In This Issue:
- How to Have a Great Montessori-Style Winter Break
- Martial Arts Showcase
- Cooking for Hanukkah
- Eva’s Place
- Community News
- MJDS Important Dates
|
|
How to Have a Great Montessori-Style Winter Break
|
|
Kids love routine … that means that when the routine is off, the kids are off. Here are some helpful hints to help you have a peaceful and enjoyable Winter Break.
- Don’t let TV and screens take over! Your children are used to a full 8-hour day screen free at school. Protect them … even when it’s hard!
- Prepare the Environment ... and then try to allow for a calm uninterrupted activity period. Concentration ebbs and flows during this time, so try your best to not interrupt when your child is concentrating on something, and then suggest a new activity for them to start when you see they have finished.
- Have some activities available that you know your child loves. Not too many, but definitely some options. Start with 3 and see how that goes.
- Have them enjoy one activity at a time, and it must be cleaned up before starting another. Your kids do this at school, they can do it at home.
- Some ideas: Colouring tools (paper, pencils, crayons, markers, etc), Puzzles, Playdoh, Cars and Trains, Lego, Board Games, Books
- Make morning snack and sit down to enjoy it together!
- Plan to keep outings/special activities to once a day. Over scheduling young children who are already off their routine with too much excitement in one day can throw them off for days!
- Get outside! Ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, or even just going for a walk are great for the whole family.
- Most of all, enjoy this time together. Have long conversations over lunch, or as you all bake cookies, or make dinner. Read books out loud, put on a play, sing songs, and bring out the kid inside of you.
Here are some great websites with lots of Toronto based activities for kids, Toronto4Kids, and ChildsLife.
Calendars are often busy during the break. This may include events, outings, shopping centres and get togethers. This is a good time to prepare yourself so everyone can have a good time in unfamiliar settings. Here is a wonderful Blog post with very helpful ideas.
|
|
Thank you, first and foremost, to all the absolutely amazing karateka (students) who participated in MJDS’ first ever Martial Arts Showcase. They all did such an incredible job demonstrating all the skills they’ve learned and developed over this first term; blocks, punches, kicks, break falls, kata, martial arts-based games, fun active warm-ups and a board-breaking demonstration were all part of the show.
Parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and friends all came out to enjoy the Showcase. Thank you to all of you for supporting your children and this brand new program at MJDS. This program was a huge success and will now continue moving forward in future terms, beginning again in January.
If there is an interest to join this program for the first time, new students are welcome and encouraged. A registration notice was emailed out this past Friday.
Thank you to the entire MJDS community for your continued support and enthusiasm in all physical education endeavours, martial arts included.
Jason Rybak (aka Sensei)
Athletics Director & Advisor
|
|
Last week the hallways at MJDS were smelling amazing while students were cooking (and eating) for Hanukkah.
Lower Elementary students planned and executed different types of levivot as a class. They researched recipes and decided to try three flavours: Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, and Zucchini (Click on the names to get the recipe). Then the children divided up the ingredients and everyone contributed to this delicious holiday lesson. The children prepared everything by grating, cutting, measuring, and mixing and then when everything was ready the teachers set to frying!
Even the youngest students love to help out in the kitchen. Instead of making levivot, the children in the Toddler class were introduced to the mashed-potatoes activity and enjoyed the delicious potatoes together during snack time. This activity allows toddlers to extend their vocabulary, learn how to clean the potatoes, practice their fine motor skills and so much more. But above all, they really love the “yummy” potatoes.
The simple ingredients include:
- 3 Potatoes
- a sprig of scallion (only the green part)
- 3 to 5 tbsp of sour cream
- a pinch of salt
So spend some time in the kitchen with your child over winter break and make something traditional or something brand new. Enjoy the process and the results!
|
|
It was wonderful to see everyone at the Annual MJDS Hanukkah party. It is a gift to come together as a community in celebration and a blessing to be able to share our gifts with the extended community.
As we do after every event, MJDS shared the delicious party food with Eva’s Place, a shelter whose mission is to help homeless youth get the skills and support they need for a better future. Some of the young people come to the door to receive the food - their smiles show both their gratitude and their joy.
|
|
Thank you to our latest EchoAge supporter Samuel S. Happy Birthday!
|
|
Dec 25 – Jan 5 – School Closed – Winter Break
Jan 8 – School Closed – PD Day Camp Available Pottery with Shayne
As always, if you have any questions, comments or simply would like to chat, please contact Regina (regina@mjds.ca), Sarit (sarit@mjds.ca), Lisa (AdminMJDS@mjds.ca ) and all MJDS faculty through the class e-mail.
See our school calendar here. |
|
|
|
|
|
