News

2015/11/20 by Natalie

RMS hopes to see you at the Santa Claus Parade!

Only one more sleep until the Brampton Santa Claus parade tomorrow (Saturday November 21st 5:00pm)!

Everyone is excited and looking forward to a beautiful and memorable parade day. Below are images of our parade floats in the past two years.

Hopefully you are planning on coming to the parade which starts at 5pm sharp to see Santa and cheer on our students, staff, and parents as we participate for the 11th consecutive year in the Brampton Board of Trade Santa Claus parade which is the largest night time parade in Canada. Our float is early in the parade so don’t be late if you want to see us.

The Brampton Board of Trade is once again looking for this year’s Fan favourite entry! To let them know yours, just log onto the Brampton Board Of Trade Santa Claus Parade’s social sites @BramptonSanta ‏to vote for your favourite band and float on Sunday before 4pm! We are sure working hard on our entry and hope to be your favourite!!

So make sure to join us for what is always a fun and exciting event at this time of the year. For more details about the parade route, go to http://www.bramptonsantaclausparade.com/route/default.html

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud.

To learn more about RMS, visit our website or please drop by any of our campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/18 by Natalie

A “Growth Mindset” – Nurturing Resiliency in Today’s Young People

Resiliency is a combination of skills and positive attributes that we gain from life experiences and relationships. Resiliency allows us to constructively cope with and recover from negative or stressful experiences, setbacks, challenges and adversities.

At present, we live in a technologically interconnected world of increasing dynamism, making it of even greater importance that young people develop the skills and attributes to “bounce back” and persevere when things become complex and challenging.

As educators, we understand the necessity to cultivate resiliency within each of our students, and we rigorously explore relevant teaching and learning experiences which serve to facilitate this.

One recent and invigorating idea for supporting students’ resiliency in terms of academic success and achievement comes from Professor Carol Dweck’s theory, the “Growth Mindset”.

We invite you to take a few minutes to listen to Dweck’s talk on the “Growth Mindset” by visiting, http://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en and then testing your mindset at http://mindsetonline.com

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/17 by Natalie

Santa invites RMS students to be his elves for the Parade

It isn’t common knowledge, that for a number of years, RMS students have had the privilege of being invited by Santa and the Brampton Board of Trade (BBOT) Santa Claus Parade Committee to be the elves on Santa’s float. Seeing that Santa’s float is the highlight of the Santa Claus Parade, kids are always thrilled about such an experience.

RMS Students on Santa's float — RMS students as elves on Santa’s float

The fortunate students are selected amongst students who have previously been voted “Student of the Month” during the previous year. The students’ names are put into a hat and 4 are picked. Those students are very excited and honoured to have been chosen. It is truly a lifetime memory to spend the day with Santa Claus and be his helpers in bringing cheer to the parade spectators.

Be sure to wave to the elves as Santa will be asking them which nice young boy or girl they saw at the Parade!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/11 by Natalie

Lest We Forget

“Lest We Forget” is a common saying heard throughout the month of November in Canada. But do you really understand what it means? The phrase comes from Rudyard Kipling’s 1897 poem Recessional; it cautions against forgetting the people who have died in war, and the reasons they were fighting in the first place. Along with the poppy, this slogan is a symbol of Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day is not a regular holiday; it is not a day off school full of family fun. Remembrance Day is an important day of the year where we pay tribute to the courageous men and women who have served, and continue to serve, our country during times of both war and peace. Remembrance Day is observed by many countries worldwide; the first Remembrance Day was in 1919 to remember fallen service members of the First World War.

Why do we remember today? Despite the comfortable lives we live here in Canada, the world has not always been such a peaceful place—and there are still many areas of the world today that are at war. We often take for granted our Canadian values and institutions: our right to education and freedom of cultural, religious, and political affiliation. People all over the world are still fighting for these same rights and freedoms that are enjoyed by Canadians

At RMS, staff and students hold an assembly every November 11. There are skits that recreate life during wartime, songs of peace, and a Laying of the Wreaths ceremony. We take a moment of silence at 11 a.m.—the time that the fighting of the First World War officially ended—to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers and their hard work to achieve peace. In class, even our youngest students learn about the significance of the poppy and Remembrance Day.

2015 is a very significant year for remembrance ceremonies. It marks 65^th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the 101^st anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. It also commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the writing of the iconic poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian John McCrae.

Last year, a Bill was put forward in the House of Commons by NDP MP Dan Harris to declare Remembrance Day a national statutory holiday, giving it the same status as Canada Day. Currently, Remembrance Day is a statutory provincial holiday in all but Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories. As of November 5, 2014, the Bill has passed the First Reading and will now be passed on to a Second Reading and a Standing Committee for further debate.

Will making November 11 a public holiday diminish the importance of this day of remembrance? Currently, schools and workplaces across the country hold ceremonies and continue to teach the importance of remembrance, whether or not it is a day off. Should this Bill be passed, veterans and service members will continue to be honoured each and every November at RMS.

For more information and resources on Remembrance Day, please visit Veterans’ Affairs Canada.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/10 by Natalie

We Remember

On Tuesday, November 3^rd, we had an amazing experience to remember, to learn, and to teach our students about the meaning of Remembrance Day and why November 11 is so important to all Canadians.

The students at each of the RMS Preparatory Campuses had the unique opportunity to meet a great Canadian author, Lindsay Mattick. Lindsay Mattick is the great-granddaughter of Captain Harry Colebourn, the World War I soldier who found and trained the bear known as Winnie.

Rowntree Students with the author of “Finding Winnie”, Lindsay Mattick

Lindsay wrote “Finding Winnie,” a children’s storybook about Captain Harry Colebourn’s bear, and how he would become the world’s most famous bear, Winnie-the-Pooh. Her storybook is full of beautiful and accurate portrayals of Canadian life and culture during the Great War (1914-1918). Lindsay encouraged the students to be courageous and to explore their own family history. The children remained engaged and respectful throughout the reading, and they were curious to learn more about the soldier and his bear.

Lindsay Mattick,, author of “Finding Winnie”, reading to our students

This experience has given the students a more in-depth, yet age-appropriate, understanding of November 11 and its importance. Lindsay’s story was relatable to the children on many levels: each child was able to bond with either the child or the bear, or make connections with their own family history. After Lindsay’s visit, the students continued to have many questions. With Remembrance Day fast approaching, it was the perfect opportunity to introduce the topic and engage the children in further learning.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/09 by Natalie

Will You Fill My Bucket?

Did you know that everyone has an imaginary bucket?

Grade 2A has been learning all about Bucket Filling and what it means to fill, or dip into, someone’s bucket. The purpose of this activity is to promote harmony and kindness not only within the classroom, but in the students’ everyday lives outside of school as they begin to emulate these behaviours.

So what does it mean to fill someone’s bucket? The Grade 2’s read a story called “How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids” by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer. The story explains how everyone has an imaginary bucket above their heads that, when full, helps them feel a sense of happiness and care for themselves and for others. When someone’s bucket is being dipped into, they feel sad. The story sends a great message to ensure that children understand what it means to fill someone’s bucket, and how, in turn, their bucket gets filled in the process!

Students immersed in reading about the concept of “Fill my bucket”

After the story was read, the Grade 2’s discussed ways that they can fill someone’s bucket. Some examples of bucket filling were: invite someone to play with them if they don’t have anyone to play with; be kind and respectful towards others; make someone feel better when they are sad; help to clean up a mess even if the mess was not yours; and say nice things to one another. All of the ideas were thought of by the students themselves, and since the exercise, the students have been much more aware of what they say and how they treat their friends. This story is definitely a great tool for creating a warm, caring environment within the classroom. It also helps bring to light positive ways to deal with social issues before they possibly become bullying situations.

Bucket Fillers 101 is a website with many great resources that can be used to reinforce the Bucket Filling philosophy both in the classroom and at home. There are many publications and versions of the “How Full is Your Bucket?” story that are suitable for many ages and grades, because you are never too young or old to fill someone’s bucket!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/05 by Natalie

“Say NO to Bullying – Dis NON à l’Intimidation”

Everything started with a French group assignment. The students were assigned a task to write a short story in French about a new boy who, at first, was not included in a game with the other children of the class. After the new boy shared his feelings about being excluded, the boys invited him to join them and they were all happy, playing basketball together. All students explained very clearly in their books that exclusion hurts. In addition, they illustrated their books with pictures explaining the content. Also, they made a poster saying: “Say NO to Bullying” – “Dis NON à l’Intimidation.”

After they completed their assignments, the grade 5 students read and explained their ideas to the Grade 1 classes during reading buddies. This was an excellent opportunity for the senior students to explain what bullying meant to them, and that no one should be left out of any game. Everybody plays together without excluding anyone because it hurts people’s feelings. And, of course, all of this was done in French, which gave our students ample practice with French reading and pronunciation!

In short, while the students from Grade 1 learned new French words and loved spending time with reading buddies, the Grade 5’s were happy assisting the little ones and explaining what bullying means. They took initiative and leadership roles, and enjoyed teaching the younger ones about the value of friendship through their French activity. Well done Grade 5’s! Your French assignments were awesome! Vous avez fait un très bon travail!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/11/02 by Natalie

Our Chicks Have Arrived!

A very exciting event has happened at Rowntree this month. After anxiously awaiting their arrival, we are pleased to welcome our baby chicks! This is our second year housing these sweet little creatures, and our students, staff, and parents were very excited to see them hatch. Last year we were fortunate enough to have three little chicks hatch at RMS named Pokey, Shelby and Pebbles; this year we were greeted by twenty new chicks between the Academy, Downtown, and Central Park campuses!

A company called Creature Quest supplied us with the eggs. Creature Quest is a proud Institutional Member of Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums. The eggs stay inside an incubator for 22 days until they start to hatch. They are then moved to a brooder, where they stay for approximately two weeks. Webcams were set up to document any action that occurred, and could be watched via an internal website so no one at school would miss out on the birth of our little ones.

The eggs cracking — The eggs are beginning to crack

Chicks hatching — The chicks are starting to hatch

Bringing the chicks into the school is such a wonderful experience for our students because it is not only exciting to anticipate their arrival, but the students are able to see first-hand how the life cycles work; this incorporates a biological, educational aspect to this momentous event. The students participate in discussions about the chicks and participate in fun activities to learn more about how the chicks develop and are born. This is yet another way that RMS is dedicated to providing an array of educational and hands-on experiences for our students.

Click on the picture below or here to see a short video of our little guys having fun in the brooder!

The chicks are all warm and cozy in the brooder

We can’t wait to see our little ones grow!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/10/30 by Natalie

Happy Halloween!

Scary Spiderman and a Scary Pirate — Kindergarten Montessori students in their Halloween costumes

Walking through the portals of Rowntree Montessori School was similar to the experience of entering a stage theatre. The halls were buzzing with excitement of both staff and students adorned in a variety of fascinating costumes. The costumes ranged from animals to celebrities and super heroes, not to forget super women and fashion icons! The weeks leading up to Halloween were thrilling moments of planning for one of the most exciting days in our school calendar. The Halloween decorations of spooky figures, strung all around the school added to the excitement. Spontaneous smiles and questioning eyes on our students’ faces when they could barely recognize their teachers, was indeed the most thrilling parts of our celebration! The staff had surely scored an A+ for creativity!

Of course, Halloween would be incomplete without a pumpkin carving contest. Huge decorated pumpkins stood soaring in all classes as students and staff went full-on to show off their creative skills. Numerous activities were planned around the school for all grades to enjoy.

As the day rolled along, students eagerly awaited the time to share cookies and treats with their class mates. And last but certainly not least, was the ever popular fashion show which has become an increasingly stellar performance as students flaunt their sense of fashion. It is interesting to observe the effort that students and parents put in to designing their costumes and stepping it up each year in an effort to win the coveted titles of “The Most Creative Halloween Costume” and the “Scariest Halloween Costume.”

Events such as these are perfect opportunities to gather together, the great Rowntree family. Taking a break from our high academic performance each day, and truly enjoying the fanfare of Halloween is something that we cherish and continue to take great pride and pleasure in!

In one breath, it is a special day, a special moment that we all look forward to in the month of October and perhaps the last holiday before we hit the cold months of Canadian winter.

Rowntree Montessori Schools wish you a Spooktacular Halloween!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2015/10/30 by Natalie

Bullying Prevention Awareness

As we approach the month of November, we again turn our attention more directly toward the prevention of bullying in schools. Bullying awareness initiatives have become increasingly important in our schools and communities. At Rowntree Montessori Schools, our anti-bullying initiatives have been very well received, and we continue to be mindful of them every day.

In the first week of November, during our annual bullying prevention week, several activities will be aimed at increasing awareness of bullying in all its contexts. This includes challenges faced when encountering bullying, both in person and online, as well as reinforcing the identification and prevention steps to which we are all committed. Assemblies, classroom assignments, and presentations by our RMAAC (Rowntree Montessori Athletic and Academic Council) student leaders will be scheduled so that every student and staff member in the school has a chance to stay up to date with current initiatives, and address any concerns or questions they may have. Additionally, we are also happy to welcome our designated Peel Police Constable from the Youth Education Bureau to take part in presenting workshops for all students, ranging in topics from “Everyday Hero” through “Kind is Cool” and “Cyber Citizenship”.

At RMS, we strive to create a respectful learning environment where students are taught the benefits of kindness, consideration, and inclusiveness. These are school-wide beliefs, and we enforce these behaviours all year long. Bullying prevention week allows us the opportunity to work with our staff and students, as well as parents and the community, to consider new strategies for the prevention of bullying.

A wealth of information on our policy and its implementation can be found in our “Parent/Student Handbook”, but we would also recommend having a look at a couple of great, recently published articles; one from the Ontario College of Teachers “Professionally Speaking”, and the other from “Edutopia”.

http://oct-oeeo.uberflip.com/i/461668-ps-march-2015

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/cultivate-a-bully-free-community-megan-mccarter

We encourage all and particularly parents to consistently build your child’s confidence at home through positive energy and feedback, and encourage open conversation on the topic of bullying prevention everywhere!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

News

Only one more sleep until the Brampton Santa Claus parade tomorrow (Saturday November 21st 5:00pm)!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud.

To learn more about RMS, visit our website or please drop by any of our campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

Please kindly SHARE this post with others if you found it informative and helpful by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

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