Hello Lyonsgate Families,
Thank you for your generous contributions to our school’s and students’ charitable outreach projects for the upcoming holiday season. The Elementary students raised $490 to help support a family (see photo above), and toy donations for the CityKidz toy drive are starting to come in. Toys can be donated up to Wednesday morning; they will be dropped off to CityKidz Wednesday afternoon.
This Week’s Classroom Update
While the official start of winter is still a couple of weeks away we sure are getting a taste of the upcoming cold temperatures! The Toddlers have been working very hard on learning how to put on and take off all their winter gear. This self care skill helps build confidence, requires both fine and gross motor skills, and provides a sense of order as the children learn the sequence of steps to getting dressed and undressed. To support this new learning our prepared environment has low hooks so the toddlers can hang up their items, a bench to sit on to take on/off pants and boots, and a cubby for indoor shoes. The children who have mastered “the coat flip” model it for those still learning as we use language that is specific and encourages effort: “You’re working hard to get your arm in your coat,” or “I can see you’re pulling the zipper up by yourself.” We celebrate progress as much as perfection as their independence grows in small, steady steps.
Please click the links below for important dates from your children’s levels, other valuable information, and for recent photos of Lyonsgate’s Montessori students at work:
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates [find Flower Contribution sign-up links there too]
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
Check your Lyonsgate calendar regularly for up to date events and information. You can add the school calendar to your own by clicking the “+” at bottom left on mobile or “Add to Google Calendar” on desktop.
Lyonsgate Upcoming Important Dates and Information
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: CityKidz Toy Drive Deadline.
- Thursday, December 18: Last Day of Fall Term. This is the last full day of classes before the winter break.
- Friday, December 19: PD Day. Both Lyonsgate campuses are closed.
- Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2: Winter Break. Lyonsgate is closed for the winter holiday.
- Monday, January 5, 2026: First Day of Winter Term. We welcome Lyonsgate students to the new year and the new term.
Toddler and Casa Upcoming Important Dates
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: CityKidz Toy Drive Deadline. This is the last day to donate toys to the CityKidz toy drive. CityKidz accepts new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0 to 12. Not sure what to buy? Check out this list with their kids’ top toy requests.
Casa Parent Observations: Casa North Observations | Casa South Observations
If you are able, please choose a week or two throughout the school year to contribute a bouquet of fresh cut flowers to your child’s class: Toddler | Casa North | Casa South
Elementary Upcoming Important Dates
- Community Outreach Project: Holiday Hope. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you for your tremendous support of the students’ craft and bake sale during our Elementary Open House. Their hard work was rewarded with our community’s generosity, raising $490 to help a family in our community have a happier holiday. The older students have been shopping at Wal-Mart and Fortino’s for the items on their wish list, and our donations will be delivered to St. Matthew’s House next week. They were thrilled to be able to choose warm clothes, fun pajamas, Barbies, and craft kits for other children.
- Friday, December 12: OWL #3: Body Image. Students in Years 4-7 will be attending an OWL workshop about “Body Image,” learning about physical diversity and examining the messages we receive about bodies, health, and beauty from our families, communities, and media. They are kindly reminded to complete the reading assignment found at the bottom of the page listing follow-up activities to do after attending the workshop on “Images in Popular Culture (Media Literacy).”
- Thursday, December 18: Class Party. The Elementary students will be celebrating the last day together before the winter break with a class party. Following outdoor recreation time, we’ll be having a pizza delivered for lunch! Students are welcome to bring along any of their regular lunch items to supplement, and will still need their water bottle. We’ll have a variety of fun activities available for students in the afternoon, including a craft station, games room, music zone, reading room, and a short movie screening on the main floor. Students are welcome to bring a sweet treat or salty snack to donate to the treat buffet, with a friendly reminder to leave anything containing nuts at home.
Elementary Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to email elementary@lyonsgate.ca to arrange a classroom observation time, at least one week in advance please. Observations take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings between 9:00-11:30. (Other days and times may be available if needed). You will be observing the whole Elementary environment and classroom, not solely your own child.
