March Break, Ministry, and City of Hamilton Updates
As you know, the Ministry of Education announced the postponement of the scheduled March Break for publicly funded schools on Thursday, Feb. 11. From the Ministry press release:
The actions announced today serve to limit opportunities for congregation - while reaffirming the evidence that schools are safe for students. ...With respect to travel, our government's position on this is unchanged. Ontarians should refrain from travelling, particularly given the increase in new variants that pose a direct risk to our country. Please stay at home as much as possible and continue following the direction of public health officials so that we can keep schools open and protect our seniors, frontline health workers and all families.
As you know, Lyonsgate had two weeks of March Break scheduled this year (March 8-19). In an attempt to accommodate parents who may have already booked time off in March, and for families that also have children in, or are employed by, the public or Catholic systems, we will be splitting the two weeks between March and April.
- March 15-19 will be March Break (this aligns with the original HWDSB March Break)
- April 12-16 will be April Break (the new HWDSB break).
We know that we still have a March Break week during the period of postponement. With the majority of children remaining in school during the March week, we anticipate there will be less opportunity for Lyonsgate students to congregate and we do not imagine anyone will be travelling in the current circumstance.
It is a delicate balance, and we know that this is very difficult for families that have already booked both March weeks off and will have difficulty securing additional time off in April. The pandemic and everything it brings remains difficult for all of us.
Please note: there may be further changes coming; a meeting with Hamilton Public Health scheduled for last week was postponed due to new information they received from the provincial government, including March Break postponement. That meeting has not yet been rescheduled, but when it is we may have new mandates from Public Health regarding March Break postponement requirements and additional COVID safety measures.
Latest Update: we received one update from the Ministry of Education today. The latest change affects other household members if someone in the household becomes symptomatic; from today's Ministry update, they are now:
...requiring all household contacts of symptomatic individuals to quarantine.
Through this memo, this guidance is being applied to staff, students and children by requiring them to stay home from school or child care if anyone in their household has new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19 and has been recommended for isolation and testing.
All asymptomatic household contacts of symptomatic individuals are required to quarantine until the symptomatic household member:
- receives a negative COVID-19 test result, or
- receives an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional
If the symptomatic individual tests positive, or is not tested and does not receive an alternative diagnosis from a health care professional, the symptomatic individual must isolate (including from household members) for 10 days from symptom onset, and all household contacts must isolate until 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic individual.
We will update the screening form "Next Steps," Lyonsgate policy documents, and your "COVID-19 Supplemental Parent Handbook" next week, We are still expecting updated guidance related specifically to the Primary campus, but that update will most likely align with the "school" guidance above.
Vaccination Reporting to Public Health
Hamilton Public Health has made changes to vaccination reporting. At Lyonsgate, this primarily applies to children in their 2nd or 3rd year of Casa, or new to Ontario. From Public Health:
Parents and legal guardians of junior and senior kindergarten registrants and students new to Ontario are asked to report their vaccinations to Hamilton Public Health. Parents are responsible for notifying Public Health each time their daycare or school-aged child receives a vaccine [Note: this applies to all Lyonsgate students].
Due to the on-going COVID-19 Pandemic we are moving away from paper registration for reporting vaccinations. Please visit our online reporting tool at www.hamilton.ca/reportingvaccines and select the online option.
If you do not have access to the internet or you have any questions, please call 905-540-5250.Required Children’s Vaccination Records
By law in Ontario, Public Health needs:o An up-to-date vaccination record, or
o A valid exemption formThis is required for each child attending a licensed child care centre, licensed home child care agency (Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/14c11 ) or school (Immunization of School Pupils Act - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900645).
How to Check your Vaccination Records
You can check to see if your child has the vaccines they need to attend child care or school by:- Reviewing their vaccination record (yellow card)
- Asking your health care provider
- By checking Online
- Or by calling Public Health at 905-540-5250
Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
Also from the City of Hamilton:
A Community Safety and Well-Being Plan is being developed for Hamilton. The planning and development of this plan is being overseen by a cross sector community advisory committee bringing together representatives from municipal government, education, police, not-for-profit sector, health care, and human services. The aim of the Community Safety and Well-Being plan is to ensure all residents in Hamilton feel safe, has a sense of belonging and can meet their needs for education, healthcare, food, housing, income, and social and cultural expression.
As part of the Hamilton’s Community Safety and Well Being Plan (CSWBP), we are holding community sessions later this month seeking feedback from residents and service providers as we work to prioritize six challenges facing the community. These include: mental health and stigma, housing and homelessness, hate incidents, violence, substance use, and access to income.
It is critical that the CSWBP reflect the needs and perspectives of Hamiltonians. During this phase of planning, the community can provide feedback in a few ways:
- The community is invited to review the project information online and to post, read and like feedback until March 1, 2021.
- Residents can register to participate in a CSWBP Virtual Community Conversation on February 24 from 2 to 4 pm or February 25 from 6 pm to 8 pm.
- Service Providers can register to participate in a CSWBP Virtual Conversation on February 22 from 2 to 4pm.
Thank you everyone. So far, next week has no PD days, holidays, or snow days in the forecast, and fingers crossed there are no more pandemic problems.
SNOW DAY. LYONSGATE CLOSED TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 2021
SNOW DAY TODAY, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16. LYONSGATE IS CLOSED.
Lyonsgate utilizes the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board inclement weather process, which posts cancellation notices by approximately 6:00 a.m. If HWDSB closes, so does Lyonsgate.
Stay safe and have fun in the snow. We'll see you tomorrow for snowy recess fun. Remember to dress for the weather on school days.
New Mask Rules, Screening Forms, Elementary Return and Winter Weather
Mandatory Masks for 2nd and 3rd Year Casa Students
The return to school on Monday, Feb. 8, brings with it enhanced COVID-19 safety measures. On Friday, Feb. 5, we received updated safety measures for the Primary, licensed child care campus, from the City of Hamilton. Students in their second and third years of Casa will now be required to wear masks both indoors and outdoors, starting on Monday, Feb. 8. Montessori students in their 2nd and 3rd years are equivalent to school age children in JK and SK. (First year Casa students are the ages 2 - 3.8 years old group mentioned below).
See below for the updated safety measures from the City:
We understand that in some cases these changes go above and beyond the minimum ministry requirements, however based on current COVID-19 case numbers and Public Health advice, we are implementing additional health and safety measures in Hamilton.
1. All school-age children (Kindergarten and above) are required to wear a mask or face covering. This includes both school and community based before and after school programs.
2. There will be an increased focus on masking while outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Given the challenges of maintaining physical distancing with children, we are strongly encouraging masking of children and staff/students at all times while outdoors. If a child requires a “mask break”, they should be encouraged to move to a space that is a minimum of 6 feet away from all other children and staff before removing their mask.
3. Children between the ages of 2 and 3.8 years are encouraged to also wear a mask however this remains at the parent’s discretion. Child care operators should provide communication to all parents and caregivers advising them of this recommendation.
4. Active screening, including a temperature check, is required upon arrival to the child care centre. This applies to both children and staff/students. Parents and caregivers are still encouraged to complete the online screening in advance of arrival, but should also be actively asked the screening questions upon arrival.
Your child's masks should, with their mouth wide open as if yawning:
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remain securely in place, covering both nose and chin
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fit well around their face, with no gaps at the edges
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be comfortable enough to avoid the need for adjustments while wearing
Please see the "Winter Weather" section below for information on mask use outdoors during the winter.
Return to Lyonsgate's Logged Screening Forms
In order to meet the screening requirements above, and expected requirements for Elementary, Lyonsgate will return to using our own screening forms starting Monday, Feb. 8. These forms ask the same questions and provide the same guidance as the provincial school and child care screening form, but they also allow us to track and log daily completion of the forms by parents and staff, making drop-off more efficient for you.
Please complete the relevant form (Primary Campus, Elementary Campus, or Staff Screening) each day, after 5:00 a.m., and prior to arrival at Lyonsgate. The forms will be available on the Home page of lyonsgate.ca on Monday morning in place of the current provincial form.
Elementary Return to School
Lyonsgate Elementary students will return to in-person learning on Monday, Feb. 8. Please see the email from your child's Elementary Montessori guide, sent on Thursday, Feb. 4. That email contains information on:
- Masks
- Physical Distancing
- Return of Materials
- Submission of Completed Work
- Return of Continuing Work
We are expecting updated, enhanced safety protocols for the Elementary campus from Hamilton Public Health. We will let you know as soon as we receive word.
Prompt Departures
Updated guidance from the Ministry of Education on the safe re-opening of schools strongly discourages students and their families from congregating before and after school. We ask that you depart for home as soon as you pick up your child from either Lyonsgate campus. Thank you for understanding.
Winter Weather
Overall, we have had a fairly fortunate winter in terms of severe weather conditions. Lots of fun was had in the snow at the Primary campus recently, and colder weather is forecast for next week. A weather widget has been added to lyonsgate.ca, on the Home page so you can view it when you visit the site to complete the required daily screening forms; click on it to view the full Hamilton forecast and please make sure children have appropriate outerwear for each day's weather conditions.
Reminder: cloth or knit gloves and mittens are not suitable if there is snow on the ground. They become wet and frozen quickly when students play with snow and hands become very cold. Please also send an extra pair of mittens so that they always have a warm and dry pair.
Below is guidance from Public Health Ontario about outdoor mask use during cold weather:
Mask use outdoors
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Replace masks that become wet or frozen in cold weather.
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Ensure access to multiple masks throughout the day for students, teachers and school-based staff to replace masks that become wet.
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Where possible, maintain a physical distance of 2 metres, if someone must remove their mask while outdoors.
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Do not use neck warmers or scarves in place of masks because they do not form a seal around the nose and mouth and may not be made of the recommended material.
Extreme Weather
- Inclement Weather (Snow Days): Lyonsgate utilizes the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board inclement weather process, which posts cancellation notices by approximately 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 mornings via email, lyonsgate.ca “Home” page, and Facebook. (For more information from HWDSB, please see “Part IV: Reference and Resources: Ref. E: HWDSB Winter Weather Bus Cancellations and School Closures” in your Lyonsgate Parent Handbook).
- Extreme Cold: students at Lyonsgate will remain indoors for recess when the City of Hamilton's cold weather alert conditions are met. Those conditions are a temperature of -15°C or below or a windchill of -20°C or below.
PD Day and Family Day
- Friday, Feb. 12 is PD day and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
- Monday, Feb. 15 is the Family Day holiday.
Both campuses are back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Stay safe, stay home, and stay warm (brrrr).
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Lyonsgate Update: Jan. 22, 2021
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Thank you for all of your timely submissions of registration forms for next year. We will begin building the classes for next year and make offers to those on our wait lists soon. If you can, we are asking Primary parents to please print and sign only the last, signature page of the registration form that is emailed to you upon submission and drop it off to Ms. Mattar in the morning. If you do not have home printing capabilities, please let us know and we will have your form ready for you. If you still need to submit a registration form, please do so as soon as possible.
PD Day
Friday, January 29, is a PD day. The Primary campus will be closed.
Elementary Material Pick-Up
Elementary students working from home will have a second material pick-up day on Friday, January 29. Jason will be available at Elementary from 9:00-4:00. Please stop by to pick up additional materials at your convenience. Registration forms will also be available to sign at that time.
Hot Lunch Menu Online
One of the things that fell through the cracks this year was the posting of the hot lunch menu for Casa and Toddler students. It is now available under your "Parents" tab at lyonsgate.ca. Check the calendar to see which week of the 4-week rotation we are on. Many families check to make sure they are not doubling up on the same meal for lunch and dinner, and also use the menu for new meal ideas.
Lyonsgate Update: Jan. 8, 2021
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We have updates about registration for the 2021.2022 school year, the extended closure of the Elementary campus, a request from neighbours at the Primary campus, financial support, and some reminders about Lyonsgate COVID-related information that is available and where to find it.
Registration
Registration for the 2021.2022 school year will be available next week.
Extended Elementary Closure
The Provincial government has extended the closure of elementary schools. January 25 is now the stated date for a return to in-person learning at the Lyonsgate Elementary campus.
Updated online learning schedules are now on each cohort's "Learning Support" web page. We will distribute any additional learning materials as need be.
Neighbour Complaint
Neighbours at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus have expressed concern about children playing on the parking lot snow banks that border their property. To maintain good relations with our neighbours, we are asking that families please depart the property promptly after picking up children. Thank you for understanding.
Financial Support for Parents
Parents that have not already applied for this second round of funding are eligible to receive $200 per child ($250 for children with special learning needs) from the provincial government. Click here to access the government's "Support for Learners" web page .
- Primary Parents: when applying, select "My child is not enrolled in either public or private school" and proceed with the default "My child is in child care" option.
- Elementary Parents: when applying, select "My child is enrolled in a private school" and begin typing "Lyonsgate" into the "Search for a private school" box; Lyonsgate should pop up as "Lyonsgate Montessori School (Elementary, L8P 4B9)."
Information Reminder
Remember that you can access all necessary COVID-related information and tools on the Home page at lyonsgate.ca:
- the Provincial school screening tool (note: this tool is updated as conditions change).
- the Hamilton Public Health Return Attestation form (to be completed anytime a child misses school due to illness).
- a link to the Hamilton COVID-19 test booking website.
- the Hamilton Public Health "Decision Charts" to follow when a child is ill (Sick Child at Home and Sick Child at School).
- the Lyonsgate COVID-19 Advisory Page where information about any positive cases in the school community is required to be posted.
- the Lyonsgate COVID-19 Supplemental Parent Handbook that contains all of the information you need to know about policies and procedures in place at Lyonsgate during the pandemic. All policies published in this handbook are up to date with the latest revisions from the Ministry of Education and Hamilton Public Health.
Remember to also check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date information. January is fairly quiet, but there is a PD day on January 29.
Thank you, everyone, for your ongoing patience, understanding, and commitment as we continue to navigate our way through schooling during a pandemic. It won't always be this way, but you make it easier for all of us to help each other stay safe, healthy, and happy.
Thank you.
Lockdown/Closure Information
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We're sure you've heard the news about the school closure after the holiday break. We have received details from the Ministry of Education and Hamilton Public Health and here's where things stand:
Primary campus (Aberdeen; Casa and Toddler students): Will remain OPEN to ALL STUDENTS.
Elementary campus (Locke St.): Will be closed to students from Jan. 4 - Jan. 8, 2021, with in-person schooling resuming on Monday, Jan. 11. Students will begin online learning on the morning of Monday, January 4. Staff will also be at the school on Jan. 4 for pick up of prepared materials packages for students. Schedules and details for online learning will be shared before the new year.
Return to "Active Screening": Both the Ministry of Education and Hamilton Public Health have mandated a return to active screening. This means Lyonsgate staff will be verbally asking each parent the screening questions prior to entry each day. Please continue to use the Provincial Screening Tool to determine whether or not your child should attend school; the screening tool is updated as conditions change. Please be patient with the stricter screening measures and be aware that drop-off may take a little longer.
As you remember from the spring and summer, things can change quickly. The closure dates may be extended or new protocols put in place. We will let you know if anything changes.
We hope you are all having as wonderful a winter break as you can under the circumstances. Stay safe, stay home, stay healthy.
Lyonsgate.
Lyonsgate Winter Holiday Message
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
As we near the end of 2020, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for entrusting your children to us through all the new experiences that this school year has brought. While it has presented many challenges to us as adults, the children have proven their ability to adjust to new situations with ease. It has been magical to watch in awe as the children acclimatize and flourish with all the changes. Their level of adaptability is nothing short of inspiring! If only we could all adapt the way a child does, what a peaceful and joyful world we could live in!
We want to wish you all two wonderful weeks of festive merriment, rest, and fun family time. This holiday season will be different than any of us have experienced before. Celebrate safely, stay healthy, and please make the best choices for your family, the school community, and the community at large.
We are all being asked to celebrate with our own households only and to avoid travel and social gatherings. If you do travel or extend your celebration circles, please follow the relevant guidelines from Hamilton Public Health.
The Provincial government has both an overview webpage with guidance to "Celebrate Safely During COVID-19," including "Ten Safe and Fun Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season."
The Government of Canada has a webpage listing restrictions and requirements for:
Primary Morning Screening Change
When we return in January, with the colder weather it brings, morning screening will be moved to the glass foyer entrance of the synagogue (off the parking lot). Starting in the new year, please walk your child to the glass foyer doors of the synagogue. Once clear from other families, please enter for your child to have their temperature checked inside the foyer. Toddler students will be escorted by a teacher directly to their classroom from the foyer. Casa students will continue to need to be escorted to the black gate, where they will be greeted by a member of their cohort staff.
In Case of Closure
If the holiday break is extended or closures are announced, Lyonsgate will shift to remote, at-home learning.
Note on Terminology:
If it is announced that "schools" are closed for an extended break, this will affect the Elementary campus only; Casa and Toddler students at the Primary campus will still be able to attend Lyonsgate Montessori.
If it is announced that "child care" (or "licensed child care") is closed, that means the Primary campus (Casa and Toddler) will be closed.
The most likely scenario is that "schools" will be closed before "child care," but keep an eye on the wording of any closure announcements. We will of course let you know.
In the event of an extended break or closure announcement, materials and online schedules are ready to support you. Details will be shared within the first two days of the winter term (Jan. 4 and 5). In the meantime, you can review the plans for at-home on pages 16-19 of your "COVID-19 Supplemental Handbook."
2021.2022 Registration
Registration for the 2021.2022 school year, along with fee schedules, will also be distributed when we return in January. Thank you for your patience as we work through the difficulties the current year presents while planning for the future.
While we will miss the winter concert, we hope you enjoy the special videos shared by each classroom, and we look forward to our return in January.
Enjoy a well-deserved break and rest everyone, and celebrate safely in all the wonderful ways you do.
Lyonsgate December Update
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We have a few pieces of information for you as we head towards the winter break:
December Dates
The last day of school is Friday, Dec. 18. Students will attend for the full day.
The winter break runs from Monday, Dec. 21, to Friday, Jan. 1.
The first day back to school is Monday, January 4, 2021.
Montessori at Home Series
The Foundation for Montessori Education is hosting a series of webinars for parents throughout January:
Montessori at Home Webinar Series
Are you interested in bringing the Montessori philosophy into your home? Do you want the children in your life to feel empowered and capable in their home?
The "Montessori at Home" Webinar Series occurs over four Saturdays in January and is open to anyone with an interest in Montessori education.
Sandra Girlato, Lynn Woodward, and special guest, Meg Gunsar, will speak to the following topics:
- Saturday, January 9: Introduction to Montessori in the Home
- Saturday, January 16: The Importance of Independence
- Saturday, January 23: The Relationship between Movement and Intelligence
- Saturday, January 30: Family Communication: Speaking, Listening, Connecting
Each live webinar runs from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. EST.
A recording of each webinar will be provided for a limited time to those who have registered.
Cost: $40.00 CAD per webinar
If you are interested, please click here to register.
Shoebox Project Recipe Book
Thank you to everyone that has ordered recipe books in support of The Shoebox Project. You can still order until tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. Payment can be made by cash, or by cheque made out to "Lyonsgate Montessori School," and is due upon pick-up during the last week of the fall term (next week -- Dec. 14-18).
The recipe books will be $10.00 for a digital (pdf) version and $12.00 for a printed version.
Orders can be placed through Monday, December 7. Order your recipe book here.
If Lyonsgate families would also like to donate gift cards, cards from grocery stores, drug stores, and other accessible businesses (for example: No Frills, Food Basics, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart) where women can acquire necessity items are requested, in denominations no greater than $50.00. You can also donate directly to The Shoebox Project.
Return Attestation Reminder
A reminder that if your child is home due to illness, please submit a Return Attestation Form upon their return to school. This is a recent, new Public Health requirement, and the link to the form can be found on the Home page at lyonsgate.ca. Thank you.
Parent-Teacher Conferences in November
Happy November Spring Lyonsgate Families,
A short update for you this week as we head into November. There is a PD day on Friday, Nov. 13, and a PA day on Friday, Nov. 27.
- On the Nov. 13, PD day Lyonsgate staff will spend the morning working with their cohort teams to refine and plan for the rest of the fall term; during the afternoon all Lyonsgate staff will continue anti-bias/anti-racism training through a workshop led by Ateeka Khan, the owner of Stoney Creek Montessori School and parent of an Elementary student at Lyonsgate. Ateeka has an academic background in Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and African history, and experience with anti-racism work in the community. This is traditionally the PD day we attend a large Montessori conference put on by the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators and the Canadian Association of Montessori Teachers; unfortunately, that conference will not be taking place this year.
- The Nov. 27 PA day is for our first set of Parent-Teacher conferences. There is no school that day, and all conferences will take place via Zoom.
When you book you will receive a confirmation email from the scheduling service that contains instructions on how to join your conference. Please look for that email and retain it for reference on Parent-Teacher conference day.
These conferences will be the first chance to discuss how your child's school year is going. We know there is less information and imagery from the classrooms this year as we remain in our contained cohorts and stay on top of the COVID-required duties, and in-class observations are not possible, so we hope everyone is able to attend a conference. Look for photos from your child's class on Seesaw!
Enjoy the beautiful weekend weather before winter's inevitable arrival.
Lyonsgate Updates -- Boo! Oct. 30, 2020
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
The children are all very excited about Halloween, even if it may be a little different this year. However you are choosing to celebrate, or not, have fabulous family fun this weekend and we look forward to hearing all about sore candy tummies on Monday.
We have a few updates for you this week:
Return Attestation Form
Starting next week, when children are away from school due to illness, parents are required to complete a "Return Attestation" form. You can find it here, on the Home page at lyonsgate.ca, and in the updated COVID-19 Supplemental Parent Handbook.
This is the same form used by the HWDSB and provided to us by Hamilton Public Health. It presents six different scenarios based on possibilities related to symptoms and testing and asks you to check the one that suits your child's illness, the course of action taken, and confirms that all criteria for return are met.
Updated COVID-19 Supplemental Parent Handbook
This supplemental handbook contains all of the information you need to negotiate the various COVID-19 protocols and procedures. We have updated the information on daily screening, test booking, the Return Attestation form, what to do depending your child's illness, and the two different sets of symptoms. All new information is in bold in the Table of Contents.
Find your COVID-19 Supplemental Parent Handbook here and on the Home page or under your Parents tab at lyonsgate.ca.
Lower Elementary Cohort Photos
The scheduled Elementary picture day was cancelled due to the inability to take photos outdoors. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule an outdoor picture day this year.
But that's ok! On the cancelled picture day, the Upper cohort students took it upon themselves to take pictures of each other in their photo day finery. They will be continuing this project on Monday, Nov. 2, for students in the Lower cohort. Feel free to break out the good clothes and comb the hair one more time. We will have digital photo files for you, from a student perspective.
Candy Reminder
Lyonsgate strives to provide nutritious lunches and snacks and our Nutrition Policy asks that items like candy are not sent to school in lunches or as extra treats. Good nutrition throughout the day is optimal for developing brains, and candy is often a significant distraction and cause for emotional discontent among other children. Thank you.
Fall Back
The hour goes back this weekend. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep (especially after Halloween!) and we'll see you all on time on Monday morning.