July 2026

August 5, 2026

Hello families!

Time passes so quickly, and it is hard to believe that this is our final newsletter of the school year.  It’s a long one, so be prepared for a bit of a read.

The past month has been a whirlwind of activity. With the beautiful weather, we spent plenty of time outdoors enjoying snacks, lunches, and playtime at the park. We had a wonderful week visiting Casa Gelato and cooling off at the water park. There were weeks filled with FIFA excitement, and we wrapped up July with our Sports Days, complete with medals for everyone. On cooler days, we practised relays and indoor sports and enjoyed energetic dance parties to keep the heart pumping.  Despite all the fun, the children continued to make time each morning for Math, Language Arts, and Practical Life activities. They even took all of the classroom chairs outside to give them a good, soapy scrub.  With so many cheerful summer fabrics, sewing projects were still a big favourite, and beading remained popular right up to the very last day.  The July theme this year was “Welcome to Summer Camp!”  We transformed the classroom with cozy tents that became perfect little reading nooks and enjoyed outdoor free-painting sessions.  One camp project was making a portable X’s and O’s game, complete with small cotton drawstring bags to hold the game pieces.  Perfect for picnics or summer road trips.  Other activities included lacing ice cream cones and sandal feet (some of those decorated toenails were hysterical), as well as creating adorable teddy bear cookies sleeping on tiny camping cots.  Our biggest project was tie-dyeing T-shirts, which took the better part of a week to complete.  We purchased the t-shirts on the big side so the children wouldn’t grow out of them quickly.  The last camp project was our paint spinning sun reflector.  The spun art was glued onto the back of an old CD, and strung with a ribbon for hanging.  We always keep earth-friendly, compostable, and recycled materials in mind when planning our projects.  We hope you appreciate our commitment to sustainability.   We have a lot of old CDs to recycle and will try to be creative.

Sometimes you need a break from cooking and a little change. Please take note of three philanthropic, guilt-free dates.  August 12^th is Pirate Pack Day at White Spot ($2.00 goes to Zajac Ranch, an accessible summer camp for children with medical conditions and disabilities).  August 13^th is Blizzard Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen (net proceeds are donated to our local children’s hospitals).  August 20th is Teen Burgers to Beat MS Day ($2 from every Teen Burger goes to MS research).  All very good causes, and an excellent reason for a treat.

This time of year is one of reflection for teachers.  We think back to each child’s first days and weeks with us and marvel at how much they have grown and changed since then (this is when we get a little misty-eyed).  We truly feel privileged to witness so many incredible moments throughout the year. Nothing warms our hearts more than seeing a child who has suddenly experienced an ‘AHA’ moment after struggling to have their own success.  Just as meaningful are the quiet victories: seeing a child who has struggled with stress, self-confidence, or social interactions begin to believe in themselves, develop healthy ways to navigate challenges, and discover the resilience and inner strength to persevere.  These moments, both big and small, are powerful reminders of why we love what we do and why we are committed to continuing this deeply rewarding journey (getting misty-eyed again).

Before we go any further, I’d like to thank our incredible team: Miss Stacy, Miss Ainsley, Miss Grace, and Miss Maria.  Creating a classroom where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn takes dedication, experience, and teamwork.  In September, we welcome Miss Sally back from maternity leave.  As she returns, we’ll be saying goodbye to Miss Grace, who has done a great job filling in.  We wish her every success in her travels on a new career path.  Miss Ainsley (our outdoor enthusiast and inspiration for many art projects) has been away recovering from a hiking injury, and we’re happy to share that she’s back in the classroom (on crutches) and looking forward to returning in September. 

Miss Stacy has been with us since the beginning.  Her calm, caring presence helps even our youngest children feel safe and loved (we call her the baby whisperer).  This year marks a special milestone for Miss Maria, who is celebrating ten years with our school.  Her kindness and dedication have truly made a lasting impact on our children and families, and we are incredibly grateful for all she does.  We are so fortunate to have such an amazing team that brings care, commitment, and heart to our school every single day, year after year.

To our families and students… thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you for all of your Scholastic Book orders, both big and small.  Every order makes a difference, helping us add books to our own library, and also special donations of new books to Children’s Hospital.  Thank you for sending in so many healthy snack choices for the Community Snack Basket week after week, and for the homemade baking every week (you know who you are!).  Thank you for being so thoughtful about keeping your children at home when they are unwell.  A group of us were just discussing this yesterday and reflecting on how, unlike many other settings, our classroom has never experienced a widespread illness outbreak … not even during COVID (I think most of us are still a bit shaky living through that part of history).  A special thank you to Zephyr for donating outgrown clothing to our extras bin, and to Quinn for the many thoughtful donations, including socks, crayons, and sprinkles for our baking projects.  And a big thank you to Henry for a gift to the school of a huge box of beading materials and a Michaels card.  Thank you to all of our parents for the beautiful year-end gifts and heartfelt cards.  We often wait until after school closes for the summer to open them because, quite honestly, they bring tears to our eyes.  Your cards remind us of how fortunate we are to share this journey with your families.  The children fill our days with inspiration and purpose, watching them grow and thrive.  We are truly grateful.

The end of the school year is always bittersweet.  As always, we send every child off with a special gift of a book (we hope they will always believe in the magic of reading), and a bubble wand (a little bit of joy and wonder).  This year, we say goodbye to many wonderful families, some who have been part of our community through several children, and have become part of our extended family.  Thank you all for trusting us to help care for and nurture your beautiful children.  It has been an honour, and you will all be deeply missed.  Please know that our door is always open to come by for a visit or pop a note into our mailbox.  We would love to hear how you are all doing.  To our friends moving on to new adventures, we wish you every happiness and success.  Our five-year-olds are taking a big leap into kindergarten, a new chapter they have been preparing for all year.  We are so proud of each and every one of you.  To our returning families, we will welcome you back in September.  School begins on the first Tuesday after Labour Day, this year on Tuesday, September 8^th.  We look forward to hearing all about your summer adventures and making many more memories together.  

It takes a village to raise a child.  Thank you for making our village so special.

Wishing you a summer full of wonder and awe.

June 2026

August 5, 2026

Hello families!

June flew past and we now head into our final month of the school year.  July will be filled with so many activities and it’s sure to fly by as well.

This June, the children observed the full butterfly life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, and then participated helped with butterfly releases on our many sunny days.  Each child had the opportunity to hold an orange slice with a butterfly perched on top before gently letting it go. Watching the releases and the children’s amazement is always a highlight.  A very special thank you to Francis for wearing butterfly wings on release days, and Safa for bringing his demonstration of the life cycle for Circle.  The beautiful weather also meant picnic lunches, classroom tables, and work moved outdoors. Practical life activities with handwashing boards, tubs, and our portable clothesline were resurrected for large motor skill water works.  Sunshine, water, and bubbles.  Who said laundry couldn’t be fun?  The teachers have been making frozen fruit and yogurt bars as a refreshing, cooling treat.  They are easy to make, super yummy and the children adore them.  Summer safety is becoming a regular topic of Circle conversation, which includes using sunscreen.  We have the mirrors set up outdoors for children to apply on their own faces.  Help and supervision is always there.  To keep the theme running, the children made a sun crown with Mr. Sun wearing sunglasses.

The Teddy Bear Picnic was two delightful afternoons filled with parades, singing, favourite stuffies, stories, and a very, very special snack. The children mixed and baked chocolate cupcakes, decorated them, and proudly carried them home in adorable handmade picnic baskets.  So adorable!

Our Father’s Day project was a wonderful exercise in fine motor skills, measuring, counting, and concentration.  The children carefully fringed thick cotton canvas to create placemats, then added black-painted handprints to make each one personal and unique.  Ingredients were measured and mixed before being funneled into recycled glass bottles and sealed with corks.  One bottle contained a mix for Ranch Dip, while the other held an all-purpose Garlic Daddy Seasoning (also great as a barbecue rub!).  Everything was wrapped together in a little gift bag for Dad to enjoy on Father’s Day.  We hope every Daddy, Papa, and Grandpa felt appreciated and had a wonderful, well-deserved Father’s Day.

FIFA fever has arrived in our classroom.  Everyone seems to have a favourite team, and some friends even have favourite players.  Jersey drawings, colour weaving, and FIFA-inspired artwork have become a big part of our free art time, and we expect the excitement to continue until the tournament ends.  We have also heard that Ranch Dressing has become quite a hit with our visitors from abroad, so hang on to those Father’s Day mixes!

To celebrate Canada’s birthday, the children participated in the making of a very special song and video. All the parts were carefully spliced together into a wonderful performance.  A heartfelt thank you to Miss Ainsley for sharing her talent, extra time, and patience in bringing this special project to life.  We also purchased a Canadian flag for every child to take home.  Happy Canada Day!

A gentle reminder to please return any extra clothing that comes home after accidents.  We also ask that you replenish your child’s spare clothing as needed.  Our classroom “extras” bin is used whenever children need a change of clothes, and these items are not always returned, and so donations are always greatly appreciated.   We are especially grateful for extra underwear, socks, tights, T-shirts, sweaters, pants, shorts, and leggings to help keep our clothing bin well stocked.  Thank you for your generosity.

Our final Scholastic Book Order went home last month.  A special thank you to Aiden for ordering a classroom book for everyone to enjoy.  The Big Cheese is a wonderful early-years story about friendship, participation, and having fun together.  Thank you, Aiden!

During the final days of June, the children have been busy making homemade pizza for snack (always a favourite!), preparing for our annual In-House Sports Day in July, and practicing earthquake drills.  We are expecting some very warm July weather and will be spending much more time outdoors and at the local parks.  Please arrive by 9:00 a.m. each morning, as we often leave early for our daily adventures and there will not be anyone remaining in the classroom.

Please send your child with:

• A bathing suit or moisture-wicking clothing for water play
• And a labelled hat and sunscreen if they don’t already have these supplies

We will be applying sunscreen before long walks, outdoor activities, and picnic lunches.  We also plan to enjoy several visits to the water park throughout the month, making the most of our beautiful summer days together.

Special upcoming dates in July to note:

• July `1^st (Wed) … Canada Day! (closed)
• July 8^th & July 9^th (Wed & Thu) … Casa Gelato days (weather dependent) … (if the weather is not cooperating for a walk to the gelato shop, we will switch with the Sports Days dates)
• July 16^th & 17^th (Thu & Fri) … Tie-dyeing classes, featuring fabric artists Chad and Cordie
• July 20^th & 21^st (Mon & Tues) … Strathcona Montessori Sports Days (at school0
• July 22^nd (Wed) … All August birthdays
• July 30^th & 31^st (Thu & Fri) … Family ice cream sundae days … An ice cream sundae bar will be set up in classroom for students, siblings and parents (and grands) to enjoy at pick-up time, on the last days of classes.
• School will be closed in August and will reopen on the first Tuesday after Labour Day for the 2026-2027 school year. 

July will be fast-paced, a little wild, and will zoom past.  Please let us know if you have any questions or need clarification.  There is no such thing as a silly question.  Welcome to July.

May 2026

June 10, 2026

Every month is busy at our school, and May was no exception.  In fact, May was especially busy and seemed to fly by.  We can hardly believe it’s already over.  Mother’s Day is always an important part of May.  This year’s gifts for Mum were centred around those rare moments of peace and tranquility, so the children made shower steamers.  The children carefully measured and mixed the ingredients before pouring the mixture into molds and compacting them with an espresso press.  The discs then had to dry and harden for a few days before being sprinkled with biodegradable glitter (yes, that’s a real thing!).  Each child selected a colour for Mum, blue for the ocean or green for the forest.  A big thank you to Bee Cee Wicks for always providing the perfect supplies of wax, molds, and essential oils for these wonderful projects.  We hope every mum and grand had a wonderful Mother’s Day and perhaps even enjoyed a few moments of relaxation.

Our continent studies of Asia were completed in May.  Our travels took us to many different places, landmarks, and buildings throughout Asia, where we explored a variety of cultures and traditions.  Over the years we have collected traditional shoes and clothing from many Asian cultures which were available for the children to try on and touch.  As always, the unique animals of the continent were a main focus.  We learned about pandas, the Bactrian camel, the Komodo dragon, and the tarsier, the tiny primate with the gigantic eyes.  Another favourite was the proboscis monkey, whose nose is so long that it must physically move it out of the way in order to eat!  For our Asian snack, the children made onigiri.  They mixed cooked rice with baby peas and grated carrots (peeled by the children themselves), then stuffed the centre with grated cheese.  We were first introduced to this cheesy version when the family from Dosanko Restaurant on Powell Street attended this school.  It is Crispy Cheesy Onigiri on the menu… YUM!  Thank you to Noah for loaning us his mum’s onigiri mold to make very traditional looking snacks.  Noah’s mum just happened to have an onigiri mold on hand (of course she did).  It was a huge help.  Asian art project was the cutest little hand fan with a tassel.  We used Japanese wrapping paper for the fan and popsicle sticks for the ribs.  Our aim is to use as many natural, recycled, compostable, and biodegradable materials as possible for each and every project.  It’s kind of our thing!  We hope this helps set a positive example for the children, the families, and all child care centres.  Taking care of the planet in small ways all adds up.  Every continent study is a fun and exciting journey.  The Asia animal workbooks went home over the last two months as they were completed.  By comparing each booklet from September to now, you can really see your child’s skill development and growth.  Our focus now shifts to more summery topics and warm-weather activities.

We planted sunflower seeds last month to kick off spring.  The children brought their seedlings home once they were strong enough to transport.  We continued our exploration of sunflowers with a lacing and weaving project.  Pieces of crepe paper were threaded through holes punched into cardstock circle, and the children carefully wove the strips to alternate over and under each other.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  Real sunflower seeds were glued to the centre circles, to make a realistic piece of art that involved an amazing amount of concentration and strategic motor skills, and the results were spectacular.  With spring comes the return of many little life forms that we have not seen in a while.  Worms peek their heads out of the ground, round roly-poly bugs suddenly appear, and winged insects fill the skies.  Children are naturally curious, and we welcome their questions through hands-on trays, lessons, and Circle discussions focused on these renewing signs of nature.  Spring also means warmer weather and our annual shipment of tiny caterpillar eggs arriving from Alberta.  The children each took the time to fill a tiny cup with caterpillar food before the eggs were transferred into their containers.  And now we wait.  There was a time when we had local farms and growers that supplied caterpillars, but times change.  We even had an East Vancouver high school student who raised caterpillars in his family’s garage and sold them to schools.  But life goes on, and Josh grew up and headed off to university. We hope that one day another curious Vancouver child will pick up where Josh left off.  We would love to keep it local, so please let us know if you hear of a nearby supplier.

May is an incredible month where children are combining skills and knowledge at such a fast pace.  It is truly incredible to witness.  Math, science and language arts are in full force, geometric puzzles (harder than you think) are being completed with speed and accuracy.  After months of exercise materials, we see leaps forward in printing, drawing, and fine motor skills.  Language arts materials are extremely popular.  Some of the children are fascinated with reading and starting to read on their own and to each other.  Exciting times.  Art is always popular, and so is making snack.  We hope they are using their cooking skills at home, because these children are getting very skilled at making pizza. 

We have been gifted with some beautiful weather in May.  This means more outdoor time than the daily usual.  Snacks and lunches are enjoyed al fresco, as well as other activities.  The teachers have been making frozen fruit and yoghurt popsicles, which everyone looks forward to.  And as the weather continues to warm, we will be spending even more time outdoors.  If you haven’t already done so, please send in sunscreen and a hat labelled with your child’s name.  We will keep your child’s outdoor gear handy to access before going out for long walks, time at the park, and picnic lunches.

We have recently started using our Facebook page.  To receive updates about classroom projects and news as we post, please send a friend request to Strathcona All-Day Montessori.   A request will be sent out if we see your name.  In the small world category, we have discovered that past students are now babysitting our current students.  And so, we are also reaching out to connect with past families.  If you don’t want updates or news, you can still enjoy viewing the children’s artwork on Instagram @strathconamontessori.

April 2026

May 5, 2026

You may hear how busy our classroom has been, and it only gets busier as the children’s skills continue to grow.  So much happens every day: art, painting, beading, and sewing.  We even see small groups form organically, like Montessori-style “social sewing bees.”  We introduce new activities and materials every week to support skill building, and spark curiosity in these wonderfully absorbent minds.  The children continue to explore lacing, colour mixing, math boards, and language boards, all of which are helping to build both confidence and independence.  Before we know it, summer will be here … and every year we are still surprised how fast the time goes by.

Continents and Seasons.  Our studies of Europe concluded last month with a focus on northern Europe, the Viking people, and their explorations.  Viking studies included learning to recognize and write names using the ancient rune alphabet.  We left Europe and began our travels around Asia.  Asia concludes our continent studies for this school year.  We will journey to the southern hemisphere in September.

The wonders of Spring. Spring has truly sprung, bringing with it vibrant learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom.  Spring lessons explored new growth, plants, food, insects, animals, and even how bees see the world.  An annual highlight is our sunflower project.  Last September, we harvested seeds from our classroom sunflower, continuing a tradition that began 25 years ago with the original seed collected in 2001.  This spring, we germinated those seeds, planted them in soil, and carefully observed their growth.  Each child took home at least one seedling, with the hope of watching them grow.  We look forward to harvesting again this coming September, continuing the sunflower’s life cycle.

With the arrival of beautiful weather, we’ve also enjoyed more time outdoors.  Activities have included al fresco lunches at school, picnics at the park, cherry blossom art, shadow drawing, and neighbourhood walks.  We encourage families to look into something deemed as “risky play”, when you have family time outdoors.  Back in the day “risky play” was simply called playing.  Some children are very naturally adventurous, but we find that a few are afraid and intimidated with play that isn’t insulated.  We encourage play that develops coordination (gross motor), confidence and decision-making skills through supervised exploration.  But more than that, play develops resilience when life hands you lemons.  We are aiming for lemonade makers.

Earth Day and Recycling. We spent time exploring Earth awareness in connection with Earth Day.  During our circle discussions, we talked about ways we can help keep our planet healthy, including recycling, composting, and planting trees.  We discussed what the Mobius Loop symbol and what the numbers on the bottom of containers mean.  Thank you for sending recycling items from home, this adds wonderful variety, creates a personal connection, and makes our circle activities more interactive and engaging.  Recycling and composting are part of our daily routine throughout the year, reinforcing the habits you’re building at home.  We also use picture cards of different items (garbage, food waste, and more) for sorting games, which the children find both fun and meaningful.  Caring for the planet seems to come naturally to the class, as we begin each September with a focus on recycling and composting.  Each child also coloured their own small Earth Day booklet.  In addition, we set up a collage station filled with scraps of paper, fabric, and other “found” materials, encouraging the children to create unique collages.  This was a creative scavenger hunt made from toss aways, and they all went wild for it.  Activities do not need to be expensive, but they do need to engage creativity.  Which brings us to …. I’m bored!

I’m bored!  It’s good to be busy, but not all the time.  Boredom can be productive, but maybe not in the usual sense.  Constant busyness can crowd out the mental space where ideas actually form.  When your mind isn’t being pulled in ten directions, it starts to wander, and that wandering is often where creative connections happen.  Consider boredom as a mental reset instead of a lack of activity.  Quiet time allows the brain time to process, reflect, and imagine without pressure.  Some of the best ideas tend to show up in those quiet moments.  Turn the TV off, put the tablets away, and hide the phones.  Look for activities that promote quiet reflection and creativity.  Have the kids lie on the grass and name the shape of the clouds.  Allow the freedom and space to be creative without pressure.  This is a great thing for overworked adult brains too.  Join in!

Scholastic Books. A reminder that Scholastic book orders are due this Friday, May 8th.  If you’re hoping to order books or gifts for summer reading, please be sure to submit your order by then.  All orders will be delivered to the school by the end of May.  Every purchase helps our classroom earn points, which we use to bring in more books for students.  Thank you for your continued support.  It is greatly appreciated.  We LOVE books!

Dates to note:

• May 8th (Fri) … The final Scholastic orders for the year are due
• May 18^th (Mon) … Victoria Day Holiday (school will be closed)
• July 1^st (Wed) … Canada Day Holiday (school will be closed)
• July 30^th & July 31^st (Thu & Fri) … Last days of school and the annual ice cream sundae bar
• August … School is closed for the month of August
• September 8^th (Tues) … First Tuesday after Labour Day we open for the 2026-2027 school year

Wow … it’s May already.

March 2026

April 7, 2026

Welcome to spring!  March weather can be very uncertain, but we seemed to have had a mild start (it came in like a lamb), and it looks like we are going to have a very warm April start as well.  We planted grass seed in a classroom planter, and have quite the little lawn already.  We have been observing the seeds become blades of grass and the roots reach down and take hold of the soil through the clear planter.  Science, nature and beauty all in one tiny bowl.  The world around us is an amazing place.  We play outside in the playground rain or shine, but it certainly was nice to be able to go on longer walks to other nearby playgrounds and parks.  We are already talking about the water park opening at Mclean Park.  Summer is just around the corner.  Woo hoo!  

For three weeks we featured our Science Show and Tell, which was filled with very interesting demonstrations and lots of fun.  We explored many exciting concepts.  Lots of things sinking, lots of things floating, plenty of frothy bubbles, and mounds of fizz.  There were even experiments that oozed and glittered.  We began to think about why things float, sink, bubble, or fizz.  These observations led to discussions about air, how molecules can be close together or spread apart, and how chemical reactions work.  The children and teachers truly enjoyed every demonstration.  Each child did an excellent job presenting their own experiment, showing focus, curiosity, and growing self-confidence.  Their faces tell the story (see the photo links).

March was filled with lots of wonderful activities: Check out the photo links and a give a quick look at our many crafts on our Instagram page @strathconamontessori (follow us!).

• Curriculum.  Changing materials for seasons and holidays occur every month.  Practical Life, Math (intricate patterning), and Language Arts are moving along.  A lot of these activities actually happen organically as children start to use their imaginations and have friends join in.  It is an amazing and joyful thing to observe.  Check out the photo links and look at the expressions on the children’s faces.
• Yoga and dance parties.  Favourite songs and some new ones too.
• On St. Patrick’s Day, everything was green, and sparkly, and shamrock-y.  Bowls of green soapy water were whisked into masses of bubbles (another kitchen skill), and glass seed beads were made into rainbow rings and bracelets.  Lots of cutting, glueing and collaging.  We even made green Jell-O with whipping cream which added to the science theme of Sink and Float theme when the cream portion made a minty green mousse on top of the clear green jelly.  And it was yummy.
• Easter is always a fun and busy time.  Happy, hoppy, and just a tiny bit hectic.  Lacing activities included Easter eggs and carrots to “feed the bunnies”, which were so sweet.  We carefully cleaned eggshells, removed the membranes, and dyed them in brilliant colours using food-grade dyes.  Once dried, the shells were crushed into tiny pieces with a mortar and pestle and then glued onto cardstock printouts to create beautiful mosaic-style art.  Lots of work, and well worth it.  A great side benefit is that these eggshells can be reused in your garden.  Sprinkled around plant stems, their spiky edges help deter slugs from snacking on your tomatoes and add calcium to your soil.  We actually collect eggshells all year long so we have plenty ready for our busy Easter crafting season.  One of our favourite crafts this year was the Easter wood bead bunny.  A little bit of lacing and a little bit of beading, and the result was absolutely ADORABLE!  We wrapped up the celebration with Easter egg hunts, parades, and dance parties.  Each day ended on a sweet note, with everyone heading home with a few chocolate eggs.  Yum!
• Thank you Ozzy for the “How to Catch a Tooth Fairy” book.  This was a surprise gift from the Scholastic Books order.  We have all enjoyed it and will enjoy for many, many years to come.

Europe is our current continent studies.  As for every continent unit, the children make many crafts and creative arts related to the land, people, history, and indigenous animals.  Recycled crayons were broken and placed into silicone molds shaped like Lego robots and bricks, then melted in the oven to create colourful new crayons in those toy shapes from Denmark that we all know and love so well.  They also worked on European animal booklets, carefully colouring each animal.  Booklets are always sent home to share when completed.  Lacing projects were windmills and badgers, and a combined lacing-collage project of a hot air balloon and basket.  Tres magnifique!  Our featured European food was the classic English trifle.  The children participated in every step of the process, measuring, stirring, cracking eggs, to make a vanilla pound cake, then preparing vanilla pudding (instead of custard).  They sliced fresh strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, and layered the fruit with cake, pudding, and raspberry jam before topping it off with whipped cream.  It was a delicious and fruit-loaded afternoon snack.  The classroom smelled absolutely wonderful, like a vanilla dream. Soon we will say goodbye to Europe and begin our exciting journey into Asia.

Along with our Instagram page @StrathconaMontessori, we have recently started using our Facebook page again after several years.  It was brought to our attention (thanks to a tech-savvy twenty-something) that Facebook allows us to securely upload and store photos with access limited to parents only.  Who knew?  I sure didn’t.  This option will make it easier for families to view and download photos at their convenience, rather than within a limited timeframe.  If all goes well, we hope this will eventually replace the monthly photo links, giving busy parents more flexibility to catch up when it suits their schedules.  Yay!  You will be informed when we begin transitioning from photo links to Facebook.  Until then, the current seven-day deadline for accessing photo links remains.

Strathcona All-Day Montessori:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084736973673

Dates to note to the school year end:

• Monday, May 18^th … Victoria Day Holiday (school will be closed)
• Wednesday, July 1^st … Canada Day (school will be closed)

March has been a busy month (as usual). We welcome spring and April.

Don’t fill your children’s time with endless activities and distractions.  LET THEM BE BORED! 

Boredom can spark creativity.  “Boredom is not in itself creative – it’s what it leads to that is important.”

February 2026

March 3, 2026

January 2026

February 5, 2026

Every month is a busy one, and January 2026 was no exception. Our focus throughout January was on winter. This included learning about animals that migrate, sleep, and hibernate, winter weather, and the contrast between light and dark days. We completed our North America unit in November and will begin traveling across Europe in February.

Our winter art craft was a cardinal handprint. The children painted their own hands and gently pressed them onto a sheet with a printed branch. Add a beak, eyes, and a sprinkle of snow, and voilà! A gorgeous cardinal in winter appeared. Each season and holiday, we plan specific themed lacing, collage, and art projects. This winter’s lacing activities included the cutest polar bears, mittens, and toques. All of our materials, projects, and crafts are intentionally designed to support skill development, while still being fun and engaging to encourage participation.

Another favorite project was an alphabet snowman bookmark. The children selected the letters in their names and glued them together to create a personalized snowman bookmark. Our annual hibernation lessons were introduced during Circle Time, and the children also worked on booklets about animals in winter. While the exercises and activities are enjoyable, they are all multi-leveled to support development. We continue to see growth in hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, and concentration with each activity and project. We are certain that you see these skills emerging at home as well.

Our final winter festival of light is Lunar New Year, as we welcome the Year of the Horse. We began the projects a little early this year, as Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year fall close together. The children started with lantern lacing sheets, using hammers and push pins to create holes in the cards. This required a great deal of focus and effort, and the results are truly spectacular. These lacing cards will be going home next week.

A sudden change in weather and several blustery days had us indoors for short periods, followed by a welcome return to outdoor play. On the few days we stay indoors, the children enjoy exercises such as balance steps, yoga, and lively dance parties. Great cardio, fun music. Food preparation and baking are always a wonderful way to get the children involved, especially during the winter months when comfort foods are extra appealing. This month we made pancakes and pizza, and the children had a great time squeezing their own beverages after we picked up 30 pounds of oranges for fresh juicing. Always moving and busy, busy, busy! As the year advances, we are seeing increased interest in curriculum activities such as math and language arts. Numbers and addition are becoming popular, along with more complex puzzles for individual and small[1]group work. Math sheets and the golden bead material have been especially appealing. The small and large movable alphabets, along with printing sheets, are also receiving a lot of attention. Many children are showing strong interest in sounding out words and writing.

To support your child’s literacy development, please note that lowercase letters are what children need to learn first, not capitals. Using all capital letters can be confusing. Most children’s books primarily use lowercase letters, except at the beginning of sentences and for names. We teach the sounds of letters rather than the letter names. Letter recognition develops through sound, and those sounds are blended together to form words. For example, the letter b is taught as “buh,” not “bee.” Sounding out “buh,” “ah,” and “tuh” will eventually flow together to form “bat”. From there, early reading emerges organically, with confidence and enjoyment. Literacy is truly the gateway to imagination and a lifelong love of learning.

Progress reports, along with registration packages for returning families and siblings, were sent home during the first week of our return in January. These reports help us track each child’s work and celebrate progress across all areas of development. They will be sent home again in June for you to keep. If you have any questions about your child’s report, please feel free to speak with the teachers at any time or call to schedule a meeting.

Valentines are not mandatory; however, every child enjoys participating, and no one likes to feel left out. A class list was emailed to all families last week and again this week to ensure you have everyone’s names. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, we will celebrate in the classroom on Thursday and Friday, February 12th and 13th. Each child will decorate a paper bag to distribute and collect their cards and treats from friends. Please remember to send one Valentine and/or treat per student (just one, not two!).

A few quick reminders:

 · School will be closed Monday, February 16th for BC Family Day

· 2025 tax receipts were sent home in January in your child’s home folder

· We’ve noticed that many families aren’t following us on Instagram yet. Please consider joining us at @strathconamontessori for our occasional updates from the school.