From the Principal’s Office
Dearest Families,
The flowers are blooming, the days are growing longer, and the birds are singing. Yes, spring is in the air! And with the warmer weather comes more moments for learning! More outdoor time will create more opportunities for gross motor skill practice and environmental learning. In the outdoor environments we will add to our Merryhill Preschool Garden! The weather is perfect now and it seems as though we have more water to help our garden grow this year! We have already prepared the garden in each back yard and will be buying plants soon! The children will be helping take care of the garden. We can’t wait to get started!!
Last month we celebrated the love of reading with our “Scholastic Book Fair”. We did a fantastic job selling books! We sold a total of 243 books which earned each classroom tons of free books for the students to enjoy. Thank you for your support! Our goal was to reach 200 books and our school would participate in “The Cloud of Chaos”. I will be running through the “Cloud of Chaos” as the children and teachers throw the colored powder at me as I run by them! Come prepared on tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30th at 4:30 with your cameras to watch the fun!
We have several exciting events going on this month that will help to incorporate outdoor learning. One is our annual Trike-a-Thon on April 15th. This event helps raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Plus, the children get to race around the track in the back yard with their friends. Great gross motor exercise, for a great cause! More details to come.
We will also celebrate the children in our lives with “The Week of the Young Child” April 11 – 15. We have a fun itinerary set, so make sure to check out the dates and detailed info below in the “Calendar of Events”. This is a very special week of fun events and activities every day! We will have live performances, a petting zoo and much more!
For our graduating Pre-K students, do you know where you are going to send your child for the summer? Merryhill Elementary and Middle School has a great summer camp program for you!
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! Contact the Elementary Principal for more details. Her name is Karen Cooper and her contact number is 408-254-1282, and her 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
*March 30th- The Principal runs through the “Cloud of Chaos” while the children throw colored powder at her! This was the reward for reaching our Scholastic Book Fair goal.
*April 8th- Final day to turn in Savory Sweets Fundraiser
*April 11th – 15th- Week of the Young Child (We will have special events happening every day this week) More info to come at a later date!
*April 15th- Trike-a-Thon 9:30 am – 11:30 am
*April 22nd- Earth Day Celebration at 3:30 (We will release our butterflies back to nature!
*May 2nd – 6th Teacher Appreciation Week! During this week we will celebrate our teachers! Every day we will do something special for them to show them how much we appreciate all their hard work and dedication throughout the year. More info will come…
*May 6th – Mother’s Day Pot-Luck party at 3:30 pm
*May 9th – Spring Show at 3:30 pm (You must come and watch as your children perform on stage while singing and dancing!) We will set up our stage in the back parking lot, behind the school. See you all there!
*May 10th – 27th – Parent Teacher Conferences (schedule for sign-up dates will be in the classrooms by April 25th)
*May 30th – School Closed for Memorial Day!
*June 2nd – Pre-K Graduation at 3:30 pm in the back parking lot behind the school
*June 3rd – School Closed for Teacher’s In-service Day
*June 6th – First Day of the new school year! Welcome new and old families to your new classrooms!
Join us for our next Open House!
Beginning of August, 2016 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (exact date will be announced soon) **Tell a friend and if they register you will receive one free week of tuition!**
________________________________________
Extra-Curricular Activities here at school!!!
Piano Class by My First MusIQ program – Held on Wednesdays For more information go online and check them out, please go to www.recplusregistration.org
Tuff Tumblers Class – Held on Fridays For more information go to http://tufftumblers.com or call 925-551-8900
MiniSoccer – Held on Tuesdays For more information go to this: thutt@challengersports.com 916-262-7542 minikickersoccer.com
Merryhill San Jose is proud to offer Challenger Sports MiniKickers Program in association with the Challenger Soccer Academy.
________________________________________
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!!
________________________________________
Linking Learning with Nature
Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Now is a great time for children to explore these environmental changes happening in the world around them.
Not only are children curious about nature, but research shows that it has a profound influence on their problem solving skills, creativity, imagination and cognitive ability. Because of this, our teachers incorporate nature in all aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum.
Below are ways we connect learning with nature, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: After reading a book about springtime, teachers bring children outdoors to explore and investigate objects in nature. The children have fun crumbling leaves, smelling flowers and looking at clouds.
At home: Take tummy time outdoors and allow your infant to explore different sights, sounds and textures. Encourage him to move and grab things by placing objects just beyond his reach. For toddlers, ask questions like, “Who made that chirping sound” or “Can you point to the flowers?”
Recommended reading: Wake Up! Wake Up! A Springtime Lift-the-Flap Book by Kathryn Davis, Welcome Spring by Little Scholastic
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginners read books about seasonal changes, then bring the story to life by going outdoors to find real-world examples.
At home: Help make your child aware of the seasonal changes going on around him. Talk a walk with him and ask questions such as “Why do we see flowers growing now?” or “What do flowers need in order to grow?” Encourage him to use his creativity when answering.
Recommended reading: Over in the Meadow by Olive Wadsworth, Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Students plant seeds in their school garden and learn about the importance of caring for them. Through this activity, they practice math skills such as measuring, sorting, counting and making predictions.
At home: Set up a bird feeder outside a window that your child can easily see. Let him help you fill it with birdfeed. As the birds come to eat, ask your child to talk about them. “What color are they?” “Are they big or small?” “What are they doing?”
Recommended reading: Little Seed by Eric Carle, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Pre-K and Pre-K 2 students explore the sounds they hear in nature while playing outdoors. They then use recycled and natural materials, such as string and pine cones, to make their own wind chime.
At home: Reuse junk mail for a fun arts and crafts activity with your child. Encourage him to look through flyers and magazines to find words and pictures that he recognizes. Then, ask him to create a collage by cutting and gluing them to a piece of paper or poster board.
Recommended reading: And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, About Springtime, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to think creatively and imaginatively about the world around them. By setting this foundation, children build confidence in their own unique thoughts and maintain a thirst for learning as they enter elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
________________________________________
PARENT INFO
Participate in our new 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.
April Newsletter
From the Principal’s Office
Dearest Families,
The flowers are blooming, the days are growing longer, and the birds are singing. Yes, spring is in the air! And with the warmer weather comes more moments for learning! More outdoor time will create more opportunities for gross motor skill practice and environmental learning. In the outdoor environments we will add to our Merryhill Preschool Garden! The weather is perfect now and it seems as though we have more water to help our garden grow this year! We have already prepared the garden in each back yard and will be buying plants soon! The children will be helping take care of the garden. We can’t wait to get started!!
Last month we celebrated the love of reading with our “Scholastic Book Fair”. We did a fantastic job selling books! We sold a total of 243 books which earned each classroom tons of free books for the students to enjoy. Thank you for your support! Our goal was to reach 200 books and our school would participate in “The Cloud of Chaos”. I will be running through the “Cloud of Chaos” as the children and teachers throw the colored powder at me as I run by them! Come prepared on tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30th at 4:30 with your cameras to watch the fun!
We have several exciting events going on this month that will help to incorporate outdoor learning. One is our annual Trike-a-Thon on April 15th. This event helps raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Plus, the children get to race around the track in the back yard with their friends. Great gross motor exercise, for a great cause! More details to come.
We will also celebrate the children in our lives with “The Week of the Young Child” April 11 – 15. We have a fun itinerary set, so make sure to check out the dates and detailed info below in the “Calendar of Events”. This is a very special week of fun events and activities every day! We will have live performances, a petting zoo and much more!
For our graduating Pre-K students, do you know where you are going to send your child for the summer? Merryhill Elementary and Middle School has a great summer camp program for you!
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! Contact the Elementary Principal for more details. Her name is Karen Cooper and her contact number is 408-254-1282, and her 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
*March 30th- The Principal runs through the “Cloud of Chaos” while the children throw colored powder at her! This was the reward for reaching our Scholastic Book Fair goal.
*April 8th- Final day to turn in Savory Sweets Fundraiser
*April 11th – 15th- Week of the Young Child (We will have special events happening every day this week) More info to come at a later date!
*April 15th- Trike-a-Thon 9:30 am – 11:30 am
*April 22nd- Earth Day Celebration at 3:30 (We will release our butterflies back to nature!
*May 2nd – 6th Teacher Appreciation Week! During this week we will celebrate our teachers! Every day we will do something special for them to show them how much we appreciate all their hard work and dedication throughout the year. More info will come…
*May 6th – Mother’s Day Pot-Luck party at 3:30 pm
*May 9th – Spring Show at 3:30 pm (You must come and watch as your children perform on stage while singing and dancing!) We will set up our stage in the back parking lot, behind the school. See you all there!
*May 10th – 27th – Parent Teacher Conferences (schedule for sign-up dates will be in the classrooms by April 25th)
*May 30th – School Closed for Memorial Day!
*June 2nd – Pre-K Graduation at 3:30 pm in the back parking lot behind the school
*June 3rd – School Closed for Teacher’s In-service Day
*June 6th – First Day of the new school year! Welcome new and old families to your new classrooms!
Join us for our next Open House!
Beginning of August, 2016 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (exact date will be announced soon) **Tell a friend and if they register you will receive one free week of tuition!**
________________________________________
Extra-Curricular Activities here at school!!!
Piano Class by My First MusIQ program – Held on Wednesdays For more information go online and check them out, please go to www.recplusregistration.org
Tuff Tumblers Class – Held on Fridays For more information go to http://tufftumblers.com or call 925-551-8900
MiniSoccer – Held on Tuesdays For more information go to this: thutt@challengersports.com 916-262-7542 minikickersoccer.com
Merryhill San Jose is proud to offer Challenger Sports MiniKickers Program in association with the Challenger Soccer Academy.
________________________________________
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!!
________________________________________
Linking Learning with Nature
Spring is here! Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Now is a great time for children to explore these environmental changes happening in the world around them.
Not only are children curious about nature, but research shows that it has a profound influence on their problem solving skills, creativity, imagination and cognitive ability. Because of this, our teachers incorporate nature in all aspects of our Links to Learning curriculum.
Below are ways we connect learning with nature, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: After reading a book about springtime, teachers bring children outdoors to explore and investigate objects in nature. The children have fun crumbling leaves, smelling flowers and looking at clouds.
At home: Take tummy time outdoors and allow your infant to explore different sights, sounds and textures. Encourage him to move and grab things by placing objects just beyond his reach. For toddlers, ask questions like, “Who made that chirping sound” or “Can you point to the flowers?”
Recommended reading: Wake Up! Wake Up! A Springtime Lift-the-Flap Book by Kathryn Davis, Welcome Spring by Little Scholastic
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Our Beginners read books about seasonal changes, then bring the story to life by going outdoors to find real-world examples.
At home: Help make your child aware of the seasonal changes going on around him. Talk a walk with him and ask questions such as “Why do we see flowers growing now?” or “What do flowers need in order to grow?” Encourage him to use his creativity when answering.
Recommended reading: Over in the Meadow by Olive Wadsworth, Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Students plant seeds in their school garden and learn about the importance of caring for them. Through this activity, they practice math skills such as measuring, sorting, counting and making predictions.
At home: Set up a bird feeder outside a window that your child can easily see. Let him help you fill it with birdfeed. As the birds come to eat, ask your child to talk about them. “What color are they?” “Are they big or small?” “What are they doing?”
Recommended reading: Little Seed by Eric Carle, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Pre-K and Pre-K 2 students explore the sounds they hear in nature while playing outdoors. They then use recycled and natural materials, such as string and pine cones, to make their own wind chime.
At home: Reuse junk mail for a fun arts and crafts activity with your child. Encourage him to look through flyers and magazines to find words and pictures that he recognizes. Then, ask him to create a collage by cutting and gluing them to a piece of paper or poster board.
Recommended reading: And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, About Springtime, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
We provide many opportunities for our preschoolers to think creatively and imaginatively about the world around them. By setting this foundation, children build confidence in their own unique thoughts and maintain a thirst for learning as they enter elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
________________________________________
PARENT INFO
Participate in our new 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.