December 2022
There are many Celebrations of Light in December and Christmas is a big part. The classroom was decorated with ornaments and festive lights were strung. Shelves were filled with seasonal materials, special Practical Life activities, math counters and art materials. So many opportunities for creative expression. The children decorated the tree daily, laced cards, worked free art collages, glued and glittered. Beading took on the seasonal colours, and button sewing was all about many button and fabric selections. Fine motor skills were being grew in leaps and bounds this month. Themed collages were snow globes and winter scenes. Pine cones were collected from the playground last spring, which became tiny little Christmas trees with wine corks trunks and itsy-bitsy pompom ornaments. And of course a little bit of sparkly glitter. The end result was too cute. So cute. The children warmed up sheets of honeycomb wax and rolled them into candles during the last days of school. Gingerbread was baked and decorated. The best smelling classroom ever! Your children have been very busy this month, and all of us adults had so fun putting the materials together. Big kids at heart. Progress reports will be going out in January.
Our first concert since 2019 was on December 15th. Covid and social distancing has shown us how to appreciate these joyous times with much more depth and gratitude. The concert was our last day together for 2022, and it was a wonderful way to finish off the year. Miss Stacy and Miss Lori (our fabulous choir directors), practiced daily with the children in preparation of the concert day. The children worked very hard and we are very proud of each and every one of them. A big thank you to Jasmine from the Wise Hall, Luca’s family and Malia’s family who helped set up all the chairs before the concert. Thank you to all the parents, family members and friends who participated and joined in. It is your participation that really makes the difference in the day. The children were beaming brilliant smiles as they left the stage. Thank you for all the tasty potluck contributions. Thank you to all the parents who helped us stack all the chairs at the end of the concert. Many hands makes light work, and we were cleaned up in serious record time. If we didn’t have the opportunity to say it in person, thank you for all the very lovely and thoughtful gifts, the adorable handmade cards, the lovely family photos, and the homemade wonders. We truly appreciate all that you do. No truer words are said than “it takes a village”. We wish all of you, your families and loved ones, a safe and Happy Holiday. We look forward to seeing everyone next year.
Celebration of Light observances are a simple and age appropriate way to show children that we all have things in common, no matter where we come from, no matter what we look like, no matter how we dress. We all gather together to send out hopes, prayers and happy wishes. We display lights or candles, join together with friends and family, give gifts and share meals. We spend time with those we love and care about, and we think about loved ones who cannot be with us. We remember how fortunate we are and to be grateful for what we have. We think of those who have less and remember to be kind, compassionate and generous. We hope these very practical lessons about kindness and acceptance have been an experience that the children will remember and expand upon. We finish our Celebrations of Light in January with the Lunar New Year, and the Year of the Rabbit.
As New Year’s Day is on a Sunday, the holiday moves forward to the Monday. School re-opens on Tuesday, January 3rd. January also brings us new friends. A big welcome goes out to all of the January start friends and families. Gradual Entry will be happening for the first two weeks. Registration will start in late January for the All-Day Montessori program starting next September. Please let us know if you wish us to send home a registration package. Current students and families have first priority to spaces. We will open to new families in mid to late February. We are nearing the end of this long road with the City, Coastal Health, Licensing and the Province. The final pieces are coming together. There will be some mighty big celebrating once this is all over.
We wish everyone good health and good cheer, and the best for the holiday season. As 2022 fades away, we look forward to 2023. Happy holidays, Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all.
May peace and joy be yours, in this season of hope
