Lyonsgate Update Dec. 18, 2023
Happy Monday Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Just a few things as we embark upon the last week of school before the winter break:
- Registration for the 2024.2025 school year is due today for returning Lyonsgate Montessori students and any siblings that may be starting school. Please see the email “2024.2025 Lyonsgate Registration” sent Dec. 5 for the registration form link and info.
- This Friday, Dec. 22, is the last day of the fall term. The winter term begins on Monday, Jan. 8. Have a fantastic time together with family, friends, and your wonderful children.
- Please drop off any items for the Salvation Army toy drive by the end of the day today. New, unwrapped toys, games, puzzles, or books are very much appreciated for the holiday season.
Hello Toddler Parents & Guardians,
We hope this message finds you well during this festive season. As we embrace the joys of the holidays, we wanted to share the enriching experiences and learning moments your children have been enjoying in our Montessori Toddler program.
Exploration and Independence: Our Montessori environment continues to foster a love for exploration and independence among our young learners. Through carefully curated materials and guidance from our teachers, the children are encouraged to follow their interests, develop their skills, and discover the world around them at their own pace.
Music:
“Music is key for refining a child’s auditory sense. The Montessori sensorial curriculum begins this work, but music brings much more complex stimuli, teaching a child to understand different qualities of sound: colour, volume, tone. This enhances other aspects of brain development, especially language and communication, as well as mathematical thinking. Creating music, whether through singing or instrument play, also integrates the mind and body and enriches our motor skills – which, as we know, is the foundation of building human intelligence.” — Leila Smeyatsky Jacobs, “Music for the Montessori Child”.
Music is a powerful component to our children’s learning and we have been practicing a very simple French version of “Jingle Bells” to help us get into the spirit of the holidays. We have added the lyrics so you can sing along with your child.
Vive le Vent (to the tune of jingle bells)
Chorus
Vive le vent, vive le vent,
vive le vent d’hiver
qui s’en va sifflant, soufflant
dans les grands sapins verts.
Vive le temps, vive le temps,
vive le temps d’hiver
boules de neige et jour de l’an
et bonne année grand-mère.
Wishing you all merry holiday and a JOYful new year!
The Toddler Team.
Good Morning Casa Families!
Every year, the autumn term seems to fly by, yet September feels so long ago. At this time of year we spend time reflecting on how far our students have come, what they’re interested in, and who their friends are.
In Casa South, our students are doing so much language work these days. In September, many children shied away from this type of work, seemed to lack confidence, and needed some lessons refreshed. In December, we see them with sound games, writing lists and booklets, or reading aloud to one another, and to us. It’s beautiful to see such blossoming confidence, curiosity, and a hunger for more difficult work. We see this attitude carry over into other areas as well: exploring sensorial extensions, diligently helping clean the classroom, seeking new challenges in the math area. It’s lovely to see the motivation and enthusiasm in our young friends.
As we look ahead to the new year, we begin to plan an academic path forward for each child, but as the year comes to a close we wish you all a joyous, restful holiday.
Ms. Dewey.
Thursday, December 21 — Upper Elementary Outing
Upper Elementary students will be travelling by public transit to view some seasonal decorations and stop in at the Art Gallery of Hamilton to visit the Bruegel-Bosch Bus, by Kim Adams. Students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt and to bring either their Presto card or bus fare for the trip.
Friday, December 22 — Class Party
To celebrate the final day of school together before the winter break, the kids will enjoy a class party with games and crafts, followed by a special community lunch: pizza delivery! After outdoor time, the students will enjoy some sweet or salty treats and have the option to watch a short video. Students may bring something nut-free to donate to our treat buffet if they wish, and everyone will be welcome to select some treats to eat.
from the Classroom Guides
It’s hard to believe that the first term of the school year is almost over. We’ve had a wonderful fall exploring the solar system and its elements, the diversity of animal life on Earth, and the achievements of early humans. The children have shared stories and songs, created beautiful works of arts, investigated gardens and woods nearby, and solved dozens of math problems! In their leadership role as class elders, Nash and Sam hosted a charity bake sale in support of Kids Sport Canada, raising $221 in cookie sales and another $60.50 in donations to help other children in Hamilton gain access to sports programs in their community. Thank you for bringing your appetites and generosity to the bake sale! Our classroom is always a hive of activity, thanks to the joyful enthusiasm of your children. We wish you all a wonderful winter break together, and look forward to welcoming the children back to school in the new year.
Marissa and Michelle.
from the Classroom Historians
Amica and Abby.
Lyonsgate Update Dec. 11, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Registration for the 2024.2025 school year opened last week. Please see the email, “2024.2025 Lyonsgate Registration” sent on Tuesday, Dec. 5. We are very excited to continue seeing your children grow, learn, and develop together. Please submit registration forms for returning students, and any siblings starting school, by Monday, Dec. 18, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. Thank you.
Lyonsgate Toy Drive & Elementary Bake Sale
Lyonsgate is holding our annual toy drive for the Salvation Army again this year. If you would like to donate, please drop off new, unwrapped toys, games, puzzles, or books at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus by Monday, Dec. 18. Thank you.
Two Elementary students are hosting a bake sale in support of KidSport Hamilton, at the Elementary campus, after school this Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3:30 p.m. Drop by for a quick cookie (or two) before heading home!
Food Safety Update from the Caterer: you may have seen or read about the salmonella outbreak associated with certain brands of cantaloupe and honeydew melon. Lyonsgate’s Primary campus lunch provider, Wholesome Kids, has let us know that although they have not received either product from the affected brands, out of an abundance of caution, they are removing both cantaloupe and honeydew melon from the menus until the outbreak issue is resolved.
Hello Toddler Parents,
It was really wonderful to connect with all of you during our parent and guide conferences this week. Thank you for making time to talk about your children and offer us insight into your lives outside of school. As we approach the very exciting time of the holiday break, I thought that you might be baking and preparing food for the season and it would be fun to include your children in the festivities. Cooking and eating at this time of year can be such a rich treat for the senses, and children at this age are immersed in a sensitive period for learning through their senses. At the same time, cooking with children can feel a bit counter-productive and stressful. Here are a few tips to consider before embarking on this experience together:
1. Prepare the environment ahead of time.
Decide ahead of time what parts of the process the child might be able to take part in. Have boundaries in mind before you get started. Pre-measure the ingredients so that they can add them at the appropriate time. Could they help stir in the ingredients?
2. Do not expect efficiency.
Expect delays and detours. Young children are scientists conducting experiments. Allow for extra time for exploration and be open to making a mess. Perhaps they can have a lump of dough to roll out on their own and add cinnamon and sugar?
3. Involve them in each part of the process in some way: the preparation, the clean up, and the enjoyment of consuming something they have helped to create.
Involving small children in food preparation offers so many avenues for learning. It develops fine motor skills, teaches life skills, basic math skills, offers a sensory experience, and provides an opportunity to do important and creative work that contributes to the family in a valuable way.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Gervais.
This week, two Casa North students in their third year of Casa want to tell you all about what’s been going on in their classroom:
What’s new?
“We have a new craft where you can make a new candle made out of toilet paper rolls.”
“And a new craft to make a heart.”
What do you remember that’s happened lately?
“I remember there were lots of leaves falling, they blew away.” “And rotted away.”
They also explained a few of the photos in the photo gallery:
“He is picking out spiders with tweezers. They’re fake spiders.”
“He is picking up coloured balls with tweezers. There’s a mat underneath and you have to match them.”
“You have to hand stuff to Ms. Beach that she asks for — ‘can I have a bear.’ There’s “the” and “a” cards.”
“She’s using the sketchbook; it learns for you how to draw.”
Anything else you’d like to tell everyone about your class?
“Casa North is wonderful.”
Wednesday, December 13 — Elementary Charity Bake Sale
Sam and Nash are hosting a bake sale in support of KidSport Hamilton, at the Elementary campus, after school this Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3:30 p.m. Drop by for a quick cookie (or two) before heading home!
Friday, December 15 — Gravity Climbing Gym
Students in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 will return to Gravity Climbing Gym for P.E. All students should remember to wear their red Lyonsgate shirts, comfortable pants for climbing, and have long hair tied back. Thank you!
Friday, December 22 — Class Party
To celebrate the final day of school together before the winter break, the kids will enjoy a class party with games and crafts, followed by a special community lunch: pizza delivery! After outdoor time, the students will enjoy some sweet or salty treats and have the option to watch a short video. Students may bring something nut-free to donate to our treat buffet if they wish, and everyone will be welcome to select some treats to eat.
from the Classroom Guides
The whole class had a wonderful time exploring space at the McCallion planetarium last week! They learned about constellations, took a closer look at several planets, and caught a glimpse of far away galaxies in the images captured by the Hubble telescope.
Thank you to everyone for joining us at the Open House event and Parent-Teacher conferences. The children were so excited to welcome you into the classroom, and it was our pleasure to speak with you further about their achievements this term.
We are looking forward to lots of fun over the last few weeks of school before the winter break, with both the charity bake sale and holiday party coming soon.
Marissa and Michelle.
from the Classroom Historians
“This young boy is sketching a tiger from a picture using coloured pencils.”
“The uppers are making posters of different elements in the periodic table. She made a poster of helium.”
“The class elders made a sign about our bake sale. Come buy some cookies if you want on the thirteenth of December.”
“He is making a flip book on the element platinum. A flip book is a piece of paper that is cut into flaps. On each flap there is a question and when you flip it over there is the answer.”
“That’s Saturn and the little white dots are its moons. It has 85 moons. We saw it at the McMaster planetarium.”
Lellie and Georgia.
Lyonsgate Update Dec. 4, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed this Friday, Dec. 8, for Parent-Teacher conferences. Please sign-up for a conference time slot if you haven’t already done so. The link to sign up was sent as a separate email on Friday, Dec. 1. (If you are unsure which class to sign up for, please contact us). Child care is available during your conference.
A few other notes:
- Please see the Elementary section for some important upcoming dates.
- Registration for the 2024.2025 school year will open this week. Look for a separate email soon.
- Winter weather is here! Please make sure your child has appropriate outerwear for the weather each day. Label everything!! Please try to avoid cloth/fabric/knit gloves and mittens when there is snow or wet conditions.
Hello Toddler Families,
It was really wonderful to see all of our families come out for Show and Share last week. It was interesting for us to observe the various reactions to having parents come and visit in the Toddler environment. There was so much enthusiasm, and sometimes a little confusion about what to do with their parents in the room.
As we move into colder weather, please remember to send your child to school with warm and cozy outdoor gear. Most weather can be tolerated and enjoyed if the appropriate clothing is available. We will be going outside everyday throughout the winter.
Going outside each day is an important part of our routine at school. If we find ourselves inside during excessively rainy days we make the best of it, but we all feel the difference.
Richard Louv has written a number of books about something he calls “nature deficit disorder.” He encourages parents and caregivers to make an effort to get children outside more so that they can reconnect with nature. It is essential for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of everyone, especially children. Going for walks in the woods can provide educational experiences that cannot be reproduced in the classroom. Richard Louv explains that as a species it seems that we have forgotten that we are part of nature and this disconnection between ourselves and the natural world has lead to a profound loneliness.
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv offers some excellent advice on how to incorporate more outdoor time into your child’s day.
Ms. Gervais.
Greetings from Casa,
This past week your children welcomed you into their classrooms to show you some of the work they currently enjoy doing; it was lovely to see all of you sharing this time together. This week, the guides will again welcome you to our classrooms for some adult conversation about some of the other work and development that has been going on this past term — not only what your child has been doing, but also how and possibly why they spend so much of their time at school polishing, counting, sorting, arguing, problem-solving, sounding out letters, and so much more.
This is also an important opportunity for us to listen to your observations and questions about your child’s development and growth. Communication between home and school is vital to understanding their needs and interests. This helps us as we provide a space where your child can meet these needs and follow their interests as they continue to grow. Although one term is coming to an end there are still many more months to come and much work/play to be done!
We’re looking forward to meeting with you later this week,
Ms. Robinson and Ms. Beach.
Monday, December 4 — Open Classroom
Please join us in the classroom after school on Monday, December 4 for our first open house of the year! Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15 – 4:15 to see displays of the children’s work from the first term. When arriving, please come up the front porch to the Maple Room door. The children will be happy to welcome you inside!
Wednesday, December 6 — Class Field Trip to W. J. McCallion Planetarium
All Elementary students will be travelling by chartered school bus to the W.J. McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University to learn more about our solar system. The field trip will take place during the morning work cycle, with students returning to campus for outdoor time and lunch. All students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts for the trip!
Friday, December 8 — Parent-Teacher Conferences
Students will enjoy a P.A. day on Friday, while parent-teacher conferences take place. Please remember to sign-up for your conference time slot in advance. Child care is available for students while their parents are attending conferences.
from the Classroom Historians
“Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders are working on elements projects. Last Friday the third to sixth graders went rock-climbing. They were able to try new things like climbing with a harness and bouldering. The Fatty Legs literature circle wrote letters from Olemaun or made-up characters about their life at residential schools.”
“For the first snow of the season we have hot chocolate.”
“Cheers!”
“He is working on his elements project with nitrogen. He’s making a slideshow.”
Lellie and Georgia.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 27, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We have a busy couple of weeks this week and next. Here are your reminders and link information, and please see your Lyonsgate calendar for details:
- Nov. 27-30: Primary (Casa and Toddler) Show & Share. If you still need to sign up for a Show & Share visit, please find the link in your update email.
- Wed., Nov. 29, 3:30-4:15: Casa-to-Elementary Orientation. Casa parents interested in learning more about our Elementary Montessori program are invited to an information event at the Elementary Campus. See the calendar for details and to schedule an Elementary observation. Or, check the Elementary section below.
- Fri., Dec. 1: Elementary Rock Climbing (year 3-6 students). Please see the calendar or Elementary section for details, and click here if you need to complete Gravity Climbing Gym’s waiver.
- Mon., Dec. 4, 3:15-4:15: Elementary Open Classroom. Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15 – 4:15 to see displays of the children’s work.
- Wed., Dec. 6: Elementary Field Trip. Elementary students will travel by school bus to the W.J. McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University during the morning work cycle.
- Fri., Dec. 8: Parent-Teacher Conferences. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed to students for Parent-Teacher conferences. Childcare is available during your conference timeslot. Please see your recent “Lyonsgate Update” emails to select a conference timeslot.
Hello/Bonjour,
I want to start off by saying how wonderful each one of your children are. It’s been wonderful getting to know them and working with all of their unique personalities. For those of you who may not be familiar with me I am Ms. Craigie/Mme Craigie and I will be helping guide your children in their French language acquisition this year. Here in the Toddler community, we focus our attention on introducing a second language as we know that the sensitive period for spoken language is from 7 months to 3 years, with the entire sensitive period for language being from birth to age 6. We are currently learning new words and phrases in French such as “Merci” “peux-tu laver les mains” “au revoir” “bonjour” and many more. We are also singing a few songs that some our second year toddlers remember from last year, and it’s been really lovely to see the first years joining in, c’est merveilleux!
I look forward to spending the year being a part of the children’s day, and getting to know all of you as well.
Ms. Craigie.
The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, and what will the children do then…
The feel of winter is in the air! The excitement is building toward the holiday season. We have even heard the rumblings of holiday carols in our cloakroom. With the change in season comes the addition of hats, mittens, sweaters, snowpants, and boots. Please try to have your children’s items labeled so we can ensure they are dressed for the cold weather in the clothing you have sent in. The children have been busy practicing zippers and independently putting on hats and mittens. The older children have enjoyed helping our younger students and assisting them with dressing for outside.
Show and share is next week, and we are all very excited to welcome you into our classroom. The children are very excited to show you their favourite activities. This is a very special time to share this special space that the children call theirs. They will be excited to tell you about their activities, share their knowledge, and maybe teach you a thing or two. Their ability to complete these activities with independence and skill is breathtaking. Their pride will be notable through their smiles and confidence.
We look forward to seeing you all and welcoming you into the “Casa Dei Bambini” (Children’s House).
Ms. Canessa.
Wednesday, November 29 — Casa-to-Elementary Information Event
Casa parents interested in learning more about our Montessori Elementary program are invited to an information event on Wednesday, November 29, from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. at the Elementary campus. Join Montessori guides Marissa and Michelle to talk about the transition from Casa to Elementary, take a tour of the campus, and learn more about the benefits of a Montessori approach to the elementary years. Childcare for Casa students will be available at the Primary campus for families attending the event.
Parents of children in their final year of Casa are encouraged to arrange an observation of the Elementary classroom in action by emailing elementary@lyonsgate.ca for available dates. Observation time slots are typically available Mondays through Thursdays, during the morning work cycle from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Friday, December 1 — Rock-Climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym
Students in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be having morning P.E. classes at Gravity Climbing Gym. Please remember to complete the climbing waiver for your child in advance, and send in a printed paper copy with your child to school. Students in Years 1 and 2 will continue with their regular afternoon P.E. class.
Monday, December 4 — Open Classroom
Please join us in the classroom after school on Monday, December 4, for our first open classroom of the year! Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15-4:15 to see displays of the children’s work from throughout the first term.
Wednesday, December 6 — Class Field Trip to W. J. McCallion Planetarium
All Elementary students will be travelling by chartered school bus to the W.J. McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University to learn more about our solar system. The field trip will take place during the morning work cycle, with students returning to campus for outdoor time and lunch. All students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts for the trip!
Friday, December 8 — Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parents are invited to sign-up for a conference with their child’s lead guide. Child care is available during your conference.
from the Classroom Historians
“3 and 2 years have been working on planet projects and 1 years have been working on plasticene projects. Uppers have been working on thier math – like flat bead frame, geometric forms, and peg board, and all of the uppers have been doing Element Research. 3 & 2 years have been doing bead frame and racks and tubes.”
Akasha and Cohan.
“These students are sketching a comic book.”
“My friend is using the adverb grammar box.”
“A first-year is cutting out the letter W to practice how to recognize it and how to draw it.”
“Working on the large bead frame, expanding the multiplicand to multiply by units and tens.”
“This person is playing the theme song from Super Mario. I can’t get it out of my head!”
photo captions by – Matteo
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 20, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Friday, Dec. 8, is a PA day for fall Parent-Teacher conferences. Please see your update email to sign up for a 20-minute conference timeslot. Some classes have conference timeslots available after school during the week leading up to the conferences.
Other Reminders:
- Show & Share for Casa and Toddler families is next week, Nov. 27-30. Please see last week’s update for details, and click the link in your update email if you still need to sign up for a Show & Share day.
- Elementary families: please also see last week’s update for details of the Gravity Climbing waiver requirement.
Walking to the Park
This week, we ventured out to explore our community. We brought along a little basket to collect treasures such as colourful leaves, small rocks, and wood chips. We found ourselves at the local park and the children climbed on the equipment, played the outdoor xylophone, and spun around on the merry go round. It was a refreshing change from the school playground and the walk to and from the park made for some interesting observations. It was a reminder about how differently young children view and experience the world.
Small children do not walk in a straight line. They do not take the most efficient route. The sidewalk was optional for them despite our encouragement to walk with us on the paved route. The children noticed particular details that captured their interest. One house had a wooden train and some bird houses situated at the top of the fence posts. We had to pause and look at them. This was a useful observation because it gave us a clue to as to where to turn on our way back to the school.
We embarked on this new adventure because our playground was not available for a few days. I am so happy that we were nudged out into the neighbourhood to explore our community.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour à vous tous!
Nous voici déjà en novembre! Quelle belle saison!
Chantez avec nous!
C’EST L’AUTOMNE!(Frère Jacques)
Les feuilles tombent! (x2)
C’est l’automne! (x2)
Rouge, orange et jaune! (x2)
C’est l’automne! (x2)
We made poppies and have been practicing “O Canada” in honour of Remembrance Day.
We also enjoyed eating some roasted pumpkin seeds and made delicious muffins from our field trip pumpkin.
I have included the recipe for you to enjoy at home.
Looking forward to seeing you at Show and Share!
Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Mme Renée Perazzo
Wednesday, November 29 — Elementary Information Event
Casa parents interested in learning more about our Elementary Montessori program are invited to an information event on Wednesday, November 29, from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. at the Elementary Campus. Join Montessori guides Marissa and Michelle to talk about the transition from Casa to Elementary, take a tour of the campus, and learn more about the benefits of a Montessori approach to the elementary years. Childcare for Casa students will be available at the Primary campus for families attending the event.
Parents of children in their final year of Casa are encouraged to arrange an observation of the Elementary classroom in action by emailing elementary@lyonsgate.ca for available dates. Observation time slots are typically available Mondays through Thursdays, during the morning work cycle from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 23 — Upper Elementary Outing
Upper Elementary students will be taking public transit to the McMaster University Museum of Art for the exhibition of “Crossing Border: Coins from Around the World.” We will have a guided program from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and then enjoy our packed lunches from home on campus before returning to school for the afternoon. Please remind your child that they will need to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt and bring bus fare or their Presto card for this outing.
Monday, December 4 — Open Classroom
Please join us in the classroom after school on Monday, December 4, for our first open house of the year! Family members are welcome to arrive at the Elementary campus anytime between 3:15 – 4:15 to see displays of the children’s work.
from the Classroom Historians
Last week a lot of people wanted to play footy tennis (football with a tennis ball). Some of the fourth years have been practicing angles and the second and third years are making reading logs. The uppers have also been practicing a new song called the periodic table song. Graphic novels are a popular type of book right now, like dog man.
Matteo.
Photo captions by Akasha and Cohan:
“This second-year student is writing alliteration sentences outside in the sun.”
“This first-year student is doing Stamp Game addition in the Maple Room.”
“This third-year student is writing in her journal at the circle table in the Oak Room.”
“These students are watercolour painting in the art room. They are experimenting with “crying dots” which is when you put drops of water on your paper first and then put drops of colour in them, and then tip the paper.”
“These sixth-year boys are working on percentages in math in the Oak Room.”
“These students are working on the science experiment for the law of gravity. First they need to fill a glass bowl with sand, then they put a ping-pong ball in the sand, and then a metal object on top. Then they put a towel over the bowl and shake it really hard. Then they take off the towel and the ping-pong ball will be on top of the sand and the metal object will be underneath the sand.”
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 13, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This Friday, Nov. 17, is a PD Day and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
Elementary Families:
- If you still need to sign up for an LRS conference with Kim on Friday, please do so using the link in the update email.
- Rock climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym is coming up on Dec. 1. Please see the Elementary section for details of the waiver requirement.
Casa and Toddler Families:
- Show & Share is coming up the week of Nov. 27-30. Show & Share is an opportunity for Montessori students to invite their parents into the classrooms to show them some of the materials they work with and takes place at the end of the school day. You will be visiting the classroom with up to 5 other families. Please see your update email for the sign-up link.
All Families:
- Parent-Teacher conferences are Friday, Dec. 8. Sign-up for 20-minute time slots will be available next week. There is no school that day, but child care is available during your conference.
Hello Toddler Community,
This past week was a quiet week. A virus kept some of the children home for most of the week. By the end of the week many had returned and the room felt busy and dynamic again. When children are away the other children really notice and feel their absence.
They ask about each other and some can easily name all of the absent children. Everything in the environment — the activities, the furniture, and even the people, the teachers and the other children, become points of reference for the children. They rely on the predictability of the environment and small changes disrupt their sense of order. They notice these details because they are developmentally sensitive to order during these early years.
Young children have a remarkable ability to absorb an enormous amount of information and skills within a very short time. While they are gathering impressions of the world they are also busy classifying and categorizing this information. During this time they are seeking order to make sense of the world. You might notice your child lining up shoes in the hallway or building a Lego tower out of only blue blocks. The other day we witnessed a child get up out of his chair to move the mop from one hook over to the other hook because that is where it goes. Things that are out of place and people that are missing are noticed. We were so happy to welcome back our friends after they had been away.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonjour la Famille Lyonsgate,
Bonjour au retour des matinées froide d’automne!
As the days get shorter and colder, here in Casa North our students are practicing their “clothes” French vocabulary and cold/hot activity (chaud/froid).
Lots of interactions are happening in the cloakroom:
- “Aidez-moi s’il vous plaît. Merci.” “de Rien!”
- “Aidez-moi avec mon manteau zip-zip, Madame” (It is a funny one!).
Currently, we are working on two different songs:
- “Une Souris Verte”
- “Fais Dodo, Colas mon Petit Frère” (It’s a French lullaby for young kids)
We enjoyed reading books of Carlos (Ex. Carlos, Le Carlin …La Star, Le Tricheur, and Le Touriste, written by Aaron Blabey). Carlos is the most selfish and grumpy pug in the world. The children love those books and always laugh loudly.
Last Friday, we did a group circle where we discussed Remembrance Day, read a story, and listened to trumpet music. During the last week, we made poppies (we cut, glued, and painted them with a black center) and encouraged the children to wear them on Remembrance Day.
Passez une bonne semaine.
Mme Murati, Casa North.
It’s Getting Cold!
Please remind your Elementary child to bring cold weather items such as gloves, a hat, and coat to school. Even if your child doesn’t plan on wearing them, they may find themselves wanting these items during our 45-minute outdoor time or when working or attending lessons outdoors. Thank you!
LRS Conferences — Friday November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, please use the link in your update email to sign-up for a conference time by Wednesday, November 15. Child care is available for students whose parents are in conference.
Gravity Climbing Waiver and Details
Students in years 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Elementary program will be rock climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym.
Waiver info from Gravity: Each climber will need a completed Gravity Climbing Gym Release Form. The release must be signed by their own parent or court appointed legal guardian. Participants who have attended events within the last 2 years at Gravity may already have a waiver on file but we recommend you call us to confirm. The form can be completed online at the following address: http://www.gravityclimbinggym.com/release-form
When completed, parents will receive a pdf copy of the signed form. Please print this pdf and send it in to school with your child. This gives Lyonsgate the ability to verify that each participant has a completed waiver prior to the day of the event. Lyonsgate will bring these forms on the day of the event to speed up the check in process.
from the Classroom Historians
Last week we were celebrating Diwali and so you can see a lot of people working on rangoli. We also had a lot of elements research, as you can see in some of the photos below. A lot of kids were making flowers and other stuff for Remembrance Day, which was this weekend. I saw a lot of people French knitting, working on projects, and doing all sorts of math. The sixth year students were working on percentages. There is definitely a lot of art in the school. I saw a lot of sketching and colouring.
Nash.
Lyonsgate Update Nov. 6, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Last week was a busy one with the Casa and Toddler trip to Puddicombe Farm and the Elementary students’ trip to the Brott Education Concert.
We have a quiet week this week. Next week sees a PD day on Friday, November 17. Both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed but Elementary will be hosting LRS conferences with Kim.
- Elementary Families: please check the Elementary section for details of the LRS conferences; the sign-up link is in the email version of this update.
Hello Toddler Families,
This week in our community, we continued to explore the large pumpkin in our classroom. We must thank Mrs. Findlay for this because she had so many great ideas about how to use our pumpkin. After painting it, washing it, and hammering golf tees into it, we brought it outside to be pushed around by the toddlers. The pumpkin was heavy and awkward to manoeuvre and we witnessed two children working together to roll it back to the shed.
Maria Montessori observed that young children are naturally drawn to activities that require great strength: “Nature seems to be telling him, ‘You have agility and skill and now you must become strong.’” form <em>The Absorbent Mind</em>.
This phenomenon is called “maximum effort.” Young children are drawn to carry and push heavy objects to build their strength and coordination, and to test the limits of their capabilities. There is a great need to climb and defy gravity, balance, and walk with objects in their arms. It is a period of great stamina and independence. It is our responsibility to offer opportunities for these experiments to happen and to honour these natural tendencies to build strength and coordination.
Ms. Gervais.
Good Morning, Casa Families!
What an eventful few days we had last week! Tuesday in particular was quite busy, starting with our field trip to Puddicombe Farms and ending with Halloween. It was a cold day but we were lucky to have the sun shining for our visit. We had the pleasure of riding around the orchards on a sixty year old train and a wagon pulled by a tractor (which was temporarily stuck on the tracks for Casa South!), there were animals to see, and we learned about how pumpkins grow. Each class was able to choose a large pumpkin to bring back to the classroom before we took a snack break. Then we all piled on the bus and rumbled back to school for lunch and a low key afternoon. On Wednesday, we were regaled with stories of spooky decorations, favorite costumes, and reminiscing about the field trip. Funnily enough, most children said that their favorite part was riding the big yellow bus.
After such a busy week, we hope you’ve all taken the weekend to get some much deserved rest.
The Casa Teams.
LRS Conferences — Friday, November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, please use the link in your update email to sign-up for a conference time. Child care is available for students whose parents are in conference.
November Scholastic Order
Your child recently brought home a Scholastic book flyer, offering discounts on books for families and encouraging a love of reading. If you would like to be included in our November shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Thursday, November 9th. Orders placed from the November flyer after that date will be included in our December shipment. Please let us know if there are any surprise or gift items in your order you would like to be kept hidden from your child and we’ll set it aside for you to pick up discreetly. Happy reading!
from the Classroom Historians
Halloween
Last week for Halloween we carved pumpkins and did a scavenger hunt that was exciting. We made paper pumpkins and painted pictures of pumpkins. At the orchestra there was music and a lot of noise. I liked the singing.
Josh.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 30, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families, and Happy Halloween Week!
We know that Halloween is a very exciting time for children. However, we ask that costumes and candy are not brought to school, and are saved for after-school fun with family and friends. Thank you.
Our Casa and Toddler students are also excited about their field trip to Puddicombe Farm tomorrow, and our Elementary students will be taking a trip to see the Brott Education Concert on Thursday.
As a Registered Early Childhood Educator working in a Montessori program I am at home with so many of the core values of my training. How Does Learning Happen, Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years shapes my day as children are viewed as “competent, capable of complex thinking, curious, and rich in potential. They grow up in families with diverse social, cultural, and linguistic perspectives. Every child should feel that he or she belongs, is a valuable contributor to his or her surroundings, and deserves the opportunity to succeed.”
The children are welcomed into Lyonsgate every morning through the lens of being valued members of our school community. They are encouraged and supported through self-help skills such as taking on/off their shoes and coats. (This may soon include mitts, snow pants, and boots!.) They take care of the classroom as they choose to mop up spills, seek out their own interests in the prepared environment, and then put their work away. At lunch we role model proper eating etiquette, scraping their plate when finished, and how to wash their face and hands. Children are afforded the time to try new skills, to make mistakes, and to try again.
Learning is viewed as an individual journey for each child and everyday we welcome the opportunity to be a part of it!
Vanessa Findlay.
Hello Casa Families,
I can’t believe we are already almost done our second month of school. We have been very busy in the classroom. We are all very excited for our upcoming field trip to the pumpkin patch on October 31.
In the classroom, we have been working on independence. Independence is very important to help children build their confidence. The children have been working on dressing themselves on their own when we are coming in or going outside, as well as when they need to change clothes. We allow the child personal pride in their skill to dress themselves. We also work on independence when eating by having the children serve themselves snack. Our whole day supports the child to do things independently.
“The child seeks for independence by means of work; an independence of body and mind.” — Maria Montessori.
The Casa Team.
Halloween
On Tuesday, the class will enjoy some Halloween fun in the classroom, learning about the holiday with some collaborative work and art exercises. Students celebrating Halloween should save their costumes for after school, and sweet treats for at home. Thank you.
Brott Education Concert — Thursday, November 2
On Thursday, the whole class will be traveling by chartered school bus to the First Ontario Concert Hall for this year’s Brott Education Concert: The Search for the Magic of Music. We will be attending the 11:30 a.m. performance, and returning to school for a late lunch and the afternoon work cycle. All students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt for this event!
LRS Conferences — Friday, November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, you’ll receive an email to sign-up for a conference time slot in the coming weeks. Child care is available for students whose parents are in conference.
from the Classroom Historians
“This student was working on language work with the pronoun grammar boxes.”
“This is the carpet of beads. It shows all the times tables.”
“A first-year was working on decorating his art portfolio.”
“He is playing on the xylophone. I think he was playing Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.”
“This sixth-year is working on geometry with the box of sticks.”
Polly and Hugo.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 23, 2023
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
For our Casa and Toddler parents this week:
- A new hot lunch menu will be in effect on Monday, Oct. 30. The lunch menu is available under your “Parents” tab: https://lyonsgate.ca/lyonsgate-lunch-menu/ (you can find out which lunch week it is on your Lyonsgate calendar)
- Please see the Casa section of last week’s update for details of an Oct. 31 field trip for Casa and Toddler students (RSVP is required): https://lyonsgate.ca/updates-announcements/lyonsgate-update-oct-16-2023/#casa
Elementary parents, please see the Elementary section for a number of upcoming important dates.
Thank you to all the families that were able to attend the Parent Education session last week. The topic was “Help Me to Do It Myself: The Role of Practical Life in the Montessori Classroom.” We talked about how to involve children in daily domestic tasks. It was especially wonderful to hear the great ideas for practical life in the home environment that were shared by the parents! One child is helping to prepare food and another is helping to feed the pet dog each day. Small children develop an enormous sense of pride by doing important work in their environment.
The phrase “Help me to do it myself” reminds us that they still need help on the journey towards independence. Think creatively about what parts of their routine they can participate in. Could they finish zipping up their jacket? Could they close the velcro straps on their shoes? Could they help to add ingredients to a baking project? It will most certainly take longer to accomplish the task but it promises to be more peaceful, and more fun.
Ms. Gervais.
Greetings from Casa,
Last Thursday, we held our first Casa parent get-together where we were happy to share our understanding and practice regarding the importance of “The Secret of Childcare.” In a word, this secret is really all about the practice and outcomes of consistency in the daily lives of your children.
We outlined how and why we work at maintaining consistent schedules and routines, particularly during transitions from one space or activity to another in our classrooms. These times of transition included: drop off, lunch, nap, recess, as well as toileting. The parents in attendance shared their own experiences at home, along with some great tips.
Briefly, we know that children adapt quickly to routines when they are consistently practised; they feel secure when they know what to expect and when boundaries are familiar. They may not always (or ever) express appreciation for them, but they do function much better when they are in place. Children settle into regular patterns, relax, and begin to make more and more intellectual, social, and physical progress.
Notes regarding clothing — please leave umbrellas at home, avoid knit gloves and mittens (water resistant are best), and check how independent they can be with dressing and undressing themselves. Please label everything.
We hope to see you at the next get-together,
The Casa Team.
Due to the P.D. Day last Friday, photos and captions from the Classroom Historians will be included in our next weekly update. Please read below for other announcements and dates to keep in mind. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!
Marissa and Michelle.
Scholastic
Your child recently brought home a Scholastic book flyer, offering discounts on books for families and encouraging a love of reading. If you would like to be included in our October shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Thursday, October 26th. Orders placed from the October flyer after that date will be included in our November shipment.
When you place an order online, your family’s order will be grouped together into one class shipment, and all the books will be sent to the school. We’ll let you know when your order has arrived. Please let us know if there are any surprise or gift items in your order you would like to be kept hidden from your child and we’ll set it aside for you to pick up discreetly.
Upper Elementary Outing — Thursday, October 26
Upper Elementary students are reminded to be prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, their Presto card, and comfortable footwear for this month’s outing. The students will be taking public transit up the escarpment and hiking back down to the lower city using the Bruce Trail. Students are welcome to bring along a simple nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle.
Brott Education Concert — Thursday, November 2
We are very excited for the upcoming Brott Education Concert! The whole class will be travelling by chartered school bus to the First Ontario Concert Hall for a morning with the orchestra and their special program, “The Search for the Magic of Music.” Students are reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts on field trips.
LRS Conferences — Friday, November 17
Our next P.D. Day is Friday, November 17. Our learning resource specialist, Kim Fiocca, will be available for conferences with parents. If your child regularly works with Kim, you’ll receive an email to sign-up for a conference time slot in the coming weeks.
Lyonsgate Update Oct. 16, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
This week: we have Parent Education events for both Toddler and Casa parents. Please see the Toddler and Casa sections for details:
- Toddler Parent Education: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 3:00-3:30.
- Casa Parent Education: Thursday, Oct. 19, 3:45-4:30 (RSVP is required).
This Friday, Oct. 20, is a PD Day and both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
Coming up:
- Casa and Toddler Families, please see the Casa section for details of a field trip on Tuesday, Oct. 31. RSVP is required.
Maria Montessori believed that each generation of children had an enormous potential to change the world and make it a better, more peaceful place to live. Our small Toddler Community is a microcosm of the wider world. It is the ideal place and time to learn interpersonal skills, respect for basic human rights, and how to communicate effectively to resolve conflicts. This part of the curriculum is referred to as grace and courtesy. It is invisibly woven into all of our interactions within the environment and it offers the opportunity to build a foundation for peace.
Small children are offered lessons on how to respect the creatures in our aquarium by not tapping on the glass, how to move about a crowded room, how to greet a friend, how to observe someone while they are working, how to ask for a turn with an activity, how to tidy up after meal, how to place the bowl into the bin quietly, how to reset an activity and return it to the shelf with the next person in mind. These are all ways of being in the world that are other-regarding, and these lessons can begin the moment a child is born. We communicate with respect by the way we handle them and care for them and speak to them. They study us as we interact with each other in our environment and when they begin to participate in the world we gently guide them towards respectful ways of communicating. We are working towards a peaceful environment within the Toddler Community and we hope that one day these young children with their small daily gestures of respect for other living things might create a more peaceful world.
Ms. Gervais.
Parent Education
Topic: “Help me to Do it Myself” — The role of Practical Life activities in the Toddler environment.
Why are the children washing tables and mopping the floor and what does it have to do with education? These seemingly mundane domestic tasks actually help to develop the whole child and prepare them for academic pursuits in the future. How are these activities presented in the toddler classroom? How can this kind of work be incorporated as part of the routine at home?
When arriving for your Parent education event, please enter the school via the grey door off the parking lot (rain day door) and avoid the temptation to peek into the playground or pop by to wave before entering. Thank you.
My name is Ms. Kathy Canessa. I am the English assistant in Casa North.
It’s so hard to believe we are already half-way through the second month of school.
Time passes very quickly in our classrooms. The children consistently amaze us with their new skills and newfound independence. Maria Montessori knew what she was talking about when she said, “Play is the work of the child.” When children are given the opportunity to choose their activity, explore with time, and have their own personal space their learning potential explodes, not only academically but also sensorially, verbally, and they find their own sense of pride and confidence.
As we head into the colder months, we expect an explosion of independence with dressing skills. Some might even master their own zipper. Please remember to dress your child in layers so that it is much easier for the child to regulate their own needs for warm or cold. They can then choose to add a sweater or just wear a t-shirt in the class.
I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that we are looking forward to this school year and watching your children blossom before our eyes.
Ms. Canessa.
Parent Education
Topic: “The Secret of Child Care.”
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/D3ZhsQ22GU3R3XGA7
When arriving for your Parent education event, please enter the school via the grey door off the parking lot (rain day door) and avoid the temptation to peek into the playground or pop by to wave before entering. Thank you.
Field Trip, Tuesday, Oct. 31
Casa and Toddler students will be spending the morning at Puddicombe Farms where they will enjoy a train ride, a tractor ride, and a visit to the pumpkin patch.
Cost is $20/student.
Toddlers will require a parent or guardian to attend the field trip with them. Toddler families can meet us at Puddicombe Farms at 10:00 (the programming starts at 10:15). Toddlers can leave at 11:45 and return to Lyonsgate for 12:30 for lunch & nap, if you so choose.
Casa students will travel to and from Puddicombe by school bus. The bus will depart Lyonsgate at 9:30 a.m.
If your Casa child will not be attending the field trip, they may attend school for the afternoon beginning at 1:30 p.m., if you so choose.
Please RSVP by Oct. 26 if your child will be joining us on the field trip using this form: https://forms.gle/C1z7LiH8nN7GjcL29
Be sure to check the weather forecast on the day of the field trip and ensure your child is dressed for the weather. This is a rain or shine event (no costumes please).
Each child will receive a gourd-size pumpkin.
Weekly Updates
from the Montessori Guides:
It was a pleasure to have so many families join us for our Parent Education discussion on “Freedom and Self-Discipline!” It was great to see parents sharing stories and strategies as we collaborate to support the children in developing these parts of their character. Don’t forget to save the date for our next Parent Education event on Thursday, February 15. Meanwhile, students have been busy with new literature circles, Hallowe’en songs, compasses and protractors, and investigating a wide variety of animals!
Marissa and Michelle.
from the Classroom Historians:
“A first-year girl is writing in her journal while her brother is writing in his journal next to her.”
“Two biology partners are sorting out labels that connect to photographs of sea creatures that don’t have backbones.”
“A third-year girl is painting many different colours with tempera.”
“This girl loves to read about fairies and she really likes this book!”
“A second-year student is drawing a pink kitty.”
Hannah J. and Caden.
