Lyonsgate Update Jan. 29, 2024
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
A few upcoming dates to note as we head into February:
- Feb. 15: Elementary Parent Education (see Elementary section for details and RSVP)
- Feb. 16: PD Day
- Feb. 19: Family Day statutory holiday
2024.2025 Registration Payment and Signatures
Thank you for your 2024.2025 registration form submissions. If you still need to make your initial payment, please do so as soon as possible. You can find the payment options and dates here: https://lyonsgate.ca/returning-student-sibling-tuition-fees-and-schedule/. If you have any questions, please email Sarah at accounts@lyonsgate.ca.
Signatures: On Thursday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 2, we will have your registration forms ready for signatures.
- Primary Parents (Casa & Toddler): please come to the glass foyer after dropping off your children to sign the hard copy of your registration form. Thank you.
- Elementary Parents: please come to the front porch before picking up your children at the end of the day to sign the hard copy of your registration form. Thank you.
Beginning next week, we will begin offering available spaces to families on our waitlists.
This past week, we had a delightful but brief encounter with snow. We took full advantage of the moment and worked together to build a snow wall, using containers from the shed. This provided lots of opportunity for heavy lifting and sensory exploration. Small children are all scientists. They conducted experiments with the snow using all of their senses. We admired the snow falling from the sky, the children took off their mittens and handled the snow and many of them tasted the snow which is a sacred rite of passage for children. Eating day old snow was discouraged.
“Good morning! How are you??” Is a familiar greeting at drop off. As educators, this is our first opportunity to gain information about your child, how they are feeling, and how we can help support them during the day. Please let us know if there is anything out of the ordinary or remarkable about your child. Did they sleep well? Rise early? Not eat breakfast? Upset about a lost stuffy?? Excited about a grandparents’ visit? All of these pieces of information and a quick health & wellness check-in give us insight into the care that your child needs to have the best possible day and learning experience.
Ms. Gervais.
“The teacher’s task is not to talk, but to prepare and arrange a series of motives for cultural activity in a special environment made for the child.” — Maria Montessori.
January always seems to be the pivot month for me in Casa. The children return from vacation and seamlessly fall back into the swing of things. They come back with the confidence of knowing the rhythm of the classroom. They come back to the smiles of all their friends who they have built relationships with. They come back to knowing what they know they know.
We as educators are afforded the privilege to look back on how far they have come: dressing independently, working confidently on classroom activities, and playing with friends with care and patience.
Some call January the dark and gloomy month, but in the world of Montessori all our little seeds are beginning the journey to poke their heads up from the soil and show all their radiant colours of knowledge, emotional growth, and independence.
Ms. Canessa.
Although it was a short school week, the students were busy! Several students completed independent projects, including a diorama of an NHL game and a research poster about lacrosse, while others continue investigating black holes, stars, and even pomegranates. Younger students have been exploring the concept and measurement of time in geography and human history. Some were introduced to the BC/AD timeline and learned to represent their ages in years on a graph, while others started building a timeline of human inventions and important events for each century of the common era. Many students also enjoyed an introduction to the cardiovascular system in biology. The Upper Elementary students happily finished off the week with a foggy hike at Princess Point and fun discoveries like turkey tail fungi and improvised fishing lines. Next week, our Classroom Historians Sam and Harrison will bring you the kids’ perspective!
Marissa and Michelle.
Elev8 Dance — Friday, February 2
The class will be attending P.E. outings at Elev8 Dance on Friday afternoons throughout the month of February. Please help your child remember to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt on Friday, February 2 for dance class!
O.W.L. Workshop 5 — Friday, February 2
This month’s O.W.L. workshops on gender will be held from 9:00-10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 2, and Friday, February 9. Activities and readings from Home Link #4 will help your child connect with the previous workshop and prepare for the next topic.
Parent Education Event — Thursday, February 15
Our next parent education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, February 15, from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to discuss a Montessori approach to supporting children’s mental health and social wellness during the Elementary years.
Please note, all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA at 3:20 that day ahead of the parent presentation. Students whose families are attending the parent education event will be included in the aftercare program (with no charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30.
All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Casa child care that day, by Tuesday, Feb 13.
Lyonsgate Update Jan. 22, 2024
Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Reminder: this Friday, Jan. 26, is a PD Day and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed.
Construction Update: we had an exciting week last week as the Primary campus’s new roof and heating system installation moved to the rooftop above Lyonsgate. There were trucks and cranes and noise from above. We commend the work crews for accommodating to our presence and needs as they paused work while children were nearby, and for working through the bitter cold and snow. It’s been amazing to see the children’s capabilities of working through these distractions, and their gift of concentration throughout this process. We are extremely grateful to all of you for your patience and understanding as we look forward with excitement to the improvements to the building.
Summer Camps: While we suffer enjoy the winter weather, please be aware that registrations for summer camps will open soon. The City of Hamilton posted last week that registration for Camp Kidaca summer camps begins February 7 at 8:00 a.m.! For more info and to register, visit hamilton.ca/campkidaca. Here are few more summer camp listings:
- https://www.rbg.ca/things-to-do/courses-camps-programs/camps/summer-camps/
- https://www.ourkids.net/camp/hamilton-camps
- https://www.ymcahbb.ca/camp/day-camp
- https://camps.mohawkcollege.ca/
- https://www.todaysfamily.ca/programs/summer-day-camps/
- https://rec.mcmaster.ca/programs/youth-camps-march-break-summer/camps
- https://redbook.hpl.ca/taxonomy/term/11658 (camps listing from Hamilton Public Library)
This week in the Toddler classroom, we have been experiencing a lot of banging and drilling over our heads because the school is in the process of getting a new roof. Initially, some children were disturbed by the loud noises, but as the week went by most of them became accustomed to the sounds and were able to sleep through it! Toddlers are remarkably adaptable.
They take great comfort in their routine and familiar habits but they can accept interruptions and disruption when it is explained to them what is going on. We let them know that the roofers were using various tools and that they were doing their work and that it would be finished soon. We overheard another child telling a friend, “Don’t worry. It’s just the roofers using their tools. It will be over soon.” One child used humour to cope with the drilling noise by stating, “It sounds like a fart!” It was nice to witness such kindness, resilience, and healthy coping skills.
Outside, we are busy putting mittens and hats back on the toddlers during recess. Naturally, it takes a bit longer to get everyone ready to go outside with all of their cold weather gear. If you have time to allow your toddler to practice doing some of the work of getting dressed independently it would really help us here at school. They can pull their legs through their snow pants and find their feet. They might be able to finish zipping up their jacket once you have started it. They can step their feet into their boots while holding onto a wall or a piece of furniture for balance, and they can work on putting on their own hat. Mittens are a bit tricky. We find that putting the coat on after the mittens helps to keep them on a bit longer.
Ms. Gervais.
Salut tout le monde!
On commence très bien l’année!
Here we are, already started our second term. The children have adjusted very well after being away for the winter break.
They have been enjoying some new and familiar activities; some with different objects to enrich the French vocabulary.
We have been counting whenever the opportunity arises and singing some of my favourites:
- Le petit navire
- Sur le pont d’Avignon
- Dans mon sac à dos
- Tête, épaules, genoux…
- Les jours de la semaine
- Des chansons échos
Books are such great resources to help expand vocabulary, imagination, and knowledge. If you have any French children’s books at home, please feel free to send them with your child to share with their friends. Merci!
À la prochaine!
Mme Perazzo.
The Elementary students were busy last week with new explorations in geography, history, and art! Many students continued their study of the physical earth, learning more about the different layers of the Earth, its tectonic plates, and the build-up of sedimentary layers. In history, Upper Elementary students developed their vocabulary around the different phases of history, learning about the transition of some cultures from pastoralism to an agricultural lifestyle. Lower Elementary students were excited to learn more about the style of Eric Carle, and began their own process of preparing painted papers, based on warm or cool colours, for future cut-and-paste creations. The students had a great time visiting the karate dojo again, with enthusiastic cries of “ki-yah” as they pummeled the kickboxing bags or practiced their jab-cross punch combinations.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
Marissa and Michelle.
Upper Elementary Outing — Thursday, January 25
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 to Princess Point for a winter hike. Students are welcome to bring along a simple, nut-free snack and light-weight water bottle, and should be prepared for mud!
January Scholastic Order
Your child recently brought home a Scholastic book flyer, offering discounts on books for families and encouraging a love of reading. Many popular series and children’s classics are available through the monthly flyers, with even more titles listed on their website. Every purchase you make from Scholastic earns bonus bucks for our classroom, which we use for new library books, art supplies, and music materials.
If you would like to be included in our January shipment, please place your family’s online Scholastic order by Friday, January 26th.
To receive free shipping, simply include our class code RC144312 when checking out, and your order will be grouped together with others from the school, and shipped to campus.
Orders placed from the January flyer after that date will be included in our February order. 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
Josephine.
Lyonsgate Update Jan. 15, 2024
Welcome to the winter term Lyonsgate families. The students returned with a joyful energy, and a bit of holiday fatigue as we all adjusted back to early mornings and full school days. We have a few updates for you:
- CCMA Accreditation: Lyonsgate Montessori has been re-accredited by the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators. Lyonsgate will always offer authentic Montessori educations for your children.
- New Arrival & Dismissal Policy at Primary Campus: On January 1, a new policy requirement came into effect called “Safe Arrival and Dismissal.” You can view the full policy in your Parent Handbook. What it means for Casa and Toddler parents:
- If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, we are required to contact you to ascertain why the child is absent. We will begin contacting parents at 9:30 each day. If your child will be absent for any reason, please email admin@lyonsgate.ca and your child’s classroom, or leave a message at 905-525-4283.
- We are also required to contact you if your child is not picked up as expected. If you are going to be late picking up, please call 905-525-4283 to let us know, or email admin@lyonsgate.ca if you can do so before 3:15 p.m.
Welcome Back Toddlers,
It was great to see everyone after the holidays and hear some stories about what the children got up to over the break. One child reported with glee, “I did nothing!” We asked, “Did you eat some nice food?” “No!” “Hot chocolate?” “No!” “Did you have any visitors?” “No!”
Another told us an elaborate story of a pet turtle that eats bamboo which we later found out was completely fabricated. Some of our older toddlers are developing a rich imagination.
We are welcoming a few new toddlers to our community over the next few weeks. It is really lovely to see how the more experienced toddlers often become very nurturing towards the new and younger students.
On a practical note, please remember to send plenty of good winter gear. It seems that winter has finally arrived. We could use two pairs of mittens, extra socks, and an extra layer for under the outerwear for comfort during cold and wet weather. Thank you.
Ms. Gervais.
Bonne Année 2024!
It has been nice getting to hear from the children about their holiday break.
In Casa North, the students are working with winter animals and their habitats. For example:
- Le loup vit dans la montagne.
- Le lapin vit dans le terrier.
Students have also been introduced to two different French songs: “Pirouette Cacahuete” and “Un Petit Pouce qui Danse” (which is a finger play).
Now, we are starting to express our feelings/emotions at French circle. I ask them, “Comment te sens-tu aujourd’hui?” (How do you feel today?). No worries, so far! Tout le monde est content(e), excité(e) mais un peu fatigué.
We enjoyed reading a collection of books written by Jeremy Tankard (stories about a little bird and his friends, ie. Gros Grognon, Gros dodo, Gros gâté).
En attendant que la neige tombe …pensons à mettre nos pantalons de neige! Il fait froid!!
Mme Murati.
from the Classroom Guides
We had a wonderful first week back at school following the winter break! The students were thrilled to be back together with their friends and start the second term off with a winter scavenger hunt. There was a lot of enthusiasm for word problems in math this week, racing to build and name different types of angles, and exploring the measurement of time in centuries. In art, Upper Elementary students had a great time experimenting with relief printing by carving image blocks out of potatoes and pressing their designs onto paper. In P.E., the younger students had a fantastic time learning about high blocks, jabs, and knee strikes, with lots of laughter in the dojo, while the older students enjoyed a kick-boxing class complete with rock music to get them energized.
from the Classroom Historians
– Josephine
Friday, January 19 — P.E. Karate and Kick-Boxing
All students will return to the dojo on Friday for another P.E. class in karate or kick-boxing. Please support your child in remembering to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirts for special P.E. outings such as trips to the dojo, rock-climbing, or indoor sports fields.
Friday, January 19 — O.W.L. # 4, Part 2
Upper Elementary students are kindly encouraged to complete the required reading for this workshop on their own, at school, or with a trusted adult at home, if they have not already done so! The kids are having a lot of fun learning about the changes of puberty to come.
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.
