Jason Phillips

Hello Lyonsgate Families,

We appreciate you all finding the time to come in for Parent-Teacher conferences this week. The opportunity to sit down with you and keep you up to date on your children’s development and progress is essential to better understanding how we can all work together to give your children the best environments in which to grow and learn.

Montessori can be a little mysterious, and is significantly different than the educations most of us had. We highly encourage you to take advantage of every opportunity to learn more about Montessori, whether that be Parent-Teacher conferences, Parent education events, Show and Shares, or the resources on our website under the “What is Montessori?” tab or in “Reference C: Montessori References and Resources” in your Parent Handbook.

Toddler

Is it really almost December? The growth and resiliency the members of the Toddler community display on a daily basis is truly inspiring. Seeing the increased use of language, growing friendships, eagerness to work on presentations, and a desire to do things for themselves is continually rewarding.

We have some great singers and natural born drummers in the class as well. I am hoping these skills don’t go into hiding when it is time for our winter concert! We have had a full dress rehearsal for winter earlier this month, but the real deal is quickly approaching. This time of year presents lots of new opportunities for the children to further develop their independence and to work on their coordination and motor skills. Boots, snow-pants, coats, and mittens all present new challenges that require patience for both the adult and the child. Often, when the child is asking for help, with some encouragement, they find that they can do things themselves. Whenever possible, we should set the child up for success with outerwear that they can master with minimal assistance. Luckily we live in Ontario where we have a long season to practice putting on our winter gear!

Mr. Davis

Casa South

Casa North

Unfortunately, your children aren’t the only ones who get to share in all the new flu strains, sore tummy’s, and other germ-y goodness we manage to whip up with dozens of children in the same space every day. Both Mlle. Kamongue of Casa South and Ms. Sullivan of Casa North have missed time this week, and Miss Moffatt and Miss Boyle are busy getting ready for Parent-Teacher conferences this week.

If you haven’t already, you will all be getting personal updates about the progress of your children and their Montessori classroom at your conference tomorrow. Have a great long weekend Casa families, we’ll be back to updates for you next week.

Elementary

November has been an exciting month for the Elementary students. We enjoyed our first snowfall, and with it our first snowmen and first snowball battles. We also experienced the challenge of putting on our winter gear for recess and excursions. It is important to the students to be able to get themselves ready for outdoor play in the winter, and we ask that you keep this in mind when assisting them with clothing choices. Please involve your child in checking the weather forecast before they choose their winter wear for the day.

Now that we are well into the term, students are beginning to wrap up some of the large projects that they began back in September. In Montessori cosmic education, the students have the time to delve deeply into a topic that is of interest to them. Some investigations or projects are short, while some are large, collaborative efforts. We have seen a completed stop-motion movie, a detailed exploration of wild cats, and a large superworm experiment is now underway. Some of our younger students have recently begun their very first guided research project.

Throughout the day, one of the driving forces of the Elementary classroom is the practical life activities that help our classroom to run smoothly. Our students participate in tasks such as dusting and sweeping, as well as more complex contributions to our community such as preparing snack, caring for our bearded dragon, and doing laundry. At this point in the term, the students are happy to demonstrate their abilities as they go about these tasks independently, or are learning to ask the advice of older students when they need help.

We hope you enjoyed your visit to our campus to observe your child in the classroom. An Elementary classroom can seem noisy or chaotic, but part of the students’ work is learning to collaborate with each other, to focus on their work in the midst of distractions, and to navigate their social group. In the second plane of development, the Elementary students are seeking to understand their place in their social group, and they tend to congregate, to discuss and debate, and to learn to work things out for themselves without seeking adult help. We were glad you joined us to experience our daily activities.

Coming Up

You will find your Lyonsgate calendar under the “Parents” tab at lyonsgate.ca.

• Friday, Dec. 6: Re-Registration for the 2020.2021 school year available.
• Wednesday, Dec. 18: 2020.2021 Re-Registration due.
• Thursday, Dec. 19: Holiday Concert at 2:30 p.m. Last day of school.
• Friday, Dec. 20 – Friday, Jan. 3: Winter Break. No School.
• Monday, Jan. 6, 2020: First day of winter term.

Photos

Good Afternoon Lyonsgate Families,

Don’t forget there is a PA Day next Friday, Nov. 29, for the Parent-Teacher conferences. Childcare will be available during your conference time. If you still need to sign up for a Parent-Teacher conference time, please click here.

Your children’s Montessori guides have updates about the progress in the classrooms now that we are heading into the final weeks of the fall term. It’s important that we keep you up to date on the overall progress of the classrooms, as well as the individual progress you will learn about at your conference next week. Be sure to give them a read!

Toddler

Three months into the school year, the children are settled and personalities are blooming. The layers of uncertainty have shed; the children have realized that school is simply a new routine and that the morning separation does not last forever. Personalities are certainly unfolding — the empathetic child, the classroom leader, the comic relief, the performer; all personalities that embody this year’s Toddler community.

It is hard to believe that we are speeding towards the end of the first term. It is heartwarming to see how far the children have come — gross and fine motor skills are refining, language explosions are occurring, and a heightened sensory awareness is developing. The most impressive development in a new Toddler class is language —the frustrations and uncertainties that were portrayed through tears are now verbalized. Updates are provided daily, from what was purchased at the grocery store to the weekend activities. It is refreshing to relive the importance of language and communication through Toddlers — to understand and to be understood is truly what we all desire. As we are getting ready to wrap up the first term, this week’s update serves as a reminder that time truly does fly and little moments need to be captured and cherished.

I look forward to speaking to you all next week about your child’s development and share commonalities observed in the past few weeks.

Note to parents: Thank you for your due diligence in labeling all of your children’s clothing. In order to decrease clutter in the cloak area, please ensure that a minimalist approach is embraced — one jacket/snow pant/ snowsuit per child. If you are sending your child to school with an extra pair of winter accessories (mittens, hats), please ensure that they are enclosed in a backpack/reusable bag. The children are excited about self-dressing and a cloak area full of preventable obstacles creates frustrations for them.

Thank you for the weekly donation of flowers (signup sheet can be found at the school’s entrance). The beautiful variety of colours has been quite the topic lately!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ms. Dee.

Casa South

We hope that everyone is staying happy, healthy and warm during these dark days!

An article came up in a Montessori group I am a part of and I thought I would send it your way! I found it very interesting and I hope you do too! Click here to access “Against the Sticker Chart”

I am looking forward to the upcoming parent teacher conferences and am excited to share what your children have been up to!

Miss Moffatt

Casa North

Hello Casa North Families!

Thanks for another great week. As we have officially reached winter weather your children have been diligently practising zippers, snaps, hats, mittens, snowpants, boots, and more! It has been beautiful to see their camaraderie and cooperation.

The classroom has been abuzz with work this week. We have seen third years presenting to first years, children tasting new foods like hummus and persimmons, and some large group activities that encourage teamwork. I have observed some new social bonds being formed as well, which is lovely to see! The social dynamics ebb and flow and can shift the culture of the classroom as a whole.

Thank you for signing up for Parent-Teacher conferences next week. I look forward to being able to sit down with you to discuss your child’s progress so far. If you have yet to sign up, there are still a few slots left. Bundle up, and we will see you next week!

Warmly,

Miss Boyle

Elementary

In the first months of school the students often congregate outdoors for language work, drama, and botany. As the weather tends more and more toward damp and cold, the students have been drawn back into the classroom and work with the physical Montessori materials. Every classroom community experiences its fads and bursts of interest in certain subjects, and lately at Lyonsgate the Elementary students have re-engaged with geometry.

Our most tactile learners have been naming 3D solids, discovering how they move in space, and identifying their 2D equivalents. Using the divided metal inset material, they can visualize and test comparisons of size, shape, and equivalency. They can also use the insets for geometric art explorations by tracing and colouring to create design work. This work also connects with their visual arts study of different types of lines, shading, and use of complementary colours or monochrome. Other children are investigating different types of angles and the varieties of triangles that can be created by different lengths of side. Using the Constructive Triangles material, they discover which types of pre-set triangles can be combined to build other polygons, and then build each type of triangle themselves using the Montessori Box of Sticks material.

As students move through the Elementary years, their love of words and ability to reason combines with their powers of imagination, enabling them to connect the materials to drawings and text. They work with diagrams and precise definitions to develop their vocabulary, review and retain the information, and support higher level thinking and communication about geometry. Conversely, they also use what they have learned in geometry to represent word functions, diagram sentence structures, and illustrate the shape of a story’s plot.

Work in geometry guides students to take the world around them and put it on paper. Once they have learned to represent what they see, they can then illustrate what they imagine. These are the seeds that may germinate one day as part of a child’s cosmic task. Maybe they will grow into careers in physics or innovative engineering. Possibly they will blossom into an artist’s or architect’s hand. Hopefully it will be the gift of being able to sketch out a dream and imagine how to make it a reality, whether it’s a noble plan for getting clean water to a community in need, or the personal joy in building the very best backyard tree house ever.

Marissa

Parent Notes:

• Now that Locke St. has re-opened we have had a request from the crossing guards to please guide children to cross at the crosswalks. We all got used to running across Locke depending on the construction obstacles and they have asked that we all get back into the habit of crossing with their safety assistance.
• Reminder: school photo orders, either paper forms or online orders, are due on Monday, Nov. 25.

Coming Up

Please remember to make good use of your Lyonsgate calendar for up to date information.

• Parent Observations: next week is the last week of observations for Casa and Elementary families. If you have not signed up for an observation time slot yet, please do so using the following links:

• • Casa families, please click here to select your observation time slot.

• • Elementary families, please click here to select your observation time slot.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: take place on Friday, November 29; there are also a few afternoon/after school time slots during the weekdays leading up to the Friday. There is no school on Friday, Nov. 29, but childcare is available during your conference time. Click here to select your child’s class and a conference time.

Photos

Hello Lyonsgate Community,

We almost had our first snow day of the school year this week! Please check the “Handbook Highlight” section of this update for information on how we call and communicate snow days.

Speaking of snow, please be sure children have appropriate outdoor weather gear each day, and that EVERYTHING is labelled: mitts, hats, scarves, even boots. Many children have the same or very similar winter wear.

This week, your children’s classroom French assistants are discussing the importance of second language acquisition to developing learners. Be sure to read them all!

Toddler

We survived the first big snow fall of the school year! The children have been excited to tell us all about their snow experiences as they enter the classroom. So wonderful to hear them tell us stories and have conversations with us about what they do with their families.

Language acquisition is a big part of the toddler experience. Right now they are in a sensitive period for language. The children learn language by hearing others speak around them. This is what makes having a second language in the classroom so exciting. Not only are the children learning the complexities of the English language, they are also learning this new foreign language they haven’t heard before, French. Children are forming more and more synaptic connections in their brains as they learn and make connections with the world around them. Repetition strengthens these connections, and the stronger the connections the more impact they have on language as the children grow older. The earlier we start with language, as well as introducing a second language, the stronger the connection the children are able to form.

Learning a second language in the toddler room creates many meaningful opportunities to learn alongside one another. The children are able to help each other understand what I am saying in French and are able to make connections to the words I am using through actions. It is an amazing experience being able to watch a child grasp a concept I am saying in French and follow through. The simple task of getting a tissue becomes more complex when I am asking them to do so in French. It requires them to focus and be attentive to see what I am saying and gesturing to. Once they think they have figured it out, their eyes light up and they walk over to what they think I asked them to do. Using the French language gets the children to use analytical thinking to break down what I am saying and figure out what parts they understand.

Language is a beautiful tool the children can use to communicate with us. Children are able to be more independent, use grace and courtesy, and use more complex thought when they have the language to do so. French heightens everything that the children learn as another layer is added to everything they do. I am so grateful for the opportunity to help the toddlers learn another language and to support them through their journey!

Note to parents:

• As you begin to prep for winter, please ensure clothing items and boots are practical for toddlers. Avoid things that are too tight or otherwise complicated; avoid cloth/knit mittens as they get wet and little hands get cold; and try to leave enough time in the morning to have toddlers dress themselves in their outerwear (and let them practice in the evening).

Mlle. Noordam

Casa South

Dear Casa South families,

We’ve officially survived our first week of snow this school year! Naturally, with all the extra articles of clothing brought into the cloakroom, comes yet another opportunity for the children’s language to develop. When children learn a new language, they progress from sounds, to words, to conversation. At first, children are curious and most interested in knowing the name for everything. Understanding that a hat can also be le chapeau comes quite naturally for some. Grasping the concept that one single object can have more than one name for it isn’t always easy, but when one child knows the English and French (maybe even Spanish or Africaans) name for something, they don’t hold back from sharing it with their friends. The conversations that happen in the cloakroom are so precious, with children reminding one another to put on their bottes and their mittaines! There’s definitely some franglais that can be overheard. I can still remember one student who spoke almost always in Spanish at home; his English and French developed so rapidly when he came to Lyonsgate and it was truly effortless how it seemed for his brain to switch from the different languages. Every time he got ready for recess, he’d start listing off hat, chapeau, gorra! That enthusiasm is all it took for others to join in.

Communication through written or spoken word plays a key role in allowing us to form a connection or bond with one another. It’s what makes us human, where we can express our feelings and our needs to the world around us. Babies come into this world crying and will do so when they need something. They’re hungry or they’re tired or they need their diaper changed, but they don’t know how to tell us; so they cry. It’s frustrating when, even as an adult, you know what you need but you can’t explain it. Of course, we all know the importance of learning to speak for ourselves, and when children learn a second one, their awareness of communication only increases. In the Montessori environment, there’s a reason language (in all aspects of the classroom — sensorial, culture, etc.) is introduced at such a young age. The Toddler and Casa students are still young, yes, but between 0 and 6 years of age is when they are in a sensitive period for language acquisition. Their brains are quite commonly compared to a sponge that soaks up everything in that environment. Maria Montessori called this the Absorbent Mind. In other words, it is the ideal time to learn language. Montessori explained this to be the reason it’s more difficult to learn a language when you’re an adult. While language acquisition is a subconscious process and learning is conscious the children are privy to both in the classroom. They subconsciously retain things that they hear and learn new things through presentations. In fact, people who speak more than one language have denser grey matter, which basically means the part of the brain dedicated to memory, reasoning, and planning is larger.

This adaptability benefits them to be able to communicate with new people with new dialects around the world. Learning a second (or third) language goes a long way to setting children up for success in future endeavours, travel, or work opportunities. It’s also a lot of fun!

Merci! Bon weekend,

Mlle Paul

Casa North

Using a second language is like going on a different path to arrive at the same destination. No matter which path you take, you’ll get to where you’re headed. However, what matters most is the journey.

When we use a second language it teaches us humility and self-confidence! We don’t remember how many times we fell before being able to walk like we do, but we will probably remember the mistakes we made while using a second language (at least the big ones!), and yet we will try again and again. We are quick to discover that it is mistakes which help us grow, and that truly help us learn.

When someone learns a second language, their thinking and memory skills improve. Their thoughts become deeper and more meaningful, and it helps them to think in new ways. Having a second language makes us create new connections in the brain and develop different perspectives on the same ideas. This helps us to see the same world from two (or more) different angles. Bilingual individuals can concentrate better and ignore distractions more effectively than those who only speak one language.

Each language brings with it its own culture that enhances an individual’s knowledge of the world. The uniqueness of expressions, grammar, and where to place emphasis in each language will show many different perspectives.

Merci, M. Bouquin

Elementary

Salut tout le monde! This week is about how learning another language impacts all aspects of learning. I’ll begin with some general benefits of foreign language acquisition which include: improved memory, improved decision-making skills, improved cognitive abilities, and a better understanding of one’s first language.

The children in Lower Elementary learn a new language through listening, and for most here at Lyonsgate they began this aural learning at a early age in the Toddler or Casa communities. Listening skills vary from child to child and following the child will decide when each individual is ready to begin examining sounds and blends in the written word. In our classroom, I will begin with the letters that have the same sounds in English and French so as not to confuse the child. In this way the two languages are reinforcing each other. Often in Upper Elementary, when the students study language in more depth, they develop a better understanding of how their first language works. Sentence structure can be compared and contrasted.

In our classroom, we have specific French materials which are often game-based to encourage oral communication, pattern recognition, and problem solving. However, as the children’s fluency in and knowledge of French grow I can assist them in math in French. Looking at Roman Numerals in French is an easy transition for most children who have just enjoyed that lesson in English. In fact, math can be done at all levels in French. I recently suggested to the Upper Elementary students that they give their answers in French instead of English when practicing flash cards. Command cards are a great favourite in English and as the children learn to read in French they are a great way to boost a child’s confidence. The kinesthetic element to reading and acting on what you have just read is also used in the AIM program which produces our wonderful French plays every year. This year as part of our dramatic arts program we hope to learn our way around the stage in both languages. Our cooking and food preparation endeavours are consistently performed in both languages. It is always fun when a child realizes that certain cooking terms originated in French!

As always it is a pleasure for me to be the one to learn alongside your children in French. Thank you all for choosing to make French an imortant part of your child’s learning.

Madame Egan

Handbook Highlight

You can find your Lyonsgate Parent Handbook under the “Parents” tab at lyonsgate.ca.

Lyonsgate takes advantage of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board inclement weather process, which tries to post cancellation notices by 6:00 a.m. If HWDSB closes, so does Lyonsgate. If there is a snow day, we will communicate that to you as early as we can in the morning via email, lyonsgate.ca“Home” page, and Facebook. For your information and reference, the process HWDSB uses to determine whether or not to close schools is in the reference section of your Parent Handbook and can be found on page 137 in the viewer.

Coming Up

Please remember to make your Lyonsgate calendar a part of your regular routine.

• Parent Observations: for Casa and Elementary families are continuing throughout November. If you have not signed up for an observation time slot yet, please do so using the following links:

• • Casa families, please click here to select your observation time slot.

• • Elementary families, please click here to select your observation time slot.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: take place on Friday, November 29; there are also a few afternoon/after school time slots during the weekdays leading up to the Friday. There is no school on Friday, Nov. 29, but childcare is available during your conference time. Click here to select your child’s class and a conference time.

Photos

Good Afternoon Lyonsgate Families,

Lyonsgate clothing is now available to purchase from French Toast. Click here to link to the Lyonsgate school store. (You can also find the Lyonsgate store by going to frenchtoast.com, clicking “Shop By School,” and searching for “Lyonsgate.”)

When placing your orders, please click the Lyonsgate “Decoration” option after selecting your size.

At checkout, you can click on “Checkout As Guest.” Shipping, taxes, and duty costs are calculated during checkout.

We have also been sent a coupon code for 35% off polo shirts and pants that is valid until Nov. 14. Use code: SB35PP

Lyonsgate clothing is not required as a school uniform, but many children do enjoy wearing their Lyonsgate clothing to school.

Toddler

“I did it” has become a buzzing expression in our classroom. We hear it every time a child can independently complete a task that once appeared impossible. It is very important that the adult plays an appropriate role — letting and encouraging the child to do it themselves and only intervening when they ask for help.

Recently, many of the Toddlers have been working with various materials that aid in developing fine motor skills: using tongs, sorting, spooning, and transferring. The development of fine motor skills is important for overall human development; it is especially important as a precursor to writing and working with more complex Montessori materials.

Note to parents:

• As you begin to prep for winter, please ensure clothing items and boots are practical for toddlers. Avoid things that are too tight or otherwise complicated; avoid cloth/knit mittens as they get wet and little hands get cold; and try to leave enough time in the morning to have toddlers dress themselves in their outerwear (and let them practice in the evening).

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Ms. Dee.

Casa South

We are so excited to invite parents to observe in Casa South this month! The opportunity to observe your child is a very lucky one — you get to see what goes on in the classroom all day. I am sure a lot of you ask your children “What did you do today?” and I am sure your response more often than not is “nothing!”… well I can assure you that is not true!

For some of you first time attendees, your child may be a little overwhelmed by your presence. As you know, we are trying to cultivate the “children’s community” and their “second home” and they tend to get used to the fact that you are not a part of that. Please don’t feel disappointed if your child wants to sit on your lap, snuggle, or just sit at a table and stare at you. Allow yourself to observe the other children in the classroom, what they are working on, and how the community as a whole interacts. Notice the children choosing their work, how they work with the materials, how they tidy up, and how they return the work to the shelf exactly as they found it.

For those of you who have never observed in the classroom before we have a “How to Observe” outline which you will find on your seat. Please take a moment to read it over.

Please try to simply relax and observe. If the children ask you who you are you can introduce yourself and say that you are here to observe their work and simply return to your silent observation. It is of course very tempting to interact with the children, to touch things on the shelves, to take photos, or to wipe your child’s nose… but please try not to; you may miss the wonderful magic happening around you.

We really appreciate that you take time out of your very busy schedules to partake in our observation month! Thank you so much!

Casa North

Hello Casa North families,

Last Friday on the PD day, and the Casa North team headed to Brock University to attend a Montessori conference. We participated in several workshops lead by the Director of Training at the Foundation for Montessori Education (my trainer in Toronto), Sandra Girlato.

We love working with your children every day, and we take the responsibility seriously. We discussed strategies within the Montessori community, and learned a bit about our peers’ experiences in the classroom as well. These conferences always leave us feeling refreshed, inspired, and eager to implement any and all that we learned into our community in Casa North.

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to welcoming you into the classroom for observations this month!

Warmly,

Miss Boyle

Elementary

Through the month of November, we invite parents into the environment to observe the social dynamics of the community, see the variety of materials used by the children throughout the day, and how students are learning to balance their freedom to choose with their responsibility to learn. Observation is a critical practice in the Montessori classroom, where a trained eye and knowledge of each child as an individual is used to assess their learning and development rather than formal tests and competitions. We observe the children to see when they are nearing mastery with a particular activity or when a new curiosity is emerging so we can be ready to meet them with the next challenge or offer them a lesson in a new direction. We observe them to see which characteristics of this age and stage are strongest in a particular child at that moment (Is it hero worship? Is it physical stamina?) so we can direct them to the type of work that will best feed them at this moment and motivate them to go further. We observe them to ensure they are happy, healthy, and, most importantly, experiencing joy in their daily life.

This week, our class attended the annual Boris Brott Education Concert for an amazing program of classical pieces from Bohemia and modern rock songs from the band Queen. The performance also featured an impressive 10-year old violinist and a comedic group of tumbling acrobats. The concert was fantastic, and yet the eyes of the guides were drawn away from the stage to the children around us, because what we were observing amongst the students during this performance was pure joy! Friends whispering excitedly about the different instruments, pointing with wonder at the handstands and flips, and enthusiastically stomping, clapping, and singing along with “We Are the Champions.” Apart from the performance, we also observed our youngest students learning to take public transit together, and the love and care our older students give them as they learn to travel the city. We look forward to having you come in to observe throughout November to see the amazing things your children show us each day. [Click here to see a Facebook album of photos provided by the Brott Music Festival]

Coming Up

Your Lyonsgate calendar has all your up to date information.

• Parent Observations: for Casa and Elementary families are continuing throughout November. If you have not signed up for an observation time slot yet, please do so using the following links:

• • Casa families, please click here to select your observation time slot.

• • Elementary families, please click here to select your observation time slot.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: take place on Friday, November 29; there are also a few afternoon/after school time slots during the weekdays leading up to the Friday. There is no school on Friday, Nov. 29, but childcare is available during your conference time. Click here to select your child’s class and a conference time.

Photos

Hello Lyonsgate Montessori Families,

It’s Halloween next week, and we’d just like to remind everyone about the school policy surrounding this very exciting time for children. From your Parent Handbook:

We know that Halloween is a very exciting time for children. However, we ask that costumes and candy are not brought to school. They can be saved for after school fun with family and friends.

Thank you for understanding.

And don’t forget, the day after Halloween is a PD Day. There is no school, so stay up late and eat all the candy and have a day to say “Oooohh…my belly.”

Unfortunately, due to some traffic and scheduling issues, this past week’s visit from Boris Brott had to be cut short and the Casa children did not have an opportunity to spend time with him.

This week, your children’s classroom assistants have updates for you.

Toddler:

Is it really almost November? Time is flying in the Toddler classroom. The cool weather is here, and it is only going to get cooler, but getting bundled up offers a plethora of opportunities to exercise their independence, and learn to navigate boots, zippers, hats, and mittens. Morning drop offs have been going increasingly smoothly. It is a joy to see their smiling faces as they walk up the stairs, ready to start a new day.

The children are getting more and more acquainted with each other, and their individual personalities are really starting to shine through and make our community of toddlers so vibrant and unique.

Inside the classroom, our work cycle has been a flurry of activity, with an increased interest in cleaning-based activities, painting, and watering the plants that help beautify our environment. Together we’ve developed a seasonally appropriate cinnamon raisin bread recipe that has been a huge hit with the class, and as a bonus makes the entire school smell heavenly. The children love participating in the baking process almost as much as they enjoy eating the rewards of their hard work. I am looking forward to more fall fun with the class.

Mr. Davis

Casa South

Hello Casa South,

I have settled into my role in Casa South where everyday I carefully observe and keep records of each student. I notice during my observations that some students really love to work together while others prefer to work independently, but whichever they choose they are focused and engaged in their work. The classroom is a very productive and respectful environment where the children help each other whenever necessary.

I am also responsible for recess everyday. While outside with the children, I supervise and make sure they are safe. I observe their behaviour, how they interact, and the language they use to communicate.

Additionally, I take care of the children during nap time. I set up the cots and help a few of them off to sleep. When the children have finished their nap, I assist the children back into the classroom to finish off their school day.

We enjoyed our field trip at the Royal Botanical Gardens which was full of excitement and many enjoyable moments. Many parents came with us to share the experience. The weather was great and we had so much fun seeing the students’ interest in the different activities.

Mlle. Kamongue

Casa North

Hello Casa North families,

It has been an eventful month here at Lyonsgate. From starting our month off with getting out in nature at the Royal Botanical Gardens to all cleaned up for Picture Day this week, October has been filled with exciting days for Casa North.

Within the classroom as well, this month has been a busy time of transition and settling into routine. As the children gain more experience in the classroom and on the playground they have begun to show more confidence in their work and play. One thing that I’ve especially noticed is that they are taking on the role of advocating for themselves — their needs and their bodies. This has been a wonderful thing to witness as they shift more towards independence. I’ve had the opportunity to progress with them in small groups and in independent work as well. They are constantly surprising me with the information they know, what they are able to do, and the way in which they see the world.

This month in particular, the children have taught me many things. One of my favourite parts about spending the day with them is that they remind me to see the wonder in even the tiniest of things; like the day that we found a potato bug out on the playground, or the joy that they get out of singing their favourite songs. It continues to be a daily pleasure to spend time with them in the classroom and out on the playground.

Have a great weekend,

Ms. Sullivan

Elementary

This past week, many of our Elementary students had moments of personal triumph, such as young readers moving on to a more difficult series of readers, a second year student discovering the algorithm for addition without using materials, one of the youngest students emerging the victor in an extremely competitive game of tag at recess, and a student understanding the decimal system and its relationship to money for the first time. I am privileged to observe the joy and pride each student feels as they achieve their personal victories.

The Elementary class has been working hard exploring our rights and responsibilities as citizens of Canada. Prior to the federal election, the Upper Elementary students examined issues such as climate change, education, health care, indigenous issues, and immigration. They made posters summarizing the positions of each of the major political parties and presented the platform of a political party to their fellow students.

The entire class participated in Student Vote, in which students across Canada were able to cast their votes. We set up a polling station in our classroom to give the students the full experience of voting. They waited patiently in line to be checked off the list of registered voters, filled out a ballot behind a privacy screen, had their ballot signed and placed in the ballot box.

Two of the things I love about working with the Elementary students is their passion for fairness and their eagerness to debate and discuss issues. They took election issues very seriously. I observed even the youngest students taking time for consideration before casting their vote, and one student spent a long time agonizing behind the privacy screen before he could make his final choice. All of our students keenly anticipated the results of their own vote. They were able to compare the actual federal election results to the Student Vote results across the country and their own class.

Our community outing this week was a visit from conductor Boris Brott. We prepared for his visit by learning about the instruments typically found in an orchestra and learning all the verses of the “Orchestra Song.” The students loved the opportunity to play “Ode to Joy” on the tone bars as Mr. Brott conducted them. He also answered questions about the life of a conductor, how he became a conductor, and how much practice goes in to preparing for a performance. Following this outing, students have been given presentations of the tone bars, and the entire class had the opportunity to hold and play a child-sized cello. The students were very enthusiastic about their musical studies this week, and we look forward to further explorations of orchestral music and musical instruments.

Michelle.

Coming Up:

Remember to check your Lyonsgate calendar for all the goings on at Lyonsgate Montessori school.

• Monday, Oct. 28: Elementary photo day.
• Monday, Oct. 28: New lunch menu starts! Click here to view it. (Remember, you can check the calendar to see which week of the rotation we are on).
• Friday, Nov. 1: PD Day. No school.

Photos

Good Afternoon Lyonsgate Families,

It’s haircut weekend! Toddler and Casa students will have their school photos taken on Tuesday, Oct. 22. (Elementary families, your children’s photo day is Monday, Oct. 28). Students will have individual photos taken, as well as photos with siblings where applicable. You will receive a photo proof package a few weeks later from which to choose a photo package.

If you still have an outstanding immunization form for your child, please remember to drop them off at the school next week. Thank you.

This week, your children’s French guides have updates for you.

Toddler

Can you believe it is already mid October? The classroom is bustling with energy as the children have become comfortable. It has been marvelous to observe the children’s exploration of the classroom environment.

The children have begun to understand and have conversations with me in French. Popular topics are leaves, our classroom fish Poseidon, and how delicious their snacks are. I have been able to do some French activities about fruits and vegetables. The children have been working on connecting the name of the items in English to their newly learned names in French. The children have enjoyed saying “pomme.” I even observed two children take out the fruits and proceed to identify every fruit as a “pomme.” I am excited to see that they are making connections with what I am saying and applying it to their work.

French gathering has become a joyful time to sing “Frère Jacques” and talk about pumpkins. The children have started using my gestures along with the songs.

There is still a lot to learn and navigate in the classroom. Explaining different situations to the children using words they aren’t familiar with yet can be difficult. Together we are navigating through language and making deeper connections. As the children make more connections with the French language I hope to use more new words, introduce new songs, and explain some of the French activities. I am so excited to see what the next few weeks have in store for our community!

A reminder that there is a sign up sheet for flowers at the entrance of the school. The children have such joy when they bring the cut flowers into the classroom. It is a great way for the children to contribute to their classroom environment.

— Mlle Noordam

Reminder Please: Please ensure that Toddler children have appropriate outerwear for the weather conditions every day, and please label everything — hats, gloves and mittens, scarves, etc. too. Also, please avoid cloth or knit gloves and mittens. They are convenient, but inevitably get wet and make little hands even colder.

Casa South

Dear Casa South families,

I hope you all had a restful weekend spent with family and maybe some turkey (or to-furkey)! Although we’ve had some shorter weeks recently, your children have been keeping very busy with lots of work in the classroom. As they settle in, they become a lot more confident with the materials and are so, so eager to be shown new things.

For the children, it might seem daunting when they first hear a new language. They’re still learning their first one and they’ll look at me wondering “what on earth is Mlle Paul saying!” Expecting this confusion, I would repeat the word or phrase over again making sure to give gestures and facial expressions to help them understand. Those are a big part of my job: rubbing my hands together when I ask them to wash their hands, pointing to my shoes while I ask them to put theirs on, or making exaggerated expressions to convey an emotion. At their age right now, having that consistency is so important. I like to make sure I’m using the same phrase and word every time and over time it just clicks. The older children who’ve been with me in the past are also a great help and love to explain to the others what I’m saying. They’ll hear French throughout their day, whether it’s in the class, outdoor at recess and all the other transition periods, and they just soak it up without realizing.

During the work cycles, the first thing I’ll introduce to the new ones are Montessori Classified Cards because they can see a picture of what they’re learning and learn the proper word to associate it with. Having small groups with a set of Classified Cards goes a long way. The cards are something they can hold and have a clear depiction of what they’re learning. For those who are ready, they can read the labels (French and English are on the backs of each one) and practice writing their own. So far this year, we’ve worked a lot with the types of butterflies, construction vehicles, and fruits.

Reading, on the other hand, is something I start to work on once they have a good foundation in English first. When Ms. Moffatt sees that a child is ready to learn their sounds (sometimes they already know some!), she’ll show them the Sandpaper Letters. Once a child has worked with Ms. Moffatt on sounds and reading phonetic words, I’ll start to introduce them to those in French. The biggest difference between the two, in sounds, is the vowels, so I’ll work on those then move towards phonetic words and phonograms. I’ve introduced these to a few children this past week and they were very excited to work with the new material. Just like all the work in the classroom, once they’ve been shown it they are welcome to take it out whenever it is available. In the past, I’ve watched a child take out phonetic words every day and work on sounding them out! Sometimes they will be reluctant or uninterested to practice them and that’s completely fine. It can be a little daunting when there’s a stack of unknown words, but I simply encourage them to practice reading just a few at a time or even partner up with a friend who’s been shown. Finally, we have a set of phonetic readers (beginner French books) that I’ll work on one-on-one with a child who is ready.

It’s only October, but Casa South has already learned so many new songs and poems, and they practice the days of the week and the months of the year in most French groups. I’m excited to keep teaching them new things in French!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

À lundi! Mlle Paul

Casa North

Bonjour!

Over the past month and a half, the children have progressed with their French language knowledge and understanding. Our greetings are now more interactive and we can share conversations about what they have had for breakfast or dinner at home.

This week during the French gathering, we have begun to focus on introducing ourselves, such as “Hello, my name is _____”, as well as “please” and “thank you.” I am constantly impressed by their use of French vocabulary –- they can name many fruits and vegetables that we worked on during the month of September.

You have probably heard your child singing or humming “Sur le pont d’Avignon” which is one of the songs we sing together. Just like in September, we continue to read books together and work on our vocabulary on a regular basis.

Thank you to all parents who I hear supporting French greetings each morning and at the end of the school day. It’s really nice to see parents learning alongside their children!

Au revoir,

M. Bouquin

Elementary

My how quickly the time is passing! Speaking of time, the Upper Elementary students will be taking another look at time in French as a fun way to revise and solidify some of those larger numbers. We might even take a closer look at the 24-hour clock. Upper Elementary students are also busy reading a collection of 28 different comic style books with focus on comprehension and fun language activities.

Year 3 Lower Elementary children began looking at math word problems in French, some of which we will do in the back yard on the black board for as long as Mother Nature will allow us. Year 2 Lower Elementary children are currently writing topical poems reflecting the season and one of its special celebrations. Year 1 students have been colouring rainbows, French flags, and autumnal leaves all the while learning to read the various colours in French. They are all progressing very well and are using various versions of bingo as they learn to count higher in French. We are also including more songs in our learning and will hopefully prepare one or two songs to sing to the residents at Aberdeen Gardens on our next visit there.

The children are always so happy to find new material and activities on the French shelf to work with. They are so willing to continue to broaden their French knowledge. Thank you for sharing them with me.

As always I can be reached at janice@lyonsgate.ca should you have any questions, concerns or comments to share.

À bientôt,

Madame Egan

Reminder for Upper Elementary parents: Upper Elementary students will have their second O.W.L. class next Friday, October 25.  The students each brought home a green duotang with their O.W.L. topics, readings, and homelink assignment to be completed before each workshop.

Don’t forget to get informed and go vote on Monday; the Elementary students did on Thursday:

Handbook Highlight

This week, take a look at “Ref. C: Montessori References and Resources” in your Parent Handbook. [p. 129 in the viewer] This section has a glossary of Montessori terms and links to websites and videos about Montessori covering everything from research into Montessori student outcomes to a parent-to-parent fastdraw video about Montessori.

Coming Up

Please remember to check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date information.

• Tuesday, Oct. 22: Toddler and Casa photo day.
• Wednesday, Oct. 23: Boris Brott, who many of you know from the Brott Music Festival as a conductor of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, is coming to Lyonsgate to give a presentation to the Casa and Elementary students. Elementary students will be walking over to the Primary campus for the 10:00 a.m. start time.
• Thursday, October 24: Sign-up for November parent observations sent out.
• Monday, October 28: Elementary Photo Day.
• Monday, October 28: The new Fall/Winter hot lunch menu begins. This will be a new 4-week rotation of all new meals for the Toddler and Casa students at the Primary campus. We will post the new menu on the website when it comes into effect, and you can always check your Lyonsgate calendar to see which week we are on.
• Thursday, October 31: Sign-up for Nov. 29 Parent-Teacher conferences sent out.
• Friday, November 1: PD Day. No school.

Photos

Click the gallery to view it separately.

Happy Thanksgiving long weekend Friday!

We hope everyone has a feast- and fun-filled weekend. Remember, there is no school on Monday, Oct. 14.

It was a busy week at Lyonsgate with field trips, cross-country running, and Casa and Toddler Show and Share (Elementary families, it’s your Show and Share turn next Thursday).

We have a new photo feature for you this week: once you have read through the entire update ;), you will find a slideshow gallery of your Lyonsgate Montessori students learning about themselves and their worlds.

Your children’s Montessori guides have busy week re-caps for you and notes about how the classroom communities are coming together one month into the school year.

Toddler

Yesterday’s show and share solidified what has become apparent to us — the children are settling into the classroom beautifully. Their excitement about your presence was very apparent, and of course portrayed in various ways: water spillage everywhere, re-arranging materials on the shelf, stacking different materials on top of each other, etc. This was the children’s way of asserting that the classroom is their space, and everything that seemed out of order is completely normal. As adults, it takes extreme restraint to avoid interference; Dr. Maria Montessori cautioned the adult to avoid interrupting spontaneous learning and concentration. The Montessori environment minimizes the child’s need for adult assistance and maximizes self-regulated activity. Everything the child comes in contact with facilitates and maximizes independent learning and exploration.

Wednesday’s field trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens was another opportunity to combine the best of both worlds — school and home life that are completely separated were now combined into one. Some of the children were not fazed by the occurrence while others were understandably reserved. Both of these events in one week have certainly provided a turning of a page and have been the perfect precursor to the second month of school.

I was overjoyed to have you all join us in the classroom and I am hopeful that Show and Share has provided a small glimpse into your child’s day. Next week, I will be reaching out to provide a one-month update. I look forward to speaking with you about your child’s adjustment and address any questions that you may have.

Wishing you all a beautiful long weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

Ms. Dee

Casa South

It was such a busy week at school! Field trip, Show and Share, and Thanksgiving celebrations!

We had such a great time at the Royal Botanical Gardens on Wednesday! Our tour guide Danielle was so lovely. She showed us different flora and fauna, taught us new games, took us for a hike, and let us feed chickadees! Field trip highlights for Casa South were lunch and playing in the beautiful natural playground!

Our first Show and Share was a great success! Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and siblings that came for this special event. The children are so excited on Show and Share day and are so proud to show you the classroom. If you weren’t able to attend, don’t worry, there will be plenty in the future!

The past couple days we have been baking up a storm! It certainly smells like Thanksgiving in Casa South. We made pumpkin pies — FROM SCRATCH! We roasted the pumpkins, pressed in the pastry, stirred up the filling, and baked them ourselves. It was quite the endeavour but totally worth it!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and their families! We hope it is full of food, family time, and relaxation! See on Tuesday!

Miss Moffatt

Casa North

Happy Friday, Casa North Families!

This week, we had a field trip to the RBG as well as a Show and Share. It was chock full of excitement and adventure! Many thanks to our parent volunteers for helping out at our field trip. We had beautiful weather, lots of gross motor exercise, and plenty of fresh air.

Our Show and Shares are always a hit — the children adore inviting in their families and showing off what they’ve been presented (or not presented, for those ambitious ones!). It’s a great opportunity for me to see them reveal their interests and interact with their loving families. Thank you for stepping into the classroom and seeing how they thrive in their environment.

We did some holiday baking in the classroom as we discussed Thanksgiving this week. The children shared what they were thankful for, and some of your family traditions, with one another. Please enjoy our apple cinnamon bread, and feel free to try the recipe out for yourselves.

Happy Thanksgiving! See you on Tuesday.

Miss Boyle

Elementary

This week, the Elementary class joined with other Montessori schools at La Salle Park in Burlington to compete in a friendly cross-country race while raising funds for education projects in Uganda. Each of the students challenged themselves in different ways. Some were filled with nervous anticipation, eager to achieve a new personal best; some were wary of this group athletic pursuit, finding it more appealing to observe and cheer on their teammates; others fought to master their expectations and disappointments, and resolve to try again another day. The best thing about observing our students on these outings, however, is the way they connect with each other, and the world around them. Our team supported each other with wild cheering sections, hugs and words of consolation, and companionship over competition along the course. Many students paused during the race to enjoy the view of the lake, discover the water fowl, and chat with the teachers stationed on the trail.

Back in class, some of our younger students heard the Third Great Lesson: The Coming of Human Beings, followed by the Timeline of Human Beings, in which they explore pictures of life in the Stone Age. They were also presented with the Montessori Black Strip, a 30-metre long piece of fabric that helps the children imagine the enormity of time that existed for the Earth, and other forms of life, before humans emerged in order to give children a sense of humility in the face of time. The Upper Elementary students continued their comparison of party platforms on key issues in the upcoming Federal election, as well as different types of government.

We can’t wait to share some of our work with you next week during the Elementary Show and Share event! See you on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 3:30-4:30. (If you are changing your regular pick-up routine to attend Show and Share with your child, please let us know well in advance).

PLEASE NOTE: The Elementary photo day has been changed to Monday, Oct. 28.

Don’t forget to drop off Elementary students at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16, for our outing to the Steam and Technology Museum, The bus will leave the Primary campus at 9:00 a.m.

We are so grateful for our families, friends, and community here at Lyonsgate. We wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving weekend. We’ll see you on Tuesday!

Marissa.

Handbook Highlight

This week we want to draw your attention to “Part 1” of your Lyonsgate Parent Handbook [p. 17 in the embedded viewer]. This part of your handbook contains summaries of each of the three Montessori programmes at Lyonsgate — Toddler, Casa, and Elementary — and each includes a typical daily schedule. Some days we do things differently, but most days run according to these schedules. It’s a handy reference for things like drop-off and pick-up times, and when might be a good time to schedule and pick up for things like dentist appointments.

Coming Up

Please remember to check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date information on what’s going on at Lyonsgate Montessori School. You can also click in the bottom right corner to add it to your own Google/gmail calendar.

• Happy Thanksgiving! There is no school on Monday, October 14.

• Elementary Families:
  • Don’t forget to drop off Elementary students at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16, for our outing to the Steam and Technology Museum, The bus will leave the Primary campus at 9:00 a.m.
  • Elementary Show and Share: Thursday, Oct. 17, 3:30-4:30 at the the Elementary campus (Locke St.). Elementary parents, if you are changing your regular pick-up routine to attend Show and Share with your child, please let us know well in advance. Thank you.

• Toddler and Casa Photo Day: Monday, Oct. 22.

• PD Day Friday, November 1. No school.

• Parent Observations in your child’s classroom will take place throughout November. Online sign-up for your 20-minute observation slot will be available Thursday, Oct. 24.

• Parent-Teacher conferences are coming up on Friday, Nov. 8.

Photos

Click the gallery to view it separately.