Montessori Buzz – Nov. 2, 2021
Dear MA Families & Friends,
FYI: COVID information updates
Vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds
The school does not have any current information on the status or roll out plan for vaccinating 5- to 11-year old students, but hopefully the COVID-19 vaccine will be available very soon. In the meantime, in addition to your own primary care physicians, parents may wish to access the consult services that are available through SickKids Hospital:
SickKids also offers a by-appointment phone service that provides a safe, judgement-free space to have an open conversation about the COVID-19 vaccine for children and youth.
Appointments can be booked online at: https://www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/support-services/covid-19-vaccine-consult/#book
PCR self-collection
To further facilitate timely access to testing, the province announced an expansion of the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) self-collection program to all elementary and secondary schools. Under this expanded initiative, students and school staff will be able to access PCR self-collection kits at school and drop them off at convenient locations in the community. This testing option will be made available to both symptomatic students as well as asymptomatic high-risk contacts/exposed cohorts, including students and staff. This is in addition to the PCR testing that continues to be available through community-based testing sites (e.g. assessment centres, community labs, etc.). Our school has requested to also be a part of this program. Details will be shared once we receive more information on the roll out.
Photo Retakes on Friday, Nov. 5!
A few reminders about Photo Retakes on Friday:
- Retakes will take place in front of the Main Office. If weather is not permitting, we will be down in the community room of the Elementary building. Photos will be taken on a first come, first served basis.
- Parents MUST accompany their children for the retakes, as teachers cannot leave their classrooms.
- There are a few spaces left – please call Tameka before 4 p.m. on Wednesday to register.
Poppy Project with Fanshawe College
We are collaborating with Fanshawe College’s Fashion Marketing and Management students for a very cool project leading up to Remembrance Day. The students in Elementary and Junior High are making red paper poppies in commemoration of our Veterans. The hand-made poppies will be worn on Remembrance Day and then planted.
FYI: Fanshawe has asked permission to take photos of the activity to use for their Annual Magazine (available in print and digitally), on their website and internal staff/student portal, in their social media feeds (tagging MA), and potentially shared with the media to promote the project. Please be aware that some parents may receive a Fanshawe photo release form if their child(ren)’s class is chosen for these photographs.
MA’s 2020-2021 Annual Report
Our 2020-2021 Annual Report is here! We invite you to take a peek through this overview of the past year, including the Board of Governors’ news, the school’s financials, as well as student-activity highlights from the year and fundraising efforts. It was a most unusual year – but with such a strong and supportive community, we were able to weather COVID! In the words of Suzanne Fratschko Elliott, President of our Board of Governors: “Our future looks bright! We returned to in-class learning in September, allowing our Elementary and Junior High students and faculty to re-connect for the first time in months!”
Indeed, we are back where we belong! https://montessori.on.ca/annual-report/
Our family Boo-ling event was a scream!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Halloween Boo-Ling Event! Amazing costumes, good friends, pizza, bowling, laser tag, crafts, games and arcade! It was so great to see everyone of all ages connect and enjoy this spook-tacular holiday, this year more than ever. It was an incredible turnout for our first family fundraising event of the year.
Photos from the Week
A peek inside Casa 1
The Geometry Cabinet is part of the Sensorial area of the Casa Montessori classroom. It is used to further develop the child’s visual sense in the discrimination of shape/form. As with many Montessori materials, they are inherently self- correcting – the shapes only match one slot or card – thereby eliminating the need for adult intervention to correct the child.
Montessori has a phonetic approach for learning to read. Once the child confidently associates initial phonetic sounds with objects and pictures, they are prepared for word building.
1000 Acts of Kindness wrap-up
The Casa teachers want to send out a heartfelt thank you for all of your generosity and support for Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre during this year’s 1000 Acts of Kindness month. It was so special to see the students coming in delighted to share with children and families within our community. The Centre was truly appreciative.
Thank you to all of the Lower Elementary families who generously sent in items for Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre!
Westmount Casa strong pumpkins
We don’t know what’s in the water at Westmount Casa, but the children’s muscles have certainly been growing! Look at that huge pumpkin they were all able to hold up high in the air! Thank you to Kustermans for a fun-filled trip and for allowing us to pick out the biggest and best pumpkin in the patch.
Halloween festivities around the school
The students and staff had a blast this year celebrating Halloween.
From the Community
Breakfast With Santa at 427 WING on Dec. 5
COVID-friendly event takes place on Dec. 5 between 9-11am. Registration is required; contact Todd Arthur to book a time at 519-872-0939.
PD Day Camps
There is still space available in the upcoming PD Day camps. Register online…..
- Junction Climbing Centre PD Day Camp: https://www.junctionclimbing.com/pa-day-camps
- The Academy Circus Day Camp: https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/theacademycircus