Dear Parents,
What a wonderful time of year. It is a great time to celebrate family and different traditions. The children are busy learning about friendship, giving and doing for others. Happy Holidays to all of our families, we hope it is filled with joy, family and friends.
Don’t forget to sign up for our annual Breakfast with Santa event on Wednesday, December 9th. Everyone is welcome to join us for a wonderful pancake breakfast and to visit with Santa himself. The cost is $5.00 per person and goes directly towards our annual staff holiday party – to recognize our wonderful staff here at the Park City Merryhill School.
Merryhill will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24th and Friday, Dec. 25th this year so that our staff can spend the holiday with their families. Please note we will also close early on Thursday, Dec. 31st – at 1:00pm – we will serve lunch this day. We will be closed on Friday, Jan 1st to celebrate New Years.
Please welcome three new staff members to our team this month: Ms. Linda – in our Beginner B classroom, Ms. Khou – in our Infant classroom and Ms. Lisa – our new floater / Sub. WELCOME to our team!
We are looking forward to a very wonderful Holiday Season. Please do not hesitate to call, email or visit us anytime in the front office.
Sincerely,
Ms. Susan – Principal
Monthly Events / Reminders
Friday, Dec. 4th: Zumba Kidz Club – participation in the Clarksburg Parade
Wednesday, Dec. 9th: Breakfast with Santa
Thursday, Dec. 17th: Zumba Demo / Family Potluck
Tuesday, Dec. 22nd: All School Dance Party – Pajama Jam
Wednesday, Dec. 23rd: Super Hero Day
Thursday, Dec. 24th: Christmas Eve – School Closed
Friday, Dec. 25th: Christmas – School Closed
Thursday, Dec. 31st: 1/2 Day – School Closes at 1:00 pm
Friday, Jan. 1st: New Year’s Day – School Closed
Monday, Jan. 18th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Closed
News from the Education Department
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others.
Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
December News
Dear Parents,
What a wonderful time of year. It is a great time to celebrate family and different traditions. The children are busy learning about friendship, giving and doing for others. Happy Holidays to all of our families, we hope it is filled with joy, family and friends.
Don’t forget to sign up for our annual Breakfast with Santa event on Wednesday, December 9th. Everyone is welcome to join us for a wonderful pancake breakfast and to visit with Santa himself. The cost is $5.00 per person and goes directly towards our annual staff holiday party – to recognize our wonderful staff here at the Park City Merryhill School.
Merryhill will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24th and Friday, Dec. 25th this year so that our staff can spend the holiday with their families. Please note we will also close early on Thursday, Dec. 31st – at 1:00pm – we will serve lunch this day. We will be closed on Friday, Jan 1st to celebrate New Years.
Please welcome three new staff members to our team this month: Ms. Linda – in our Beginner B classroom, Ms. Khou – in our Infant classroom and Ms. Lisa – our new floater / Sub. WELCOME to our team!
We are looking forward to a very wonderful Holiday Season. Please do not hesitate to call, email or visit us anytime in the front office.
Sincerely,
Ms. Susan – Principal
Monthly Events / Reminders
Friday, Dec. 4th: Zumba Kidz Club – participation in the Clarksburg Parade
Wednesday, Dec. 9th: Breakfast with Santa
Thursday, Dec. 17th: Zumba Demo / Family Potluck
Tuesday, Dec. 22nd: All School Dance Party – Pajama Jam
Wednesday, Dec. 23rd: Super Hero Day
Thursday, Dec. 24th: Christmas Eve – School Closed
Friday, Dec. 25th: Christmas – School Closed
Thursday, Dec. 31st: 1/2 Day – School Closes at 1:00 pm
Friday, Jan. 1st: New Year’s Day – School Closed
Monday, Jan. 18th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Closed
News from the Education Department
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others.
Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education