A Message From Our Principal
Dearest Families,
Priority registration has ended, but that does not mean you have lost the opportunity to continue past June! Thank you again for loving our school and wanting to come back year after year! And most of all, thank you again for trusting us to take excellent care of your child and allowing us to build that strong foundation they need for their future education!
In our most recent parent survey 96% of you said you would recommend our school to others. Thank you for trusting us and loving our school! We have had all of the current families re-register for the new school year except for just a few. Please remember that even though you are currently attending Merryhill school, you still need to re-register for June 2015 to save a seat for your child.
If there is something that you would like to see improve, my door is always open for suggestions! I will try my best to make that happen.
For those children who are graduating to Kindergarten in the new school year, visit the Elementary front office for information on how to reserve your spot for the new school year! This Friday, February 27th is the last day to save $90.00 on your registration fee for Kindergarten. As of March 2nd the registration fee goes up to $450.00. Right now it is $360.00! You want to contact them. The Elementary Principal’s name is Karen Cooper and her contact number is 408-254-1280 and email is karen.cooper@nlcinc.com.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns my door is always open. We are here to help you and “our” children in any way we can. Everyone at Merryhill is special and important to us. Let us continue to make this a great school year!
Heather Bilbro/Palmer
Preschool Principal
heather.bilbro@nlcinc.com
408-254-1280
“All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds we sow today.”
Calendar of Events:
- Mar. 2nd- School Closed: Teacher’s In-Service Day
- Mar. 3rd- Dr. Seuss Birthday, A special visitor will come and read to the children!
- Mar. 9th- This week we will have our Scholastic Book Fair!
- Mar. 17th- St. Patrick’s Day Pot Luck at 3:30 pm
- Mar. 18th- 20th Lifetouch Pictures taken
- Mar. 21st- Open House 10 am – 1 pm **Tell a friend and if they register you will receive one free week of tuition!**
- April 3rd- Easter Egg Hunt at 3:30 pm
- April 13th – April 17th is week of the Young Child (We will have special events happening everyday this week) More info to come at a later date!
- April 22nd- Earth Day Celebration at 3:30 (We will release our butterflies and lady bugs back to nature!
- Join us for our next Open House! March 21st from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Extra Curricular Activities:
- Tuff Tumblers Class – Held on Fridays
- MiniSoccer – Held on Tuesdays
- Music Class coming soon!! More information will be announced soon!
Merryhill San Jose is proud to offer Challenger Sports NEW MiniKickers Program in association with the Challenger Soccer Academy.
MiniKickers is a new and exciting program that teaches basic soccer skills while developing strength, balance, coordination, listening skills and team work for children aged 2-5. Our professional, licensed British coaches will ensure your child has a positive soccer experience.
The MiniKickers curriculum has been devised by soccer experts, child development professionals and experienced coaches. Classes are weekly
45 minute sessions for period of 8 weeks
Check the school website for sign up link, or visit www.challengersports.com then select ‘Find a Program’, select ‘MiniKicers’ & enter zip code to sign up
If you have any questions, please contact
Tom Shutt
916-262-7542 / tshutt@challengersports.com
Reminders
Parent Referral Program: If there’s one thing parents love to do, it’s talk about their children’s successes. When friends ask you about your child’s experiences at Merryhill School, what type of success stories do you share? Do you mention the personal and educational discoveries your child is making thanks to our advanced curriculum? Do you talk about the new levels of self and social confidence your child has gained thanks to our encouraging atmosphere?
*For every new child you refer who enrolls at our school for three months, you’ll receive one FREE week of tuition for your child*.
It’s our way of saying thanks for doing what comes naturally – singing the praises of your child and sharing your experiences with the Merryhill School difference!!
Participate in our Automatic Payment Program
Tired of having to remember weekly tuition payments? Save time and avoid late fees with this program. Contact your school principal for more information on how to join.
From the Education Department
Developing Confident Future Readers
March is National Reading Month, so it is a great time to reinforce how important it is to expose children to books from an early age. We engage all of our students in language and literacy activities every day throughout the school year.
Research has shown that reading aloud to children has a profound influence on their speech development and listening skills. Reading allows children to experience the wondrous world depicted in books, and thrive on the interaction with adults.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in our classrooms to get children excited about reading, as well as recommended books to read with your child at home.
INFANTS – Linking sensory and reading experiences
In the classroom: We introduce language and literacy beginning with our infants, by consistently speaking, reading and singing to them. Teachers choose interactive books with bright colors, different textures and pop-up designs to help stimulate infants’ growing sensory awareness.
Books to read at home: Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt, Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Matthew Van Fleet and Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont
TODDLERS – Rhyme and repetition
In the classroom: Toddlers enjoy hearing the same books read over and over again, because they are able join in as the stories become more familiar. Teachers read books with rhyme and repetition, such as Goodnight Moon, and vary their voice each time they tell the story. The change in tone gives children a chance to hear different sounds, and encourages them to practice making the sounds themselves.
Books to read at home: All Fall Down by Helen Oxenbury, Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox and Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
BEGINNERS – Engaging the imagination
In the classroom: Around age two, children begin to develop a love for the world of imagination. It’s important to engage children’s imaginations and encourage them to participate in shared reading experiences. A picture walk motivates children to rely on pictorial clues to decipher the story’s plot and make predictions. Before reading the story, the teacher and student flip through the book, and the child is encouraged to make predictions about the characters and plot. The teacher then reads the book aloud with the student. When finished, the child is asked to relate his predictions to the actual outcome of the story. For example, “Now that you know what happened, why was the elephant wearing a tutu?” or “What would you have done if you were the elephant?”
Books to read at home: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, Corduroy by Don Freeman or Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
INTERMEDIATES – Exploring the wider world
In the classroom: As our Intermediates are introduced to the Citizens of the World component of our curriculum, they read about different places, cultures and traditions in books. Books help children understand and enjoy learning about the diversity of human experience. During circle time for example, we may read a story about children living in another country, in a different type of house and wearing different types of clothes. Afterward, the teacher connects the story back to what the children know by asking, “What does your house look like?” and “Who lives in your house with you?”
Books to read at home: Abuela by Arthur Dorros, So Much by Trish Cooke and On Mother’s Lap by Ann Scott
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 – Nonfiction Adventures
In the classroom: Children are naturally fascinated by the lives of real people and the world around them. Our teachers cultivate this fascination by exposing students to nonfiction books. For example, the class may read both a fiction and nonfiction book about animals. Afterward, they are encouraged to compare and contrast the two books and discuss what was accurate in the fiction book.
Books to read at home: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (fiction) and Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies (non-fiction)
By experiencing a literacy-rich environment, both at school and at home, we instill a love of reading and provide the foundation for our students to become successful, confident readers in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education
March News
A Message From Our Principal
Dearest Families,
Priority registration has ended, but that does not mean you have lost the opportunity to continue past June! Thank you again for loving our school and wanting to come back year after year! And most of all, thank you again for trusting us to take excellent care of your child and allowing us to build that strong foundation they need for their future education!
In our most recent parent survey 96% of you said you would recommend our school to others. Thank you for trusting us and loving our school! We have had all of the current families re-register for the new school year except for just a few. Please remember that even though you are currently attending Merryhill school, you still need to re-register for June 2015 to save a seat for your child.
If there is something that you would like to see improve, my door is always open for suggestions! I will try my best to make that happen.
For those children who are graduating to Kindergarten in the new school year, visit the Elementary front office for information on how to reserve your spot for the new school year! This Friday, February 27th is the last day to save $90.00 on your registration fee for Kindergarten. As of March 2nd the registration fee goes up to $450.00. Right now it is $360.00! You want to contact them. The Elementary Principal’s name is Karen Cooper and her contact number is 408-254-1280 and email is karen.cooper@nlcinc.com.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns my door is always open. We are here to help you and “our” children in any way we can. Everyone at Merryhill is special and important to us. Let us continue to make this a great school year!
Heather Bilbro/Palmer
Preschool Principal
heather.bilbro@nlcinc.com
408-254-1280
“All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds we sow today.”
Calendar of Events:
Extra Curricular Activities:
Merryhill San Jose is proud to offer Challenger Sports NEW MiniKickers Program in association with the Challenger Soccer Academy.
MiniKickers is a new and exciting program that teaches basic soccer skills while developing strength, balance, coordination, listening skills and team work for children aged 2-5. Our professional, licensed British coaches will ensure your child has a positive soccer experience.
The MiniKickers curriculum has been devised by soccer experts, child development professionals and experienced coaches. Classes are weekly
45 minute sessions for period of 8 weeks
Check the school website for sign up link, or visit www.challengersports.com then select ‘Find a Program’, select ‘MiniKicers’ & enter zip code to sign up
If you have any questions, please contact
Tom Shutt
916-262-7542 / tshutt@challengersports.com
Reminders
Parent Referral Program: If there’s one thing parents love to do, it’s talk about their children’s successes. When friends ask you about your child’s experiences at Merryhill School, what type of success stories do you share? Do you mention the personal and educational discoveries your child is making thanks to our advanced curriculum? Do you talk about the new levels of self and social confidence your child has gained thanks to our encouraging atmosphere?
*For every new child you refer who enrolls at our school for three months, you’ll receive one FREE week of tuition for your child*.
It’s our way of saying thanks for doing what comes naturally – singing the praises of your child and sharing your experiences with the Merryhill School difference!!
Participate in our Automatic Payment Program
Tired of having to remember weekly tuition payments? Save time and avoid late fees with this program. Contact your school principal for more information on how to join.
From the Education Department
Developing Confident Future Readers
Research has shown that reading aloud to children has a profound influence on their speech development and listening skills. Reading allows children to experience the wondrous world depicted in books, and thrive on the interaction with adults.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in our classrooms to get children excited about reading, as well as recommended books to read with your child at home.
INFANTS – Linking sensory and reading experiences
In the classroom: We introduce language and literacy beginning with our infants, by consistently speaking, reading and singing to them. Teachers choose interactive books with bright colors, different textures and pop-up designs to help stimulate infants’ growing sensory awareness.
Books to read at home: Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt, Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Matthew Van Fleet and Baby Danced the Polka by Karen Beaumont
TODDLERS – Rhyme and repetition
In the classroom: Toddlers enjoy hearing the same books read over and over again, because they are able join in as the stories become more familiar. Teachers read books with rhyme and repetition, such as Goodnight Moon, and vary their voice each time they tell the story. The change in tone gives children a chance to hear different sounds, and encourages them to practice making the sounds themselves.
Books to read at home: All Fall Down by Helen Oxenbury, Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox and Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
BEGINNERS – Engaging the imagination
In the classroom: Around age two, children begin to develop a love for the world of imagination. It’s important to engage children’s imaginations and encourage them to participate in shared reading experiences. A picture walk motivates children to rely on pictorial clues to decipher the story’s plot and make predictions. Before reading the story, the teacher and student flip through the book, and the child is encouraged to make predictions about the characters and plot. The teacher then reads the book aloud with the student. When finished, the child is asked to relate his predictions to the actual outcome of the story. For example, “Now that you know what happened, why was the elephant wearing a tutu?” or “What would you have done if you were the elephant?”
Books to read at home: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, Corduroy by Don Freeman or Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
INTERMEDIATES – Exploring the wider world
In the classroom: As our Intermediates are introduced to the Citizens of the World component of our curriculum, they read about different places, cultures and traditions in books. Books help children understand and enjoy learning about the diversity of human experience. During circle time for example, we may read a story about children living in another country, in a different type of house and wearing different types of clothes. Afterward, the teacher connects the story back to what the children know by asking, “What does your house look like?” and “Who lives in your house with you?”
Books to read at home: Abuela by Arthur Dorros, So Much by Trish Cooke and On Mother’s Lap by Ann Scott
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 – Nonfiction Adventures
In the classroom: Children are naturally fascinated by the lives of real people and the world around them. Our teachers cultivate this fascination by exposing students to nonfiction books. For example, the class may read both a fiction and nonfiction book about animals. Afterward, they are encouraged to compare and contrast the two books and discuss what was accurate in the fiction book.
Books to read at home: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (fiction) and Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies (non-fiction)
By experiencing a literacy-rich environment, both at school and at home, we instill a love of reading and provide the foundation for our students to become successful, confident readers in elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD- Director of Early Childhood Education