From the Principal’s Office
Dearest families,
As we look ahead to the new school year, we are all excited to embrace our new journey with old and new friends.
The teachers have been preparing their rooms with some of the most AMAZING Education Boards. Please make sure to stop by your teacher’s Education Boards to see the process of learning! If you would like to know what your child is learning throughout the week please take a look at the parent board in the classroom. This will tell you all of the subjects and skills the children will learn in that week. You can also review the teacher’s lesson plan on the parent board to see the learning activities the teachers have planned to incorporate the subjects and skills from the Link to Learning curriculum. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us. Keep an eye out for news alerts in your child’s take home file, email and on the white board that is located at the entrance of the preschool office building door. As we begin the fall season many notices and events will take place. You do not want to miss out on any of the fun!!
Get your calendar ready for some exciting events in this month! On September 10th and 11th we have our back to school pictures that are taken by LifeTouch Photography. We will post the picture schedule on the preschool front door and the Green Room door this week.
I am sure you have been anxiously waiting for your child’s quarterly progress report! These will be completed by the teachers, reviewed by the Principal and past out to the parents on September 28th. The parent and teacher conferences will follow. The sign-up sheets for the conferences will be posted in your child’s classroom on September 14th.
Please join us for our annual Back to School Pancake Breakfast! This will be held on Saturday, September 26th from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Merryhill Preschool. Please come and meet your child’s teachers and get to know them a little better!
Quick reminders:
Please remember to sign in and out every day in the classroom binder! This is extremely important because we use this binder in case of an emergency!
Please put your child’s name on all sippy cups and water bottles. We do not want the children drinking from other children’s cups.
If you bring in sun screen for your child please make sure you fill out a sun screen form in the office before dropping off the sunscreen with the teachers. The children are not allowed to keep sun screen in their cubby or back pack. This is the same for any lotions and medication. Please make sure all medication gets checked into the preschool office. Medication and lotions need to be kept out of reach of children. One last reminder, please put your sheet and blanket for nap time in a bag labeled with your child’s name. If it does not have a name on it, then we do not know who it belongs to 🙂 Thank you for your cooperation!
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 make this a great school year!
“All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds we sow today.”
Calendar of Events
• Sept. 7th- School Closed for Labor Day Holiday
• Sept. 10th & 11th – LifeTouch Pictures will be taken at the school. Schedule for the classrooms will be posted this week.
• Sept. 26th– Saturday Back to School event…Pancake Breakfast from 10:00 am – 11:00 am
• Sept. 28th- Progress reports passed out to the parents and parent-teacher conferences begin (look for sign up sheets in your teacher’s classroom)
Join us for our next Open House!
November 7, 2015 10:00 am – 1:00 pm **Tell a friend and if they register you will receive one free week of tuition!**
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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 Another session will start soon!
Merryhill San Jose is proud to offer Challenger Sports NEW MiniKickers Program in association with the Challenger Soccer Academy.
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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!!
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Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
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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.
September Newsletter
Preschool Principal
heather.bilbro@nlcinc.com
408-254-1280
• Sept. 7th- School Closed for Labor Day Holiday
November 7, 2015 10:00 am – 1:00 pm **Tell a friend and if they register you will receive one free week of tuition!**
________________________________________
If there’s one thing parents love to do, it’s talk about their children’s successes.
*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*.
________________________________________
Participate in our new Automatic Payment Program