Hello Lyonsgate Families,
With the first winter storm upon us, here is Lyonsgate’s “Snow Day” policy: we follow the lead of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB). If they call a snow day, both Lyonsgate campuses will also close. We will email all Lyonsgate families and post the closure on the school website as soon as HWDSB makes the call, usually just after 6:00 a.m., and if you see elsewhere that HWDSB schools are closed, you can know that Lyonsgate is also closed (please note: sometimes the Catholic board (HWCDSB) will cancel buses but keep schools open; we do not follow HWCDSB closures). Lyonsgate students and staff travel to Lyonsgate from all over Hamilton, and beyond, and HWDSB considers road conditions in the whole area.
Besides storms and snow days, it is also the season of giving. Please see below for details of a toy drive at the Primary (Casa & Toddler) campus and an outreach project fundraising sale at the Elementary campus on Monday.
See below for an update from the Elementary program!
This Week’s Classroom Update
With winter break only a few weeks away, the energy in the Elementary classroom remains high, with new lesson cycles and group activities. Over the past two weeks, all of the students received the fourth Great Lesson: “The Story of Communication in Signs,” which tells the tale of one of the greatest human innovations: an alphabet. The lesson is meant to both spark interest in the reasoned study of language and to demonstrate the connecting threads between different subject areas. The story begins with humans finding a way to communicate across distance and time, to be able to leave messages, pass on knowledge, and keep records. With the aid of a few impressionistic charts, the students imagine the enormous impact of this human invention and activity from the Lascaux caves in France to ancient Sumer, Egypt, and to the Phoenician traders who developed and spread phonetic alphabets, all the way to ancient Greece and Rome. The lesson typically ends with students exuberantly shouting or gently whispering, “Thank you, Phoenicians!”
The conscious development of gratitude is an important part of a Montessori approach to life and learning. By guiding children to reflect upon their blessings or good fortune with a sense of appreciation and contentment, we help them diminish feelings of envy and resentment. By developing gratitude for the efforts and endeavours of others, they learn to accept imperfection and focus on improvement. Gratitude helps us move on from disappointment and difficulty. Even in our academic studies, there is a place for wonder, awe, and gratitude, as these are the sparks needed to set alight new dreams and aspirations. As each child continues along their own path, choosing which pursuits bring them the greatest sense of fulfillment and security, the gratitude they carry will help them to persevere through difficulty, and inspire compassion for those without our same luck or opportunities. Compassionate thinking will shape their words and actions, and ultimately build and strengthen their personal relationships and communities.
In preparation for the holiday season, the students generously committed to an outreach project helping members of their community. They chose to register for the Holiday Hope program through St. Matthew’s House in Hamilton, and sponsor a local family to receive groceries and personal gifts this December. With the goal of raising $350 to create a bit of holiday joy, they have communicated, collaborated, and achieved their goals of preparing a variety of sweet treats, jewelry, and bookmarks to sell at their Open House after-school on Monday, December 1. All members of our Lyonsgate Montessori community are welcome to visit the Open House between 3:15–4:15 p.m. to see displays of the children’s work and do a little shopping for a great cause!
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
- Monday, December 1: Elementary Open House and Charity Sale.
- 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
- Monday, December 1: Open House and Charity Sale. The Elementary students are excited to welcome family and friends to our after-school Open House on Monday, December 1st. Visitors are welcome to arrive anytime between 3:15-4:15 to view displays of the students’ work from the first term. The students will also be hosting a bake and craft sale to raise money for their charity outreach project, sponsoring a local family through St. Matthew’s House to receive groceries and gifts for the holiday season. There will be bookmarks, bracelets, baked goods, and hot chocolate available! The children will be operating a cash-only sale, and are very appreciative of small bills and coins.
- Wednesday, December 3: Upper Elementary Outing. The Upper Elementary students will be travelling on the public bus up the mountain to visit the Wal-Mart on Upper James Street. They will be using the proceeds of their bake and craft sale to shop for gifts on the wish list of their adopted family. Students in Years 4-7 are kindly reminded to wear their red Lyonsgate t-shirt for this outing, and to be prepared with their Presto card or cash bus fare.
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.
