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.
