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.

December 2025

January 5, 2026

Dear families,We completed our North American journey in November, and will resume our travels across the northern hemisphere in 2026.  December started with holiday preparations that continued until the last day of classes.  Christmas is a large part of our ‘Celebrations of Light’ and has been a topic of discussion throughout December.  Materials are changed on the shelves to reflect the season, sewing fabric and buttons are holiday themed, and even beading can be in traditional colours with tiny ornaments or bells.  The children are welcome to decorate the tree daily, and do lacing work on cardstock cuts of trees, stockings and gingerbread men.  The many projects this month kept all of us busy.  The children painted pine cones (they collected these from our playground) in white, green and red, rolled them in glitter and attached cords and bells to make a very shimmery hanger. Our main art project was a peppermint candy cane candle.  They deserve applause for this one.  Small cantina style glasses (Arcoroc tempered glass) were marked with four levels.  Melted soy wax was poured up to a line and allowed to cool and cure between each pour, alternating red and white.  This craft involved gross motor control, fine motor control, focus and concentration.  Wow!  After the final layer set, the glass rim was dipped in glue and white glitter.  Each and every child did a magical job of candle making.  Did I forget to mention that the wax was scented with peppermint?  There were so many daily crafts, materials and exercises, too many to mention.  Some activities may seem a bit foreign, so if you have and questions, please feel free to ask.  Just know that these children were BUSY!  The annual gingerbread baking was the final project before the concert, and absolutely adorable!  We celebrated Hanukkah week with supervised lighting of the menorah (the photos are gorgeous) and playing math games with dreidels.  Helping hands not only set the table for daily snack, but in December also wore elf hats or reindeer antlers.  The children watched the “Frosty the Snowman” cartoon with individual popcorn bowls.  The last few days before the holiday closure was spent rolling beeswax candles (thank you Wicks and Wax for having such a wonderful shop), making the last holiday collages and sewing projects, and socializing with friends. Some of the children’s projects are shared on our Instagram page … tell the grands and family to take a look!  Instagram@strathconamontessori

Christmas trees have lights, our diyas had tea lights, our menorah has candles. Celebrations of Light are a way to show that no matter where we come from, what we look like, and how we dress, we all have many things in common.  For every big holiday or observance, we gather together to send out hopes and wishes and prayers at a temple, a church, a synagogue, a mosque, or simply at home.  We share traditions and display lights or candles during the darkest of days.  We join together with friends and family.  We give gifts.  We share meals.  We share our time with those we love and care about.  We think about loved ones who cannot be with us.  We give to those less fortunate.  We think about how much we have to be grateful for, which is a lot.  These simple lessons about kindness and acceptance and gratitude have been lessons that we hope the children will remember and continue throughout their lives.  We will finish our Celebrations of Light in 2026 with the Lunar New Year.

Our concert and potluck on Thursday, December 18th was a wonderful way to really feel the holiday season is upon us. The children gave a wonderful performance (not an easy task for little ones).  Our choir directors practiced daily with laughter and patience (but mostly laughter). The children worked very hard, and we are proud of each and every one of them.  The concert ended with joyous, priceless, and beaming smiles.  Thank you so much for your potluck food items to share with the other families.  You all did an amazing job of putting a beautiful selection of foods together, and hope you had as much fun as we did.  Many stories were shared.  Some families are looking forward to a quiet holiday season focused on time together, while others were heading off early to be with loved ones far away, in both sunny and snowy places.  To add a finishing touch to the day, we sent each child home with a candy cane and a gift book. You all know by now that we love books, and we hope you enjoy reading these together over the break.  Reading together creates the most wonderful lifelong memories.

• Please note that the school will be closed for the Christmas week and will reopen on Friday, January 2nd.  While we recognize that this is an awkward day to reopen, we are required to do so in order to remain eligible for the Fee Reduction program for families.  Thank you for your understanding.
• Progress reports will be sent home in January. Please review them carefully and return them to the teachers by January 16^th.  They will continue to be used until the end of the school year. The reports will be sent home again in July for you to keep.
• Registration packages for children returning for September 2026–2027 will go home the first week in January.  Completed packages are due Friday, January 16th, 2026.  Please let us know as soon as possible if you require a package for sibling.

If we did not have the opportunity to say so in person, thank you very much for the kind and extremely thoughtful gifts.  We are truly overwhelmed by your generosity and kind thoughts.  The beautiful handmade cards, artwork, and crafts brighten our days more than you know.  It truly takes a village to raise a child, and we are grateful to be part of yours.  We wish you, your families, and loved ones a very safe and very happy holiday season, and look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.

May peace and joy be yours, in this season of hope

Miss Stacy, Miss Ainsley, Miss Grace, our very loved volunteer Miss Maria, and Mrs. B (Cynthia)

November 2025

December 4, 2025

The year is moving quickly, and as we race into December. This newsletter offers a recap of November. Our Student-Led Conference days, held in mid-November, gave children the opportunity to act as tour guides and offer parents a glimpse into a typical day at school. These hands-on experiences provide valuable clarity for all of us, young and old. We hope every parent left with a deeper understanding of what daily life in a Montessori environment entails. We truly enjoy welcoming parents into the classroom and sharing these meaningful moments with their children..

We began our studies of North America in October with an exploration of First Nations. As we travel across continents, our main focus is on animals. Each continent features an animal workbook of indigenous wildlife and a related craft. This year, the children made a cuddly mini black-bear stuffie.  Booklets are sent home when completed.  When you compare the books at year’s end, you will be able to see the story of your child’s progress. Hand-eye and fine-motor exercises this term included lacing bear and owl shapes, as well as sewing buttons.  Our North America study wrapped up with Hawaii and Mexico, touching on their cultural events and clothing. During the final week, the children made mini-Mexican street-festival pennants (more lacing practice) and prepared nachos for snack (Juanita chips—yum!). The changing season and autumn have also continued to guide our November lessons, art projects and Circle discussions. We studied weather and its effects on humans, animals, and plants, as well as migration and hibernation, again highlighting North American wildlife. Continent puzzle maps and land-and-water forms have become classroom favourites. European studies and winter projects will begin in the new year. Projects can be seen on our Instagram page.

November also includes Remembrance Day, for which the children made poppy cards. We speak about Remembrance Day in age-appropriate terms, focusing on remembering important people we cannot be with.

Classroom materials change for seasons, special events, and holidays. Practical Life and the water-work areas continue to be popular hubs of activity. These are often natural gathering spots where children form small sewing circles, beading groups, or gather to watch water activities. Children love to be included in family-style tasks such as setting and wiping the table and sweeping the floor. They may not comment in the moment, but children will absorb everything around them.  Practical Life builds skills, self-confidence, and a deep sense of belonging. A few breakages are natural parts of learning consequences.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of literacy. It unlocks so many stages of development. Children love to explore books, turn pages, and use their imagination for the stories. They especially love being read to. We teach the alphabet phonetically. First-year children begin with sound games, whereas most second-year children have progressed to sound blending. Children will play sound games independently and with classmates, and you will likely see them doing the same at home. As they learn each letter’s sound, they begin to blend sounds into words, and reading follows naturally.  They are currently working with the sandpaper letters and the movable alphabet.  * Please use only lowercase letters when practicing at home, except for the beginning of a sentence or a name.

Scholastic Books mini-catalogues go home about every six weeks. The website offers even more selections. Our Class Code is RC173207 for online orders. Thank you for supporting our school through your Scholastic purchases.

Every child develops at their own pace. If we observe delayed development or concerning behaviour, we reach out to parents to begin discussions. These children are still very young and are learning the boundaries of the classroom, health and safety practices, new friendships, and new environments. Testing boundaries is natural, and transitions require time and patience.  Preschool is about much more than academic readiness; it is about social and emotional development, learning how to interact appropriately with others, and understanding how to make and keep friends. These are the essential building blocks for kindergarten and beyond. Learning happens through belonging, well-being, engagement, and expression. When children feel safe and have a sense of well-being, they feel confident to take risks in learning. Confident, happy children learn better, and this sense of well-being supports all areas of growth.

Severe-weather protocol notices are being sent home this week. We hope we won’t need them, but it is always best to be prepared. We play outside every day—rain or shine—but also have indoor alternatives such as balance platforms and yoga. Miss Stacy and Miss Ainsley have taught yoga for many years, and this year’s class seems especially enthusiastic.  The children will need warmer indoor and outdoor clothing as the weather gets colder. 

Information regarding the year-end concert was emailed last week. A sign-up sheet for potluck contributions is available at the door during pick-up. Please ensure everyone has eaten lunch before arriving so the potluck snack can be shared fairly (we have 21 children and 42 parents attending). The potluck is an afternoon snack, not a meal.  We hope every child and parent will attend, even if the child does not normally come on Thursdays. You may already be hearing the songs at home!  The concert will be short but very sweet. It is important for everyone to arrive on time (or a few minutes early). We cannot delay or pause the concert for latecomers, as a room full of waiting adults can cause anxiety for the children. More reminders will be sent as the date approaches.

Items to Note

• Home baking: Please send a list of ingredients whenever you send in homemade food. If a child has a reaction during the day (such as hives), we must be able to pass accurate information to families. A screenshot of the recipe emailed to us is perfect.
• Concert Day is Thursday, December 18^th. We wish for all children to attend the concert.  Children who normally attend Thursdays will have the usual drop-off time (please send them in with a lunch).  Children who do not normally attend on Thursdays should arrive around 12:30 after they have had lunch at home. Parents may drop off their potluck contribution and come back at 1pm.
• Last day of class: We will close at noon on Wednesday, December 24th.
• School re-opens on Friday, January 2nd, 2024.  Thursday, January 1st is a holiday.

We say goodbye to November as we welcome in December

October 2025

November 5, 2025

Autumn Adventures.  Since early October, the children have been exploring the change of seasons and all that autumn brings. We’ve learned how animals migrate, how food is harvested, and how we give thanks during this special time of year. With the cooler weather, warm foods have made a welcome return to our classroom. The children are growing more confident with our food and baking projects.  This month we’ve enjoyed making homemade bread and pumpkin cookies. Yum!  As part of our discussions about the harvest season, we’ve discovered how early settlers and First Nations peoples prepared for winter by drying foods. Dried fruits such as apple slices and cranberries offered a wonderful, hands-on learning opportunity for the children.  We use our food dehydrator throughout the year, but it has special significance in autumn and winter.

Our continent study is currently focused on North America, beginning with the First Nations peoples. During Circle, we’ve explored a fascinating collection of First Nations items and artifacts from across the continent, including fur pelts, small totems, musical instruments, buffalo teeth, bear paw imprints, dolls, dream catchers, pottery, blankets, jewelry, and clothing. Through lessons, games featuring regional indigenous animals, and animal booklets, our continent studies help the children understand how seasonal changes affect our planet, plants, and animals throughout the year.  We’ll continue our journey across North America until the end of November, then begin our travels through Europe in January.

Diwali.  Each year, the children make diyas to celebrate Diwali. During our special Diwali Circle, we light candles and make heartfelt wishes.  It’s always a magical day. Thank-you Surina and Noorin for sending in delicious Diwali treats for snack.

Building Skills and Independence.  The children are continuing to settle into the classroom and adapt to their new routines and expectations. Consistency plays a big role in helping them feel secure and confident, creating the right balance for emotional growth and early learning.  Practical Life lessons are at the heart of this process. Sewing wood buttons, using lacing cards, transferring and pouring, table washing, and window cleaning are constant through the year. These hands-on exercises help children develop strength, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and control across different muscle groups while also fostering self-help and independence skills. Each exercise, whether pouring, spooning, or buttoning, supports your child’s growing sense of capability. As their skills develop, so does their self-confidence and eagerness to take on new and more challenging activities.

Throughout the year, we’ll introduce new materials and activities that reflect the changing seasons, such as pumpkins and bats in October, to keep young minds inspired and engaged.  Yoga has also become a part of our routine, and we’re delighted by how much the children enjoy it.  It’s a wonderful way to build balance, body awareness, and self-regulation.

Math and language are woven naturally into our daily classroom life through engaging materials and games. Children are introduced to the alphabet using sandpaper letters, learning the sounds each letter makes before beginning to print. We start printing with a dot-to-dot method and then freehand writing. Please remember that we teach printing in lowercase letters, using capitals only at the beginning of names and sentences, and reinforcing this practice at home will help support your child’s learning.

In our classroom, learning goes far beyond ABCs and 123s. Through meaningful, hands-on activities, children are building life skills that support growth in every area of development.

Halloween Fun!  Halloween is always an exciting time of year.  We celebrated on both Thursday, October 30th, and Friday, October 31st, enjoying two fun-filled days of costumes, stories, songs, and creative activities.  We had afternoon costume parades, watched The Great Pumpkin movie with popcorn, and then had our usual Thursday and Friday dance parties.  Great cardio!

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the children were busy with many themed projects and activities.

Counting, classroom materials, ring-making, sewing, collage, and lacing all took on a Halloween twist. Children painted egg cartons (inside and out) and transformed them into glittery pumpkin crafts. We also carved and gutted real pumpkins, decorated loot bags, and filled them with Halloween treats generously provided by families.  On the party days, the children painted wooden pumpkin ornaments and made Rice Krispie monsters to take home. As always, our teachers prepared a special Halloween snack.  Be sure to check out our classroom projects on Instagram @strathconamontessori!

Healthy Habits.  With the sudden drop in temperature, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the changing weather. We go outside to the playground both morning and afternoon, rain or shine, unless conditions are too severe.

If your child is ill or will be arriving late, please call (not email) the school to let us know.  We may not always be able to answer during class time, but we check phone messages regularly.

In September, we focused on healthy habits such as sneezing and coughing into elbows and washing hands properly. These lessons and reminders are reinforced throughout the year to help keep everyone healthy and happy.  We ask that high-sugar snacks and treats stay at home. If they happen to find their way into lunches, we gently remind children to save them for after school.  Believe it or not, when treats come from home, the children are very understanding and agree to wait until they’re home to enjoy them. Smart and healthy choices from the little ones.

Reminders:

• School will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th for the Remembrance Day observance
• New Scholastic Booklets go home this week.  Holiday orders are due by November 17th at the latest.  The delivery will be organized on November 18^th, ensuring all orders are delivered by early December.  Thank you for understanding the importance of real books and ordering through our school.
• Photo links are very large files and cannot be downloaded onto phones.  If you wish to see a moment in the life of your preschooler, use a tablet or computer. Links last only seven days.
• Many little items go missing from the classroom making some materials unuseable.  Please return items you find at home.  We need them back.

It was a wonderfully busy and creative month!

Goodbye October!  Hello November!

September 2025

October 1, 2025

Dear families,

September News.  The monthly newsletter is our way of keeping families informed about what’s happening at school, upcoming dates, and events to note. It’s also a chance for us to explain the what, why (and sometimes how) behind our projects.  If you’ve been with us for years, some of this might sound like a broken record, but every year we welcome new families.  With each newsletter, you’ll receive links to classroom photos. These links only last for seven days, so please be sure to download them in that time frame. You can always enjoy them at a later date.  Be warned … there are a lot of photos.  A lot.  These moments in time give you a glimpse into not only your child’s world, but the broader classroom environment as well.  Every child participates in the same teacher-directed project related to our current theme or continent, but you’ll also see a variety of individual work and exploration.  Maybe your child has mentioned a particular tray or object they enjoy and suddenly, there it is in a photo, and it all becomes clear. We post at least once a month on Instagram.  Please follow us @strathconamontessori.. We’re not concerned with follower counts, but those little hearts do let us know that you’re following your child’s journey alongside us.

The Month of Transitions.  September is a time of transition for everyone.  Children begin a new school year, adults adjust to changing routines, and the world around us shifts from summer into autumn.  New students are busy adapting to a world of newness: new faces, new environments, new materials, and new routines.  It’s a lot to adjust to, so patience and understanding are essential as children find their balance.  The four-year-olds are very social.  They are rediscovering old friendships, making new ones, and finding their rhythm again.  That takes time, too.  A Montessori classroom is child-led.  There is a great deal of freedom, but with rules, which is called freedom within boundaries. Children are free to choose their work from the available materials they’ve received demonstrations on. These choices are age-appropriate and carefully and thoughtfully chosen.  Younger children will be supported and not overwhelmed, while older children remain challenged and engaged.  It’s a delicate balance (a phrase you’ll hear from us often).

Daily routines provide a rhythm with a clear beginning, middle, and end to each class. Children are given time to complete their work or to revisit it another day. This flexibility helps them learn time management and purpose. Transitions are signaled in advance, helping children move smoothly between activities.  Routines are comforting and help children know what to expect and what is expected of them.  Clear, consistent boundaries foster a sense of security and confidence, empowering children to step out of their comfort zones and take developmental risks.  Circle time is an essential part of each day.  It’s a moment for connection and learning.  Teachers introduce stories, songs, classroom materials, and important concepts.  This is also a time for children to share their thoughts, ideas, and personal news, building concepts of group time and communication skills.  September is a month of beginnings, growth, and discovery.

Lessons and demonstrations are given in groups and on an individual basis. The Sound Game works with phonetic sounds and sandpaper letters.  Letters are referred to by their sound, not name.  The letter ‘b’ is ‘buh’.  After a period of time, recognition begins, the sounds are blended, and reading begins.  The names of letters will come later.  We stress the use of lower-case letters only.  When printing and spelling at home, please use lowercase letters for everything except the first letter of your child’s name.  Use of upper-case letters is easier to print but causes confusion and can hinder a child’s reading development. Lower case will help with ability and literacy down the road.  Quality books recognize the use of lower-case letters, with capitals only for names and sentence starts.  Counting and tracing sandpaper numbers is the introduction to math concepts. 

More Practical Life exercises are going onto the shelves each week, and button sewing and stringing glass seed beads are both in full swing. Beading and button sewing attract children to the exercise while honing fine and gross motor skills. These activities are fun, but also promote the capacity to focus, follow through, and finish.  And as attractive as these exercises may be, too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. If you start doing a lot of beading and sewing at home, children will not be interested in doing the work at school.  Part of these exercises is also to learn to socialize with other children in groups as they bead, sew, and work together. A little bit at home is okay.

Montessori activities are designed to strengthen hands, improve dexterity, and prepare children for writing, drawing, puzzles, and other academic tasks.  As children develop these skills, they also gain independence and self-confidence. 

All About Me and Autumn.  We begin each September with two familiar themes that engage and connect us, All About Me and Autumn. These themes help children relate to themselves, their peers, and the natural world around them.  All About Me is explored through stories, discussions, and activities.  We discuss our senses, families, feelings, emotions, respect for friends and respect towards our classroom environment.  Children learn to express themselves, listen to others, and build empathy, laying the foundations for a positive classroom community.  Autumn exploration brings attention to the seasonal changes, leaves, apples, pumpkins, and harvest time.  We look at the changes in nature and what animals and humans do to prepare for winter.  Soon we will be looking at Thanksgiving and its meaning, First Nations and their contributions, and the continent of North America.  We approach these topics in age-appropriate ways.  While our curriculum is thoughtfully pre-planned, we remain open to current events, children’s questions, and spontaneous learning opportunities.  When a child shows curiosity or enters a “sensitive period” for learning, we aim to follow their interests and deepen their understanding.

Scholastic Books.  In case you didn’t know already … We Love Books!  Two weeks ago, the first Scholastic Book flyers went home, and we are so excited to see the response. These little catalogues are a small sample of the vast selection available through Scholastic. A whole world of books is waiting online.  Books can be shipped directly to your home (shipping fees are minimal), or you can choose to have them delivered to the school.  When combined classroom orders reach $40, the shipping is free.  We are very grateful to all the families who place Scholastic orders through our school. Every purchase earns us points that we can use to bring new books into the classroom, which is something our students look forward to.  We were thrilled to see that this September, about half the class placed orders from the first flyer   It’s a clear sign that families are reading together, and that shared reading time makes a big difference in so many ways. Reading supports language development, sparks imagination, and builds lasting memories. Books are more than just reading material; they are experiences.  A tablet may hold a story, but a real book is so much more. You can fall in love with a real book, hold it, take it everywhere with you, and carry that comforting memory through your entire life. There is a joy (and skill) in turning the pages of a favourite story. We can never stress enough how valuable real books are in a child’s development. Thank you for supporting a love of reading both at home and at school.

Cold and flu season.  We introduce the proper way to cough and sneeze, and reinforce these actions daily. Attendance sheets must be maintained daily.  Please phone if your child is going to be away.  If your child is ill, please inform us of their symptoms, so we may monitor the class for the same.  If your child has a high fever or has been in contact with a contagious illness, please notify us immediately.  When in doubt about symptoms of common childhood illnesses, please refer to your ‘Sneezes and Diseases’ e-book that was sent out in a previous email.  The number one health protocol is the ’24 hour symptom-free’ rule.  If your child has not been symptom free for 24 hours, please keep them home and allow them to rest until they are feeling better.  “48 hours is required for more severe symptoms.  These Licensing rules and standards help prevent the spread of illness and disease, for other children as well as the teachers.  An adult-to-child ratio must be maintained.  If there are not enough trained and vetted healthy adults, no one can attend school.  An illness protocol sheet was placed in every home file last month and emailed to every family.  Outdoors is a part of the daily program at the end of every class, which includes all children unless the weather is too harsh.  If a child is not well enough to play outside, they are not well enough to come to school.  Please make appropriate clothing choices to include outdoor activities.  Extra layers of clothing can always be removed.

Please remember to bring back your child’s work folder.  The folder will protect their beautiful work from the Vancouver rains and ensure that every piece gets home dry.

Thank you to Safa and family for the donation of beautiful pieces of canvas.  We are planning an art project for spring 2026.  So exciting!  Thank you to Ozzy, Levi and family for the amazing bread maker and ingredients.  We opened the package and started the process.  We all loved the warm homemade bread for snack time, and it is deeeeelicious!  Already looking to branch out with more recipes.  Yay!

Upcoming dates and closures to note:

• Thanksgiving – Monday, October 13^th
• Diwali will be celebrated on Monday, October 20^th and 21^st
• Halloween will be celebrated on Thursday, October 30^th and Friday, October 31^st
• VSB Kindergarten registration … Saturday, November 1^st
• Remembrance Day – Tuesday, November 11^th
• Student Led Conferences will be held November 10^th to 19^th (sign up sheets with times will go out October 27^th).  More information will be coming out mid-October.

Other important things to note:

• The BC Affordable Child Care Benefit is available to families living in BC, and is different from the Federal Child Care Benefit. The benefit is calculated on a sliding scale according to family income, size of family and needs, and goes directly towards tuition. Please email Mrs. B. if you would like an application form.
• If you have any last minute changes for pick up or drop off, or if your child will be away, please phone the school (do not email).  We check for phone messages throughout the day.
• Please let us know if you have recently changed any personal contact information, or wish to add someone to the authorized pick up list.  If you have a regular pickup change, please email the name and their contact numbers to us, so we may update files

Summer is over and we welcome October.  Autumn brings new beauty and adventures. 

July 2025

August 1, 2025

Dear parents and families,

Welcome to our final newsletter of the school year.  As our school year comes to a close, we reflect on all the adventures, growth, and laughter we’ve shared. Our continent studies wrapped up last month with Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, which led us straight into exploring ocean animals and ocean life.  The children were fascinated by the many curious sea creatures—especially the blobfish (a.k.a. the “ugly fish”)!   We learned how this deep-sea fish adapts to ocean pressure and turns into its famous blob shape when depressurized as it is brought to the ocean’s surface … one of the many marvels of our natural world.

This final month brought its own unique rhythm, shaped by the personalities of this year’s class. Fine motor skills lend a hand to colouring … so much that we ended up creating new pages based on the children’s evolving interests: sharks, sea stars, flowers, strawberries, and ice cream sundaes were a few of the requests. Some friends even made giant world map colouring sheets!  Our final art project of wind chimes was made with driftwood and many, many, used keys. Thank you to everyone who donated keys!  The children looped them onto jute twine and tied them to scrubbed and sterilized driftwood sticks, safe for indoors and ready to jingle in the summer breeze. These are all natural elements of the earth, with a little lesson on recycling and reusing thrown in for good measure.  These little hands can do impressive work.  They turned out beautifully! 

With the arrival of warm weather, we spent as much time outdoors as possible: walks to parks, picnic lunches and snacks, and splashing away at the McLean water park. Those spare clothing changes from last September came in handy, although a few were a little snug.  A very special highlight was our two magical trips to Casa Gelato.  A huge thank you to Tina, Vito, and Raphael from Casa Gelato for making it such a special treat!

Outdoor play included frozen treasures in ice blocks at the water table, floating toys, and even washing our school chairs!  Believe it or not, this is a favourite activity of soapy water, sunshine, and teamwork.  The children also washed their chalk artwork off the outside walls.  Sunshine, water, bubbles, and friends—what’s not to love?  When the clouds rolled in, we shifted to fresh indoor activities. Yoga and dance parties stayed popular right up to the final week, with our favourite dance songs getting lots of play. Sports Day brought races, relays, and balancing games, and our final Circle Times focused on summer safety: looking twice for people, cars, and bikes, even at the park.

A gigantic thank you to Boe, and his parents Doug and Lindsey from DownLow Chicken, for generously catering our final Wednesday lunch. Hands down, the best chicken in Vancouver. Seriously yummy.  Thank you for a delicious and thoughtful send-off!

A special thank you to all of our families for the lovely gifts, cards, and very precious, thoughtful, and heartfelt notes.  We are deeply moved and touched by the kind sentiments in your cards.  We honestly and truly appreciate everything.  Parents are so busy these days, and the fact that you look closely at what we do and extend it into your home is amazing.  Parents teach us a lot … the latest and greatest activities, websites, and toys. Your communication with us is highly valued and a true gift.  Thank you very much Levi, Ayla, Micah and Ozzy for the bread maker and bread-making supplies gift to the school.  There will be some very yummy homemade breads being made next year for snacks. 

The end of the year is always bittersweet. We’ve spent so much time together that your children feel like extended family.  Each child received a parting gift from the teachers, a book and a refillable bubble wand.  We hope their love of stories and books will flow into the summer and beyond.  Returning students will be back the week of September 2nd, and we can’t wait to hear about their summer adventures. For our friends making that leap into kindergarten, we know you are ready for this next step, and we send you off with pride and a few happy tears. We’ll miss you deeply.  You are always welcome to come back and visit.  We reflect often on each child’s journey, from those early, tentative steps to the confident, curious, and caring individuals they’ve become. Thank you for sharing your beautiful, amazing children with us. They may still be small, but as the wise (and very Canadian) Winnie the Pooh once said, “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”  It’s been a wonderful, busy year full of change, stories, and cherished memories. With heartfelt gratitude, we wish all our families a joyful, restful August. It takes a village.  Thank you for being such a wonderful village.

June 2025

July 2, 2025

As June comes to a close and July begins, we’ve been reflecting on what a full month it has been (but aren’t they all?).  Our continent studies wrapped up with Australia—always a favourite!  From the unique platypus to boxing kangaroos and adorable koalas, Australia never fails to capture the children’s imaginations. The frilled lizards were a particular hit, especially the way they puff up to appear bigger when threatened. Exploring the diverse wildlife of the Land Down Under was a fun conclusion to our journey through the Southern Hemisphere.

For Father’s Day, the children created thoughtful “soap-on-a-rope” gifts. They tied slices of loofa sea sponges with rope, and placed them into molds. Then, using essential oils (Deep Blue Sea scent), food coloring, and melted glycerin soap, they stirred and poured their own fragrant creations. The results were beautiful, practical, and made with love. We hope every Dad and Grand had a wonderful Father’s Day!

Our annual Teddy Bear Picnic was a cozy, joy-filled event. The children brought their favorite stuffies for an afternoon of songs, stories, and a parade. We transformed the space with beehive lanterns, gingham tablecloths, and a special bear-themed snack: teddy bear-shaped strawberry jam sandwiches, strawberries, blueberries, heart-shaped watermelon slices, and pink lemonade.  Snack was topped off with popcorn. Each child also had a keepsake portrait taken at the teddy bear photo booth, which was sent home last week. Throughout the week, we crafted teddy bear collages, practiced lacing, and made tiny picnic baskets. The week ended with a sweet treat—chocolate cupcakes, baked and decorated by the children, tucked neatly into their handmade baskets. So adorable!  The Teddy Bear Picnic is always a fun week and a wonderful day for both young and old.

Academically and socially, we continue to be amazed at how much the children are growing. Whether working independently or in small groups, their joy of learning shines through. They’re absorbing new ideas at a remarkable pace, and we’re always introducing new materials to keep things fresh.  Although it is wonderful to see how the older activities continue to be favourites.  Absorbent minds.

All year round we promote recycling, reusing, composting and not wasting, including food. Miss Grace recently led a baking activity where the children grated apples to make apple bread for snack.  It was delicious!   Miss Stacy and Miss Ainsley have been turning leftover fruit and yogurt into homemade popsicles. Yummy, refreshing, and healthy, and all are gobbled up on a hot day.  We had a lot of leftover fruit from the Teddy Bear Picnic (bulk shopping at Costco), so strawberries and blueberry smoothies will be on the menu in July, along with banana bread (we have a lot of frozen bananas).  July will be a busy food and baking month. Fortunately, we have many little hands who love to help and have big appetites.  Many hands make light work!

With the warmer weather, we spend more time outdoors, and make more excursions to the local parks and playgrounds, and have stepping stones and other activities in our own playground that focus on motor skills.  On these beautiful days, we have all of our meals al fresco.  A mirror is set up on the outdoor table for the children to apply sunscreen.  Very independent.  The children’s second batch of butterflies recently emerged and were released into the wild—a magical moment, made even more special by the warm sunshine.

Welcome to a joyful July!