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Dear MA Families & Friends,
FYI: PD Days and holidays 2019-2020
This year, we’ve aligned several of our PD Days with the public and Catholic school boards to help families find care. Here’s an overview of the dates, along with holidays. These are noted in the printed Year at a Glance Calendar, as well as the online calendar found on the school’s website: https://montessori.on.ca/events/
- PD day – Sept 27, 2019 – matches TVDSB
- PD day – Oct 25, 2019 – matches TVDSB
- PD day – Nov 29, 2019
- Winter holidays – Dec 23-Jan 3, 2020
- PD day – Jan 24 – matches TVDSB
- Family Day – Feb 17
- March Break – March 9-20 (Week of March 16 matches TVDSB.)
- Good Friday 4/10 & Easter Monday 4/ 13 (The school is closed both days.)
- PD day – May 15
- Victoria Day – May 18
- Last Day of school – June 19, 2020
Choir! Choir! Choir!
A message from Miss Marty: Choir rehearsals start next week, and I’m looking forward to working with all of our great singers again! If you are interested in joining the choir, the schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday Mornings – Senior Choir (Yr 4-8) – 8:00 a.m. sharp! – Junior High Building
- Wednesday Mornings – Year 1 choir (During school hours) – 9:00 a.m. sharp! – Elementary Music Building
- Thursday Mornings – Junior Choir (Yr 2-3) – 8:00 a.m. sharp! – Junior High Building
Rehearsals begin for Senior Choir on Tuesday, September 24, at 8:00 am and for Junior Choir on Thursday, September 26 at 8:00 am. Our first performance will be at the Remembrance Day Assembly which takes place Thursday, November 8. See you all soon!
Halloween Boo-wling Event registration now open!
Please join us on Friday, October 25, for a wicked good time! Halloween Boo-wling is taking place once again at Palasad South (141 Pine Valley Blvd.) from 5:30-8:00pm. Come out in your favourite costume and win prizes! Bowling, laser tag pizza and all-around fun for the whole family! Sign up online through this Google form and make your payment at the Front Desk to hold your spot! Space is limited, so register early. (Friendly reminder: October 25 is a PD Day.) All registrations receive 2 slices of pizza and a pop!
- Bowling – $20
- Social only – $10
- Laser tag add-on $10*
*You must register for social or bowling to add the laser tag portion. All proceeds from the event go to support Montessori Academy of London’s fundraising efforts. 
Endowment Fund listed with London Community Foundation
Thanks to our partners at London Community Foundation, the Montessori Academy of London Endowment Fund is now listed among the Foundation’s funds. Anyone can contribute to our Endowment fund that supports families who qualify for our Financial Support Program. The fund came about two years back in celebration of our 50th anniversary and to strengthen our financial aid program. Please share this link to Montessori Academy of London Endowment Fund page with anyone in your networks that may be interested in supporting our financial aid to families — as well as the longevity of the MA. https://www.lcf.on.ca/fundpages/2019/9/9/montessori-academy-of-london-endowment-fund
Waterloo Toddler 2’s daily routines and practical life skills
Practical life skills are an important part of the Toddler program. Children of this age have a natural desire to imitate the adults around them. Toddlers strive for independence and naturally love order and organization. Activities are carefully selected and prepared to be home-like, reflecting the activities of the adults they observe. Some examples:
- CARE OF SELF: drinking, toileting, dressing and undressing, washing hands, cleaning shoes, blowing nose
- CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT (indoor/outdoor): sweeping, dusting, scrubbing tables, cleaning mirrors and windows, washing and drying dishes, cleaning up spills
- FOOD PREPARATION: juicing, cutting, mixing, peeling, shelling, kneading
In the Toddler 2 classroom, the students have started to settle into their daily routines, enjoying many aspects of the Montessori work cycle. 
Casa concentration…
In case you missed this video on our Facebook page: Can we take a moment to appreciate the dexterity and concentration this 4-year-old is demonstrating as he paints his map? Note the peaceful, quiet environment that allows him to concentrate. The Montessori classroom is famous for that peacefulness — and allowing the children the time and space to focus and complete their tasks. He’s four years old! https://www.facebook.com/MontessoriAcademyofLondon/videos/2406930816255042/ 
Year 1 Math with the Montessori bead staircase
This Year 1 student is working on addition. Watch how in the video on Facebook he takes the time to set up two identical Bead Staircases from numbers 1 – 10. With this material, he is able to add two numbers together. The beauty of traditional Montessori material is that it makes abstract concepts concrete for the children: https://www.facebook.com/MontessoriAcademyofLondon/videos/459199668270660/ 
Upper Elementary trip to Reforest London
The Upper Elementary students had the opportunity to spend last Thursday morning hiking a trail in Westminster Ponds and learning about the natural habitat of various species of trees in the Carolinian Forest. Facilitated by Reforest London (located in Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area), our students participated in a workshop enabling them to choose the best trees suited to the site where they will plant 66 trees on September 25 (which, by the way, is National Tree Day). The students played a game where some were trees and others were the threats to trees.  
Upper El Culture lessons
Uppers have been busy with their culture projects these last couple of weeks. The Year Five students have been researching all about the wind and to accompany their research some have built model wind turbines, while others design their own kites. They are so determined to get them up in the air! The Year Fours are learning all about maps. They’re looking for their houses on a map of London and navigating routes to school! No need for GPS! 
Peace Day preparations
To mark the United Nation’s International Day of Peace Day, our Casa students will all sing “Light a Candle for Peace” on Friday at 11 a.m. (Peace Day is Sept. 21, 2019.) At Westmount, our Casa children have been working diligently to finish their peace doves! They are excited to wave them proudly through the air on Friday during our singing of “Light a Candle for Peace.” ☮️ 
WHAT IS MONTESSORI PEACE EDUCATION? Dr. Maria Montessori said “…we must gather together all the elements of the world and organize them into a science of peace” because she recognized children as the redeeming factor in the evolution of humankind. Peace Education is an integral part of a traditional Montessori education starting at a young age. It supports the social and emotional development of our children, and helps us to prepare them to become agents of change and the seekers of peace. Our Peace Education, Restitution Process, and Grace and Courtesy lessons lay the foundation of the Upper Elementary and Junior High Social curriculum. 
Where in the world is MA?
Here’s a writeup from Tesneem’s excellent summer adventure: “My name is Tesneem and I am in Upper Elementary Year 4. Over the summer, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with my sister Safiyah, and my dad. My intent was to raise funds to help ensure access to clean water in communities facing water insecurity. With the help of family and friends, we surpassed our goal and raised $4,280. Climbing Mount Kili was the hardest thing I have ever done but we made it to the top and it was an amazing experience!!”
Great Read: Avoiding the Morning Madness!
Maren Schmidt is a long-time Montessorian and child development expert. In this article from a few years back she offers some helpful tips on setting an early morning routine: https://marenschmidt.com/2014/03/avoiding-morning-madness/
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