At Home Learning Update, and new website additions
Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We have some updates from the Primary and Elementary campuses about updates to Lyonsgate’s At Home Learning Support for times when children are required to be absent due to pandemic exclusion rules this year, and in case of a cohort or full school closure. We also have some new tools available for you at lyonsgate.ca.
Reminder: Picture Day for Casa and Toddler students is on Tuesday, October 20.
(Elementary Picture Day is Monday, October 26)
Home Learning Support Updates
From Sarah at Primary:
Experiencing our first wave of absences, paired with new directives from Public Health regarding symptoms and testing, it has become apparent that we need to make some slight alterations and clarifications regarding At Home Learning Support and what works best for the children and the classroom.
For clarification, students who are ill and are excluded by our screening process with symptoms that may require testing (not just a single symptom requiring 24 hours at home and monitoring for improvement) will be provided with support as listed below.
Toddler Students:
A Toddler binder has been created with a collection of various Practical Life activities that can be re-created at home, as well as parent education guides including ways to set up a Montessori environment. When a child is excluded due to illness for a prolonged period (as outlined above), a small collection of these write ups will be sent home with your child or available for pick up. Upon your child’s return, we ask that the folder be returned as well.
In the case of a cohort or school closure, the above will be provided for each child (with additional activities) as well as parent education videos, with live Zoom teacher Q&A, and scheduled child-focused groups via Zoom.
Casa Students:
Each Casa student has a binder with Montessori presentation write-ups applicable to their level. Upon a child being excluded due to illness for a prolonged period (as outlined above), a take home kit will be prepared for your child, which will be sent home with them, or available for pick up. The kit will include a duotang with a small collection of write-ups that your child currently enjoys working with, and/or is ready to be presented with. The write-ups will outline how your child is to work with the material, and direction on how you can show them to do so. There may be some paper materials included in the binder, as well as some physical materials that your child can manipulate. We request that these items, along with the duotang, are returned to the school upon your child’s return. (Please place a check mark beside anything your child has worked on.) *Please note there may be a short presentation video sent in lieu of a write up for an activity, available via Seesaw.
In the case of a cohort or school closure, the above will be provided for each child (with additional activities) and small group and individual Zoom sessions will also be scheduled with your child.
From Marissa and Michelle at Elementary:
Elementary Students:
Synchronous Learning (live online lessons with members of their cohort)
Students who are excluded from school in relation to the pandemic are able to meet with their teacher and/or classmates virtually each day via Zoom at 2:00 p.m.
Lower Elementary students can join synchronous learning when they are excluded for 3 or more days.
Upper Elementary students can join synchronous learning when they are excluded for 2 or more days.
Students should only participate in at-home learning when they are well enough to do so and are feeling comfortable joining their class online. Please take the time to get better.
Let us know each day, by email to marissa@lyonsgate.ca or to michelle@lyonsgate.ca, if your child would like to connect that day.
This will enable students to continue to participate in group discussions and proceed with lessons that can be delivered effectively online. A Zoom link for each of the Elementary cohorts will be made available to parents.
Asynchronous Learning (material-based and other work completed at home)
Students who are temporarily excluded from school in relation to the pandemic have Montessori-style materials kits available for home use. If your child is excluded, you may contact the Elementary campus to arrange pick-up of your child’s materials and personal work binder.
Tools for Parents
What to do when children are not feeling well continues to be confusing as regulations change. Hamilton Public Health has developed two decision charts that explain what to do depending on which symptoms, and how many, a sick child has.
You can find both decision charts on the Home page at lyonsgate.ca and under your “Parents” tab on the school website: