Lyonsgate Update Week of Feb. 6-10, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Community,
Your children’s Casa and Toddler Montessori guides will host Parent Education events on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Primary campus. (Elementary Parent Education is Feb. 23).
For both Parent Education Sessions we ask that parents please enter and exit through the grey door (where we do drop off and pick up on rainy days).
Students are welcome to stay on the playground during the Parent Education sessions. Please avoid the urge to pop your head in and say “Hi” when you arrive. Thank you.
- Toddler: 3:00-3:30. “Understanding Toddler Behaviour: How to be a Gentle Leader and Create More Peace in the Land.”
- Casa: 3:45-4:30. “Practical Life and Math — How Are They Connected?”
Reminder: Friday, Feb. 17, is a PD day and Monday, Feb. 20, is the Family Day holiday. Lyonsgate is closed both days.
Please see below for updates from the last week at Lyonsgate.
Greetings Toddler Families,
At times, life with young children can be very challenging. During the toddler years things can get a bit messy. It is a time of rapid brain development, rapid growth, and self-discovery. You are living in a construction site. It takes enormous effort and cooperation to balance the adult world with the world of the small human under construction. Our role as the gentle leader is to bring order in the chaos and to trust in the process.
Please join us for our Parent Education session on Thursday, February 16th, from 3:00-3:30 p.m.: “Understanding Toddler Behaviour: How to be a Gentle Leader and Create More Peace in the Land.”
“Let us leave the life free to develop within the limits of the good, and let us observe this inner life developing. This is the whole of our mission.” Maria Montessori.
Hello Casa Families,
When I first became a mother-to-be, I read What to Expect When Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff. I read this book needing guidance about what was happening, never realizing that, in those trimesters of pregnancy, knowing what was occurring still gave me no control over what was actually happening.
As the years have passed and my children have entered the 4th Plane of Development (18-24yrs), I realized I should have reached out for understanding instead of control. We can only reach that moment of meeting the child where they are when we release them from where we want them to be. It is only then when we can form the basis of a relationship and trust, through taking the time to understand their needs instead of our own wants and desires. I wished my children all great intelligence and happiness, but it was only made possible through understanding that “Hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence” (Dr. Montessori’s Absorbent Mind, pg. 27) — understanding that they must do for themselves, and that it was never in my control how they relate or engage as they grow.
This means I could set the table, but I couldn’t make them eat; I could feed their quest for all things, but the actual doing was their own. Like the womb and the home, I was the housekeeper, but they made this world their home through all four stages of development. Maria Montessori was very wise when she called these periods the “Constructive Rhythm of Life.” Life is just a song our bodies dance to, that no one can hear; a song our bodies know the move to, but if you are lucky, you can dance alongside that person for a short period. This is how I view motherhood, and a belief I take into our classroom each day.
I thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to dance to the rhythm of your child’s life as they pass through this first plane of development (0-6yrs). I encourage all of you to step back and witness their bodies in motion as they put their boots on, eat with a spoon, clean up after themselves — always remembering back to when they couldn’t do any of this. It really wasn’t long ago. Blink again and they will blow your mind with all their achievements. The days are long, but the years pass ever so quickly…
Ms. Canessa (on behalf of the Casa teams).
Last week, we continued our work in biology by defining the characteristics of different classes of organisms. Some students explored the characteristics of different classes of vertebrates, and others deepened their knowledge of the body systems of mammals. As part of our investigation of the work of the digestive system, students experienced the action of enzymes in their mouth by trying to detect the change in taste as the starch in a cracker was broken down into sugar. Other students prepared models of the digestive system and created a stop-motion video. We are looking forward to a variety of body system presentations this week from our fourth-year students!
Wishing you all a wonderful week,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 30-Feb 3, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Community,
Please see below for updates from the last week at Lyonsgate.
Toddler and Casa families: please note that there is a Parent Education event coming up on Thursday, Feb. 16. Time and topic details will come separately.
Hello Toddler Community,
Finally, Winter is here! Thank you for responding to the seasonal temperatures by sending your children with appropriate winter gear. Sending waterproof mittens with thumbs enable the children to use the shovels and other winter outdoor tools. Sending two pairs of mittens is a good idea too, in case they become wet or soiled during the first recess. (We always have extras as back up). Please label your items. We do our best to keep everything organized but toddlers are terrible sources of information and many items look very similar.
On the PA day, we put out a few new activities which sparked interest and made for a pleasant week of focused investigation. Toddlers are very observant. They always are keen to notice anything new in the classroom. The newest items tend to be very popular so it becomes an excellent opportunity for them to use their patience while they wait for the item of interest to become available. In a Montessori classroom there are only one of each activity. This is intentional. This makes the material unique and special. They must respect others while they are working with something and then when they get the opportunity to use the materials they can spend as long as they wish with it. Respect for materials, and respect for each other, is a built in feature of a Montessori classroom.
Ms. Gervais.
Dr. Montessori observed that children have a thirst for language and communication. The sensitive period for the development of language is from birth to 6 years.
It’s much easier for children to learn a second and third language at this time.
At Lyonsgate, French immersion allows the children to connect words to actions, helping them learn the meaning of new words, phrases, or expressions “en français.”
The use of the 3 key steps of naming, recognition, and recall helps teachers follow children’s progress.
First: Teacher says the word/object and then the child repeats.
Second: Teacher will have multiple objects and the child will identify the object when asked “Òu est…?”
Third: Teacher will ask the child “Qu’est-ce que c’est?”
It’s a great activity to try at home too!
Sincerely,
Your Casa teachers.
The class is continuing explorations in biology following the story of the Great River, which represents the bloodstream connecting different systems within a great nation: the human body. The story appeals to the imagination, asking students to consider their own body as a place where many cells and organs live and perform specific jobs for the benefit of the whole body. Through this story, the children are introduced to key body systems such as the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, and the immune system. The brain represents the executive branch of the body, making all decisions and coordinating the work of the different systems. Younger students will consider how these systems work in different types of animals, as older students break into small groups to research a particular system. Our eldest students continue to study the endocrine system, the important role of hormone production in regulating the body.
We look forward to sharing more about our work in the classroom with you during our upcoming Parent Education event after school on Thursday, February 23.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 23-27, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Please see below for updates from the past week at Lyonsgate Montessori School.
It looks like winter has finally arrived at Lyonsgate! At last, the children were able to use the snow shovels that they have been eagerly eyeing in the shed the past few months. Although it was an extra short week with back-to-back snow and PD days, we managed to have a lot of fun, work hard, make art, dance, and bake a delicious cinnamon and raisin loaf. Fingers crossed that there will be enough snow over the weekend to keep the winter fun going, but not enough to keep us from spending the time together. Stay warm!
Mr. Davis.
Bonjour tout le monde,
Since our return from the holidays, Casa students have been busy working in French with different animals, animal books, and learning about the cold weather. They enjoy studying the frog lifecycle. If you hear them talking about frogs, or making frog sounds, they have learned this in French lessons.
They are also doing a lot of work in French with counting and numbers.
Amusez-vous bien sur la neige,
Mme Murati.
Our focus on Geography this term is the formation of our Earth. Mixed-age groups will follow a particular strand of investigation over several lessons, and have the opportunity to share their learning with friends. While one group may be studying how water shapes our land and cultures, another may be learning about air currents, and another about geology.
Some students began exploring the layers of the Earth last week. Younger students were thrilled to explore the layers of the Earth, make a model in plasticine, and dissect it when they were finished. Older students delved deeper into the characteristics of the crust and barysphere, while students investigating erosion by rivers were excited to use the river model for a demonstration of sedimentation and the creation of sedimentary rock.
As always, reading and literature circles are a big part of the students’ work. Right before the end of a very short week, the class was delighted to gather together as the snow fell outside to sample a delicious fruit punch made by students in connection to the novel, Because of Winn-Dixie. We hope everyone enjoyed the extra days home from school to have fun in the snow!
Looking forward to a wintry week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 16-20, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
With the start of the winter term we’re happy to announce the addition of Ms. Rebecca Bye to the staff at the Lyonsgate Primary campus. Ms. Bye will be filling the support role at Lyonsgate, so all of your Casa and Toddler children will get to know her as she supports all of the classrooms, covers recess and other outdoor periods, and lends her helping hands where needed. Ms. Bye will be in the role while Ms. Duhig is on maternity leave to welcome the third child into their lovely family. Ms. Duhig will begin her leave on Friday, Jan. 27, and we know that you will join us in wishing her, her husband, and her two children (and Lyonsgate students) all the best as their family grows.
Please read below for updates from the past week.
[Sorry, no toddler photos this week]
Greetings Wonderful Toddler Families,
This week in our community, we are observing toddlers working on their interpersonal skills. Sometimes with education our focus can be weighted very heavily on academics or other aspects of child development that are more concrete and easier to see and talk about, but there is a lot of work that happens inside an individual as they learn to translate the many messages that they receive about themselves from the world. The way in which we are spoken to, listened to, touched and received speaks volumes about our value as a human being, who we are, what special gifts we have been given, and our self worth.
Toddlers are naturally self-centred but they are capable of empathy and respect for one another. Small children are capable of experiencing and understanding many complex emotions.
I had a conversation with a very verbal toddler this morning:
“Good morning, how are you? I am noticing your sad eyes this morning. Are you feeling a little bit sad?” He nodded his head, yes. “I was feeling sort of sad this morning too,” I said.
“Do you have cars at your house?”
“You mean little toy cars?”
“Yeah. Do you not like it when someone takes the car out of your hand?”
“Yes, I think I would not like it if someone took something from me that I was holding in my hand.”
This conversation made me think about empathy. In order to try to imagine how another person feels we have to be able to experience and understand our own feelings. Building a vocabulary and an environment where all emotions are acceptable and talked about is a good first step to understanding each other.
It sounds very sophisticated but many of our practices in the toddler environment help to build an awareness of other people. We are constantly saying, “Watch out for friends,” when children appear to walk right into each other. We show them small ways to reset some of the activities for the next person by replacing the wet hand mit with a clean dry one, or even just putting things back on the shelf. Of course, they are encouraged to do these things many times before it becomes a habit, but once they are doing these things we know that they are growing and maturing because they have begun to think and care for other people as well as themselves.
Ms. Gervais.
Greetings from Casa,
The importance of community has been an essential component of Montessori environments since its earliest days. Dr. Montessori called her early childhood classrooms Children’s Houses where children belonged, felt comfortable, and as a place where they were (and are) responsible for taking care of themselves, each other, and the space itself. The children have freedom within limits which contributes to the creation and preservation of community in two ways.
First, it empowers children to make many of their own decisions, to work at their own skill level, and to personally conquer challenges. The classrooms include a range of materials covering a wide spectrum set at different skill levels. This means that every child can participate and contribute to their classroom in their own way. Everyone can be accommodated; the group is inclusive and gradually becomes more and more integrated.
Second, sociability is encouraged, children explore, experiment, and create with other children of different ages. They learn to respect the work of others, and to communicate their observations with each other. Children are actively encouraged to collaborate and contribute to class life, and every individual is important to the community.
This extends beyond each individual classroom. It is always such a pleasure to see and hear children from both Casa classes greet each other, the toddlers down the hall, and all the adults they interact with, cheerfully. Our school community is thriving!
See you at the gate,
The Casa team.
Children love stories, the magic of a well-paced delivery, dramatic pauses, character dialogue, and the anticipation and excitement shared through the teller’s voice. Story-telling is an important mode of learning in the elementary classroom, using a connection between humans to share real stories of our experiences as well as fantastical stories of invention. Last week, the students were invited to hear the true story of Martin Luther King Jr., in honor of his achievements in promoting peace and celebrating the anniversary of his birth. This story appeals to the elementary child’s search for real examples of heroes in their culture, people who inspire them in new directions or help them realize their own values. People who were once children, just like them, and went on to do something extraordinary.
In contrast, they also heard a legend from ancient China, the story of a great race that determined the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. This story, following The Legend of the Nian, invites students to consider the myths and legends that offer explanations for cultural traditions during the celebration of Lunar New Year. In hearing these types of tales from a variety of cultures, the students discover that all humans, regardless of when or where they live, create stories to explain their world, their choices, and their values.
Academic work in other subjects continued this week with new work in grammar, essay-writing, math operations, and finding the square root of large numbers using the golden beads material!
Wishing you all a peaceful and prosperous Year of the Rabbit,
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Update Week of Jan. 9-13, 2023
Happy New Year and welcome back Toddler families.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful break with time to rest and time to connect with family. Naturally, this break from routine brings with it a time of readjustment but I am pleased to report that our returning toddlers have been able to slip back into the rhythm of the daily routine without much difficulty.
It is remarkable to see how much everyone has grown in just two short weeks! Many of our toddlers are noticeably taller and more verbal. Language acquisition is one of the main sensitive periods from 0-3 years. You can support your child’s language development by reading to them, singing to them, and simply talking to them about things that interest them. Simple direct language always works best: “Look at the dog!” (instead of doggie). Direct and accurate language offers the best example and the best possible chance for the child to be understood when they choose to speak.
Here are a few wonderful winter books for toddlers:
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats — a classic
- Winter by Gerda Muller (This is a picture book. You can create your own story; simply describe the pictures or inspire a conversation about the wintery scene).
- Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost with illustrations by Vivian Mineker — it is never too early to begin to build an appreciation for the lyrical language of poetry.
If you have any favourite winter books please let us know. We are always looking for new books to add to our collection.
We are welcoming two new students to the Toddler community over the next few weeks which will make our classroom complete. Thank you to all of the returning toddlers who have helped to make our first new student feel comfortable this week.
Ms. Gervais.
Welcome to 2023!
The first term is undoubtedly our longest term of the year. The students move through fall into winter, September through December, sleeveless tops & shorts to mittens & hats. They are back to a full-day routine, learning new social queues & building new relationships.
The first term is about observation — how am I meant to exist in this space? How do others exist in this space? What are the expectations in this space? It can be a fatiguing process for the child, as they are constantly watching, listening, comparing, challenging, and ultimately figuring out their role in the classroom community overall.
The second term, however, the students have their footing & get to settle back into something that is familiar to them. They feel comfortable with their classmates and materials; they trust that they are in a safe space. They understand that the classroom allows freedom within limits, and that exploration is always encouraged.
All of this understanding means that the second term becomes about blossoming — they move away from “how do I exist at school?” into “who am I at school & what value do I offer?” They are no longer asking “what can I work with?” but rather “what comes next? How can I take this to the next level?”
The second term is one filled with confidence, laughter, and many great discoveries.
We can’t wait to see what this special term brings!
Best,
Ms. O’Sullivan (for both Casa teams).
Happy New Year! It’s always wonderful to see the children return from break refreshed, re-energized, and eager to dive back into their work. We began the second term setting academic and personal goals, thinking about the steps necessary to achieve them, and establishing a timeline for completion. While some students were thrilled to learn more about long division or square roots this week, others found a cozy place in the classroom to settle in with a new novel for reading or literature circles. On Friday, the whole class enjoyed traveling to McMaster University for a physical education class in hip hop dance. They learned to break, bounce, monster walk, and thoroughly enjoyed moving to the music!
As the weather has turned colder, we added warm soup to our rotation of community lunches. The students were enthusiastic about the tomato and white bean soup prepared by two of our students last week, with many coming back for a second or even third serving!
We look forward to another exciting week ahead.
Marissa and Michelle.
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Dec. 12-16, 2022
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This is the last week of school before the winter holiday. Thursday, Dec. 22 is the last day of school and we return on Monday, January 9, 2023. Please remember to submit registration forms for the 2023.2024 school year by Tuesday, Dec. 20 (see the Dec. 5 email “Registration for 2023.2024 School Year at Lyonsgate Montessori” for the form link).
The image at the top, and in the gallery below, are Ms. Covics’ seasonal snack creations for the students. Wow!
Thank you! for all of your donations to our toy drive and to the Elementary students’ Shoebox Project initiative:
See below for some seasonal updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
As the holiday preparations are taking place, don’t forget to include your toddler in all of the wonders of the season. This is a wonderful time to work together as a family to create something tasty and memorable. Try baking something with your little one. It is a wonderful sensory experience. It builds language, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, math skills, and confidence. The finished product might be imperfect, but it will be perfectly imperfect and your toddler will be so proud of their accomplishment.
Tips for Baking with Toddlers:
1) Include them! Toddlers desperately want to be part of the giant science experiment happening in the kitchen.
2) Prepare the environment and prepare yourself. Toddlers are process-focused but adults tend to be more product-focused.
3) Choose a recipe that is familiar or simple and decide ahead of time which parts of the process your toddler will participate in.
4) A stool or learning tower to bring them up to counter height, and child sized utensils, are helpful.
5) Pre-measure all of the ingredients.
6) Be mindful not to take over and finish the job in a hurry.
7) If the idea of baking with your child is stressful, you could offer them a lump of dough to roll out and sprinkle with sugar.
Including your toddler in any sort of food preparation is a great way to form lasting memories and help them gain valuable life skills. Enjoy each other and celebrate the present moment!
Ms. Gervais, Mme Craigie, and Mr. Davis.
Bonjour!
We have been busy with many French preparations for the holiday season. The students are working with photographs of winter animals and are matching them to their habitats:
L’ours dans la grotte
Le loup dans la montagne
L’écureuil dans le nid
Le pingouin dans le iceberg
Le lapin dans le terrier
Le narvol dans l’eau glacée
Each student has coloured in their own “souris verte” to use when singing. We are excited to share our Winter Concert video with you (via Seesaw).
Vocabulary is getting stronger! Everyone is very interested in French books right now. Some of our favourites are:
“La souris qui rugit”
“Les écureuils qui se querellent”
“Archie, le paresseux hyperactif”
“Tellement sauvage”
“Le loup, le canard et la souris”
“L’autobus” (they love the little girl & all the animals on the bus!)
Wishing you and your family a restful, joyful holiday! Bonnes fêtes!
Best,
Mme. Murati
Hello! Bonjour!
Here we are on our last days before the winter break! It has been wonderful observing the children enjoying the festive activities and singing some new songs.
On behalf of your Casa South teachers, we would like to wish you all an amazing, relaxing, and healthy holiday! We look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Warm regards,
Ms Robinson, Ms Dewey and Mme Perazzo.
What a wonderful first term it has been! We are thrilled to have been able to re-integrate the pandemic cohorts and return to an authentic Montessori elementary environment, where our students can collaborate and build friendships with a variety of peers. The classroom has been abuzz with anticipation of the winter break and the opportunity to enjoy festivities with family and friends. Over the last week, the students rose to the challenge of meeting their deadlines, whether to complete their academic work for the term or to finalize their charitable donations for the Shoebox Project.
Everyone was excited to put their popsicle stick bridges through testing for smoothness of the surface, the amount of load they could bear, and to identify weak points in their structures. Many of our budding engineers experienced the thrill of success, with some bridges supporting a load of more than 15 kg! Others observed problems with their deck or trusses and were inspired to return to the drawing board to revise their plans. A lot of fun was had through our exploration of forces!
Thanks to the generosity of our Lyonsgate families, as well as local businesses, the children were able to create twenty gift boxes for unhoused women in Hamilton to brighten their holiday season! They had a great time soliciting donations, categorizing the goods, working in teams to pack each gift box, write a special note of greeting, and wrap the presents. Their discussions included recognition and appreciation for all that they have, and they demonstrated pride in their ability to contribute to those members of our community who have been less fortunate. We thank you all for supporting them in this important work.
This week, students will be filming some special performances to be shared with you via SeeSaw as we begin our winter break. We will also be baking and decorating gingerbread people, and celebrating the end of term with a class party on Thursday, December 22. The party will include board games, crafting, and the option to watch a short film, and the students will have a special community lunch that day with pizza being delivered after outdoor time! Students do not need to bring lunch on the last day of school, but should still bring their water bottle.
Thank you for sharing your children with us over these past four months. It is a pleasure to spend our days learning and working together, and we are excited for all the wonderful adventures awaiting us in the new year.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful winter break!
Warmly,
Marissa, Michelle, Anne, Damien, Caitlin, and Kim.
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Dec. 5-9, 2022
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Please see below for updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
Hello Toddler Parents,
As the holiday approaches and the excitement mounts we can often see behavioural changes in our toddlers. Interruptions in routine, illness, big changes like a new sibling arriving, or small temporary changes such as a relative coming to visit for a day can be difficult for toddlers. Please keep in mind that toddlers can better handle changes big or small when they are kept in the loop. Let them know as best you can about changes on the horizon and involve them in getting ready for the event. It might make them feel more secure and accepting about what is happening and they will feel included as an important member of the family.
If we are encounter behaviours such as hitting, biting, or pushing in the classroom, we handle them swiftly and directly. We say things like, “I will not let you do that.” “I cannot let you hurt your friend.” Small children often do not have the words or the emotional maturity to express or manage their feelings. It is okay to have feelings but it is not okay to hurt people. The language we use in these instances is direct and respectful. “I can’t let you do that,” rather than “We don’t hit people.” The latter is too vague. “We” could refer to anyone. It is not necessary to become emotionally escalated along with your toddler. They are feeling out of control and they are counting on us to help them feel safe and secure. We can validate their feelings by noticing them, “I can see that you are very upset right now.” Then we can help them return to a state of calm once the feelings subside. It is helpful to discover that feelings don’t last forever. As caregivers, we can help them weather these storms and gain awareness of what is socially acceptable.
Ms. Gervais.
The Power of “Why”
As I sit here thinking of a topic to write about, I’m recalling an observation between two first year girls, both sitting beside each other. One kept moving further away from the other, so naturally the other kept asking why? This was the only word the girl kept repeating to her peer…
It leads me to think about the power this word has on the brains of these young children — and on us, as adults.
Every school year, I am amazed by the power of “why.” The children in our class use it to discover ideas, questions, universal truths, and to better grasp social cues. Many of the children use “why” to engage with peers and adults when they are learning conversational skills (during their preliminary stage in our programme). “Why” is never just a why — what they are really saying is, “I want to get to know you better, and I want you to stay awhile.” They are searching out knowledge of new words, vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and safety within their new community.
As a parent, this word used to lead me to pull out my hair in despair; as a Montessorian, I understand it to be an invitation into a relationship, and challenges me, for a moment, to see the wonders of the world through the eyes of a child. I can learn their deepest fears and reasons for the behaviors they present. When “why” is asked by a child, it is my responsibility to figure out why in return — I need the answer to build that precious relationship and to meet the needs of all the children in my care. Maria Montessori, being of a scientific mind, understood these multiple levels of knowledge this word holds — that there is what the child presents (or asks) and what is truly meant.
Next time you become overwhelmed by the word “why,” I challenge you to ask yourself why?
Best,
Ms. Canessa.
Greetings from Casa South,
When visiting a Montessori Casa environment, you are likely to see a large ellipse taped or drawn on the floor and you may wonder why it is there. It does have a specific purpose involving movement.
This material invites children to walk steadily on the line as a means of refining their balance and learn to control their movements. When a child is adept at controlling their body movements, they are better able to walk carefully around the workspaces of others and less likely to knock into tables, chairs, shelves, and other people, moving around the room with more grace.
Because it is an ellipse rather than a circle, it requires greater concentration and control when maintaining balance at the narrower ends. Also, the shape mimics the orbit of the earth around the sun. We introduce several ways to walk on the line beginning with a natural gait, then heel to toe, holding onto an object, or balancing something on their head. We can also use music or instruments for rhythmic walking.
It’s a wonderful material that is used daily by the children and adults in a classroom!
See you at the gate,
Ms. Robinson, Mme. Perazzo and Ms. Dewey.
Hello Elementary Families,
I’m taking the pen this week to update you on our French program. It’s been a joy to work with your children this year.
The youngest students are now familiar with my French accent and my teaching style. I speak French most of the time during our lessons of course, but also outside of formal class time to familiarize their ears to Francophone sounds. I often use gestures to support my speech and facilitate our conversations. The oldest students take a lot of pride in showing their fluency to the youngest ones, helping them when they don’t understand or have a hard time formulating an answer. All students also have the opportunity to practice their skills and enrich their vocabulary when working with Damien in the kitchen and around the classroom.
The lower elementary students have been working on building up their vocabulary to understand simple interactions we have together (e.g. Comment ça va? Où es ton chapeau? Tes chaussures bleues sont jolies. Va chercher la gomme.). We’ve also been working on the date and describing the weather, as well as introducing ourselves and expressing our likes and dislikes.
The oldest kids are now challenged to converse with me solely in French during their lessons and we keep using gestures as a support. We are starting to get into grammar work, reviewing some concepts about nouns and verbs that are common in English and French and introducing French conjugation to their speech. We have more written work as well as more reading.
All the students have been very engaged with all the card games introduced regularly in the classroom like “Les Poissons,” “Le Jeu des Familles des Formes, ” “Le Jeu de 7 Familles de L’hiver,” and “Qui est-ce?” It is a fun way for them to practice their French outside of their lessons. We also have board games to help the older students practice verbs and pronouns.
Finally, every other week, students in second year and up meet for a play practice. For now, we are familiarizing ourselves with the content of a play and the meaning of the words before starting rehearsals. We hope to send you a video of their work for the end of the school year.
Anne Prat Kalonji, French instructor.
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2022
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Elementary Info Session: for parents of Casa students in their 3rd year is Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 3:30-4:15, at the Elementary campus, 248 Locke St. S. Casa students are welcome to remain at the Primary campus to join the after school program until 4:30. Please RSVP to elementary@lyonsgate.ca if you would like to attend.
Toy Drive and Shoebox Project: The toy drive continues at the Primary campus; board games and dolls for children aged 2-6 are requested, but any new, unopened toys are accepted and appreciated. The Elementary students’ Shoebox Project initiative continues to accept donations of new, unopened, quality personal hygiene and beauty products, nut-free candy or chocolate, hot drink pouches, cozy socks or gloves, or stationary items such as a small journal or colourful pens, and gift cards in the range of $5– $15 to stores such as pharmacies, groceries, and chain coffee shops or restaurants (see Elementary update for more info).
Registration for the 2023.2024 school year begins today. Please look for an email later today with a link to the registration form and the 2023.2024 tuition fees and schedule.
Please read below for updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
Hello Toddler Families,
This past week in the Toddler community we noticed some budding friendships and some collaborative work. It is lovely to see children enjoying each other and working together to care for the community and each other. Each member of our community plays an important role and the children notice when friends are away.
It was lovely to have a chance to meet with all of you on Friday and share some anecdotes and details about your child’s progress. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to come in and meet with us and thank you for trusting us with your amazing children.
Ms. Gervais.
Hello Casa North Families,
December is here! It is around this time that a buzz begins to work its way around the classroom. Students begin to spontaneously share their holiday traditions — the family members they will see, the gifts they are hoping to get, or the delicious dinners they plan to eat.
Montessori strives to model cosmic education, which aims to foster “children of the universe” — children who are culturally-aware of the greater world around them. Montessori tells us we are not just Hamiltonians, Ontarians, Canadians, or North Americans — we are members of a shared planet, with traditions each uniquely important in their own way.
With cosmic education as the goal, Montessori schools may choose to celebrate a variety of holidays from different cultures (to provide exposure), or to not celebrate holidays at all (to avoid cultural bias).
In Casa North specifically, we choose to focus on the changing season & all the wonders that winter brings to us. We do not exclusively celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, etc., but honour holiday topics that stem from child-led inquiry. If a students asks questions about a holiday, or brings a book from home, we explore the topic that the child has taken upon themselves to introduce to our classroom. We are neither bringing up nor ignoring holidays; we are simply following the child.
We look forward to sharing our winter crafts, songs, & poems with you!
Best,
Ms. O’Sullivan, Mme. Murati & Ms. Canessa
Good Morning Casa South families,
The Montessori classroom has been designed to foster engagement while supporting the child’s sense of belonging, expression, and well-being. The materials are beautiful and purposeful, providing opportunities for the acquisition and refinement of their skills. Once Ms. Robinson gives a child a presentation, that child is free to explore and practice the activity independently whenever it is available. As an assistant, I get to work with and observe children as they overcome challenges to gain a sense of mastery and self-satisfaction.
The trinomial cube is one of my personal favorites and is an excellent example of the criteria of a Montessori material. While it is considered a sensorial activity (tactile & visual senses) in the Casa classroom it is also a concrete representation of the algebraic equation (a+b+c)³, which is introduced in upper elementary classrooms. The activity is presented as a three-dimensional puzzle made of colored blocks. To complete the activity, the child must use their fine motor skills and discriminate between multiple characteristics of each block to create a larger cube. The high contrast between black and primary colors is visually striking, making it quite attractive. Montessori materials strive to be self-correcting and children use visual cues to determine whether the cube has been built properly and how to fix any errors. It can be quite a challenging material for a young Casa student which encourages deep concentration to complete the tasks of each stage.
A few weeks ago one of the children told me with certainty that he would not be working with the trinomial cube after his presentation, saying it was just too hard. Each day this week, he has invited someone to sit with him while he works with it, not only building the cube but exploring the characteristics and sharing his observations. The curiosity and pride in his work is such a lovely contrast from his earlier statement.
Thank you for letting me share these thoughts with you. I hope you all had a lovely weekend,
Jessica Dewey.
Please enjoy this short video from Mme Perazzo:
We want to thank everyone for attending our parent-teacher conferences last Friday! It is always a pleasure to share your child’s growth and successes with you.
We are thick into the holiday season, with exploration of cultural celebrations and our community charity project. Through stories and crafts, the children are learning about the origins of Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. They are enthusiastically preparing a musical piece to record and share virtually with their friends and family at the end of the term. The classroom has been filled with the sound of singing and instruments as the children participate in both formal and spontaneous practice sessions.
The children are also dedicating time and energy in support of The Shoebox Project! They are using their artistic skills to prepare handbill advertising and persuasive writing to solicit donations from local businesses. They have set up a donation box in the classroom and are eager to begin filling it with treats, cosmetics, and other special gifts for unhoused women in Hamilton. You can view the full donation guidelines by visiting The Shoebox Project. Our final day to receive donations for The Shoebox Project is Monday, December 12.
We also continue to welcome donations of food items for our weekly contributions to the Locke Street Community Fridge, which accepts fresh and frozen foods, as well as non-perishable items.
With thanks,
Marissa and Michelle
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Nov. 21-25, 2022
Happy Monday Lyonsgate Families,
Reminder: there is no school this Friday, Dec. 2, due to Parent-Teacher conferences.
If you still need to select a conference time slot, please click here to do so.
Toy Drive:
Lyonsgate is accepting toys for the Salvation Army Toy Drive up until Dec. 15. Toys must be new and unopened, and they are especially looking for board games and dolls for children aged 2-6. Please drop toys off at the Lyonsgate Primary campus on Aberdeen Ave. at any time. Thank you.
Please also see the Elementary update below for information about their Shoebox Project initiative.
Elementary Program Information Session: the Elementary campus is hosting an information session for parents of 3rd-year Casa students on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 3:30-4:15. Please RSVP to elementary@lyonsgate.ca if you would like to attend. Child care for 3rd-year Casa students will be available at the Primary campus until 4:30 that day.
See below for updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
Hello Toddler Parents,
This week, we have had the special pleasure of welcoming our families into the classroom for a glimpse into what happens in our little community with our Show and Share days this week. Some children enthusiastically showed their parents around, while others were a bit more reserved. It is always fascinating to see what children will choose to do when their parents come to visit.
Toddlers can be a bit unpredictable and rarely perform when asked to do something. This is part of their charm. They must be their authentic selves at all times. If they happen to do something that has been asked of them it is usually because it coincides with what they want to do anyway.
One way to achieve more cooperation with your toddler is to offer two acceptable choices. When you are at an impasse you might offer, “Would you like to wear your boots or shall I carry you?” Choices can be offered at other moments too. You might start the day with two choices of outfits. This way they feel consulted and involved in what is happening in their lives. It sends the message that we value and respect them enough to allow them to make a few decisions for themselves.
Thank you to all of the families that were able to take time out of their busy day to come and visit our classroom. If you have not had a chance to visit during this week of Show and Share, please let us know and we can find a mutual time for an after school visit sometime in the near future.
Ms. Gervais, Mme Craigie, and Mr. Davis.
Hello Casa North Families,
November is nearing it’s end, and what a month it has been!
We hope you enjoyed your Show & Share experience last week, and would love to hear your feedback. Be sure to shoot a quick email or Seesaw message to your classroom teacher with any feedback that you think would be valuable for our Show & Share next term.
You may have noticed that November was a busy month for birthdays in Casa North. These birthday celebrations have been an excellent chance for students to begin understanding the passage of time and what “one year” truly means.
In our classroom, we use a unique ritual where we invite the birthday celebrant to carry a globe & walk around the sun (a lit candle) — one revolution for each year of their life. We sing “The Earth Goes Around the Sun” each time the child circles the candle to represent a solar year.
As the child completes each lap, we often talk about what may have occurred that year (becoming a big sibling; joining Casa for the first time; etc.) or share any photos the child has brought from home.
This month (with the amount of birthdays celebrated), there were great discussions about the notable difference between those walking the circle 3 times and those walking 5 long laps around the circle. The feeling of older and younger, more walking/singing or less…
We cannot wait to celebrate more birthdays this upcoming month, and throughout the new year!
Reminder: Friday December 2nd is a PA Day. The school will be closed to facilitate Parent/Teacher Conferences. We look forward to sharing our observations with you, but please also bring your questions & comments. Childcare will be available during your time slot.
Best,
Ms. O’Sullivan, Mme. Murati, & Ms. Canessa
Greetings from Casa South,
Dr. Montessori recognized what she termed language explosions occurring at different stages of early childhood development. An early explosion takes place during the toddler years, generally between 12 and 24 months. All the oral language a child has heard and absorbed over the preceding months begins to come out in what can sound like a verbal torrent. They have a strong need to name things in their environment, first with single words and eventually in phrases and then sentences.
In Casa classes, we observe another explosion as a child begins to connect letter sounds (phonics) with their corresponding written symbols. They notice letters everywhere, repeating the sounds to themselves or others. The work done through time with many materials, as well as all-important life experience, culminates in a different type of language acquisition. Spontaneous games and activities erupt. A further explosion takes place when a child begins to express themselves in writing or word building with moveable alphabets.
The beauty of so much opportunity to explode into language is that a child delights in this development without an awareness of everything that is yet to come. She enjoys the process, and over time, discovers that she can do something quite complex without knowing how this has come to be. It is really quite an astonishing feat to be able to share your thoughts and ideas in a concrete way.
Language is the synthesis of experience. It is the recorder of history, story, drama, poetry, and personal expression. It is the basis of sharing. You can rest assured there is always plenty of sharing in a Casa class!
See you at the gate,
Ms. Robinson, Mme Perazzo, and Ms. Dewey.
The Elementary class was thrilled to welcome family members to our Open Classroom event last week. Thank you for joining us! Students were excited to share their work, displaying a variety of posters, models, artwork, writing samples, and even serving up slices of pie!
The pieces they chose to share with you reflect the diversity of interests being pursued by individuals in the classroom, as well as the types of follow-up activities that proceed from our formal lessons. While we explore the curriculum through different channels such as story-telling, manipulatives, writing, and acting, many children choose to express their learning through the visual arts. Using their hands in cooperation with their imagination and intellect enlivens the learning process for elementary students, whether to connect with literature and history or to solidify and communicate their understanding of math and geometry. Handwork such as latch hook, origami, and sculpting models provide an outlet for creative energy and develop problem solving and fine motor skills. This work can be independent or collaborative, with the process often being of greater pleasure and reward than the final product.
Through the coming weeks, we will be exploring the cultural celebrations that come with the month of December, as well as participating in a class outreach project to bring a bit of joy to those in our community who have been less fortunate than us.
Beginning today, we are collecting donations in support of The Shoebox Project. We welcome donations of new, unopened, quality personal hygiene and beauty products, nut-free candy or chocolate, hot drink pouches, cozy socks or gloves, or stationary items such as a small journal or colourful pens. We are also happy to include gift cards in the range of $5 – 15 dollars to stores such as pharmacies, groceries, and chain coffee shops or restaurants. The students will also be soliciting donations from businesses in the Locke Street area.
The Elementary students will use the donations collected to construct gift boxes for women and girls in Hamilton struggling with housing. Each gift box will be packed with $50 worth of goods, wrapped with care, and include a handwritten note for the recipient.
We look forward to seeing you this coming Friday, December 2nd, at our parent-teacher conferences!
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle
Lyonsgate Classroom Updates Week of Nov. 14-18, 2022
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Casa & Toddler parents, Show & Share is taking place this week. If you haven’t selected a day to visit yet please click here to do so.
Parents of 3rd-year Casa students, please see the Elementary update for details of an Elementary Program Information Session in December.
Parent-Teacher conferences at both the Primary and Elementary campuses are on Friday, Dec. 2. Please click here if you still need to select a time slot.
Please see below for updates from your children’s Montessori classrooms.
This week in the toddler community we are gearing up for the cold weather. There are so many little items now, mittens, hats and neck cozies.
Please label everything to avoid confusion. Mabels Labels are company that started right here in Hamilton. You can purchase customizable labels for all your child’s clothing that will stay on even after going through the washing machine.
Please consult the weather report and send appropriate gear! This will give us more opportunities to practice dressing and undressing. Try to build in a few extra minutes at home to allow for your child to work towards mastery of these independence skills. We use the coat flip or “flip flop over the top” to put on coats. Place the hood or collar of the coat at the child’s feet, encourage them to place their hands into the arm holes and lift the coat up and flip it over their head while their arms slide into the sleeves. You can then help them start the zipper and let them zip it up the rest of the way. Allow them to participate in small ways at first, perhaps closing the velcro over their boots or finishing tasks. This will allow them to gain confidence in their abilities. Eventually they will be able to dress themselves independently with pride!
Next week we are looking forward to hosting our Show and Share. This is a great opportunity for your child to show you around the classroom and share some of their favourite activities with you.
Ms. Gervais, Mme Craigie, & Mr. Davis.
Hello Casa North Families,
Show & Share is this week! I would say that our team is busy preparing, but in actuality, it is the children who are getting ready to invite you into their world; it is them who chooses which work to show you, them who sets it up, and them providing the tour afterwards. We have very little to do with the direction each Show & Share takes (although we are excited to see it in action).
A big reminder that your child may choose to work with any material they’ve been shown, from any area of the classroom. This means they may pour water, solve multiplication equations, or any spectrum of things in between — and we welcome whatever independent choice they have made!
We are inviting you into our room as an observer. Please do not try to guide or redirect your child; our staff is available to guide, as needed, so you can focus on taking everything in. Simply buckle up & enjoy the ride! We know you will be amazed by your child’s progress and confidence.
Please arrive on time to give your child the best chance to complete their chosen work for you.
Reminder to please sign up for a Parent/Teacher Conference time slot, if you have not done so already.
Best,
Ms. O’Sullivan, Mme. Murati & Ms. Canessa
Greetings from Casa South,
This week, we will welcome you inside our school Casa, or home. It’s an active, stimulating hub full of exploration with many lightbulb moments as well as slower waves of development.
Your child will greet and usher you into our room where they will have set up the activity they want to share with you. If there is still time after presenting you with this work, they may want to give you a tour of the classroom. While they will not be taking anything else off the shelves, they will no doubt be happy to point out a few other materials they enjoy working with.
We look forward to your visit and this opportunity for you to see your child at work in their Casa.
See you at the gate,
Ms. Robinson, Mme Perazzo, and Ms. Dewey
Last week, the students applied what they have learned about forces and structures to design and build a bridge. Each engineering team was given specific measurements and materials to create the strongest possible bridge. Younger students have been challenged to build their bridge using paper straws and tape, while older students are working with popsicle sticks and white glue. We are eager to test these structures soon!
Many students have been exploring poetry through our language lessons. Whether counting syllables in haikus or exploring the rhyme scheme of limericks, the children have been delighted by the different ways words can stir our imaginations. Several budding poets are now eagerly composing their own pieces! We’ve also been exploring the language of music, with some students learning to play, read, and write rhythms, using percussion instruments, four-beat cards, and popsicle sticks. Others were introduced to notes on the staff and learning the treble clef.
By far, the most popular event of last week was our annual tradition to mark the first snowfall of the season: stopping to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and celebrate the wintry weather with friends.
We look forward to sharing some of our work with you this afternoon at our Open Classroom event! Family members are welcome to arrive anytime from 3:30 – 4:15 to tour the student displays. See you soon!
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle.
Elementary Program Information Session: the Elementary campus is hosting an information session for parents of 3rd-year Casa students on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 3:30-4:15. Please RSVP to elementary@lyonsgate.ca if you would like to attend. Child care for 3rd-year Casa students will be available at the Primary campus until 4:30 that day.
