Montessori Buzz – Dec. 16, 2025
Dear MA Families and Friends,
This is a longer Buzz but it includes some important reminders and fun photos. Grab a warm beverage and enjoy.
Winter Break is here!
The school will be closed December 22- January 2. Our first day back is Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Happy Holidays to all of our families and friends!
Parking downtown for drop-off and pick-up
We kindly remind parents not to block the driveways of our neighbours during drop-off and pick-up times. With the London Bridges daycares now closed, there should be plenty of parking further down Piccadilly. Your cooperation helps maintain good relationships and keeps everyone safe. Thank you for your understanding and support!
Garbage and Recycling Changes at school
Starting January 1, 2026, the city will no longer offer curbside recycling for non‑residential properties, including MA. Because contracting a private service isn’t cost‑effective for the amount of recycling we produce, the school will handle it in‑house.
What will recycling look like?
When we return on January 5, we will only recycle cardboard and paper, which our facilities team will take to a depot. We will not be recycling containers or packaging of any kind. If your child brings a container, it will be rinsed and sent home for your blue bin; otherwise, it will go in the garbage.
What about composting?
Thanks to a big reduction in our food waste, we no longer meet the minimum volume required for third-party compost pickup. As a result, beginning in January, the small amount of food waste we still produce will go in the garbage. We are not currently eligible to be part of the city’s curbside green bin program, though the idea of including smaller organizations in the program has been raised recently by city councillors.
How families can help
Environmental stewardship is important to our community, and we want to continue nurturing those values with our students. The best ways to support this are packing garbageless lunches and sending recyclable containers back home. We truly appreciate every family’s efforts in adjusting lunch and snack packaging to help our students continue practicing these habits.
Level Transition Meetings: RSVP by Friday, links in Notices
If your child is eligible to move up a level next year (Senior Toddler, Senior Casa, Year 3, and Year 6), please see the Notices in the MA Parent App and RSVP for your Level Transition Meetings by this Friday. If you have more than one child moving into a new level next year, please complete the appropriate form for each child.
Financial Support applications are due Monday, Jan. 5
All Montessori Academy families who are currently enrolled in Toddler through Junior High are eligible to apply for financial support; families must demonstrate financial need. The confidential application process is administered by a third-party provider, Apple Financial Services, which reviews all applications and makes recommendations for the distribution of funds. Learn more under Notices in the app or on our website: https://montessori.on.ca/admissions/financial-support/
Save the Date: Our Winter Concert is Thursday, Feb. 5
Watch for an invitation with tear-off RSVP form in the New Year. This is always a fun, special performance because students from Casa through Junior High will perform.
Fundraising update
The Blaze the Trail campaign is red-hot!
We did it! Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve hit $21,162! That’s 35% of our $60,000 goal—and we’re just getting started. Let’s keep the momentum going and finish the year strong!
Your gift matters now more than ever. Every donation helps us blaze a brighter future for our students. Donate online: montessori.on.ca/blaze-the-trail/
Year-end donations
To receive a 2025 tax receipt, donations must be:
- dropped off at our office by Thursday, December 18, 2025
- or made online by December 31 at montessori.on.ca/blaze-the-trail/
Let’s turn up the heat and make this holiday season unforgettable! Thank you for Yule-ing the fire! <wink>
For questions regarding your donation, or the campaign – please contact Tonya Dendrinos at tdendrinos@montessori.on.ca or 519-433-9121 ext. 233.
Phys Ed news
Reminder and Updates: We are asking students to dress for the weather so we can be outside at times. Also, we are asking students to refrain from bringing their water bottle to indoor gym in the winter months. There is a fountain to use at the gym.
Some Phys Ed classes were outdoors last week enjoying the fresh snow.
Senior Hockey
The team played Monday morning and had a great time. Junior Hockey for Years 4, 5 and 6 will begin in February. Details will be sent home with students interested in playing closer to the date.
Swim to Survive
This three-session program wrapped up last week. The Year 3 students were tested on how to roll into water, tread water for 1 minute, and swim 50m. Thank you to the instructors at the YMCA for a great program.
Junior Basketball Reminder
For students in Years 4-6: Details outlining these teams will be posted on the UE website and sent home with players interested in participating soon.
Photos from the Week
Infant class: Object permanence
Learning about object permanence in our Parent & Infant class. This piece of material builds concentration, coordination, and the cognitive understanding that the ball continues to exist even when out of sight, sound or touch. This is one of the progressive object permanence materials we offer our babies to learn this concept.
Casa Winter Celebrations
This time of year, our students learn about the many holiday traditions celebrated around the world.
Thanks, Mr. Plowman!
Our Waterloo Casas showed their gratitude for our plow operator last Wednesday.
Eldon House visits!
The Lower El classes visited Eldon House historic site – it’s all dressed up for the holidays. The students learned about local history and participated in crafts.
Year 6 special guest presenter
The Year 6 students did not miss a beat last week with a special presentation on the Circulatory system! Thank you to Gabriel’s dad, Dr. Puentes, and his students, for bringing in hearts for us to examine and have a hands-on experience!
