Jason Phillips

Hello Lyonsgate Community,

We are halfway through this short winter term and this week we have updates from some of your children’s classroom assistants. Enjoy!

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We also have some info about school and illness for you. T’is the season and germs are being shared; we’ve had an upswing in the number of children and staff coming down with colds recently. You will also find a letter from Hamilton Public Health regarding coronavirus.

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Reminder: Next Friday, Feb. 14 (happy Valentine’s!), is a PD Day and the following Monday, Feb. 17, is the Family Day statutory holiday. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed on both days.

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Toddler

I would like to start off by thanking everyone who was able to join us and make last week’s Show and Share such a success. It is always wonderful to see new aspects of the children’s personalities emerge when they are with their families, as well as the pride they feel when welcoming you into their Montessori environment to observe their work. As a teacher, it is a real joy to see the children taking ownership over the classroom.

As you may have noticed during Show and Share, a lot of the toddlers are currently drawn to water-based activities such as pouring, watering plants, mopping, not to mention the return of shoveling snow during recess. Don’t be alarmed if more wet clothing comes home than usual! On the subject of clothing, it is always good to keep things labelled so we can assure that the items find their way back the the rightful owners. This is especially important during the cold months as gloves, mittens, and scarves have a way of getting misplaced.

The class has become a true community with each member bringing their unique (and ever-developing) voice to the conversation. Perhaps the greatest tribute to this was one of our students referring the the class as their “school family.” It is truly an honour to be part of that family.

Mr. Davis

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Casa South

A person’s life — success, health, and emotional wellbeing — is deeply connected to their experiences in their childhood. Knowing this, how does the Casa classroom support the adult within our children?

The environment is crucial. It must have developmentally appropriate exercises and be a nurturing and supportive space. The Montessori environment offers both an academically stimulating curriculum and one in which the child grows holistically.

Montessori education is scientifically based on the key developmental stages that all children move through on their way to adulthood. In the Montessori world we refer to these stages as “sensitive periods” — periods in which the children’s interests are focused on developing a particular skill or knowledge area.

The Montessori classroom facilitates these sensitive periods by providing children with a prepared environment that is designed to optimize their learning. The prepared environment provides order, hands-on self-paced learning, collaborative social interactions, children of mixed ages, movement, guidance, freedom of choice, and a full selection of self-correcting Montessori materials available on low open shelves.

The prepared environment is designed to stimulate children’s minds, encourage collaboration and independence, and provide them with the time and space to achieve the outcome of their work. In this way, Montessori inspires children to become independent, self-motivated learners with strong academic foundations.

Within this environment, children participate in the full three-hour work cycle and take part in the Montessori daily routine. This sequence of daily activities provides children with an understanding of order, time management, and how to behave within their environment at different times. It also provides children with important preparation for school skills, such as concentration, sitting quietly, lining up, collaborating with others, and the ability to follow instructions.

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Casa North

Hello Casa North Families,

I’d just like to start off with an enormous thank you to all that were able to make it out to last week’s Show and Share. The children were so excited to share all of the things they have been working on in the classroom. It is so wonderful to see them showing their favourite work to their most favourite people. It is such a beautiful experience for all of us as they master new and exciting skills within the classroom. We’re so grateful that you invest your time and energy to come and share in your children’s love of the classroom materials.

As we continue moving forward the children are exposed to more and more enriching experiences both in the classroom and on the playground. We’ve seen them pursue their interests wholeheartedly, surprise us with their knowledge and talent, and make new social connections. It is a joy for me to get to share in their exploration of these facets of Lyonsgate life.

In the classroom, we’ve had many new presentations happening and I’ve had the opportunity to observe and work with the children as they practice their new skills after a presentation. One of my favourites is the Montessori Stamp Game, which has children engaging in various mathematical operations with tactile pieces. We’ve also had lots of exploration with the Montessori Bells recently, with some students creating their own music or practicing memorised pieces. Nothing compares to when a child is finally able to master something they’ve been working towards for weeks or months.

We appreciate your continued support. Have a beautiful weekend!

Ms. Sullivan

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Elementary

Maria Montessori observed that children in the second plane of development (age 6–12 years) have a hunger for knowledge about the world around them. While the first plane of development is the period for absorption of their environment, the second plane is the period for the acquisition of culture. The reasoning mind of the Elementary child wants to understand why and their quest to understand the world around them is aided by their vivid imaginations. Montessori tells us “to regard the child’s intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination.”

Through Cosmic Education, we offer Elementary children the seeds to help them to understand not only the world around them but the wider universe. Many of our lessons include the tradition of oral storytelling, encouraging the children’s imagination to help them understand big concepts such as the creation of the universe, the formation of the sun and our solar system, and the beginnings of life on earth.

Recently, we have been exploring our solar system. We began with an exploration of the forces of magnetism and gravity. We then considered how these forces are at work in the universe. Our younger students are working on a guided project studying the planets of our solar system. They are learning to read to find specific information, such as how long it takes Saturn to orbit the sun or what it is like on Jupiter. Our older students are engaged in understanding the movement of the earth and its moon. Some students are in the midst of learning about the use of the compass in early exploration, as well as the affect of the rotation, revolution, and tilt of the earth.

Elementary students enjoy working together to create big works. The lower Elementary students collaborated to create a large piece of art depicting our solar system. Each student painted a celestial body and contributed it to the group. Students were able to arrange (and re-arrange!) their paintings of planets around the sun, adding in moons and comets as well.

We hope these seeds we sow about how our solar system works will germinate in each child according to their unique interests. Perhaps they will seek out a better understanding of the mathematics of orbits, investigate the natural laws which govern the universe, or dream of engineering a spaceship capable of travelling to another planet. Perhaps their imagination will inspire them to write science fiction stories, to compose music, or to create works of art. Or perhaps they will simply turn their gaze to the night sky and appreciate the wonder of our universe, and their part in it.

Michelle

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Handbook Highlight

With cold and flu season in full swing, we wanted to remind you about Lyonsgate’s policies regarding sick children. There are two places you can look for info:

• Your Lyonsgate Parent Handbook has a section covering “Disease and Illness” starting on page 97 in the viewer.
• You will find an “Illness Exclusion Table” from Hamilton Public Health under the “Parents” tab at lyonsgate.ca, titled “Sick Children Info.” This table lists which illnesses require children to be absent from school, and for how long.

We greatly appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping to reduce the spread of illness amongst your children, and remember to wash wash wash wash wash those hands.

Coronavirus: please read the letter below from Hamilton Public Health regarding coronavirus.

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Coming Up

Remember to keep an eye on your Lyonsgate calendar for up to date information.

• Friday, Feb. 14: PD Day. No School.
• Monday, Feb. 17: Family Day statutory holiday. No School.
• Summer Camp: We will be offering a summer camp for Lyonsgate students going into their third year of Casa or whom are in Elementary. Please click here for more details and to register.

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Photos

No photos this week — sorry — but we should be back to regularly scheduled programming next week.

Happy Friday Lyonsgate Families,

Thank you to those of you who made it to the Parent Education event this week. We host Parent Education events so you can learn a little more about the Montessori education you have chosen for your children, and this one gave you a chance to ask questions of kids who have made their way through full Montessori programs or joined Montessori after some experience in public or other educational systems.

Lyonsgate Elementary guide Marissa has put together a summary of both the presentation and the answers to your posed questions — be sure to take a look.

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Just a reminder that the deadline for registering siblings of current Lyonsgate students is today. If you would like to register a sibling, please click here to access the online registration form. Next week, we will begin offering remaining spaces to families on our wait lists. Thank you for continuing to choose Montessori education for your children; we think it’s a great choice.

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Casa and Toddler Show and Share is next week on Thursday, Jan. 30.

• Toddler: the Toddler Show and Share will take place from 3:30-4:00.
• Casa: the Casa Show and Share will take place from 3:30-4:30.

For both Show and Shares, please go directly to your child’s classroom so they can show and share some of their favourite work and activities with you.

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Parent Education Summary

Here is your summary of last night’s Parent Education event courtesy of Lyonsgate Elementary guide Marissa:

Parent Education Evening – January 2020

Looking Ahead:  A Panel Discussion with the Students of S.i.T.E.

A Montessori-Inspired High School for Grades 10 – 12

• Situated in Transformative Environments (S.i.T.E.) is a community-based high school with no single physical location and is part of a family of Montessori schools including Dundas Valley (18 mths – Gr. 6) and Strata (Gr. 7 – 9).
• A small cohort of 12 students in grades 10, 11, and 12 work toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.) under the supervision of a curator, Eric Daigle.
• Future expansion will follow the needs of the students to preserve the program and is currently estimated to be capped at 30 students in a group, with the hope of creating groups in different areas of the city.
• The school day is scheduled with consideration of the developmental needs of teenagers, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m.
• Students earn credits on two courses at a time, with subjects thoughtfully paired (e.g. English and History studies are easily connected).
• Students can select from the broad range of secondary school credits available at traditional schools and can meet the content requirements in a variety of ways.
• Students have partnered with professors and researchers from McMaster University, the Dundas Historical Museum and Archives, the Dundas Valley School of Art, and more.
• Students gain practical life and business experience in hosting a monthly market the second Thursday of each month at the SHED Brewing Company in Dundas.
• Achievement of the O.S.S.D enables students to choose to apply to college, university, or other post-secondary opportunities the same as a graduate of a traditional high school.
• Students have varied educational backgrounds, including traditional pubic/separate schools, traditional private schools, Waldorf, and Montessori.
• Students are aware of their socio-economic privilege and the impact this has on the diversity of their cohort but think that the benefits of the program outweigh this concern.
• Students who attended a year or more of traditional high school referred to feeling “like a zombie” or “hiding” from mean kids, teachers, questions, work, and mistakes.. Enjoy the
• The small cohort does change their experience of traditional high school experiences such as team sports or prom, but students also have rich extra-curricular lives that provide these types of experiences.
• The most important aspects to students of this approach to high school:
  • Multi-age grouping with ability to learn from other students
  • Learning how to use technology for a productive purpose rather than to play or disengage
  • Practical life experiences such as learning how to get insurance
  • Great deal of respect between students
  • Relationship between students and their “teachers” is more like friendship

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The Montessori Assistant

We managed to capture this great sequence of Casa North Montessori assistant Ms. Sullivan in action this week. Observe how she takes out a Montessori material, sets it up, and begins working with it. The two children that approach are attracted to the material by her precise, patient work:

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Coming Up

• Valentine’s PD Day: Friday, Feb. 14, is both Valentine’s Day, and a PD Day. It leads into the statutory Family Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 17. Enjoy the 4-day log weekend everyone.
• Summer Camp: We will be offering a summer camp for Lyonsgate students going into their third year of Casa or whom are in Elementary. Please click here for more details and to register.

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Photos

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Parent Education:

Montessori Outcomes: Looking Ahead (The Days are Long but the Years are Short)

Many people associate Montessori pedagogy with early years education and are most familiar with Montessori environments at the Toddler and Casa levels.  Montessori is an evidence-based, whole-child education theory that applies to all four planes of development, from infancy through age 24.

Please join us for a parent education evening with the students of S.i.T.E., the first Montessori high school program in Hamilton.   Co-founder and head curator Eric Daigle will speak about guiding adolescents to thrive rather than just survive their high school experience.  You will hear directly from high school students who have grown up in Montessori environments as well as the story of those who began their education in traditional schools.  The evening will conclude with a student panel open for questions.  Parents registered for the event will receive a link to submit questions for the student panel in advance.

This Parent education event is on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 4:00-5:00 at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus.  The event is for all Lyonsgate parents with children at all Montessori levels.

Please click here to register for the event, or to let us know you can’t make it, and to register for childcare if needed.

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Summer Camp: We will be offering a summer camp for Lyonsgate students going into their third year of Casa or whom are in Elementary. Please click here for more details and to register.

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Primary (Aberdeen) Campus Door: In this cold weather, the main door at the Primary campus gets sticky and does not always fully close and latch. When leaving the Primary campus, please check to make sure the door closes latches properly behind you. Thank you.

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This week, you have updates from your children’s French assistants about plans for this term and how you can support French learning at home.

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Toddler

What a busy week. The children are starting to settle back into the routine after the break. It’s exciting to see all the things the children are able to accomplish. I am so proud of their ability to understand when I speak with them in French. Such a far cry from September where everything and everyone was scary and new. The children are comfortable in the classroom and with the teachers. We get to hear so much about their time spent at home, their interests, and their friends.

As we continue onwards I hope to have more presentations in French with the children. I hope to have more conversations with the children using new words and phrases. There will be introduction to different books and songs in French as well.

A great way to use the French language at home, even if you don’t speak French, is to read books (there are lots of resources at the public library in French that you can read), as well as listening to songs in French. This way, the children are able to hear French and feel more comfortable with the language as they hear it at school as well as at home. Keep up the great work with having conversations with me in French as well! I appreciate all the effort you put into speaking with me and trying your best!

Mlle. Noordam

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Casa

Our Casa classrooms use these yogurt jars as child-sized water glasses. Montessori environments use glass and ceramic to teach children to be attentive and careful — if you’re not and you drop it, it will break. There has been much learning, and we are in need of more. If your family buys this type of yogurt we would love if you could save a few from the blue bin and donate them to the school. Thank you.

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Casa South

Dear Casa South families,

As we transition into our second term, the children are demonstrating just how much they’ve learned from the first. We’ve been working a lot on asking for help in French and more and more they are coming up to me saying “Peux-tu m’aider s’il vous plaît?” without any prompting. I’ve even heard them ask each other in French! It constantly amazes me how quickly the children pick up a new language simply by being exposed to this rich environment. A child will ask for help to tie their apron and I’ll respond “Oh attacher ton tablier, oui bien sûr!” Simply repeating what they say back to them, only in French, confirms I know what they’re asking for and I offer the language while I help them. It is always in a positive way and not to correct them.

In the classroom this week there’s been a large focus on geography and writing. It’s beautiful to see how much the older children are looked up to. Here they are, working on challenging puzzle maps such as United States (most difficult one) or writing booklets and labels, and when the younger ones see this it encourages them to practice more because they see what they can work up to. Ms. Moffatt first introduces the puzzle map of the world, where they are introduced to all the continents, then they move on to Canada and North America, etc. The puzzle maps have always been popular and, aside from being a fun puzzle, the children also learn the names of each place. This week I’ve worked with many of them on those first three, learning the names in French and having conversations about places they’ve traveled to. This is the kind of thing I’ll practice with them more than once because there are so many new names to learn, and I look forward to working with them on the more difficult puzzle maps the more we practice.

When a child is writing, they have many different activities they can choose from; one popular choice is a pink-lined paper with the top half blank for them to draw. Either myself, Ms. Moffatt or another child is available to help them write out sounds (letters) then, the more they practice, move on to words and phrases. This week it’s been fun coming up with French words to write down. They can also make their own classified cards by writing the name of the object and a space to draw it. Since classified cards have both French and English labels on the back, they can choose to write in one or the other, or both if they’re feeling ambitious. Whichever activity they choose, it’s all about practice and repetition. Writing can also be done at home, which is a great way to support their French learning!

If you’re ever looking for ways to encourage their French at home, feel free to write down words and have them trace them. If they’re already writing on their own, no matter if the spelling is wrong, it’s great! Any writing enables them to feel comfortable holding a pencil and work on their pincer grip. To get their interest, try having conversations about things in your home: what kinds of things they see in the kitchen, what food they like/don’t like to eat, their friends’ names (super popular), and then write those down. It’s possible they’re indulged enough just watching you write and the older ones who’ve begun to write in the classroom might want to trace what you write or try on their own. Another thing to do at home is play some French music. In my French group I play many songs from a CD I have called Carmen Campagne: Une voix pour les enfants. It’s a fantastic collection of French children’s songs and your children will definitely recognize some. To name a few: Un bon chocolat chaud, Le petit prince, Feuilles feuilles. You can also look up La laine des moutons, Pirouette Cacahouète, or Un éléphant. Listening to French music is a nice way to appreciate the language without them feeling like it’s work to do. If you’re cooking or baking with them it can definitely set the mood!

Have a great weekend and don’t forget about Parent Ed night on Thursday, Jan. 23

Mlle Paul

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Casa North

As you read last week, M. Bouquin and his partner welcomed a baby girl over the holiday and he will be on parental leave this term.

Mlle. Cottone [Cot tone-ee] will be taking over the French assistant role in Casa North during M. Bouquin’s absence. Mlle. Cottone grew up in Hamilton and holds a bilingual high school diploma, is a yoga instructor, and holds a non-violent communication certificate. She has been spending the past week learning all about being the French assistant in Casa North where she has been the French assistant for lunch this year, and she assists with Casa recess, so the children are very comfortable with her.

“I’m very excited to be stepping into the classroom this term,” said Mlle. Cottone. “It has been a pleasure to be in the Lyonsgate community getting to know all the children and parents. I’m looking forward to making new memories (in French) with each child.”

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Elementary

Bonne année tout le monde!

The winter term of the new year is centred around the French plays that we hope to perform for Lyonsgate families in February. We use the AIM (Accelerative Integrated Methodology) language learning program to facilitate our dramatic endeavours. The basic idea behind AIM is that students learn a specific, pared-down language with kinesthetic actions to encourage memorization and use of the spoken word.

Gestures are the individual actions that represent a given work. Past research has shown that the act of gesuring aids thinking memory. Gestures help students to internalize a word’s meaning kinesthetically, auditorially, and visually. Vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure are learned in a fun way through singing, dancing, and acting. Speaking in French is encouraged and easily attained when acting. It is a known fact that developing good oral language skills is essential to the development and improvement of good written language. The improvement of oral language skills transfers consistently to an improvement in written language skills. To find out more about AIM please visit:

This year we are fortunate to have Jason teaching classes in the dramatic arts which should greatly improve our acting on stage. The children love to perform in front of an audience, so please try to save the date of their performance on the afternoon of Thursday, February 27.

We look forward to entertaining you.

Cordialment,

Madame Egan (janice@lyonsgate.ca)

Reminder: We are starting our week on Monday, January 20, with yoga at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus. Please drop off at Primary, or at Elementary (Locke) no later than 8:45 a.m., with a yoga mat if you have one and clothes to stretch in. Thank you.

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Coming Up

Don’t forget to check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly.

• Sibling Registration

  Friday, January 24, is the deadline for registration of siblings at Lyonsgate for the 2020.2021 school year. If you would like to register the sibling of a current Lyonsgate for next year, please submit your registration form and payment by Friday, January 24. Any spaces left available beyond that date will be offered to families on our wait list. The registration form can be completed at the link below and payment can be submitted via e-transfer or cheque.

  Please click here to submit registration for the 2020/2021 school year.

  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We look forward to continuing to share in this journey with your children.

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• Show and Share, Thursday, January 30, 2019:

  • Toddler: the Toddler Show and Share will take place from 3:30-4:00.
  • Casa: the Casa Show and Share will take place from 3:30-4:30.

For both Show and Shares, please go directly to your child’s classroom so they can show and share some of their favourite work and activities with you.

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Photos

We’ve made some changes to the website and how we publish photos. Your updates should now load much more quickly, and for those of you using data plans to view them on phones the updates will now use significantly less data. Click on any image to open a slideshow gallery of all the images, or just scroll to view them below.

Welcome to the winter term Lyonsgate Community,

This is the shortest term of the year as we work through January and February into the March Break, but it remains busy. We have sibling registrations open now and will be finalizing next year’s registrations at the end of the month with offers to families on our wait lists, there is a Parent Education evening on Jan. 23, Elementary students will be rock climbing and learning gymnastics, Toddler and Casa families have Show and Share on Jan. 30, and there is a PD Day on Friday, February 14 (happy Valentine’s Day), that leads into the Family Day long weekend (Monday, Feb. 17, is the statutory holiday and there is no school). It’s winter, so there might be a snow day or two thrown in there too (but we’re hoping to not break last winter’s snow day record!).

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Sibling Registration

Thank you for continuing to entrust your child(ren) to us. We have completed registration of returning students for the 2020/2021 school year and are now opening registration to siblings of those returning students. If you would like to register a sibling at Lyonsgate next year, please submit your registration form and payment by Friday, January 24th. Any spaces left available beyond that date will be offered to families on our wait list. The registration form can be completed at the link below and payment can be submitted via e-transfer or cheque.

Please click here to submit registration for the 2020/2021 school year.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We look forward to continuing to share in this journey with your children.

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Staffing Changes

We want to let you know of some staffing changes that have occurred for this term. Monsieur Bouquin from Casa North has welcomed a baby girl into his family and will be off on parental leave for this second term.

In his place, Mlle Cottone will be stepping in to the Casa North French assistant role. The children are already very familiar with Mlle Cottone as she has been the French assistant for lunch in Casa North, assists with Casa recess, and has been filling in for staff absences since the beginning of the school year. This should be as smooth a transition as possible for all involved.

With Mlle Cottone stepping in to that specific role, we have welcomed a new staff member, Ms. Folland. She is joining us with lots of great experience and brings a special joy and positivity that is sure to be infectious. She will be support staff: covering for staff absences, assisting with lunch in Casa North, helping oversee recess, and assisting with after school care, among other responsibilities. We hope you will join us in welcoming her to our ever-broadening Lyonsgate family!

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Summer Camp: The Lyonsgate summer camp will take place during the last two weeks of July and is open to Lyonsgate students ages 4-12 who have completed their second year of Casa and are entering 3rd-year Casa or Elementary. Camp will be held at the Elementary Campus on Locke Street.

Camp staff will be from both the Lyonsgate Elementary and Casa programs.

Each week’s themed activities will include science demonstrations, arts and crafts, music, story-telling, drama, outdoor games, yoga, soccer, water play, and trips to the HAAA park:

• Monday, July 20 – Friday, July 24: Habitat Explorers
• Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31: World Travelers

Campers are to bring their own water bottle, nut-free snacks, and a packed litterless lunch. Camp kids will also need closed-toe sandals/shoes, a t-shirt to paint in (and get paint on), a towel and splash pad gear, their own sunscreen as desired, and a sun hat.

Cost is $250 per week and payment to Lyonsgate Montessori School, by e-transfer or cheque, is due with registration.

Daily Schedule

• 8:30-9:00 Camper Drop-Off
• 9:00-12:00 Morning Activities and Open Snack
• 12:00-12:30 Lunch
• 12:30-3:30 Afternoon Activities and Open Snack
• 3:30-4:00 Camper Pick-Up

Each week is limited to 20 campers and a minimum registration must be met for each week’s camp to proceed, so register early!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR LYONSGATE SUMMER CAMP

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Toddler

Happy New Year! It is wonderful to have the children back in the classroom. It was especially phenomenal to hear about their winter break and to be reminded how much growth can be experienced in two short weeks.

The return from winter break can feel like September as the children are adjusting to the classroom routine once again. It is amazing to see the empathy displayed by the older Toddlers to the few who are sensitive to the abrupt change –- we see a lot of hugs being shared, and frequent reminders that they will see their parents soon. It is great to see the children’s concern in action; instead of simply telling the adult that a child is crying and returning to their work, we acknowledge what they have observed and ask them ‘What can we do about it?’ prompting them to act on their concerns.

The second term focuses heavily on care of self –- self dressing using the many layers of winter gear, toilet learning as some of the children transition to underpants, and brushing teeth, the latter being the most popular task in this classroom. As language exploration continues, additional classified cards have been added to the classroom that pertain to things that interest the children. Our Gathering (circle time) has shifted from sing-alongs to conversations varying from what was eaten for breakfast to what they chose to wear to school, and various other topics that will encourage them to think critically beyond the present moment they are experiencing. We have been delving into “This is how we do it,” a book by Matt Lamothe that gives a glimpse of one day in the lives of seven children from around the world. The Toddlers have been prompt at pointing out commonalities such as food consumed, habitats, and modes of transportation. We have instituted a format (a work in progress) that encourages them to practice waiting for their turns and attentively listening to their peers.

We are of course ecstatic about the continuity of sensorial activities, the incorporation of movement and practical life in our day to day routine. Please ensure the consistency is maintained at home as well –- self dressing, self feeding, self-serving. The consistency will certainly help the children feel empowered as they transition through various phases of life.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ms. Dee

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Casa South

Happy 2020 from everyone in Casa South! We hope your holiday season was joyful and triumphant!

We are thrilled to be back into the routine in Casa South. So many happy faces walked through our doors on Monday morning. We have shared lots of stories of what we did when we were apart. When asked what their favourite memories of the break were many of the children shared small moments, going to show that it doesn’t take a grand gesture to make a memory (it could be as small as a tooth falling out!)

As we embark on our second and shortest semester we have much to look forward to and work towards. An ongoing goal in all Montessori Casa environments is to have a normalized classroom, which is term we want to explain today.

In this sense, the term “normal,” with Montessori Normalization, does not refer to what is considered typical or average. It does not refer to a process of conformity. It refers to a unique process Montessori observed in child development.

Normalization is a state in which the child (and classroom) is characterized by calmness, self-confidence, a thirst for knowledge, a warm response towards others, and joy.

In a normalized classroom you see children choosing work over being aimless. When work is chosen, you see the children focus and concentrate at the task at hand; you see children looking out for one another and choosing to help a friend rather than to compete. They find joy in their world and their environment, and they are at peace.

An old proverb says: “Peace: it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hardwork, it is to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”

We are so excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for our beautiful children in Casa South. We can hardly wait!

Miss Moffatt

Reminder: Please remember to check the Fresh Cut Flower Sign Up Sheets for the new term. Thank you.

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Casa North

Welcome back, Casa North!

Happy 2020 🙂 I hope you all had a restful, safe, fun-filled holiday. We are back and ready to dive into a new year.

One of the primary goals in Montessori is for the environment to reach a point where the children are acting as if we (the adults) do not exist. In preparing an environment that is catered to their developmental, academic, and individual needs we are not only showing them how to become independent in their learning but also in their problem solving, regulation, and socialization. It is an extremely prideful time when I am able to stand back and see the classroom humming and buzzing with purposeful work, leadership, guidance, social interaction, and conversation. As we settle into a new term, I am seeing more and more of these moments (that are increasingly longer in length!). Knowing that a large group of children under the age of 6 is capable of being self-sufficient is remarkable, and never gets old.

We are looking forward to a Show and Share and a Parent Education Evening in the upcoming term. I hope to see you all at both events! They are both favourites for the children and for us.

Thank you for your continued support of the classroom, the school, and the community.

With warmth,

Miss Boyle

Reminder: Please remember to check the Fresh Cut Flower Sign Up Sheets for the new term. Thank you.

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Elementary

Happy New Year! Squeezed between the winter holidays and spring break, the short second term is often a period of consolidation for students as they integrate new language and math skills into their cultural studies. Students at each level are invited back to studies of the solar system to expand their understanding of the universe and how the order of the cosmos affects their lives. Wintry days invite cozy days spent reading in the library by the fire and we draw upon that natural instinct with a quiet, independent reading period, oral reading circles, and the beginning of novel studies. This term will also see extensive work in French and the visual and dramatic arts as students prepare for the French Concert in February. Dr. Montessori often made reference in her writing and lectures to the “normalization” of children, by which she meant that they were developing skills of self-regulation and making a choice to follow the rules of their community, as well as demonstrating an ability to independently initiate work and find joy in their accomplishments. Between their individual pursuits and collaborative goals, we look forward to observing each student learn and grow this term.

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Coming Up

Don’t forget to check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly.

• Parent Education: Our winter term Parent education event is on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 4:00-5:00 at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus.  This event is for all Lyonsgate parents with children at all Montessori levels, and we have a special event planned for you:

A panel of older, high school-aged Montessori students will be discussing their experiences in Montessori and their progression through their  years of schooling. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

Please click here to register for the event, or to let us know you can’t make it, and to register for childcare if needed.

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Photos

Next week is the last week of the fall term before we break for the winter holiday. The last day of school is Thursday, December 19. We return to school on Monday, January 6.

The Winter Concert is also on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 2:30-3:30.

Please note: there is no After School or Extended Care after the concert.

See below for more concert details.

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Reminder: Registration for returning Lyonsgate Montessori students is now available. Please check your email for the Friday, Dec. 6, email with the subject line “Lyonsgate 2020.2021 Registration” to access the online registration form (we don’t post the link publicly).

Registrations for returning students are due on Wednesday, December 18.

Thank you for continuing to choose authentic Montessori education for your wonderful children. We can’t wait to be a part of their continued growth and development.

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Flu prevention: We received some material from Hamilton Public Health encouraging parents to get flu shots for children. Look for them in your photo gallery and have a healthy holiday season. Wash those hands!

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Toddler

It is hard to fathom that we have come to the end of the first term! In those few months, we have watched the Toddlers exercise their constructive power as they are developing their unique potential. We’ve had the wonderful opportunity to be spectators to various transitions — the end of tearful goodbyes, language explosions, the ability to self-dress, and the excitement that accompanies toilet learning. We are grateful for the opportunity to be privy to these milestones; your children never cease to amaze us.

Next term, we welcome our long awaited fifteenth Toddler and our community will be complete. We will be adding some exciting new materials in the classroom that will continue to aid the refinement of motor skills, language, and sensory development. The return in January will most likely feel like the beginning of school all over again, but we are confident that your resilient children will rise above the changes and step right back into routine.

The upcoming winter concert has been our favourite topic this week. The children are excited to perform; some encouragement at home will certainly help ease the nervousness they will feel gazing at the audience. You are all welcome to clap and sing along with us as well!

We hope that the next few weeks will be full of wonderful memories, and we look forward to hearing highlights from their winter break.

Wishing you all a phenomenal holiday season and an inspiring new year!

Ms. Dee.

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Casa South

In a blink of an eye we have reached the end of our first semester. It has been a whirlwind of learning, laughter, and fun!

What a change a couple of months can make! From the first day of school to now we have seen such growth in our little community: friendships being fostered, names being written, and shoes being tied. Casa South is full of love. My favourite part of the day is when I see the children helping each other and showing each other how to do something.

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.'” — Maria Montessori.

The most important part of my job is that the children enjoy school, each other, and themselves. We are so happy that there is already chatter of missing the classroom over the holidays. We will miss all the smiling faces over the winter break and await their return in 2020!

The classroom is abuzz with the holiday spirit right now; lots of talk of advent calendars and elves! We have been very busy practicing our Winter Concert songs, prepare yourselves… it is ADORABLE. Today we made props for our stage performance. Nothing has been sweeter than hearing the children sing their little tune while working.

We wish everyone a very merry everything and happy always! Can’t wait to see you in January!

Miss Moffatt

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Casa North

Hello Casa North families!

It’s hard to believe that we are nearing the end of our first term for the 2019-2020 school year. How far we have come!

You may have heard discussions about classroom birthday celebrations this week. We have had three! In the Montessori environment, we celebrate birthdays by rolling out our birthday mat, placing cards to label the seasons, as well as the months of the year, and lighting a candle in the middle to represent our sun. We sing the months of the year and discuss the cyclical nature of the seasons, the months, and the years. The child with a birthday then walks around the sun holding one of our globes (once per year they have lived!). The children love to sing “The Earth Goes Around the Sun” and discuss the different milestones that are achieved as they get older. We finish by singing “Happy Birthday” and blowing out the candle. The children are overjoyed to celebrate their friends’ birthdays and it is always a special time for them.

As our term wraps up, I wanted to thank you for your continued support of our work with your children. Connecting with you in parent-teacher conferences is always wonderful, and I’m looking forward to all of the continued growth, learning, and experience that each child will accomplish over the next two terms. Please have a safe and happy weekend!

(as) Warmly (as possible),

Miss Boyle

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Elementary

During the elementary years, children experience a sensitive period for adapting to the particular culture in which they are immersed and learning about the culture of others. Holidays, celebrations, and days in memoriam are an opportunity to experiment with rituals and traditions, savour stories and foods, and explore values and beliefs. This past week, many of the students were focused on work connected to the holiday season. A key theme in the Montessori Elementary curriculum is the idea that humans have fundamental material and spiritual needs, and the myriad ways humans have used their resources and imagination to meet those needs in different environments through history.

Our community outreach endeavors help each student consider the importance of having their needs met, as well as awareness of the challenges faced by others around them. In their discussions of at-risk people and homelessness, our younger students consider what is it is like to be without shelter and food. They are very focused on the need for tangible comforts, and were quick to rally their families to donate hot drinks and hygiene items. Although concerned about the physical welfare of people, upper level students are very troubled by the social and emotional challenges faced by people without housing, such as loneliness and shame. They were eager to go beyond the families at Lyonsgate, composing letters requesting donations and visiting numerous local businesses in pursuit of something extra to make a great gift for a woman in need.

With the support of family, friends, and community, we gathered enough hot drinks and hygiene items to fill two enormous donation bins for Hamilton Out of the Cold, as well as assembling twelve gift boxes for The Shoebox Project. The students were so successful in their fundraising efforts that they have also been able to send along additional supplies and gift cards to volunteers at The Shoebox Project to continue to make holiday packages. We greatly appreciate the support of the local business community who made contributions to the cause: Earth to Table, Bitten Cupcakes, Dundurn Market, Goodness Me!, Subway, Starbucks, and Fortinos. Your children’s efforts have been enormous, and your generosity extraordinary. Thank you.

Marissa.

Reminder: we’re starting our last week of the term with yoga at the Primary (Aberdeen) campus on Monday, Dec. 16. Please drop-off at Primary by 9:00, or at the Elementary (Locke) campus no later than 8:45. Please send a yoga mat, if you have one, and wear clothes to stretch and move in.

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Coming Up

• Winter Concert:The children have been excitedly practicing for the upcoming Winter Concert on Thursday, December 19th, and are looking forward to seeing your smiling faces in the audience! We hope you have it highlighted on your calendar. The concert begins at 2:30 p.m. and is being held in the synagogue sanctuary. Please enter through the regular glass doors for the school, and go directly down the stairs to the sanctuary. Please note that the concert is set to end at 3:30pm, at which time all children are to be dismissed to their families.  There is no after or extended care that day.  If you are unable to attend, please ensure you have arranged for someone to pick your child up, and have alerted the staff to any alternate dismissal arrangements. The concert is an exciting time not only for the children, but also the families! Please feel free to extend this invitation to your close family/friends. We look forward to sharing this jovial time with you!

• Winter Holiday: Lyonsgate will be closed for the winter break starting on Friday, December, 20. We return to school for the winter term on Monday, January, 6.

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Photos

Happy December Lyonsgate Families,

We’re almost finished the first term and it is time to start preparing for the next school year. Please check your inboxes for an email containing a link to the registration form for the 2020.2021 school year. At this time we are only making registration available to current students returning next year. In January we will open registrations to siblings of current Lyonsgate students, followed by offers of enrolment to families on our wait lists.

Please submit your registration forms by Wednesday, Dec. 18.

As always, space is limited at all levels.

Thank you for continuing to make the outstanding choice of Montessori education for your children.

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We are asking Casa families to please send in a labeled, re-usable shopping bag that can be used for sending wet, dirty, and spare clothing items to and from school. We have been using plastic bags but are running low, and would like to be more environmentally conscious. (That said, if anyone would like to relieve their load of plastic shopping bags, we will take them to replenish our supply as they do come in handy for soilings and other such exceptional messes).

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Toddler

It was great speaking to you all during last week’s parent-teacher conferences. One of the most common questions that I received pertained to what songs are being sung in the classroom. I’ve decided to make a compilation of our current playlist; hopefully you can all enjoy some sing-alongs this weekend.

The sweet sound of Jingle Bells has filled our classroom with joy and laughter, “hey” being the Toddlers’ favourite part, which they love exclaiming as loud as possible. We’re hoping to bring the same excitement to our upcoming concert!

Old Macdonald Had a Farm, an oldie but a goodie — it is always exciting to hear the Toddlers’ animated imitation of various animals that can be found at the farm. They are able to sing this song in both English and French!

The Wheels on the Bus remains a classic here, every time it is sung it is as if it is the Toddlers’ first time hearing it! It is quite high on the request list and the bumpy road remains the most consistent novelty.

We’ve become quite the songwriters as well — you might have heard songs about leaves falling down and snowflakes falling from the sky (to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down). The hardest part is remembering the songs that are made up on the spot; thankfully the Toddlers retain everything!

Other honorable mentions are Baby Beluga, Down by the Bay, Shake My Sillies Out, and various French songs: Dans la forêt lointaine, Un éléphant qui se balançait, Ah! Les crocodiles.

The classroom has been buzzing with beautiful sounds; the echo will certainly be present in your homes as well with this list.

Have a melodious weekend everyone,

Ms. Dee

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Casa

Hello Casa Families!

One of the most unique elements of a Montessori environment is the dedication to having a mixed-age group in each space. In the Casa environment, we have a three-year mix. When you consider the fact that everywhere else, throughout the course of their lives, they will be interacting and collaborating with people older and younger than them, it simply makes sense that this should be reflected on a smaller scale within their school community. This characteristic of the environment continues to serve the children for the better.

In September, the first-year children are able to come into a space where their peers are demonstrating a sense of comfort and happiness that lets them feel safe. They are able to see their older friends working on advanced activities that they can then look forward to. They are able to find mentorship and guidance from children rather than relying exclusively on us, the adults.

The second-year child is able to come into an established space that they’ve already become acclimated to. Rather than starting from scratch, they can re-enter having experience with materials, knowing familiar faces, and beginning to step into a more advanced role (both with their work and their classroom responsibility).

Perhaps most importantly, the third-year child has the opportunity to really shine. They have two years of experience under their belts! The third-year child is able to choose a multitude of materials to work with, is often overheard guiding the younger children in small group activities, and is often seeking bigger work outside of their comfort zone. This child has the opportunity to give presentations to a younger child at times, which fills them with pride and joy. We call the third-year in Casa their capstone year — it truly is a time to bring together everything they have worked so hard to attain their previous two years.

We thank you for spending this first term with us, and for sharing your children with the Casa classrooms. Have a safe and happy weekend!

Miss Boyle and Miss Moffatt

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Elementary

Learning is a social process. Throughout each developmental plane a child experiences sensitive periods in which they learn particular adaptations toward maturity through interactions with both their environment and others. In the elementary years, children desire novelty so they can constantly test the boundaries of what is already known and expand their knowledge a little bit further. They are eager to know why, but true understanding takes both experience and imagination.

Two distinct qualities that set the Montessori pedagogy apart are the importance of multi-age groupings and the development of a child over several years within the same classroom community. This enables a child to experience and perform different roles in a social group, moving from being an observer, to independent worker, to mentor. Without a full cycle at each Montessori stage, a child’s experience is left incomplete, without being able to demonstrate mastery and feel the joy and pride in discovering they know something so well they can now teach it to others.

Rather than using year of birth to separate students into grades with a narrower range of abilities within a group, Montessori students are sorted into the learning environment most beneficial to them based on their unique combination of cognitive, social, and emotional development. The multi-age composition of each group creates opportunities for a variety of social experiences, as well as a natural hierarchy of authority and leadership. By remaining within the environment for a full cycle, children have the opportunity to take on new levels of responsibility.

A full cycle is also essential for a child to experience and review information at one age, grow to apply it, and return at a later age to evaluate and analyze the information, and then teach it to another. They need to re-visit prior experiences and lessons from a new perspective. The work of multiplication is not reduced to memorization of tables and working out long equations on paper. It is learning the concept, experiencing the process, and then learning to apply that knowledge in a thousand and one practical ways, from cooking a meal to making calculations for a wood-working project. These steps consolidate learning with the engagement of social and emotional skills as the child evolves through different roles.

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Handbook Highlight

You will find the Lyonsgate “Admissions Policy,” which covers the registration process and policy, in your Parent Handbook (starting on p. 70 in the embedded viewer). This policy covers everything from applications to attend Lyonsgate to new and returning student registrations, how we prioritize registrations, learning differences, and wait lists.

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Coming Up

Remember to use your Lyonsgate calendar to stay up to date on the latest Lyonsgate details.

• December 18: Registration for 2020.2021 school year due for returning Lyonsgate students.
• December 19: Holiday concert 2:30-3:30. Pick up for ALL students is at 3:30. There is no after or extended care this day.
• December 20 – January 3: Winter break.
• January 6, 2020: First day of winter term.

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Photos

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.

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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

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Casa South

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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• 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.

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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• 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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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]

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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.

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• 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.

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Photos