december 2025
It is hard to imagine but another year is coming to an end at Montessori. This has been a great year of growth for the school, and we thank you for your continued support in our program.
Twinkle Christmas Light Tours
Each family will receive confirmation of date and seats this week. Please be advised that the bus will pick everyone up (and drop off) at the River Valley Community Church on Queen Street. They have graciously allowed us to use their parking lot for safety and convenience. The bus tour runs from 5-6pm and 6-7:00pm, please be ready to board the bus a few minutes prior to your departure so we can run on time. If you must cancel for any reason, please let Mrs. Weimer know ASAP.
This is our 12th year doing a Christmas community project!
We are working with the Ronald McDonald House to provide snack items for children and families who are staying at RMH while a child is in the Medicine Hat Hospital. We will collect items until Dec.12th, with delivery planned on Dec. 15th.
They are looking for granola bars, applesauce pouches, fruit cups, pudding cups, fruit snacks, bear paws, individual packages of goldfish, trail mix, or other non-perishable snacks to be added to their pantry for these families.
Another option is a small ($5-$10) donation and we will purchase items to donate. We appreciate your help with RMH pantry project.
Christmas Closure/ New Year’s Opening
December 23rd- Open Regular Hours
December 24th-January 4th-Closed
January 5th-Open Regular Hours
Elementary schools will dismiss for Christmas break on December 19th , please let us know if your child will be absent those days. This makes it easy to keep track of everyone.
Hope this helps with your planning for the month of December.
Care Seat Safety
It has been brought to our attention that some children are not being properly buckled into car seats when they arrive or leave the school. This is a VERY serious problem. On more than one occasion we have seen vehicles run through the stop sign on Yuill Street. Your child would be seriously injured if they are not buckled into a car seat in the backseat.
In Alberta, the law requires all occupants travelling in a motor vehicle use a seat belt or child safety seat that is properly worn and adjusted.
Children who weigh 18kg (40lbs) or less must be in a properly installed child restraint.
It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure passengers under the age of 16 are properly secured with a child’s safety seat or seat belt.
There are police fines for not having your child in a proper car seat.
We care a great deal about the safety of your children!
School Items
White bags/Hooks-Only keep 1 set of shoes and hat/mitts in them. Some bags are overflowing!! Extra clothes can be stored in the bathroom bins.
Bathroom Bags-We will need everyone to have extra winter clothing because if it is wet or slushy the children will need dry clothing when we get back…especially socks!!
We have started a bin at the front entrance for lost and found. If you are looking for something that has been misplaced, feel free to take a peek and see if anything belongs to your family.
Kickboxing will continue into December if it does not get too cold to walk over to the gym. Be sure your child has appropriate outside attire on Thursdays so they can walk to the gym. We leave the school at 9:00am to be at the gym for 9:15am. If you want your child to participate, they need to be at the school prior to leaving. We are staffed accordingly to the number of children leaving the school. If additional children join along the way, we may be out of licensing ratio.
Music is Monday morning at 9:00-9:30 for the children under 4 and 9:30-10:00 for the older children. We have been combining the groups because many of the children have been coming in later and it turns into a huge group for Mr. Trent. Please come be at school by 9am on Mondays for music.
When entering or exiting the gate please ensure that it is latched correctly, especially on windy days. Also, do not let your children swing on it, it will warp and not be able to close correctly. It is there for the safety of your children.
With winter and snowy days ahead, we are asking that toddler parents wait at the front door at drop off and pick-up. This will minimize the amount of snow that gets tracked to through the school. One of the staff will be happy to assist in taking your children to the back. If you need to speak to one of the toddler girls, we will have them come to you. We are also encouraging siblings to stay out of the toddler room during pick-up and drop-off. They have their own things to collect and get ready and being in the toddler room is a distraction to the other children.
Once the snow comes to stay, please be mindful parking for drop-off and pick-up. We can not block the alley way or the driveways around the school.
Please bring a sweater or hoodie for your child to keep at school-at times during the day the school can get chilly, and it is too bulky to wear a coat in class and try to do lessons.
The staff have planned many fun activities for the month, please consult the calendar sent home to see them all.
E-transfers are due on the 1st, unless otherwise arranged. Please make sure you send them on time. Currently there is no plan on fees changing for January, February or March. The government fiscal year ends on March 31st, so any changes would come into effect for April 2026. i will keep you upto date as information becomes available. Alberta did not sign up for the extended program, so it is a wait and see situation for April.
Make sure your child comes to school with appropriate attire to go outside. If in doubt, bring everything including snow pants for them, that way we have everything if the weather is favorable. In the event we are going out and feel your child is not appropriately dressed we will decide for them to stay back. We do not want to take them out and end up chilled or wet and getting sick.
We are trying to keep everyone healthy over the winter months. Please call the school or text Mrs. Weimer if your child is going to be absent due to illness or any other reason. We will be calling you if your child becomes ill through the day, has an excessive cough that prevents them from participating in daily activities, develops a fever or has a thick green nose.
We have found that teaching your child to cough into their elbow is helpful. We do realize that many children develop dry coughs this time of year; however, they still need to be guarded and not cough on either their peers or their lessons.
Any children who are unable to maintain their coughs/runny noses will be sent home because, they are sneezing into the lessons as well as over their peers, their food, and it is unhealthy. The reasoning for the sneezing may be allergies or illness; however, we will err on the side of caution and have your child and sibling leave the program until they are feeling better and can participate in daily activities.
We are unable to administer any antibiotics to children. If they need a dose at lunchtime, you are welcome to come and administer it to them.
Please be sure to review the 48-hour illness policy in the Parent Handbook. This has proved very beneficial to children recovering and everyone staying healthy.
Montessori Staff
Owner- Mrs. Cook
Kindergarten- Mrs. Weimer
Toddler- Miss Danika, Miss Zilkie
Preschool- Miss Cook, Miss Droeske, Miss Maddy, Miss McLeod, Mrs. Muryn, Mrs. Onheliger,
On behalf on Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Weimer and all the staff we wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season. We look forward to 2026 being filled with the smiles, laughter, and learning.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!