Hello Lyonsgate Families,
We have details for you about the year-end picnic, and the Casa and Elementary graduation ceremonies:
Elementary Graduation Ceremony:
- The Elementary graduation ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 19, at the Elementary 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. The outdoor classroom will be opened to arriving guests at 2:55 p.m.
Year-End Family Picnic:
- Lyonsgate families are invited to join us for a fun day of play and picnic-ing to end the school year. Meet at Dundas Driving Park, pavilion #1, where we will be from 11:00-2:00. We are moving the picnic a bit earlier this year to help our Toddler students who need their afternoon naps. Besides the two playgrounds, Driving Park has a splash pad and wading pool, so swimsuits and towels are good to bring, as well as picnic blankets, sun protection, and any balls or frisbees or other park fun your family enjoys. Bring a picnic lunch and snacks for your family, and while definitely not a requirement you are welcome to contribute a potluck item to share. Remember, no nuts, and we also have anaphylactic allergies to fish and eggs.
Casa Graduation Ceremony:
- The Casa graduation ceremony, for students completing their Casa programs and entering Lyonsgate’s Elementary program or grade 1, will take place at the family picnic at Dundas Driving Park. The ceremony will start at 11:30, and we ask that graduates be there by 11:15.
City of Hamilton Summer Program Registration Opens This Week: Click here for info and click here to register.
TODAY! Elementary Cultural Fair and Final Bake Sale: see the Elementary section below.
Please click the links below for updates from your children’s levels and for recent photos at Lyonsgate:
Good Morning Toddler Families,
I hope everyone is well and finally enjoying the constant warm weather we have been having. This week we have spent a lot of our time outside! We have had so much fun in our outdoor environment exploring all of our senses — smelling plants/flowers, seeing/hearing animals, and touching/digging in dirt.
On Wednesday, we spent our morning enjoying the warm weather, sun, and nature. We even had our morning snack outside together and did some work repotting plants — a jade plant that needed a bigger pot and some snake plant leaves that we had propagated. Ms. Findlay talked to the toddlers about the roots and parts of the plants, like a “pup” (a small new plant which grows from a parent plant) which one of our propagated leaves sprouted. They all worked together to scoop dirt and repot these plants for our classroom.
We have have brought out a little bin of dirt for the children to use our mini “diggers” to scoop, fill, and dump during recess time. As well, we have gotten a big green tube (donated by a fellow Lyonsgate family — thank you!) for our outdoor space that the children have really enjoyed crawling through, hanging out in, and playing peek-a-boo with friends.
Wishing everyone an amazing week ahead, as we cannot believe there are only two weeks left of school!
Ms. Relic 🙂
Good Morning Casa Families,
I hope that everyone is doing well as we head into our last few weeks of the school year.
As the weather is getting warmer and the sun is out now, we ask that parents remember to apply sunscreen to their children before heading to school. As you may have heard, every Monday morning, weather permitting, we will be taking the children to Beulah Park, so having sunscreen already applied and sending along a full water bottle with your child will help ensure everyone is safe and happy. These trips are a lovely way for the children to socialize and enjoy some fresh air and their natural outdoor surroundings.
Thank you to all the parents that came out for parent-teacher conferences last week. We appreciate connecting and sharing the children’s experiences and progress with you.
Personally, as we head into the last few weeks of school, I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed working with all the Casa children. It’s been delightful watching them grow and learning from them everyday. I look forward to seeing all the returning children in September and wish our graduating students all the best.
As always, thank you for your continued support, we appreciate it very much.
Wishing each family a wonderful week,
Ms. Houston.
It is hard to believe that the end of the school year is already drawing near! The children are still full of enthusiasm for learning, even as they begin to dream of lazy summer days or new adventures on the horizon. Last week, there was a lot of excitement about the preparation of a traditional Mayan drinking chocolate. Students were excited to toast cacao nibs, grind them with a mortar and pestle, and combine the cacao powder with corn flour, cinnamon, dried chili pepper, and water. While stirring and simmering, comments like “looks like hot chocolate” and “smells pretty good” were common. However, once the concoction had cooled to room temperature and was ready to taste, they quickly discovered they had made a thin, bitter, and spicy brew! Although one tough palate savoured the flavor and said it was “pretty good,” the rest agreed they prefer their drinking chocolate sweetened with sugar. Lessons in history may not always be as expected, but this can make them even more memorable. The children are very excited to share with you their personal passion projects and collaborative pieces that reflect their learning this term at this afternoon’s Cultural Fair. We hope to see you all there!
Marissa and Michelle.
TODAY! 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.
TODAY! Monday, June 9: Bake Sale Fundraiser for L.A. Strong (California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund)
Beck and Charlie will be hosting the final student bake sale of the year during our Cultural Fair this afternoon. The Cultural Fair begins at 3:15, and the bake sale will open shortly afterward, running from 3:30-4:15. We look forward to seeing you there!
LA STRONG is a charity run by the Los Angeles government to support wildfire relief efforts. The reason they are doing this is because LA is very prone to wildfires. They are raising money to give supplies for the people who got burned and supplies for the firefighters, like food and water.
– from Beck and Charlie
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, overnight bag, water bottle, and a personal after-school snack. They are also welcome to bring a treat such as a candy, cookies, chips, or popcorn to share with the group if they wish! The student will have supervised free play at the HAAA park until 4:30, and then return to campus for the evening. We have lots of fun activities planned, as well as a pizza dinner, a fresh-baked dessert, and a healthy bedtime snack. In the morning, we’ll have breakfast before students head home at 8:30 a.m. 🙂
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 students 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. The outdoor classroom will be opened to arriving guests at 2:55 p.m. 🙂
