Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Hope you’re all finding your way out of the turkey haze. Please read below for updates from your children’s classrooms.
I hope that all of our families had an opportunity to slow down a little bit this weekend and take a moment to reflect and enjoy the changing season. There are so many treats for the senses: the colourful leaves falling everywhere, the cooking and baking smells coming from the kitchen, and then enjoying a meal together that maybe took all day to prepare. If you have time, take a walk with your toddler and let them lead the way. Let them lead the conversation, too, if they feel like talking. Collect some leaves for our leaf and flower press. We will be collecting leaves for the rest of the month to make a leaf collage that we can display in our classroom in celebration of fall.
Here is a song that Madame Craigie has been singing with the children lately (it is to the tune of Frere Jacques).
C’est l’Automne
Les Feuilles tombent
Les Feuilles tombent
C’est l’automne
Rouge, orange, et jaune
rouge, orange et jaune
C’est l’automne
C’est l’automne
Ms. Gervais.
Hello Casa North Families,
“The greatest gift we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence” — Maria Montessori
Thank you again to all parents who attended our Casa Orientation last week. It was wonderful to hear about your practices & your challenges with aiding independence at home. We hope to continue to hear from you about what works & what doesn’t work for your child.
In Casa North, we have already started singing autumn songs, reciting harvest poems, and examining the changing leaves. We are looking forward to some cooler weather — be sure to send more long sleeve shirts, pants, thicker socks, as needed (for you child’s cubby).
For those who celebrated, we hope you had an excellent Thanksgiving weekend.
Best,
Ms. O’Sullivan, Mme. Murati & Ms. Canessa
Greetings from Casa South,
“The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.” Maria Montessori
Time after time, I have observed children’s deep level of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment following a period of concentrated work on a chosen task. When I first began working with children, I was surprised at their ability to focus, even within the midst of a busy classroom. Now that I understand this is a natural “phenomenon,” I make sure to include tables or areas that offer opportunities for concentrated work when setting up a room.
This past week, a child was so focused on her activity that she was unaware that all her classmates had left to go outside. When she finished, she looked up, smiled, put her work away, and calmly got ready to go to the playground. Her internal happiness was evident and wonderful to see. Have you observed your child’s response following time spent concentrating on any type of activity?
See you at the gate,
Ms. Robinson
We were thrilled to have twenty-three students join in the fun at the annual cross-country race last week! After weeks of training during P.E. classes to improve their stamina, speed, and perseverance, the children were ready to compete. We are proud to share with you the following notable achievements:
Caden Shantz – 1st Place ribbon, Year 1 Boys
Cohan Moore – 2nd Place ribbon, Year 2 Boys
Josephine Prat-Kalonji – 2nd Place ribbon, Year 4 Girls
Emilia Covic – 3rd Place ribbon, Year 4 Girls
Sam Moore – 2nd Place ribbon, Year 5 Boys
Luka Dolibic – 2nd Place ribbon – Year 6 Boys
Beren Deveaux – 3rd Place ribbon – Year 6 Boys
We also had two students achieve medals for being in the top runners within the Lower and Upper cohorts. Congratulations to:
Cohan Moore – 2nd Place medal, Lower Elementary Boys
Sam Moore – 3rd Place medal, Upper Elementary Boys
Most importantly, all of our students demonstrated tremendous sportsmanship, team spirit, and celebration of each other’s accomplishments.
Back on campus, students received the Fourth Great Lesson: The Story of Communication in Signs (a.k.a. The Story of Our Alphabet). Many were excited to learn about pictographs and ideograms and try to deduce the intended meaning of different symbols. Some of our oldest students were intrigued by how these human innovations first emerged from unnamed, creative individuals in the past, and enjoyed imagining what our culture would be like if written communication had never been invented.
We look forward to sharing more of our curriculum with you at our Parent Education event on Thursday. See below for more information and to RSVP.
Warmly,
Marissa and Michelle
Elementary Parent Education – Thursday, October 13 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Parents are invited to join us on campus after school this coming Thursday for our first Parent Education event of the year! Michelle will be discussing how literacy is developed in the early elementary years while Marissa presents an overview of the Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.) program for older students. Please indicate which topic you will be attending along with your R.S.V.P. to elementary@lyonsgate.ca by Wednesday, October 12.
Elementary dismissal, after-care, and child care for those families attending Parent Education will take place at the HAAA park from 3:30 – 4:40. Children of families attending the Parent Education event will return to campus for 4:45.
