Good Morning Lyonsgate Families,
While the winter term is the shortest term of the school year, it was certainly the most adventuresome this year with a surprise Friday afternoon blizzard, a surprise snow/ice day, more snow than we’ve seen in years, some deep freezes, and a taste of spring warmth. Through it all, your children at all Montessori levels, from the youngest Toddler to the oldest Elementary students, have handled it all with grace and joy. Thank you.
Enjoy a much-deserved March Break starting next week Lyonsgate students! Rest, travel, play, and we can’t wait to see you all again for the spring term on Monday, March 24.
Elementary Art Show: TODAY! Monday, March 3 (see the Elementary section for details)
Please click the links below for updates from your children’s levels and for recent photos at Lyonsgate:
Hello Toddler Families,
Our recent Professional Development day was one filled with learning and staff engagement. We were fortunate to participate in a session on Autism Spectrum Disorder, a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Our toddler team was also able to meet to discuss the children, their current skills, next stages of development, and how we can support them emotionally. We were able to give our classroom an (early) Spring cleaning and tune up as we installed hooks for materials, fixed wobbly table legs, reorganized storage shelves, and tidied paperwork. New materials were made, and the classroom has been invigorated with different tasks and new opportunities for exploration and learning.
Vanessa Findlay.
Click to view and/or sign up for Toddler flower contributions
Good Morning Casa Families,
I hope that everyone’s is doing well as we head into our last week before the end of the winter term and we head into spring. A quick reminder that next week the school will be closed for March break and we will return on March 24.
These days the weather can be unpredictable, which means we need to make sure that all our friends are coming to school with all their gear depending on the weather. Remember that outdoor activities are a big part of our day at Lyonsgate and we encourage each friend to get themselves ready to go outside. Practicing getting their outdoor gear on at home will help to make their day at school go much smoother, and is a great way to help foster independence and give them confidence to know they can do it on their own.
As always, thank you for your continued support, we appreciate it very much.
Wishing each family a wonderful week,
Ms. Houston.
Click to book a parent observation in: Casa North | Casa South
Click to view and/or sign up for flower contributions in: Casa North | Casa South
Last week, the Elementary students learned about the provincial electoral system and participated in a mock student election along with more than 1,800 other schools representing all 124 electoral districts in Ontario. Our youngest students practiced choosing a representative to help make decisions and rules for everyone based on their ideas, and learned how a secret ballot works. Older students were eager to learn about specific platform promises and key issues for the candidates in Hamilton Centre, and naturally ended up in lively conversations as they tried to persuade classmates to adopt their own priorities and point-of-view. After exploring political ads and discussing the basics of strategic voting, the eldest students were proud to take charge of running the mock-election. They prepared voter lists and identification cards, reviewed the rules governing polling stations, and took on the roles of poll clerks, deputy returning officers, and even scrutineers. Everyone had a lot of fun!
In the Student Vote, both our class and a wider cohort of students in Hamilton Centre elected the NDP to represent the electoral district, while the full provincial results saw the PC Party form the government with the NDP as the opposition. Check out more detailed results for our school, Hamilton Centre, or any other electoral district with your child at Student Vote Ontario 2025 Results.
Elementary Art Show: TODAY! Monday, March 3
The students are excited to welcome their family to view displays of their recent work at the Elementary Art Show. Featured works will include pieces from recent studies of the Group of Seven, as well as art work created in connection with other curriculum areas and independent research. Casa children and parents are also welcome to come by and see the show. Visitors are welcome to arrive anytime between 3:15 and 4:15, with the art show closing at 4:30. We hope to see you there!
Community Outing: Thursday, March 6
The upper elementary students will be traveling by public bus during the afternoon work cycle to visit the McCallion Planetarium at McMaster University. The group will be attending a presentation called “Lost at Sea,” to learn about navigation at night. Students should come prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, as well as their Presto card or bus fare.
