Lyonsgate Update Sept. 11, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We regularly publish general updates from each of our Montessori levels to keep you up to date on what’s going on in the classrooms and the school in general, as well as reminders and other bits of important school info. You will also find a gallery of photos from the previous week so you can see what the students have been up to in all of the classrooms.
What a fantastic week in the Toddler classroom!
It was lovely to welcome our returning students. We are thankful for their help in role-modelling the routine and the materials to our new students.
The half day visits with the new toddlers were a great success.
We look forward to this week when we will all be together in engaging in purposeful work & joyful learning.
Please remember to send indoor shoes,extra clothes (please label everything!), and send us a digital photo of your family for our family album.
Mrs. Elise Gervais.
Greetings Casa Families,
We’re off and running into a new school year with plenty of smiles, a few tears, and no doubt some early nights. It’s been so good to welcome returning faces and greet new ones, to see how much children have grown, and how happy they are to join their classrooms.
The returning children are really stepping up to fulfill their role as mentors and guides for their newer classmates. We have already observed connections in the making, sharing of knowledge, and helping hands in action. Learning to lead and leading to learn are truly processes we witness (and do) on a daily basis.
This week, we will welcome our remaining students to complete our classrooms and form our micro-communities in both classrooms as well as the larger one that includes all our Casa children. The outdoor space is a whirlwind of activity with all those energetic bodies interacting and making up games as they build strong bodies and friendships.
As always, we thank you for all your support, especially at this time of transition, and look forward to getting to know all of you more throughout the year.
See you at the gate,
The Casa Team.
The Elementary class had a wonderful first week of school! They welcomed six children moving up from Casa, conducting small group interviews, drawing life-size posters, and presenting their new friends to the rest of the class. They’ve enjoyed team-building exercises such as relay races and obstacles courses, returned to daily practice in reading and writing, and were eager for new lessons in math and geometry. The whole class came together for the dramatic telling of the first Great Lesson: The Creation of the Universe, sowing the seeds of interest for further study of the laws of physics, the planets, and the composition of our own Earth.
As part of the students’ rotating contributions to their classroom community, our weekly update will sometimes include a description and photographs prepared by our classroom historians. Please continue reading below for your weekly update from Colin and Beck.
Marissa and Michelle.
From the Classroom Historians
This week Danielle taught a couple first years how to use the basketball material in the backyard. Some of the fourth and fifth years made an indigenous village out of plasticine. Danielle gave everyone a physical education lesson. (Everyone agreed it was very fun). The snack that day was very tasty. Kim gave lots of people lessons and everybody loves Kim. Two of the fourth years did a huge math problem on the checkerboard, trust me it was huge, it got up to the trillions. That is the stuff that has been happening this week.
Colin and Beck.
Welcome to the Lyonsgate 2023.2024 School Year
Hello Lyonsgate Montessori Families,
We wish to extend a genuine, warm welcome to all of our new and returning students and families for the 2023.2024 school year. We hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer and are ready to embrace the school year ahead.
We have been excitedly preparing the school and classroom environments to welcome and inspire your children. The staff are now eagerly waiting to greet new students and to see how much the returning students have grown and changed over the last two months. We always marvel at the progress the children have made over the summer holidays!
We know how special a time it is for a child when they start school. New teachers and new faces can be overwhelming at first, but with consistency and patience you will see a transition to comfort, confidence, and joy in learning.
As always, we thank you for entrusting us with your precious children, and we appreciate the opportunity to work alongside them, learn together, and marvel at their progress as they blossom into the special people they are meant to be. We hope you and your children are looking forward to this school year with great eagerness. We certainly are!
Thank you,
Rachel Lyons, principal
Sarah Kennedy, vice-principal
Last Day of School Visitor
We had a beautiful surprise visitor for the last day of school today. A fledgling bird that is also taking its first steps, and flaps, into the wider world came to visit during recess:
Lyonsgate Parent Update June 19, 2023
Dear Lyonsgate Families,
It is hard to believe another school year is almost complete. As Montessorians, we always struggle with the end of the school year approaching. While friends and family kindly offer celebratory congratulations to us on a year almost complete, the truth is, for us, the end of a school year always leaves us feeling more than a little unsettled. Opposed to other learning institutions where there is a set curriculum to complete within the year, we recognize that there is always more learning that can happen, more lessons and presentations to give and build upon, more ways to explore with materials, and more grace and courtesy to practice and refine. For us, a feeling of satisfaction is not felt from completing checklists, it is felt from knowing that we have helped to mold our students into inquisitive, kind, knowledgeable, and community-minded individuals who are excited to explore the world, have a thirst for knowledge, and assist one another in making this world a better place.
Thank you for gifting your children to our care this past year — they never cease to amaze us. To those students and families moving on next year, we thank you for the time you have spent with us and hope you know how dearly you will be missed. To those families returning next year, we are excited to see you in September, and look forward to the learning and growth we will do together in the next school year.
One thing we all look forward to at the end of the school year is the annual Family Picnic at Dundas Driving Park . We are hosting a potluck at pavilion #1. Please feel free to bring a pot luck item to share with the school community, and please include an ingredients list for those with allergies or other restrictions. All items must be nut-free, and we also have students with anaphylactic allergies to eggs and kiwi. Lyonsgate will provide plates, cutlery, and serviettes.
There are always so many fun things to do: run through the splash pad, play ball or frisbee on the grass, splash in the wading pool, play on the playground, and of course, socialize with one another. Items to remember to bring are refillable water bottles, bathing suits and towels for the splash pad, sun protection, a picnic blanket, and any balls, games, or other park activities your family enjoys.
We have the pavilion booked from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm, and we look forward to being able to share food and conversation with one another. We hope to see you and your family there to celebrate the end of a great school year!
We wish you and your family a joy-filled summer, full of laughter, fun, health, happiness, and many great memories!
The Lyonsgate Team.
Lyonsgate Parent Update June 12, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
As a number of you noted last week, the end of the school year seems to be approaching at a rapid pace. While we don’t make notable mention of it, the students are starting to sense some excitement in the air, as well as some smoke. Thank you all for understanding as we adjusted to another new and not-so-exciting issue to deal with last week.
Parents of New and Returning Elementary Students in September: There are a number of Elementary events in the coming weeks; please check your Lyonsgate calendar for dates, times, and details.
- Please see the Elementary section for an orientation date option survey.
- For new Elementary students and parents next year, please see the Casa section for details of your orientation this Wednesday.
“Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones. But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.
A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts.”
In the Toddler community we are observing a strong desire for the children to be helpful. Jobs like washing the table in preparation for a meal, serving snack or water to their fellow classmates, bringing the bin of dishes to the kitchen to be cleaned are all ways for a child to be useful. The act of doing the important work of contributing to a community gives the child a sense of belonging and responsibility. There is so much enthusiasm for these jobs that children will delay their own snack in order to serve someone else. It is within human nature to help each other. We cannot do it alone.
Ms. Gervais.
Good Morning, Lyonsgate Families!
June always seems so far away until it’s here. As staff, we plan, collaborate, and work to meet the goals we’ve set for the children, while the children do what comes naturally: play, practice, learn, and explore. At this time of year we tend to feel a sense of urgency around whether we have done enough. Did we teach enough academic skills? Have we practiced enough grace and courtesy? Did we model kindness and patience? Are they prepared for whatever comes next?
On a personal note, my family is moving to a new home this month so I’m also feeling that added pressure as we pack and purge. I’m excited for summer and a fresh start but I need to remind myself to slow down and appreciate the memories and connections we’ve made. The children in our classes are the same ones we met in September (which wasn’t really so long ago), yet each one has grown so much, inside and out. I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know every one of them.
Thank you for reading,
Jessica Dewey.
Welcome to Elementary — Parent and Child Orientation, Wednesday, June 14
Parents of children who will be moving up from Casa to our Elementary program in September are invited to an orientation session with Michelle, our lead guide for Lower Elementary students, from 3:30 – 4:00 in the Oak Room. Casa students who are moving up to Elementary are welcome to arrive with their parents and join Marissa, our lead guide for Upper Elementary students, for an art activity in the Pine Room.
When you arrive, please go to the north gate marked Learning Starts Here, and go down the stairs to the cloakroom door. Ring the bell, and one of our staff members will greet you.
The class had a wonderful time exploring Crawford Lake, learning about the features of the land and meromictic lake, as well as traditional cultural practices of the Wendat. The students loved exploring the longhouses re-built on the archaeological footprints of a village from more than 500 years ago. They examined different animal pelts, discovered a variety of uses for dried herbs, and saw how to start a fire with flint and milkweed. They even got to practice their lacrosse skills! It was a joyful way to further our understanding of the history of Canada, and develop an appreciation for the ways humans have adapted to this land over time. We look forward to continuing our studies of Canadian history as we celebrate Pride and National Indigenous Peoples Day this month.
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle.
Open House — TODAY, Monday, June 12
Please join us for our final Open House of the school year! Visit the Elementary campus between 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. to tour exhibits of the children’s recent work. Parents, siblings, and other caregivers are welcome. Please come up to the front porch and enter through the Maple Room door when you arrive. We look forward to seeing you there!
Elementary Photo Day, Part 2 — Thursday, June 15
The Elementary staff will be taking some amateur photos of our graduating students, as well as a whole class picture. Students are welcome to dress their best, or bring a change of clothes for photos. The photos will be shared digitally with Elementary families.
Elementary Graduation — Thursday, June 22
The Elementary class will have a short ceremony on the last day of school to celebrate those students who are moving on from Lyonsgate to middle school this fall. Graduating sixth year students are welcome to invite two adults, as well as their siblings, to attend the celebration. Guests should arrive at 3:00 p.m. to be seated, and the ceremony will begin shortly after.
Elementary Orientation Date Survey
Parents of returning and new Elementary students, please complete the following survey by Friday, June 16, to help us select the best date for the Elementary Orientation at the beginning of the next school year; we would like as many families as possible to be able to attend. Thank you.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/dpW2DNLry9axXQ6x7
Lyonsgate Parent Update June 5, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Parents,
As always, we will end our school year with an all-school picnic and Casa graduation ceremony at Dundas Driving Park. The picnic will run from 12:00-4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23. The Casa graduation ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Please feel free to bring a pot luck item to share with the school community, and please include an ingredients list for those with allergies or other restrictions. All items must be nut-free, and we also have students with anaphylactic allergies to eggs and kiwi. Lyonsgate will provide plates, cutlery, and serviettes.
Other items to remember to bring are refillable water bottles, bathing suits and towels for the splash pad, sun protection, a picnic blanket, and any balls, games, or other park activities your family enjoys.
Elementary Families (and 3rd-year Casa): please be sure to check the Elementary section for updates on summer camp, field trip, photo day pt. 2, and the upcoming open house.
Hello Toddler Families,
As we all know, the past week has been a hot one and we have certainly been taking advantage of being outside as much as possible, which has been so lovely for all of us here at Lyonsgate. There is still a lot of excitement happening around the building as the construction is ongoing and many more machines have been making an appearance in our parking lot; the other morning we decided to take a few eager onlookers out to watch as the workers moved various items back and forth, there were many wide eyed little faces who certainly enjoyed the show!
We have also been been having more opportunities to have our snack outside in the mornings and afternoons, which the children have been loving as well. As some of you may have seen on Seesaw we made fruit ice cream for them on Thursday and it was such a wonderful and tasty experience. Mr. Davis brought in his ice cream maker which allowed each child to hand crank it and watch as it turned and formed the ice cream inside.
As we approach the end of the school year I have been reflecting on how far your children have developed since they first started and I wanted to leave you with a quote I recently read that really resonated with me:
“Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write, and count. It is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace that is right for each individual child. Earlier is not better.” — Magda Gerber.
Mme Craigie.
Hello June!
It’s hard to believe the school year is almost complete. We have seen so much growth physically and academically in all our students. New friends have been made, and old friends will soon say farewell as they move on. All the children have gifted us with fond memories and many funny stories.
On Wednesday, we had an opportunity to make even more memories and share in their laughter and joy. We love seeing opportunities for learning beyond our classroom. A Montessori classroom allows for choice-making in all aspects of the Casa. Choices are essential when working with young children. These choices enable the child to feel empowered and affirmed in their abilities. Our outing to the park allowed this theory to be seen concretely, as the children could explore the park and complete activities they felt secure at, or challenge their skills and confidence. We educators could observe gross motor skills, hopping, climbing, running, etc., and we were privileged to hear their thoughts and plans for their day. The morning was filled with laughter, ear-to-ear smiles, and profound statements of “I did it!”
The temperatures have started climbing and the children love the freedom from snowsuits, and boots. A gentle reminder to please send your child with a hat and a full water bottle. For those wishing sunscreen to be applied, we do it before recess. On those hot days, we encourage water painting and spray bottle play. Please send in extra T-shirts and shorts for the children to change into if they become too wet.
These final weeks of June seem to fly by, and we all would like to wish you lots of family time and fabulous memories.
Great summer wishes,
Casa North Team.
Elementary Weekly Update
This week, our classroom assistant, Caitlin, has an update on the children’s work in the kitchen this year:
The students often have contributions in the kitchen to help our community with snacks each day and community lunches on Fridays. They all seem to enjoy getting food prepared for the classroom and we have worked on many skills throughout the year such as chopping vegetables, cutting fruit, making hummus from scratch, and making muffins, which I think is their favourite! It has been especially fun helping them realize that fractions and math are used in the kitchen! Some distinctions have been made between cooking and baking, and how ingredients can be used as well. For example, we have been working on improvising our amounts in cooking soups and tasting as we go to see what ingredient we might need more of, as well as working on measuring exact amounts for baking muffins.
Sometimes the students also choose to make something in the kitchen for special projects and occasions. The Winn Dixie literature circle made fruit punch for the whole school to try. When learning about the fundamental needs of humans, one group delighted our open house guests with homemade pie. During our recent Phoenicians trading game, students explored using food from our kitchen to prepare trade items such as olive oil, salt, and homemade grape juice.
The children really enjoy working in the kitchen alongside their friends!
All the best,
Caitlin.
Summer Camp is CANCELLED
While we had a wonderful time at our Montessori Summer Camp last year, we unfortunately do not have enough campers to offer the program again this summer. All camp registration fees will be refunded. We know that this will be disappointing to those students who were looking forward to spending a bit more time together on campus, but hope they will find new opportunities for summer adventures!
Crawford Lake
The class will be traveling by chartered bus to Crawford Lake on Tuesday, June 6, as part of their history studies. If your child has a Lyonsgate t-shirt or another red-shirt, they are encouraged to wear it for the trip. Please remember to have your child bring a bag to carry their lunch and water bottle for the day, and they may wish to also bring a hat or sunglasses.
Open House
Please join us next Monday, June 12, for our final 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.
Elementary Photo Day, Part 2
On Thursday, June 15, the Elementary staff will be taking some amateur photos of our graduating students, as well as a whole class picture. Students are welcome to dress their best, or bring a change of clothes for photos. The photos will be shared digitally with Elementary families.
Lyonsgate Parent Update May 29, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Parents,
We’re looking forward to seeing most of you this Friday for Parent-Teacher conferences. Remember, both campuses are closed to students but child care is available during your conference time. If you still need to sign up for a conference timeslot, please see the email “June Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up” from May 17 for the link.
Final Days to Register for Summer Camp!
We still have a few spaces to fill to be able to offer our Montessori Summer Camp again this year. Registration is now open to Primary students who are currently in their third year of Casa. While the weekly program themes remain the same, our activities are easily adapted to fully include younger campers, and the camp will be staffed by both Casa and Elementary-trained guides. We had so much fun last year, let’s do it again! Join us for art, games, nature exploration, water play, the giant slingshot, and more!
Please click here to register for summer camp
If your child is interested in attending our Montessori Summer Camp for Lyonsgate students, please register by Wednesday, May 31. This is the final day for registration, and if our minimum number of campers is not reached, camp will be canceled and all camp fees refunded.
Greetings Toddler Parents,
Things are growing in the Toddler room: the children, various vegetables, and plants. Mr. Davis’s experiment with the bell pepper seeds from our snack has worked like magic. We safely transplanted many of these seedlings into larger pots with the help of the children. Small children love to dig in the dirt and they love to be involved in the real work of gardening. It is very gratifying to watch something grow and know that they helped to make it happen!
I am looking forward to meeting with all of you this Friday during our Parent-Teacher Conferences. It will be a nice chance to talk about our year together as a whole and think about some things to work on over the summer.
As the weather warms up, please remember to send a water bottle and to put sunscreen on your children prior to their arrival at school. We will reapply it after nap for the afternoon outdoor time.
Ms. Gervais.
Nous sommes déjà rendus à la fin du mois de mai. C’est incroyable!
What a busy month! Our casa children welcomed their parents to Show and Share and watched caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies. They created gifts and cards for Mother’s Day with joy and excitement. They enjoyed science experiments and learned about the animals of the world.
There is so much to discover!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Parent-Teacher Conferences!
Bonne semaine!
Mme Perazzo.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Parent Education event on French in our elementary environment! Our French instructor, Anne Prat Kalonji, shared her approach to engaging children in work with a secondary language, as well as some of the lesson content, follow-up games, and A.I.M. activities enjoyed by the students. Many of the children were excited to perform their A.I.M. play, “Boucles Violettes,” a modern retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The audience was delighted! We are looking forward to tomorrow afternoon’s performance of “Les Trois Petits Cochons.” Other activities that were a big part of the children’s week included literacy games, biology dissections, and spontaneous musical ensembles!
We look forward to sharing more about your child’s work at our Parent-Teacher conferences this week.
Kindly,
Marissa and Michelle.
Save-the-Date: Elementary Graduation – Thursday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m.
The Elementary class will have a small ceremony on the last day of school to celebrate those students who are moving up from Lyonsgate to middle school this fall. Graduating sixth year students are welcome to invite two adult family members to attend the celebration.
Lyonsgate Parent Update May 22, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We hope you’re all enjoying a great long weekend. Remember to keep an eye on your Lyonsgate calendar as we approach the end of the school year. This week, there is an Elementary Parent Education event, and sign-up for Parent-Teacher Conferences on June 2 continues (see the email “June Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up” from May 17).
There is also important information about Elementary summer camps for parents of Elementary students and 3rd-year Casa students going to Elementary in September. See the Elementary section below.
Thank you to all of you that were able to attend our Parent Education event this week. It always means a lot to us to be able to share more of what we do.
Even though it was a short week, every day it’s own adventure in the Toddler room, and this week was no exception. We had butterflies emerge and fly away, and we had some new (to us) construction truck toys donated to us from a neighbour of the school. Between those, the small construction vehicles we have in the classroom, and the real life excavator, bobcat, and dump truck we’ve had working beside the playground for the last couple of weeks, we’ve all been quite excited about construction.
At this time of year, we also have a lot of big steps being taken with toilet learning. A number of Toddlers are now proudly wearing just underwear to school, and throughout the day. Great work!
Mr. Davis.
This week was very exciting; we had painted lady caterpillars emerge from their suspended chrysalides as butterflies.
The children observed the life stages for a few weeks and they were very excited to meet their classrooms butterflies. Casa North named them: Buttercup, Pizza, and Butterscotch.
Every time we sang the “Bonjour Song” the butterflies emerged. The children thought it was their singing that made the caterpillars become butterflies.
Our students also enjoyed a sound game book written by Marion Arbona. They have to find objects for each letter of the alphabet.
Happy Victoria Day!
Mme Murati.
Reminder: if you would like your child to wear sunscreen, please send in a clearly and permanently labeled bottle. Thank you.
Last week, students explored language through a variety of activities. Many of the students have recently been enthusiastically adding to their repertoire of phonograms through card drills, writing activities, and Spelling Races. Some of the youngest students had a lot of fun generating noun family phrases and using them to create their own booklets, while others have been adding to their personal spelling dictionaries or discussing how a word can act as a noun or verb depending on how it is used in a sentence. The older students have focused on analyzing and composing complex sentences with dependent clauses while researching and writing biographies.
Students are eagerly anticipating the performance of the French plays that they have been preparing this term. They have been excited to move their rehearsals into the backyard. As well as their enthusiasm for acting en français, the students have embraced the task of acquiring costumes. Both the indoor and outdoor spaces have turned into set design workshops as children glue, paint, and assemble sets. We are all looking forward to seeing their interpretations of Boucle de Violette and Trois Petits Cochons!
Have a great week,
Michelle and Marissa.
Parent Education Event – French in our Elementary Environment – Thursday, May 25, 3:30 – 4:15
Please join us after school on Thursday, May 25, for a parent education presentation with our French instructor, Anne. She will be speaking with you how we approach second language learning and demonstrating some of the French materials for independent work. If you are planning to attend, RSVP to elementary@lyonsgate.ca how many adults are expected and whether your children will be staying for child care.
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 aftercare until 4:30 p.m. All other students will be dismissed from the park between 3:30 – 3:45.
Final Days to Register for Summer Camp!
If your child is interested in attending our Montessori Summer Camp for elementary students, this is the final week for registration. Choose from a week of art and film-making or a session dedicated to exploring a variety of cultures from around the world. Casa students who are joining the Elementary program in the fall are welcome to register and get acquainted with some of their new classmates before September.
We need a minimum number of campers to offer this program, and unfortunately, if we do not have sufficient registration by the end of this week, summer camp will be canceled and fees refunded.
Field Trip to Crawford Lake
On Tuesday, June 6th, the Elementary students will be taking a field trip to learn more about the Haudenosaunee with a visit to Crawford Lake. Students will be traveling by chartered school bus, and off-campus for the majority of the school day. More details to come!
Save-the-Date: Elementary Graduation – Thursday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m.
The Elementary class will have a small ceremony on the last day of school to celebrate those students who are moving up from Lyonsgate to middle school this fall. Graduating sixth year students are welcome to invite two adult family members to attend the celebration.
Lyonsgate Parent Update May 15, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Parents,
Reminder: the Victoria Day long weekend is this week. Lyonsgate is closed for a PD day on Friday, May 19, and for the holiday on Monday, May 22.
See below for updates, including information about Elementary Parent Education and French plays.
Hello Toddler Parents,
We have been enjoying watching the construction vehicles moving and dumping dirt into the large bin behind our playground fence each day. We are so lucky to have this opportunity. Many of the toddlers were already interested in construction vehicles before our neighbour’s renovation project began but to see them up close is very exciting. We are naming the various machines and watching how they work.
As the weather warms up we might have cool mornings but by the afternoon we are experiencing summer temperatures so I will encourage you to dress your child in layers and provide a sun hat. Also, we will be using water bottles again while we are outside to keep the children hydrated. Please resume sending a water bottle. If you forget we have lots of water and cups so there is no need to make a special trip back home just for the water bottle. Please apply sunscreen for the morning at home before coming to school. We will re-apply sunscreen before the second recess. PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING. This saves time and confusion.
We hope to be able to witness our painted lady butterflies hatch early this week!
Ms. Gervais.
Spring Greetings from Casa,
It was a pleasure to welcome you into your children’s classrooms earlier this month. They were very happy to show you what they enjoy working with and share their school environments. While observing all the activity and enthusiasm it became evident that they all have grown and developed in many ways.
The work they chose to present may have been different, or the same, as your previous visit in the Fall indicating a new or further developed skill level. Fine motor skills have becoming more refined, impressions absorbed through work with concrete materials have led to more abstract thinking, and the ability to communicate has become clearer and more sophisticated.
In addition to all of the above tremendous growth these visits highlighted just how much all of the children have thoroughly adapted to their classroom environments, how secure they are in the physical space and more importantly how they have bonded with their classmates. These are spaces where they obviously feel comfortable and supported which in turn leads to discoveries about themselves and others.
Ms. Robinson.
The Elementary class was bursting with energy last week, with lots of work taking place both inside and outside the classroom. The students were excited to participate in a trading game exploring how the ancient Phoenicians connected and influenced different groups living around the Mediterranean Sea. They loved bartering their native resources for more exotic goods! This was followed by the “Story of Currency,” introducing students to the transition from bartering to a monetary system. In language work this week, the students happily returned to work with poetry, composing acrostics, cinquains, and odes to their mothers in celebration of Mother’s Day. There has been a lot of interest in plants and fungi lately as a result of our lessons in botany. Last Friday, three of our students were overjoyed to participate in a Montessori “going out” to the Bruce Trail to investigate local mushrooms and collect specimens for dissection. We look forward to another week of adventure ahead!
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle.
- Please note that the date of the student French plays has been postponed to the afternoon of Tuesday, May 23. If you anticipate your child will be absent that day, please let us know with an email to elementary@lyonsgate.ca
- Parent Education Event – French in our Elementary Environment 3:30 – 4:15
Please join us after school on Thursday, May 25, for a parent education presentation with our French instructor, Anne. She will be speaking with you about how we approach second language learning, demonstrating some of the French materials for independent work, and sharing some footage of the French plays prepared using the A.I.M.
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 aftercare until 4:30 p.m. All other students will be dismissed from the park between 3:30 – 3:45.
Lyonsgate Parent Update May 8, 2023
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Here are a few dates to be aware of as we head towards the end of the school year:
- May 19 PD Day: BOTH LYONSGATE CAMPUSES WILL BE CLOSED. This is the PD day that leads into the Victoria Day long weekend. Lyonsgate will also be closed on Monday, May 22, for the statutory holiday.
- Friday, June 2: Lyonsgate will be closed to students for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
- Thursday, June 22: is the last regular day of school and Friday, June 23, is the year-end community picnic and Casa graduation at Dundas Driving Park.
Please keep an eye on your Lyonsgate calendar — https://lyonsgate.ca/lyonsgate-calendar/ — for other events before the end of the school year.
Hello Toddler Parents,
Thank you to everyone who came to visit our classroom last week during our show and share week. It was so nice to invite all of you in to explore with your children and experience their joy as they showed you all of the things they work so hard on.
On another note, our caterpillars are on their way to becoming butterflies! On Friday we noticed that they were hanging from the lid of the container and were beginning to pupate; they have now entered into their chrysalis so we moved them into the net where they will finish growing and emerge as painted lady butterflies in about eight to ten days. In the Toddler room everything is growing! We look forward to keeping you updated throughout the week!
Your Toddler Team.
It has been so exciting in the Casa classrooms this week. Thank you for joining us for show and share. The children have been working hard all year and it’s nice for them to be able to showcase their work to all of you. Each of our classrooms have had the opportunity to have caterpillars join the classrooms. We will be watching the caterpillars grow and turn into painted lady butterflies. We will then release them outside once they are ready.
I have had a great first week as the Casa North directress. The children have been eager to present their work to me and have welcomed me in with open arms. The transition has gone smoothly. I am looking forward to building a new relationship with the children and their families.
All the best,
Ms. Beach.
Last week, the Elementary class was excited to continue their exploration of the ancient Phoenicians by learning about their trading partners around the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. Students have partnered up to prepare a trading post from a particular culture by researching and creating artistic versions of resources the Phoenicians procured from others. Once each trading post is prepared, some of our youngest students will take the part of the Phoenicians, and travel from post to post in their merchant ship to barter and trade. On Friday, the class heard the story of Siddhartha Gautama in recognition of Vesak Day, and enjoyed learning about the generous, temporary offerings Buddhists leave before statues of the Buddha in their own homes and community temples around the world.
Marissa and Michelle.
