Happy Thanksgiving Lyonsgate Families!
We hope you are all enjoying a wonderful long weekend with family and friends.
Elementary Parent Education takes place this week on Thursday, Oct. 17. Marissa and Michelle will be leading a workshop exploring the geography curriculum and materials with parents. See the Elementary section below, or your Lyonsgate calendar for details.
The Casa and Toddler Field Trip to Brantwood Farm takes place next week on Thursday, Oct. 24. Please see your Lyonsgate calendar for details.
Fall Weather Wear: The cold mornings, warmer afternoons, and sporadic rainstorms make for adventuresome days during the fall. Please take a moment to check the weather forecast each day and send students to school with whatever variations of outerwear and layers are appropriate (and remember to label everything!). Thank you.
Updates from your children’s Montessori levels, and photos from the past week, are linked below:
Hello Toddler Parents,
As we look around our classroom and school we see so much to be thankful for. We have beautiful classrooms and materials, we have happy friends, caring teachers, and our outside playspace where our bodies can run with the wind …and sometimes dance in surprise rain showers! Most recently the children have begun to show us who they are thankful for, and that is Ms. Covic. She is a smiling face that always greets the children warmly, is ready to offer help to any child or teacher, and most importantly (to the toddlers!) is the person who prepares and brings our yummy lunch to the classroom. One day during lunch a child said, “Thank you Ms. Covic” and began clapping their hands as she entered the classroom. Now, a round of applause is had daily as we enjoy our food, and remember to be thankful.
Vanessa Findlay.
Bonjour!
Bienvenue l’année scolaire 2024/2025. C’est un grand plaisir de revoir mes ami(e)s!
I’m Mme Murati, the French teacher in Casa North.
French is integrated into the work cycle. It is both a separate subject and something students are exposed to daily and feel secure and confident about.
The French circle (gathering) is one of the hits in Casa North. Frequently, the students ask “When is French circle, Madame?” Once a day, we all gather, we sing French songs, read French books, we communicate in French, and we do finger plays.
Here are some of the books and songs we are reading and singing so far this year:
Books:
- Qui sera mon professeur, by Jerry Pallotta
- Que se passe-t-il dans la salle des profs?, By Jerry Pallotta
- Brindille, by Aura Parker
Their favourite book is La rentrée de papa, by Mike Wohmoutka. They laugh loudly because the little boy is ready to go to school but the daddy isn’t. The teacher had to kick him out of the school (we won’t do that!). Apparently, all the Lyonsgate dads did a great job letting their children go to school 😉.
Songs:
- “Bonjour les amies, Comment ça va?” by Alain le Lait.
- “Frère Jacques.”
- “Si tu es content et tu le sais…” (“If You’re Happy and You Know It…”)
- “Tapent, Tapent petites mains…”
We are also practising to greet each other in French:
“Comment ça va?”
- “Ça va bien.”
- “Comme-ci, comme-ça”
- “Ça va mal.”
I hear often: “Ça va bien mais Maman, Papa me manquent!” (“I’m fine but I miss Mommy and Daddy!”)
Joyeuse Action de Grâce,
(Happy Thanksgiving)
Mme Murati.
Parent Education Event: Thursday, October 17
Our next parent education event will be taking place after school on Thursday, October 17, from 3:30-4:15. Parents are invited to join Marissa and Michelle to learn more about our geography curriculum. Please note, all Elementary students will be traveling to the HAAA that day at 3:20, ahead of the parent presentation.
Elementary students whose families are attending the parent education event will be included in the aftercare program (free of charge). These students will return to the Elementary campus by 4:30. All other students will be dismissed from the HAAA park between 3:30-3:45 p.m.
Please email elementary@lyonsgate.ca with how many adults are planning to attend, and whether you require Elementary or Primary child care that day, by Tuesday, October 15.
Upper Elementary Community Outing: Thursday, October 24 A.M.
Students in years 4-6 will practice traveling by public bus up the mountain during the morning work cycle, and enjoying a fall hike down the escarpment. Students should be prepared with their red Lyonsgate t-shirt, their Presto card or bus fare, a water bottle, and are welcome to bring an additional nut-free snack to enjoy along the way.
Senior Student Charity Bake Sale: Thursday, October 24 P.M.
from Charlie, Colin, and Theo:
The Make a Wish Foundation is a charity where Canadian kids with critical illnesses get a life changing wish. These wishes are usually experiences like: going to Disneyland, a vacation, or getting a pet. Our goal is to raise as much money for Make a Wish Foundation as possible. We are holding this bake and art sale on October 24 from 3:00-4:45 and 100% of profits are going to Make a Wish Foundation. All items will cost from $1-$5. This is what we’re selling:
Learning Resource-Parent Conferences: Friday, November 1
While the campus will be closed to students, staff will be on-site refreshing the classroom and preparing lessons for the rest of the term. Parents of students who routinely work with our learning resource specialist, Kim, are invited to schedule a parent-teacher conference with her that day. Please check next week’s update for a link to schedule your conference.
