that he or she belongs, is a valuable contributor to his or her surroundings, and deserves the opportunity to succeed.”
The children are welcomed into Lyonsgate every morning through the lens of being valued members of our school community. They are encouraged and supported through self-help skills such as taking on/off their shoes and coats. (This may soon include mitts, snow pants, and boots!.) They take care of the classroom as they choose to mop up spills, seek out their own interests in the prepared environment, and then put their work away. At lunch we role model proper eating etiquette, scraping their plate when finished, and how to wash their face and hands. Children are afforded the time to try new skills, to make mistakes, and to try again.
Learning is viewed as an individual journey for each child and everyday we welcome the opportunity to be a part of it!
Vanessa Findlay.
Hello Casa Families,
I can’t believe we are already almost done our second month of school. We have been very busy in the classroom. We are all very excited for our upcoming field trip to the pumpkin patch on October 31.
In the classroom, we have been working on independence. Independence is very important to help children build their confidence. The children have been working on dressing themselves on their own when we are coming in or going outside, as well as when they need to change clothes. We allow the child personal pride in their skill to dress themselves. We also work on independence when eating by having the children serve themselves snack. Our whole day supports the child to do things independently.
“The child seeks for independence by means of work; an independence of body and mind.” — Maria Montessori.
The Casa Team.
Halloween
On Tuesday, the class will enjoy some Halloween fun in the classroom, learning about the holiday with some collaborative work and art exercises. Students celebrating Halloween should save their costumes for after school, and sweet treats for at home. Thank you.
Brott Education Concert — Thursday, November 2
On Thursday, the whole class will be traveling by chartered school bus to the First Ontario Concert Hall for this year’s Brott Education Concert: The Search for the Magic of Music. We will be attending the 11:30 a.m. performance, and returning to school for a late lunch and the afternoon work cycle. All students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt for this event!
LRS Conferences — Friday, November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, you’ll receive an email to sign-up for a conference time slot in the coming weeks. Child care is available for students whose parents are in conference.
from the Classroom Historians
“This student was working on language work with the pronoun grammar boxes.”
“This is the carpet of beads. It shows all the times tables.”
“A first-year was working on decorating his art portfolio.”
“He is playing on the xylophone. I think he was playing Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.”
“This sixth-year is working on geometry with the box of sticks.”
Polly and Hugo.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 23, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
For our Casa and Toddler parents this week:
- A new hot lunch menu will be in effect on Monday, Oct. 30. The lunch menu is available under your “Parents” tab: https://lyonsgate.ca/lyonsgate-lunch-menu/ (you can find out which lunch week it is on your Lyonsgate calendar)
- Please see the Casa section of last week’s update for details of an Oct. 31 field trip for Casa and Toddler students (RSVP is required): https://lyonsgate.ca/updates-announcements/lyonsgate-update-oct-16-2023/#casa
Elementary parents, please see the Elementary section for a number of upcoming important dates.
Thank you to all the families that were able to attend the Parent Education session last week. The topic was “Help Me to Do It Myself: The Role of Practical Life in the Montessori Classroom.” We talked about how to involve children in daily domestic tasks. It was especially wonderful to hear the great ideas for practical life in the home environment that were shared by the parents! One child is helping to prepare food and another is helping to feed the pet dog each day. Small children develop an enormous sense of pride by doing important work in their environment.
The phrase “Help me to do it myself” reminds us that they still need help on the journey towards independence. Think creatively about what parts of their routine they can participate in. Could they finish zipping up their jacket? Could they close the velcro straps on their shoes? Could they help to add ingredients to a baking project? It will most certainly take longer to accomplish the task but it promises to be more peaceful, and more fun.
Ms. Gervais.
Greetings from Casa,
Last Thursday, we held our first Casa parent get-together where we were happy to share our understanding and practice regarding the importance of “The Secret of Childcare.” In a word, this secret is really all about the practice and outcomes of consistency in the daily lives of your children.
We outlined how and why we work at maintaining consistent schedules and routines, particularly during transitions from one space or activity to another in our classrooms. These times of transition included: drop off, lunch, nap, recess, as well as toileting. The parents in attendance shared their own experiences at home, along with some great tips.
Briefly, we know that children adapt quickly to routines when they are consistently practised; they feel secure when they know what to expect and when boundaries are familiar. They may not always (or ever) express appreciation for them, but they do function much better when they are in place. Children settle into regular patterns, relax, and begin to make more and more intellectual, social, and physical progress.
Notes regarding clothing — please leave umbrellas at home, avoid knit gloves and mittens (water resistant are best), and check how independent they can be with dressing and undressing themselves. Please label everything.
We hope to see you at the next get-together,
The Casa Team.
Due to the P.D. Day last Friday, photos and captions from the Classroom Historians will be included in our next weekly update. Please read below for other announcements and dates to keep in mind. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!
Marissa and Michelle.
Scholastic
Your child recently brought home a Scholastic book flyer, offering discounts on books for families and encouraging a love of reading. If you would like to be included in our October shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Thursday, October 26th. Orders placed from the October flyer after that date will be included in our November shipment.
When you place an order online, your family’s order will be grouped together into one class shipment, and all the books will be sent to the school. We’ll let you know when your order has arrived. 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.
Upper Elementary Outing — Thursday, October 26
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 escarpment and hiking back down to the lower city using the Bruce Trail. Students are welcome to bring along a simple nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle.
Brott Education Concert — Thursday, November 2
We are very excited for the upcoming Brott Education Concert! The whole class will be travelling by chartered school bus to the First Ontario Concert Hall for a morning with the orchestra and their special program, “The Search for the Magic of Music.” Students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts on field trips.
LRS Conferences — Friday, November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, you’ll receive an email to sign-up for a conference time slot in the coming weeks.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 16, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This week: we have Parent Education events for both Toddler and Casa parents. Please see the Toddler and Casa sections for details:
- Toddler Parent Education: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 3:00-3:30.
- Casa Parent Education: Thursday, Oct. 19, 3:45-4:30 (RSVP is required).
This Friday, Oct. 20, is a PD Day and both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
Coming up:
- Casa and Toddler Families, please see the Casa section for details of a field trip on Tuesday, Oct. 31. RSVP is required.
Maria Montessori believed that each generation of children had an enormous potential to change the world and make it a better, more peaceful place to live. Our small Toddler Community is a microcosm of the wider world. It is the ideal place and time to learn interpersonal skills, respect for basic human rights, and how to communicate effectively to resolve conflicts. This part of the curriculum is referred to as grace and courtesy. It is invisibly woven into all of our interactions within the environment and it offers the opportunity to build a foundation for peace.
Small children are offered lessons on how to respect the creatures in our aquarium by not tapping on the glass, how to move about a crowded room, how to greet a friend, how to observe someone while they are working, how to ask for a turn with an activity, how to tidy up after meal, how to place the bowl into the bin quietly, how to reset an activity and return it to the shelf with the next person in mind. These are all ways of being in the world that are other-regarding, and these lessons can begin the moment a child is born. We communicate with respect by the way we handle them and care for them and speak to them. They study us as we interact with each other in our environment and when they begin to participate in the world we gently guide them towards respectful ways of communicating. We are working towards a peaceful environment within the Toddler Community and we hope that one day these young children with their small daily gestures of respect for other living things might create a more peaceful world.
Ms. Gervais.
Parent Education
Topic: “Help me to Do it Myself” — The role of Practical Life activities in the Toddler environment.
Why are the children washing tables and mopping the floor and what does it have to do with education? These seemingly mundane domestic tasks actually help to develop the whole child and prepare them for academic pursuits in the future. How are these activities presented in the toddler classroom? How can this kind of work be incorporated as part of the routine at home?
When arriving for your Parent education event, please enter the school via the grey door off the parking lot (rain day door) and avoid the temptation to peek into the playground or pop by to wave before entering. Thank you.
My name is Ms. Kathy Canessa. I am the English assistant in Casa North.
It’s so hard to believe we are already half-way through the second month of school.
Time passes very quickly in our classrooms. The children consistently amaze us with their new skills and newfound independence. Maria Montessori knew what she was talking about when she said, “Play is the work of the child.” When children are given the opportunity to choose their activity, explore with time, and have their own personal space their learning potential explodes, not only academically but also sensorially, verbally, and they find their own sense of pride and confidence.
As we head into the colder months, we expect an explosion of independence with dressing skills. Some might even master their own zipper. Please remember to dress your child in layers so that it is much easier for the child to regulate their own needs for warm or cold. They can then choose to add a sweater or just wear a t-shirt in the class.
I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that we are looking forward to this school year and watching your children blossom before our eyes.
Ms. Canessa.
Parent Education
Topic: “The Secret of Child Care.”
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/D3ZhsQ22GU3R3XGA7
When arriving for your Parent education event, please enter the school via the grey door off the parking lot (rain day door) and avoid the temptation to peek into the playground or pop by to wave before entering. Thank you.
Field Trip, Tuesday, Oct. 31
Casa and Toddler students will be spending the morning at Puddicombe Farms where they will enjoy a train ride, a tractor ride, and a visit to the pumpkin patch.
Cost is $20/student.
Toddlers will require a parent or guardian to attend the field trip with them. Toddler families can meet us at Puddicombe Farms at 10:00 (the programming starts at 10:15). Toddlers can leave at 11:45 and return to Lyonsgate for 12:30 for lunch & nap, if you so choose.
Casa students will travel to and from Puddicombe by school bus. The bus will depart Lyonsgate at 9:30 a.m.
If your Casa child will not be attending the field trip, they may attend school for the afternoon beginning at 1:30 p.m., if you so choose.
Please RSVP by Oct. 26 if your child will be joining us on the field trip using this form: https://forms.gle/C1z7LiH8nN7GjcL29
Be sure to check the weather forecast on the day of the field trip and ensure your child is dressed for the weather. This is a rain or shine event (no costumes please).
Each child will receive a gourd-size pumpkin.
Weekly Updates
from the Montessori Guides:
It was a pleasure to have so many families join us for our Parent Education discussion on “Freedom and Self-Discipline!” It was great to see parents sharing stories and strategies as we collaborate to support the children in developing these parts of their character. Don’t forget to save the date for our next Parent Education event on Thursday, February 15. Meanwhile, students have been busy with new literature circles, Hallowe’en songs, compasses and protractors, and investigating a wide variety of animals!
Marissa and Michelle.
from the Classroom Historians:
“A first-year girl is writing in her journal while her brother is writing in his journal next to her.”
“Two biology partners are sorting out labels that connect to photographs of sea creatures that don’t have backbones.”
“A third-year girl is painting many different colours with tempera.”
“This girl loves to read about fairies and she really likes this book!”
“A second-year student is drawing a pink kitty.”
Hannah J. and Caden.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 10, 2023
Happy Monday Tuesday Lyonsgate Families,
Hope everyone had a fantastic long weekend.
- Elementary parents: be sure to check the Elementary section for details of your first Parent Education event of the school year, this Thursday, Oct. 12.
- Toddler Parent Education will take place next Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 3:00-3:30.
- Casa Parent Education will be next Thursday, Oct. 19, from 3:45-4:30.
- The next PD Day of the school year is Friday, Oct. 20. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
- Please remember to label everything. Thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving Toddler Families,
In the Toddler environment, the children are saying “thank you” in whatever way they can, and in new ways too. Throughout the day, and especially during meals, the toddlers are encouraged to say “please” and “thank you” to the best of their ability. Some young members of our community use sign language and some others are able to say “thank you” and some can now say “merci.”
We are grateful for all of their hard work everyday and we are also grateful for the honour to be able to spend time with them each day and watch them grow into thoughtful, good human beings along the way. The Toddler environment is an excellent place to begin to acquire the skills of grace and courtesy. It certainly makes for a more pleasant and peaceful place to be.
We have been noticing colourful leaves drift into the playground each day. If you find any interesting leaves in your travels with your toddler and they would like to bring them into the classroom we can press them in our leaf/flower press and perhaps use them in an art activity in the future.
I hope that everyone has had a restful and cozy weekend!
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour Tout le Monde!
Je suis Mme Renée Perazzo, l’assistante française dans Casa South. C’est incroyable, nous voici déjà en mi-octobre.
I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.
It has been wonderful getting to know the new children and welcoming back our returning friends too.
At the beginning of the school year my primary focus is to help the children become comfortable and familiar with the routines and expectations of the classroom. I’m glad to say that the children are adjusting well. I’m looking forward to engaging them with more French lessons, stories, songs, and activities as we continue with our fall session.
Bonne semaine!
Everyone had a fantastic day at the Annual Charity Run at La Salle Park! The students demonstrated excellent sporting conduct in supporting their classmates in their personal goals, as well as celebrating the successes of children from other schools. Some of our students’ goals included the courage to participate, persevering through the whole course — 1.5 km for younger students, 2 km for older students — or improving their ranking from a previous year. The day was so much fun that many children are already training for next year.
All of the children are happily learning new songs to sing, creating impromptu bands with rhythm instruments, and finding friends who can read music on the staff to play a melody. The lower elementary students joyously ended the week with a P.E. class on cooperative games, while the upper elementary students had a lot of fun learning about media literacy and creating collages in their OWL workshop.
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle.
From the Classroom Historians
“Two kids are sweeping the carpet. One of them is teaching the other one.”
“One girl is playing whiffle ball and the teacher is giving her tips.”
“One little girl is dusting the window and there’s another girl close to her that’s teaching her how to. People made Every Child Matters shirts.”
“There are a bunch of kids who worked on a little sea creature chart and they tried to remember names of echinoderms.”
“A little boy is learning to write in his journal by himself.”
Hannah J. and Caden.
Parent Education
Our first Elementary Parent Education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, October 12th from 3:30 – 4:15. Please join your Montessori guides, Marissa and Michelle, as they discuss the topic of Freedom and Self-Discipline in the Elementary Child.
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) until the end of the event. These students will return to the Elementary campus at 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 Wednesday, October 11.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 2, 2023
Happy Monday Lyonsgate Families,
Next Monday, Oct. 9, is the Thanksgiving Holiday and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
Please see below for photos and updates from your children’s Montessori environments:
Toddlers are on the move!
Toddlers are naturally inclined to be on the move. Physical movement helps to develop the brain, build strength and coordination, and it encourages an awareness of other people. Movement is a part of every moment of every day in the Toddler Montessori environment. The children work to perfect their movement with a purpose in mind. They enter the school and climb a set of stairs, then they use their fine motor skills to unclip their backpack, reach and hang it up on a hook, after which they find their indoor shoes and switch them for their outdoor shoes. Inside the classroom, the children participate in the daily work of watering the plants, mopping the floor, and moving the furniture when it is time to transform the room for snack time. These movements of practical life and met with enthusiasm and have many benefits. I often find myself moving a table with two or three other children! By performing intelligent work with a purpose behind it children build strength and coordination in their bodies, and develop a strong sense of self by forming a connection to their community.
“All natural work like this has a higher purpose. It develops character. We must understand that if we give children this active life with a great many motives of activity, activities that have a useful purpose, the children perfect their movements… You cannot have effort without interest and purpose. There is no interest if the intelligence does not cooperate. The person must be interested. If the person is not unified he will not be interested. So we must have interest first and then work with an intelligent purpose, work that is freely chosen by the individual.” Movement and Character, Maria Montessori.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour,
My name is Fatia Murati and I’m the French language assistant for Casa North. This will be my eleventh year at Lyonsgate.
It has been exciting starting a new school year, getting to see our returning students and how much they have grown over the summer, and also meeting all our amazing new students.
Only a couple of weeks have passed since the start of school and I can confidently say that our students have already made a lot of progress. The first-year students who made those big eyes when I just said “Bonjour” at the beginning now feel much more comfortable hearing French and are all able to answer, “Bonjour, comment ça va?” with “Ça va bien!” They are also really enjoying French songs.
It fills my heart with joy every single day to see the second and third year students helping, encouraging, and translating for the first years. C’est juste formidable! I couldn’t wish for a better crew.
Looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Mme Murati.
Thursday, October 5: Annual Run for Charity
The whole class will be traveling by chartered school bus to La Salle Park in Burlington for an Annual Run for Charity hosted by Fairview Glen Montessori School. This year’s event will be in support of the Red Cross Canadian Wildfire Relief, with Lyonsgate making a donation on behalf of each elementary student. Additional donations are always welcome.
On the day of the event, students will be grouped with others of the same school year and gender from five different Montessori schools to complete a fun trail run through the woods. Staff from each school will be along the well-marked route to guide students and offer encouragement along the way! Following the race, the students will enjoy an outdoor lunch and playtime at the park before a short awards ceremony. Students will return to school for the remainder of the afternoon. Please help your child remember to wear their red Lyonsgate shirt that day, along with packing a healthy litter-less lunch and full water bottle.
Weekly Update
Last week students were busy studying and researching different forms of life. They classified organisms from the five classes of the animal kingdom and compared different types of invertebrates. They learned about the characteristics of different species of humans.
In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, our younger students heard the Anishinaabe creation story of Turtle Island or explored the meaning of the seven sacred teachings. These stories were the creative inspiration for an art display of paper orange shirts decorated by the children to affirm that every child matters and an appreciation for the traditions, history, and modern experience of Indigenous peoples. Older students worked with the Timeline of Canadian History to explore when Europeans first arrived here, who returned as settlers, and important differences between European and Indigenous cultures. They participated in a discussion of the government’s intended purpose in establishing residential schools, and some of the harms that Indigenous children experienced as a result.
The Upper Elementary students were thrilled to begin navigating the city using public transit, travelling to the Westdale branch of the public library. They were delighted to browse the larger collection, test out the children’s learning software, and even stage a few puppet shows.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead!
Marissa and Michelle.
