Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
Thank you for finding the time this week to come in and chat with your children’s Montessori guides about the school years your Montessori students have had. We are astounded by the growth and development children experience every school year, from Toddler to sixth-year Elementary, no matter how many years go by and how many children we see. They are always uniquely wonderful, and teach us as much as we can ever teach them.
If you still need to select a timeslot for your parent-teacher conference, please do so by clicking here. Both campuses will be closed to students on Friday, June 6, but child care is available during your conference timeslot.
Please click the links below for updates from your children’s levels and for recent photos at Lyonsgate:
Hello Toddler Families,
We want to start off this week by saying how much we enjoyed having you at the RBG with us! It was so lovely to get to spend time with some of our families outside of school. This week, the Toddler students have been really into nature. We were talking a lot about birds and birds’ nests, how different birds use different materials to build their nests, and we have also got to explore different flowers with our flower arrangements in the classroom. During our trip to the RBG, the Toddlers got to explore their 5 senses throughout nature. They used their sight by matching their colour square to something along our hike. They used hearing by listening to all the different bird chirps. Touch by guessing if they had snake skin, wooden round, or a pinecone in their mysterious bag. They used their smell when passing flower bushes, stopping to smell the flowers!
Thank you,
Ms. Kubiak.
Our field trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens on Friday was truly inspiring. The joy in the children’s faces as they rode the school bus to and from the RBG was contagious. We sang songs and marveled at the sights of the city, immersing ourselves in the beauty of learning through nature. Each child was encouraged to explore the world using their five senses, as we walked a trail that revealed stunning trees, vibrant birds, curious bugs, and even a turtle. We listened to the gentle whispers of the wind and the enchanting melodies of bird songs. The children touched and felt the textures of animal antlers, fur, bones, leaves, pinecones, and tree bark. In a fun game, they closed their eyes and sharpened their listening skills to navigate like bats. Upon returning to school, the children couldn’t wait to share their exciting adventures and discoveries.
It’s crazy to think that we only have 3 more weeks of the school year. We look forward to meeting with all of you at parent-teacher conferences this coming week. Keep an eye out for your child’s end of year videos coming in. They will be shared with you through a Google Drive link in the coming weeks.
Ms. Beach.
With only a few weeks remaining in the school year, the classroom is bursting with energy as students wrap up projects, create new challenges, and prepare for the transition to summer break and new adventures. Last week, there was a lot of excitement in class learning about geographic land and water forms and making models and posters of complementary features. Out on the Waterfront Trail, older students loved spending time visiting nesting mute swans, seeing their downy cygnets, and checking out the RBG’s fishway. Back at school, the older students were working hard to prepare the final mock-up of their first class newspaper, developing new computer skills as they adjusted their layout, margins, columns, and images. There was a also great deal of enthusiasm to learn about participating in a spelling bee and lots of cheering as competitors cleared each round of words. As we continued our exploration of ancient Mayan culture, everyone was fascinated to learn about the Mesoamerican ball game (also called pitz or tlachtli) played with a hard rubber ball on outdoor limestone courts. We look forward to sharing some of the children’s work with you at the upcoming Cultural Fair!
Marissa and Michelle.
Thursday, June 5: Bake Sale Fundraiser for the World Wildlife Fund
Josephine and Hannah are hosting a bake sale to raise funds for the World Wildlife Fund Canada! They will be selling lemonade, double-chocolate cookies, and vanilla muffins on the front porch after school from 3:30-4:15 p.m. Children in aftercare are also welcome to buy a treat and a staff member will assist them as needed. Coins and small bills are preferred.
Friday, June 6: Parent-Teacher Conferences
We look forward to meeting with you to talk about your child’s growth and accomplishments! Please remember to sign-up for a time slot by Thursday, June 5.
Monday, June 9: Elementary Cultural Fair
Elementary parents, siblings, and other special people in your child’s life are invited to our Cultural Fair after school on Monday, June 9th. The Cultural Fair is our final open classroom of the year, with students showcasing work from the third term, including their explorations of the ancient Mayan civilization and other subject areas. Families are welcome to visit the Cultural Fair anytime between 3:15-4:15 p.m. When you arrive, please use the front porch entrance to the Maple Room and come inside! Our regular aftercare program will still be available to registered students until 4:30.
Friday, June 13: Saturday, June 14: Senior Sleepover
Students attending the senior sleepover should arrive at school on Friday the 13th with their sleeping bag, pillow, and overnight bag. At the end of the school day, the children will have some supervised outdoor time and a snack, along with the aftercare students, until 4:30. After that, the sleepover begins! We have lots of activities planned for the evening, and will be serving dinner as well as some healthy snack options again before bedtime. In the morning, we’ll be having breakfast together before students head home at 8:30 a.m. If your child is planning to attend the senior sleepover, please complete the registration form by Friday, June 6. (If you have more than one child attending, please complete a form for each child. 🙂)
Tuesday, June 17: Grand River Rafting Trip for the Graduates
The sixth-year graduates will be celebrating their many years of learning at Lyonsgate with a day out rafting on the Grand River! The graduates will be travelling by chartered bus to Brant Conservation Area, where they will be outfitted for the trip and given some paddling instructions, before embarking on a 5km journey on the river. Students should be prepared for the day with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, sun protection, and shoes or closed-toe sandals that can get wet stepping in and out of the raft. They should bring along their litterless lunch and a full water bottle as well.
Thursday, June 19: Last Day of School/Elementary Graduation Ceremony
The last day of school is Thursday, June 19. The Elementary class will be cleaning up the classroom, playing games, and preparing to celebrate our graduating students. The Elementary graduation ceremony will be held on campus from 3:00-3:30 p.m., and will include some light refreshments. Each graduating student is welcome to invite two adults to attend the ceremony. 🙂
