Only at Durango Home / About Us / Only At Durango Choosing Merryhill School We know that parents have a lot of choices for their child’s education. So, why do families choose Merryhill Elementary & Middle School and stay with us until their child graduates? It’s because so many wonderful things happen at our private school, #OnlyAtDurango. Let us tell you more! “I Hope…” through Individualized Learning At Merryhill Elementary & Middle School Durango, we hope all of our students love coming to school and learning. Through our saying “I Hope…”, students set up a personalized action plan for themselves with their teachers containing goals for the school year. We encourage students to invest in themselves and take the small steps it takes to better themselves both academically and socially. It might be getting better test scores or moving up a reading level! The process allows our students to improve and adopt the skills it takes to be successful. Cougar POWER Our students embody Cougar POWER, which stands for Perseverance, Ownership, Wisdom, Enthusiasm, and Respect. Perseverance fuels their determination to keep going even when challenges arise. Ownership encourages them to take responsibility for their learning. Wisdom highlights the importance of valuing ideas. Enthusiasm reflects their excitement in their educational goals. Respect emphasizes treating self and others with kindness, consideration, and dignity. This commitment to Cougar POWER helps our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally at our private school in Las Vegas. Character Counts Character counts here at Merryhill Durango. We encourage our students to be their best selves, not only in the classroom but in their community. When students show traits such as respect and kindness, their photos and actions are featured on the lobby board. This not only celebrates them but also inspires others. Service Learning Being kind is the essence of service learning. It also holds deeper meaning for our students. They learn about real world issues and put critical thinking into action. In the past, we have collected toys for Toys for Tots around the holidays, delivered letters to veterans in hospice care on Veterans Day, and donated goods to teens in need. Helping others is our way of giving back and fostering ambition to be globally aware citizens here in Las Vegas and beyond. Our School Pet Our school pet, Rocky the tortoise, has his very own habitat here. Not only is he a fun representative of our school, but also a great learning tool. For example, our students learn about habitats, the environment, ecosystems, and even get to try and guess when he will come out of hibernation. Haunted Merryhill Around Halloween every year, our school takes things to the next level. Haunted Merryhill is a student-led event where our middle school students put together a ghost walk for the younger kids. But don’t worry! The only thing that is spooky is how well they perform as historical figures and share their story! Making a Splash! We sure know how to make a splash here! Our on-site pool is open from March to October. During these months, we host a swim club and swim lessons. While there may not be any lakes nearby in Las Vegas, our campus has its own aquatic haven for our students to cool down. Our pool is a great place for students to build friendships, get in some movement, learn new skills, and just have fun!