Thank you to the families who participated in our Round Table discussion! It was wonderful fielding questions from parents with preschool and kindergarten children who are interested in our Montessori program beyond the preschool years. As always, don’t forget to check out our new Full Monte and Facebook posts!
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend,
The Staff at Lions Gate Montessori
GENERAL NOTICES
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Sunday, November 6th │ Daylights Savings Time ends
Thursday, November 10th │ Bake Sale
Friday, November 11th │ Remembrance Day (no school for students)
Friday, November 25th │PD Day (no school for students)*
Friday, December 9th │Parent Conferences (no school for students)
Wednesday, December 14th │Winter Performance Party and Craft Fair (no school for students)
*PD Day Change: Please note that there are revisions to our School Calendar. There will be NO PD Days on November 18th or December 2nd. These will be regular school days. However, we WILL have a PD Day on Friday, November 25th. We apologize in advance for the change. Download an updated version of our “bird’s eye” calendar here.
Winter Performance Party and Craft Fair 2016│Wednesday, December 14th: This will be held at the Roundhouse Community Centre. There are no regular classes scheduled for students that day. Please find more information, as well as the seat reservation request, in the attached form. There is no fee for attending the Winter Party. The slip attached should be submitted for our records due to limited seating capacity in the venue. Initially, we are reserving 2 seats per family. On Monday, December 12, the week of the performance, we will know if there are additional seats available. Feel free to email us at office@lionsgatemontessori.org if you are interested in more seats.
Holiday Fundraiser: The HOLIDAY SEASON is fast approaching!! This year the PSG is will again offer Grinch Trees as an adorable way to raise funds for our Upper Elementary MMUN trip! The Grinch Trees (10”) will come fully dressed and make a great centerpiece, a greeting for your front door or a hostess gift. In addition, we’ll also be offering lovely handmade crafts as well as custom cards made by our students and parent artists, Erika Pantages and Katie Reynolds. Keep your eyes open for the pre-order form. These will be available pick up at our Winter Performance Craft Fair on December 14th.
Hot Lunch Update: Please note that the last day of school is Friday, December 16th. Therefore, kindly order only through Thursday, December 15th and submit the payment for your child’s November orders at your earliest convenience if you haven’t done so already.
CASA COMMUNITY (PRE-SCHOOL & EXTENDED-DAY)
Bake Sale│Thursday, November 10: A simple Bake Sale will be set up at the door to sell goodies that the Preschool and Ex-Day children have made for the special fundraising event. If you have some money with you, you will be able to bring something delicious home with your child! Funds raised in our general bake sales have been used to reduced fees for program extensions and outings.
Work Folders: Please keep your child’s work at home and return his/her personal folder to school. At the end of each month, the children will bring home their finished work from school. Do take the time to review their work with them. Creating a scrapbook, memory box, or a conversation with your child are some ways to further develop an ongoing dialogue with your child and his/her activities at school.
Physical Activity Policy: A written policy is posted (please find a copy attached) for all Casa parents to review. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.
Montessori Practicum Studen: Ms. Betty Cao, a student from the Montessori Training Centre of BC, will be training in the AM classroom under the supervision of Ms. Julia for Observation and Practicum:
Observation: October 31 to November 4, 2016
Practicum: December 5 to December 9, 2016
Practicum: February 27 to March 10, 2017
(Ms. Betty’s bio is displayed by the door.)
Labeling: Please label your child’s clothing, shoes, food containers, water bottles, and bags. Because many children have identical items, it is very helpful for the children (and staff) to be able to identify the objects quickly. This is especially important as the children become capable of identifying their own items. Thank you!
Help Needed: A family in the PM Preschool class is looking for help in picking up their child from the North Creek campus at 3:45pm. Please email to northcreek@lionsgatemontess ori.org if you can help. The school will help you to connect with the family. Thank you!
ELEMENTARY & ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY
Daily Physical Activity – A Requirement from the Ministry of Education: Outdoor activities is essential for your child’s holistic development. We have recently posted articles on Facebook that explains why. DPA (Daily Physical Activity) is a requirement from the Ministry of Education. According to their Prescribed Learning Outcomes on DPA, students up to and including Grade 7 are to be provided at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Both our Lower and Upper Elementary students have at least 45m of play outside to allow facilitated and non-facilitated vigorous activities, such as tag, relays, body games, running, spontaneous play and the like. Even if your child gets enough physical activity outside school hours, the fresh air is needed in order to reboot them for a new work cycle in the afternoon. Please note that if you wish your child NOT to attend his/her outside time, kindly send an email to us explaining the reason why your child should stay at school. Thanks for your cooperation.
Dress for the Weather Reminder: Don’t forget to send your child to school dressed for both, indoor and outdoor activities every day. Clothes and shoes should be washable, practical, and comfortable. We expect parents to provide children with appropriate clothing for safe and active indoor and outdoor activities during all seasons. As Winter approaches, please make sure your child/ren has warm waterproof boots, warm waterproof jacket with a hood, gloves, scarf, (soon enough a hat also), possibly rain pants (always a good option to have, depending on the child) as well as a change of clothes and indoor shoes.
Puberty Lessons: Students in grades 4 and up have the opportunity to learn about the natural stages of development that are part of their transformation from children to adults. If your child is in grade 4 and up, please read the puberty lesson permission form and return to your child’s teacher by Friday, November 11th.
Drop off reminder: This is friendly reminder that drop off is between 8:45am and 9am. Please make an effort to be on time as lessons start promptly at 9am. Late arrivals will be marked and noted on your child’s progress report.
Bake Sale│ Thursday, November 10th: We’re looking forward to our Remembrance Day Bake Sale! All families are invited to contribute baked goods. If you are interested in contributing or volunteering, please let us know by email no later than Tuesday, November 8th with “Bake Sale” on the subject line. We respectfully request that you drop off your contributions by 8:30am on the day of the Bake Sale (November 10th). Funds raised in our general bake sales have been used to reduced fees and pay for full admissions to programs and events. This term, we will also set aside some of the money raised towards our MMUN trip!
Farm Update: Please note that the farm’s grounds are still very wet. Therefore, we will spend the next Monday at Anchor Point. Thank you!
COMMUNITY NOTICES Wondering what to do with your family over the weekend? Check these out!
Remembrance Day Ceremony and Parade: Recognize the contributions our Veterans have made and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Canada on Friday, November 11. The program will begin at 10:00am at the Victory Square Cenotaph at West Hastings Street and Cambie Street.
Diwali Fest │Now until November 30th: Diwali Fest is an annual South asian arts & cultural festival that marks its 13th year in Vancouver. The festival showcases the best & brightest South Asian talent, through FREE (or very reasonably priced) performances across the city.
Zoom Into Nano │Explore the Invisible at Science World: Now until January 2, 2017: Zoom into Nano at Science World Snow until January 2, 2017explores the world of nanoscience—a world that is too small to see with the naked eye. Nanoscience and engineering explore methods of manipulating materials on the molecular scale to create very, very small structures and devices. The exhibition lets you zoom into tiny structures and devices to see the amazing beauty of natural and manmade objects. Immerse yourself in models of atoms and molecules that are enlarged to 100 million times their actual size and check out the full body interactives!
Did you know that the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks host events, year round, for families? Most of the events are free, some have a nominal charge, all of the are FUN! Check out the events coming up. Please be sure to pay attention to the venues listed, the events don’t all happen at the same place. You can find out more information on any of these programs by visiting the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks website.
Superhero Salmon (Maple Ridge)
Want to know more about nature in regional parks? Drop by the pop-up nature stations to chat with an expert. Witness the heroic journey of salmon returning home to spawn in Kanaka Creek.
When: October 30 & November 6, 2016
Time: 11am – 3pm
Where: Kanaka Creek Regional Park
Address: Meet at the fish fence located on 240th Street, north of Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge
Cost: FREE
Beekeeping (Burnaby)
Help harvest mason bee cocoons and prepare the bee house for spring.
When: November 6, 2016
Time: 10am – noon
Where: Burnaby Lake Regional Park
Address: meet at the Burnaby Lake Nature House, 4519 Piper Avenue
Cost: FREE
The 34th Annual Train Show │Saturday, November 5, 2016 – Sunday, November 6, 2016: The 34nd Annual Train Show – VANCOUVER TRAIN EXPO – will be held at the Pacific National Exhibition “FORUM” building – Saturday November 5th (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM) and Sunday November 6th, 2016 (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM). Join them to see the many facets the hobby of model railroading offers. For art lovers it is three dimensional art, with moving parts. For technology enthusiasts it’s practical robotics, the use of electronics to control train movement, locomotive lights and bells, change tracks, and if you are really into it, control a whole railroad from your computer. For families there are mini-rail train rides, LEGO displays and interactive train setups where children operate trains, and this year, balloon twisters. For the rest of you it is simply an interesting outing for a damp November day.
Mushroom Show @ Richmond Nature Park │Sunday, November 6, 2016 – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm: It’s that time of year when mushrooms are popping up all over so it’s the perfect time to stroll through the Richmond Nature Park and then come inside the Nature House to learn all about these interesting specimens at this weekend’s annual show. Meet members of the Vancouver Mycological Society during their presentation of a selection of locally gathered wild mushrooms including species found in natural environments and in household gardens. Bring in a fresh sample of a found mushroom for identification by a member. While on your walk through this beautiful local park look for the spectacular and most photographed mushroom the Amanita muscaria. You are also guaranteed to see a variety from the basic “toadstool” family along with other fungi shaped like coral, miniature angel wings or tiny bird nests complete with minuscule eggs. Admission to the show is by donation with proceeds supporting environmental education programs. Parking is limited so please consider your impact on the environment and consider traveling by bus or bike. This event is for All Ages.