We are so excited that Halloween celebration is just around the corner! This special day will offer opportunities for fun and exciting activities where you will see the colors orange and black, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, and scarecrows. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, ghost tours, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o-lanterns, pulling pranks on people, reading scary stories, and watching scary movies.
Halloween is also a time to exercise extreme caution because it can often be scary and unsafe for children. If you are planning to go trick-or-treating with your child this year, please keep a few safety rules in mind: know the route you are planning on taking, carry a flashlight, visit homes that are well lit, and always be cautious of animals and others. Please make sure to check all the treats your child receives before consumption.
Halloween is also an exciting celebration at school! On Tuesday, October 31st, we will have a special Fall Festival and TRUNK-a-TREAT event from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. We invite all our families to join us for this wonderful event where the children can wear their favorite costume and trick-or-treat here at the school. Children who are not scheduled to attend on Tuesday are welcome to come to the event. We will follow up sending a flyer that provides more details of the event as well as posting a sign-up sheet for volunteers to provide their “trunk “for the treat distribution.
We invite both students and parent to dress up and wear their special costumes. While picking out costumes, please remember to keep comfort and safety in mind. For example, swords, guns, open-toed shoes etc. are not allowed. Children are required to be accompanied by an authorized adult in order to participate.
This month, we are participating on Read for the Record, which is the world’s largest shared reading experience. It celebrates early language and social-emotional development and builds an intergenerational community through reading while raising awareness about the importance of early literacy. Participation in Read for the Record provides access to inclusive literature that fosters belonging and connection through a child’s own experiences and the experiences of others. The week of October 23, 2023, we are joining the thousands of schools, libraries, organizations, and communities celebrating early literacy by reading the story, With Lots of Love. It is a beautiful story about family, finding ways to stay connected, and sharing love across distances.
Warm regards,
Yvonne Valenzuela – Principal
Important Dates to remember for the 23-24 School Year
Event’s Days:
October 23-27 – Read for the Record shared reading experience
November 2 -10 – Scholastic Book Fair
November 9 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
May 24 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
June 20 – Last Day of 23-24 school year –
Family Gathering Days:|
Oct 31st – Trunk or Treat –
November 17th TBD – Gratitude Event
Dec 8th 9:00 am – Ugly Sweater Breakfast
Jan 26th 3pm – Hot Cocoa, Warm Hugs
Feb 16th 3pm – Merryhill Friendship Snack-nic
March 29th 3pm – Spring Egg Hunt
April 22nd 3pm – Earth Day— Bug release
May 10th at 3pm – Mommy’s Muffins Snack-nic
***Snack-nic = not a full picnic but fancier than a regular snack…it’s a SNACK-NIC!
***These family events are “outside snack time” for the parents to come, spend time with the children, and get to know one another.
Closure days:
November 9 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
November 10 – School closed in honor of Veteran’s Day
November 23/24 – School close for Thanksgiving
December 22/25 -School closed for Christmas
December 29 – School closes at 12:00 pm
2024
January 1 – School closed for New Years Day
January 15 – School closed in honor of Martin Luther King Day
February 19 – School closed in honor of President’s Day
March 8 – School closed for Staff Professional Development
May 24 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
May 27 – School Closed for Memorial Day
June 19 – School closed in honor of Juneteenth celebration
June 21 – School closed for teacher-in-service-day
News From our Education Department
Have you heard the phrase ‘classroom centers,’ but have no idea what that refers to or how it helps your child’s development? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’re diving headfirst into all things centers with our Director of Educational Services, Erin Pastushok. With nearly three decades of[.....]
Read More »
Keep in mind…. *
Home-Based Symptom Screening:
All children MUST be pre-screened at home for cold symptoms prior to attending school.
Extra Clothing Reminder
If you’ve not already done so, please send in an extra set of weather appropriate clothes for your child. Extra clothing must be brought to school in a ziplock bag. No loose items can be stored in your child’s cubby.
Links 2 Home
If you’re not currently receiving photos and daily reports for your child, you can easily change this by downloading the Links 2 Home app on your phone. Just type ‘Links 2 Home’ in the search bar for the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. After downloading, you can register with the same email address that you used to enroll your child in our school.
Online Parent Communication
In addition to our newsletter, the ‘For Parents’ section of our website also includes links to our menu, monthly calendar and school year calendar. We update these items frequently to ensure you’re always informed. Though we send information through Links 2 Home, our calendar can be printed or even downloaded directly to your device. Our menu and school year calendar can be printed or saved for easy reference as well.
Updating your Information in Alma
Do you have a different email address or phone number? Need to add or remove an emergency contact? You can do this at any time in Alma. If you need help logging in or accessing the system please let us know.
Ancillary Classes at Merryhill Karitsa!
Amazing Athletes class, Soccer Shots, Hip Hop dance class, and Music Matt music class are in full swing now here at Karitsa! Information regarding the sign up for these classes is available at the front desk.
A few friendly reminders …….
Illness Policy Reminder:
Our parents are vital partners in helping us to maintain a safe and healthy environment for the students in our school. The most important thing you can do to assist us in creating a healthy environment is to keep your child home if they are ill. This reduces the spread of illness and allows your child to fully recuperate. Children may not attend school until they have been symptom free for 72 hours if they display any of the following:
Please refer to our Merryhill Family Hanbood for details about our Illness and Medication Policy
Parking Lot Safety
Because the safety of our children is of paramount concern to us, we require all parents to adhere to the following rules of the road while on campus:
- There is a 5 miles per hour speed limit at all times while on school property.
- Park in designated parking spaces only.
- While on school grounds, pedestrians always have the right of way.
- Vehicle ignitions MUST be turned off, and the keys removed, while parked on school grounds.
- Children may NOT be left unattended in a vehicle at any time or for any reason.
- Do not to leave any valuables in your car when entering our building or any other location.
Tuition Policy Reminder:
Tuition is due no later than Friday prior to the week of attendance. Tuition is considered delinquent at 12:00 PM on Monday. A $25 late fee charge will be assessed at that time and should be included in your payment. Tuition is continuous throughout the year. There are no deductions in tuition for absences, illness, or the holidays that are observed throughout the year. Each child is entitled to one week of vacation credit for each school year after attending school for six months. Requests for vacation credit must be presented in writing to the office at least two weeks in advance.
- A charge of $1 per minute will be assessed for children picked-up after 12:00 PM for half-day students, and 6:00 PM for full-day students.
- Sign up for our Automatic Payment Program and avoid late fee charges via your parent portal, ALMA! You can also use this portal to submit payments via credit card.
- We encourage you all parents to sign into your parent portal, ALMA, to view your account, print statements, make payments, and update contact information. ALMA is an online platform that can be reached from this website from the “For Parents” tab. Please see an administrative staff member if you need help setting up your account or a password reset.
Additional Reminders:
- Please make sure that your child has a crib-sized fitted sheet to cover his/her mat, a blanket, and at least two spare set of clothing in his/her cubby. On Fridays, you must take blankets and sheets home to be laundered and return them on Mondays. Please check your child’s cubby everyday for soiled clothing or other items that may need to be taken home. Please also make sure all items are clearly marked with your child’s name (clothing, sheets, blankets, sweaters and jackets, towels and bathing suits, etc.).
- We ask that your child wear appropriate shoes to School in order to protect them for potential injuries. Flip Flops are not permitted at school.
- Merryhill School is a NUT FREE environment, we ask that you not bring any food items into the school that contain nut products.
Love Our School? Review Us!
In today’s connected world, many families turn to online reviews to learn more about the reputation of schools. Just a reminder that you can find our school on Facebook, Google, Yelp and other online directories. We’d love more families like yours, so please consider spreading the word about our school!
October 2023 Newsletter
We are so excited that Halloween celebration is just around the corner! This special day will offer opportunities for fun and exciting activities where you will see the colors orange and black, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, and scarecrows. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, ghost tours, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o-lanterns, pulling pranks on people, reading scary stories, and watching scary movies.
Halloween is also a time to exercise extreme caution because it can often be scary and unsafe for children. If you are planning to go trick-or-treating with your child this year, please keep a few safety rules in mind: know the route you are planning on taking, carry a flashlight, visit homes that are well lit, and always be cautious of animals and others. Please make sure to check all the treats your child receives before consumption.
Halloween is also an exciting celebration at school! On Tuesday, October 31st, we will have a special Fall Festival and TRUNK-a-TREAT event from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. We invite all our families to join us for this wonderful event where the children can wear their favorite costume and trick-or-treat here at the school. Children who are not scheduled to attend on Tuesday are welcome to come to the event. We will follow up sending a flyer that provides more details of the event as well as posting a sign-up sheet for volunteers to provide their “trunk “for the treat distribution.
We invite both students and parent to dress up and wear their special costumes. While picking out costumes, please remember to keep comfort and safety in mind. For example, swords, guns, open-toed shoes etc. are not allowed. Children are required to be accompanied by an authorized adult in order to participate.
This month, we are participating on Read for the Record, which is the world’s largest shared reading experience. It celebrates early language and social-emotional development and builds an intergenerational community through reading while raising awareness about the importance of early literacy. Participation in Read for the Record provides access to inclusive literature that fosters belonging and connection through a child’s own experiences and the experiences of others. The week of October 23, 2023, we are joining the thousands of schools, libraries, organizations, and communities celebrating early literacy by reading the story, With Lots of Love. It is a beautiful story about family, finding ways to stay connected, and sharing love across distances.
Warm regards,
Yvonne Valenzuela – Principal
Important Dates to remember for the 23-24 School Year
Event’s Days:
October 23-27 – Read for the Record shared reading experience
November 2 -10 – Scholastic Book Fair
November 9 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
May 24 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
June 20 – Last Day of 23-24 school year –
Family Gathering Days:|
Oct 31st – Trunk or Treat –
November 17th TBD – Gratitude Event
Dec 8th 9:00 am – Ugly Sweater Breakfast
Jan 26th 3pm – Hot Cocoa, Warm Hugs
Feb 16th 3pm – Merryhill Friendship Snack-nic
March 29th 3pm – Spring Egg Hunt
April 22nd 3pm – Earth Day— Bug release
May 10th at 3pm – Mommy’s Muffins Snack-nic
***Snack-nic = not a full picnic but fancier than a regular snack…it’s a SNACK-NIC!
***These family events are “outside snack time” for the parents to come, spend time with the children, and get to know one another.
Closure days:
November 9 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
November 10 – School closed in honor of Veteran’s Day
November 23/24 – School close for Thanksgiving
December 22/25 -School closed for Christmas
December 29 – School closes at 12:00 pm
2024
January 1 – School closed for New Years Day
January 15 – School closed in honor of Martin Luther King Day
February 19 – School closed in honor of President’s Day
March 8 – School closed for Staff Professional Development
May 24 – School closed for student attendance – open for parent conferences
May 27 – School Closed for Memorial Day
June 19 – School closed in honor of Juneteenth celebration
June 21 – School closed for teacher-in-service-day
News From our Education Department
Exploring Centers: What They Are and Why Your Child Will Love Them
Read More »
Keep in mind…. *
Home-Based Symptom Screening:
All children MUST be pre-screened at home for cold symptoms prior to attending school.
Extra Clothing Reminder
If you’ve not already done so, please send in an extra set of weather appropriate clothes for your child. Extra clothing must be brought to school in a ziplock bag. No loose items can be stored in your child’s cubby.
Links 2 Home
If you’re not currently receiving photos and daily reports for your child, you can easily change this by downloading the Links 2 Home app on your phone. Just type ‘Links 2 Home’ in the search bar for the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. After downloading, you can register with the same email address that you used to enroll your child in our school.
Online Parent Communication
In addition to our newsletter, the ‘For Parents’ section of our website also includes links to our menu, monthly calendar and school year calendar. We update these items frequently to ensure you’re always informed. Though we send information through Links 2 Home, our calendar can be printed or even downloaded directly to your device. Our menu and school year calendar can be printed or saved for easy reference as well.
Updating your Information in Alma
Do you have a different email address or phone number? Need to add or remove an emergency contact? You can do this at any time in Alma. If you need help logging in or accessing the system please let us know.
Ancillary Classes at Merryhill Karitsa!
Amazing Athletes class, Soccer Shots, Hip Hop dance class, and Music Matt music class are in full swing now here at Karitsa! Information regarding the sign up for these classes is available at the front desk.
A few friendly reminders …….
Illness Policy Reminder:
Our parents are vital partners in helping us to maintain a safe and healthy environment for the students in our school. The most important thing you can do to assist us in creating a healthy environment is to keep your child home if they are ill. This reduces the spread of illness and allows your child to fully recuperate. Children may not attend school until they have been symptom free for 72 hours if they display any of the following:
Please refer to our Merryhill Family Hanbood for details about our Illness and Medication Policy
Parking Lot Safety
Because the safety of our children is of paramount concern to us, we require all parents to adhere to the following rules of the road while on campus:
Tuition Policy Reminder:
Tuition is due no later than Friday prior to the week of attendance. Tuition is considered delinquent at 12:00 PM on Monday. A $25 late fee charge will be assessed at that time and should be included in your payment. Tuition is continuous throughout the year. There are no deductions in tuition for absences, illness, or the holidays that are observed throughout the year. Each child is entitled to one week of vacation credit for each school year after attending school for six months. Requests for vacation credit must be presented in writing to the office at least two weeks in advance.
Additional Reminders:
Love Our School? Review Us!
In today’s connected world, many families turn to online reviews to learn more about the reputation of schools. Just a reminder that you can find our school on Facebook, Google, Yelp and other online directories. We’d love more families like yours, so please consider spreading the word about our school!