Lyonsgate Weekly Update | January 18, 2019

Hello Lyonsgate Montessori Families,

Parent Education Evening:

The winter term Parent Education Evening is next week: Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Lyonsgate Primary campus on Aberdeen Ave., from 4:00-5:00 p.m, in the synagogue’s Sanctuary (where the Holiday Concert was). Please click here to register for childcare (pizza will be available for registered children).

This evening will introduce you to the different “Planes of Development,” as Maria Montessori called them. Montessori environments are prepared to meet the developmental needs of children at different ages and stages of development.

We will discuss each “Plane of Development” and highlight the characteristics of children at each stage. You will learn how Lyonsgate’s prepared Montessori environments meet children’s developmental needs, and understand the relations between the different levels as your children progress from Toddler to Casa to Elementary.


We sent out the updated Parent Contact lists this past week and have had some replies about incorrect or updated contact info, and about additions to the lists. Please take a look at the lists that were sent out and let us know (at jason@lyonsgate.ca) if any information is incorrect, outdated, or if you would like to be added to the list for your child’s class (inclusion on the Parent Contact lists is optional and some families have chosen to not be included; just let us know if you would like to be added).


We’d just like to remind everyone to please make sure children have appropriate outdoor clothing every day, especially now that the forecast  is predicting real winter weather. Outdoor activity time is essential for learning and development, and is mandated legislatively. All children at all levels get outside every day except in the worst of weather conditions. It is not possible to have one or two children stay inside because they don’t have appropriate outer wear; staff is required to be outside  to supervise the children. A few tips we’ve picked up over the years:

  • Please ensure hats and mitts/gloves fit properly. If hats don’t cover ears or fall over eyes, or if mittens are hard to put on, uncomfortable to wear, or make it difficult to hold things, children tend to abandon them, or end up with cold ears.
  • Once the snow sticks, please avoid cloth or knit mittens/gloves. When children play with snow it melts, gloves get wet, and little hands get cold.
  • As you know, Montessori strives to help children develop independence. Of course we will make sure everyone is zipped up, velcroed, snapped, buttoned, and laces are tied, but the more independent successes your children can experience in terms of getting themselves dressed, the better. Please keep this in mind when choosing outer wear for your children.
  • An extra pair of mittens that stay in a child’s backpack or cubby are often a great idea.

Thank you.


Unfortunately, due to some staff illness we were not able to spend time in the classrooms taking photos this week. So sorry. We hope to be back at it next week.

This Week:

Toddler:

This week, Mlle. Noordam, Ms. Colbert, and I took the opportunity to blend into the background and watch the children guide their way around the classroom. We noticed that the older children were quick to help the younger ones problem-solve, and intercede in their favour when they deemed that a guide’s intervention was necessary. Observations allow us to follow the children, detect sensitive periods, critical developmental periods, and recognize their needs.

It has been great seeing the new children adapt as they engage with the materials in the classroom. The older children are protective of them and take turns guiding them through transitions.

One of the most gratifying experiences as a Montessori guide is witnessing the happy hum in the classroom — as Montessori put it, “the children are now working as if I did not exist.”

Reminder: Flower and protein provision signup sheets are posted. We thank you in advance for your generous donations.


Casa:

Casa South: Your children have shown us the value in Montessori’s many opportunities to socialize throughout the day. Each day brings the chance to experience and explore different relationships. This past week, we overheard a beautiful back-and-forth between two students. While working together, two students discovered that they both take gymnastics, and that they both sometimes go to the same cafe after. They talked about sharing hot chocolate if they went at the same time, and the whole conversation took place while they continued to be diligently engaged with their work.

We also have seen some wonderful social engagement between the experienced Casa South children and our January newcomer (a pattern we see every time a new, younger student joins us). Without being asked or prompted, the older Casa students take it upon themselves to look out for and make the new child feel safe and cared for. It is so lovely to see.

The mixed age groups in the Montessori environment really work to help the children develop their own little mini-society (usually a much gentler, compassionate, and joyful society than the ones us adults are a part of).

A couple of notes and reminders:

  • If you know your child is one who might benefit from having an extra set of clothes at school — pants, socks, a shirt, etc. — because they are vigorous explorers of all things messy, muddy, and such, please don’t hesitate to send in a few items that can stay in their cubby.
  • There are still spots available for families to sign up for donations to our flower arranging activity. The sign-up sheet is in the hallway outside the class, but if you don’t make it inside because your children are independent little Montessorians, please send an email to charlotte@lyonsgate.ca. Thank you, in advance.

Casa North: 

This week in Casa North, we have been observing and focusing on empathy and kindness. I did a skit with the children where we acted out different scenarios and discussed the results (with a particular focus on how each participant would feel, if the skit was real). Some examples were: choosing to have snack while someone else was already waiting (and making a decision to go in front of or behind that person), and also choosing how to interact on the playground. The children were reflective, and colourful when describing their feelings and others’. There was a conversation that was overheard in our cloakroom that we would love to share.

One child was in the cloakroom getting himself prepared for the classroom, and noticed another child who was not quite as happy to start his day.

Child 1: “Are you okay?”

Child 2: “No!”

Child 1: “Sometimes I feel like that, too. But I still want to come to school.. because I want to learn!”

Child 2: “I don’t want to come to school.”

Child 1: “You don’t want to learn? But then you won’t have fun!”

The tone and intonation in their voices was so pure and genuine. These children are both three years old. Dr. Montessori identified the importance of following each child and creating an environment that supports their social interactions. This was just one example of what we get to see every day — whether it’s a child helping out with another’s zipper, someone finding a peer to identify a sandpaper letter, or a gentle rub on the back of a friend who is upset, I couldn’t be more proud of our community and the character that is being built every day.


Elementary:

The Elementary environment is bursting with French this week as the students have received their roles for the upcoming French plays (Feb. 14; more details to come)! It is wonderful to see the older students managing their own reading circle, running lines, and helping each other with the correct pronunciations, while the younger students learn the process of preparing a play with Mme. Egan.

Our outing to the Gravity Climbing gym was a huge success, with experienced climbers lending their expertise and taking photographs, and those new to climbing exploring the bouldering walls and mustering the courage to scale the big walls in harnesses. The support and encouragement our students offer one another is heart-warming, whether cheering a climb to the ceiling or celebrating a novice climber conquering their fears. 

Next week, we’ll  have information on the upcoming MS Read-A-Thon. Also, if you still have January Scholastic orders to drop off, please send them in on Monday (or place the online order).


Next Week:

Please see the intro note about next week’s Parent Education event. We love when parents attend these events.

Lyonsgate provides authentic AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori education. This means we follow very clear guidelines and directives about how to deliver Montessori to your children. We plan the Parent Education events for you to have a better understanding of what we do, and why.

Montessori can be a little mysterious because it is different from what many of us experienced during our own schooling, and because parents are asked to reserve the children’s Montessori environments as spaces for the children and their guides only. We hope they help illuminate the purpose and reasoning behind some of the quirks of Montessori. See you next Thursday!

Your children have shown us the value in Montessori’s many opportunities to socialize throughout the day. Each day brings the chance to experience and explore different relationships. This past week, we overheard a beautiful back-and-forth between two students. While working together, two students discivered that they both take gymnastics, and that they both sometimes go to the same cafe after. They talked about sharing hot chocolate if they went at the same time, and the whole conversation took place while they continued to be diligently engaged with their work.

We also have seen some wonderful social engagement between the experienced Casa South children and our January newcomer (a pattern we see every time a new, younger student joins us) &#8212 without being asked or prompted, the older Casa students take it upon themselves to look out for and make the new child feel safe and cared for. It is so lovely to see.

The mixed age groups in the Montessori environment really work to help the children develop their own little mini-society (usually a much gentler, compassionate, and joyful society than the ones us adults are a part of).

A couple of notes and reminders:

  • If you know your child is one who might benefit from having an extra set of clothes at school &#8212 pants, socks, a shirt, etc. because they are vigorous explorers of all things messy, muddy, and such, please don’t hesitate to send in a few items that can stay in their cubby.
  • There still spots available for families to sign up for donations to our flower arranging activity. The sign-up sheet is in the hallway outside the class, but if you don’t make it inside because your children are independent little Montessorians, please send an email to charlotte@lyonsgate.ca. Thank you, in advance.