Welcome, Summer!
We are so excited to officially welcome in the hottest season of the year with lots of fun activities. The families that have been with us for several years know that we usually celebrate the heat with weekly water play days. Because of the drought this year, however, we will be substituting these with other ways to enjoy the sunshine. We are looking forward to Bubble Play Day, Box Car Races, and our first ever Color Run.
By this month, we hope that our students are enjoying their new classrooms, teachers, and friends. It could be intimidating and possibly even a little scary when faced with the idea of so many new things. As a staff we have been so impressed with how well everyone has adjusted. When trying to get used to so much new, we try to encourage families to make things seem old by keeping them consistent and routine. Kids thrive when they can predict each day. If possible, try to keep consistent with the same drop off time and drop off style. Allowing for some familiarity with pick up time is also often encouraged. Kids will naturally develop an understanding of what to expect each day if each day is routine.
This school year has allowed us to welcome home our students that have re-enrolled and also embrace new friends! For those that are new to our Merryhill family, we would like to encourage you to communicate any questions, concerns, or comments to administration and your child’s teachers. We are huge advocates for teacher/parent communication and we are here to serve as a network to support your children! Our doors are always open.
Thank you for joining us for our 2015/2016 School Year,
Merryhill Staff
Save The Dates:
July 2 All School Soda Fireworks
July 3 School Closed for Independence Day
July 6-10 Down and Dirty Science Week
July 10 All Classroom Project Science Fair 11:00am
July 13-17 Art Studio Class all week
July 15 All School Bubble Play Day
July 17 Library Visit 9:00am
July 20-24 Mini Kickers Soccer class all week
July 24 Picnic and Box Car Races 11:00, bring a sack
July 27-31 Top Chef cooking class all week
July 30 All School Color Run Obstacle Course
Fun Ways to Keep Your Child
Engaged in Learning this Summer
Summer offers unique opportunities for children to learn through fun, multi-sensory experiences. Our teachers continue to use our Links to Learning curriculum to help children develop new skills throughout the summer.
Here are some examples of types of activities we will be doing this summer, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS
In the classroom: Our teachers provide numerous opportunities for multi-sensory exploration. Infants spend tummy time in the grass, splash their hands at the water table and feel and taste summer fruits.
At home: Fill a small bowl with water and place it in front of your child. Allow him to splash his hands in the water. Practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill development by adding toys and encouraging your child to retrieve them.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: In the toddler years, children begin to play together with their peers. They practice sharing toys and cooperating in learning centers. Research shows that by nurturing connections with others, toddlers learn how to form friendships, communicate their emotions and deal with challenges.
At home: Encourage sharing skills by taking turns blowing bubbles with your child, doing the Hokey Pokey, or drawing pictures using sidewalk chalk.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginner students use math and science while participating in fun outdoor activities. For instance, they predict and test the buoyancy of toys at the water table, and count how many will float and how many will sink.
At home: During bath time or in a baby pool, continue the exploration of what sinks and what floats. Bring a small assortment of toys and ask your child to guess which items will sink or float.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Intermediates take advantage of the warm summer weather by strengthening their gross motor skills. They practice pedaling on a tricycle, throwing and catching balls, playing hopscotch and walking on balance boards.
At home: Play follow the leader around your neighborhood or at a nearby park. Have your child try skipping, galloping, hopping, marching and jogging.
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers make reading and writing more engaging and fun by moving learning outdoors. For example, our older preschoolers go on a nature walk, write about their experience in their journals, and share their journal entries with the class.
At home: Increase your child’s interest in writing by bringing various writing materials outside, such as crayons and paper or colored sidewalk chalk. Ask your child to draw and label what he sees.
During the summer months, we provide many opportunities for students to explore their interests, learn to their full potential, and express themselves creatively. These hands-on experiences lead to growth in all areas of development as children transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
July News
Welcome, Summer!
We are so excited to officially welcome in the hottest season of the year with lots of fun activities. The families that have been with us for several years know that we usually celebrate the heat with weekly water play days. Because of the drought this year, however, we will be substituting these with other ways to enjoy the sunshine. We are looking forward to Bubble Play Day, Box Car Races, and our first ever Color Run.
By this month, we hope that our students are enjoying their new classrooms, teachers, and friends. It could be intimidating and possibly even a little scary when faced with the idea of so many new things. As a staff we have been so impressed with how well everyone has adjusted. When trying to get used to so much new, we try to encourage families to make things seem old by keeping them consistent and routine. Kids thrive when they can predict each day. If possible, try to keep consistent with the same drop off time and drop off style. Allowing for some familiarity with pick up time is also often encouraged. Kids will naturally develop an understanding of what to expect each day if each day is routine.
This school year has allowed us to welcome home our students that have re-enrolled and also embrace new friends! For those that are new to our Merryhill family, we would like to encourage you to communicate any questions, concerns, or comments to administration and your child’s teachers. We are huge advocates for teacher/parent communication and we are here to serve as a network to support your children! Our doors are always open.
Thank you for joining us for our 2015/2016 School Year,
Merryhill Staff
Save The Dates:
July 2 All School Soda Fireworks
July 3 School Closed for Independence Day
July 6-10 Down and Dirty Science Week
July 10 All Classroom Project Science Fair 11:00am
July 13-17 Art Studio Class all week
July 15 All School Bubble Play Day
July 17 Library Visit 9:00am
July 20-24 Mini Kickers Soccer class all week
July 24 Picnic and Box Car Races 11:00, bring a sack
July 27-31 Top Chef cooking class all week
July 30 All School Color Run Obstacle Course
Fun Ways to Keep Your Child
Engaged in Learning this Summer
Here are some examples of types of activities we will be doing this summer, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS
In the classroom: Our teachers provide numerous opportunities for multi-sensory exploration. Infants spend tummy time in the grass, splash their hands at the water table and feel and taste summer fruits.
At home: Fill a small bowl with water and place it in front of your child. Allow him to splash his hands in the water. Practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill development by adding toys and encouraging your child to retrieve them.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: In the toddler years, children begin to play together with their peers. They practice sharing toys and cooperating in learning centers. Research shows that by nurturing connections with others, toddlers learn how to form friendships, communicate their emotions and deal with challenges.
At home: Encourage sharing skills by taking turns blowing bubbles with your child, doing the Hokey Pokey, or drawing pictures using sidewalk chalk.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginner students use math and science while participating in fun outdoor activities. For instance, they predict and test the buoyancy of toys at the water table, and count how many will float and how many will sink.
At home: During bath time or in a baby pool, continue the exploration of what sinks and what floats. Bring a small assortment of toys and ask your child to guess which items will sink or float.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Intermediates take advantage of the warm summer weather by strengthening their gross motor skills. They practice pedaling on a tricycle, throwing and catching balls, playing hopscotch and walking on balance boards.
At home: Play follow the leader around your neighborhood or at a nearby park. Have your child try skipping, galloping, hopping, marching and jogging.
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers make reading and writing more engaging and fun by moving learning outdoors. For example, our older preschoolers go on a nature walk, write about their experience in their journals, and share their journal entries with the class.
At home: Increase your child’s interest in writing by bringing various writing materials outside, such as crayons and paper or colored sidewalk chalk. Ask your child to draw and label what he sees.
During the summer months, we provide many opportunities for students to explore their interests, learn to their full potential, and express themselves creatively. These hands-on experiences lead to growth in all areas of development as children transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education