THE PRIORY POST ~ Friday, December 22, 2023 | |
The Priory’s mission is to nurture each child’s inherent curiosity, develop an enthusiasm for learning and encourage intellectual and creative initiative, preparing the child to be a responsible, tolerant and self-confident global citizen. | |
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Dear Priory Families,
I was overjoyed to see everyone on Wednesday and to welcome your extended families. Our Paré-Howlett Hall was overflowing with energy and excitement, and I could feel my heart swell with pride and joy. A heartfelt thank you to our talented children, our passionate music teacher, Ms. Campbell, and all the Priory elves who worked behind the scenes to make our annual Christmas Concert a heartwarming and festive feast of Christmas cheer!
May the beautiful melodies of this day continue to echo in our hearts and homes throughout this Holiday season, and may you enjoy these festive moments with your loved ones.
On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I wish to thank all of you. Your presence and precious partnership enrich our lives in countless ways and play a crucial role in our commitment to excellence in early childhood education.
Best wishes for a joyful New Year!
Christian St-Pierre
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Stay tuned for more photos, videos, and highlights from the concert in our next newsletter. | |
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE PRIORY | |
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Congratulations, Mme Mossalim!
Please join us in congratulating Mme Jihane Mossalim on the publication of her article in the Canadian Art Teacher Journal. In her article, Mme Mossalim shares her innovative artistic process, detailing the methods she uses to create engaging portraits. She skillfully blends traditional art-making tools with emerging technologies like AI and AR. Her approach goes beyond mere technical skill; it involves a deep understanding of how digital tools can push the boundaries of traditional art forms, offering new ways for students to express themselves and engage with the world around them. We are incredibly proud of Mme Mossalim's accomplishments and are excited to see the continuing influence and inspiration her innovative techniques bring to our Priory students.
Please enjoy reading the article located on page 42: Canadian Art Teacher | Enseigner les arts au Canada | Vol. 19 | No. 2 | 2023 – CSEA (csea-scea.ca)
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A Festive Challenge
This past week, our students enjoyed a variety of festive projects. Among these, a standout activity in Ms. MacKinnon's fourth-grade class was a STEM challenge that involved constructing gingerbread-style houses. The task required students to create a structure with four exterior walls, a roof, windows, and at least one door, all within a $1000 budget for building materials. Embracing this challenge, our young aspiring architects crafted creative houses adorned with glitter, gift boxes, ornaments, and pompoms, carefully managing their resources. This math-focused activity integrated concepts such as fractions, arrays, polygons, and precise measurements, making learning math engaging and fun!
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Reader's Theatre Performance
In recent weeks, our second graders have been preparing for their Reader's Theatre performance. Their efforts have been centred around three key components: reading fluency, accuracy, and expressive skills. Under the guidance of their passionate teacher, Ms. Victoria Goodhand, and our outstanding Learning Specialist, Ms. Karine Eley, our second graders have been honing their abilities, both as readers and performers! Following rehearsals within their respective groups, the children performed two enchanting fairy tales for their classmates, who thoroughly enjoyed the presentations! Congratulations to our talented performers, and special thanks go to Ms. Victoria and Ms. Eley for fostering reading fluency in such an engaging and entertaining way! Our second graders enjoyed the experience tremendously and are already eagerly looking forward to exploring and taking on new plays in the coming year!
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Quebec Traditional Dancing Workshop
This morning, our school transformed into a lively cultural celebration as students from Kindergarten to Grade 6, along with our faculty, donned their colourful plaid shirts and laced up their dancing shoes for a special workshop led by the Mutins de Longueuil Dancing School. Our students were introduced to a variety of traditional Quebecois dances, making it a sight to behold. The joy and excitement on their faces as they twirled and stepped into the rhythms of Quebec's traditional music made it a truly memorable day for everyone involved. A big thank you to Mme Yasmine Mesri for organizing these sessions and highlighting the richness of Quebec's culture.
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Art Gallery Walk
After studying trees and learning about their importance to nature and ourselves, the Grade 1 classes organized an informative art gallery walk for the entire school community and parents. Showcasing their creative artwork, our first graders guided visitors through the gallery, sharing their knowledge about trees' role, their habitat for countless animals, and their contribution to our environment. Their enthusiasm was a heartwarming experience for everyone involved. Thank you, Grade 1!
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Holiday Food Drive
The Student Council would like to express appreciation for the holiday food drive donations. Thanks to our Priory Community, we have collected a significant amount of nonperishable food and basic necessities, which will be donated to Joan's Pantry Food Bank. Many families around the Montreal area will appreciate your generosity this holiday season!
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Our Annual Holiday Sing-Along
During our last day of school before the holidays, a beloved tradition dating back to time immemorial, Priory students, staff, and families sang their favourite holiday songs during the annual Holiday Sing-Along assembly, with a piano tinkling away in the background. Thank you for joining us as we closed out the week together on a high note!
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Our Imagination Centre
Step into our vibrant Kindergarten classroom, and you’ll find yourself transported into a world where imagination takes centre stage. At the heart of it all lies the Imagination Centre, a recent transformation that has turned what was once a veterinary pet clinic into Santa's Workshop. Yet, this Imagination Centre is more than just a physical space; it’s a step into a world of endless possibilities. Here, creativity knows no limits, and our youngest learners are encouraged to use their imagination to create, build, solve problems, and learn to work collaboratively. As they enter this world, they discover the magic of a North Pole bakery, where sugary treats come to life, a dedicated mail centre for heartfelt letters to Santa, and an inviting toy-making station where dreams take shape. Most of all, what truly makes this experience unforgettable is the joy of pretending and making up stories with their friends.
Mentoring this engaging learning experience are our two passionate Kindergarten teachers, Ms. Anna and Mme Jennifer. With hearts full of enthusiasm, they inspire a love for learning by creating a strong sense of belonging where children feel empowered to express themselves, take risks, and let their imaginations soar. With a dedication to each child's educational journey, Ms. Anna and Mme Jennifer ensure that every day is an opportunity for imagination to flourish, friendships to bloom, and the magic of childhood to be celebrated.
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Thank you, Priory Parents and PPA
Our hearts are filled with gratitude and appreciation for all the thoughtful gifts, homemade treats, and warm wishes from our Priory Families. We are deeply grateful for your kindness, love and support! Thank you!
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A Sweet Tradition - Thank You PPA!
The sounds and scents of Christmas certainly filled the air in the Kindergarten class as moms, dads, teachers, and students all combined their creative talents to craft festive gingerbread houses. Candy canes, gummy candies, peppermints, and snow-coloured icing were all gingerly combined to produce an amazing array of distinct houses that even Hansel and Gretel would have been proud to enter! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the PPA, as well as our lovely moms and dads, for making this sweet tradition possible!
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PPA Bake Sale
The Christmas Concert Bake Sale was a huge success! Thank you so much to all of our bakers who donated their family's favourite baked goods, and to all the buyers and volunteer moms and dads who made this possible. The proceeds from the bake sale will go towards enhancing our students' school experiences. Thank you!
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PED DAY Daycare Services
Monday, January 8, 2023, is a Ped Day. On this day, there is no school for students. Laurus Lifestyles will be hosting a safe and fun-filled day at The Priory School from 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on our January 9 Ped Day. Please use the link below if you would like to register for the upcoming Ped Day daycare services on January 9, 2023.
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Our After School Program
Join our After-School Program for specialized activities and exciting weekly themes, all thanks to our enthusiastic team of Laurus animators!
Please contact our After School Program Coordinator, Yasmeen Salehnia, for more information, by phone: 514-600-0504 Ext 1016 or email: afterschool@priory.qc.ca
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Priory students sported their best festive holiday pyjamas and sweaters to celebrate our final day before the holidays! Thank you for painting our school red and green! HO HO HO! | |
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Important Upcoming Dates
December 25 - January 5
- Winter Holiday Break - Happy Holiday!
- School is closed
Monday, January 8
- Pedagogical Day - No School for Students
- Laurus PED DAY Daycare is available
Tuesday, January 9
- Welcome Back! School Re-Opens at 8:15 a.m.
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Our Values
Caring | Community | Curiosity | Creativity | Respect
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At The Priory, we believe that children should be allowed to be children: to play, sing, perform, discover, and explore their world in a caring and nurturing environment.
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The Priory School inc. ~ École Priory inc.
3120 The Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H3Y 1R9
www.priory.qc.ca Tel.: 514-935-5966
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