Dear Parents,
Now that the holiday season has arrived, many of us will take time to visit with family and friends or to connect with important people in our lives. This type of personal connection is an important part of our school’s philosophy and continues to flourish through our many school events. Meaningful connections between teachers and parents guarantee academic, social, and emotional growth of each of our students. Your participation in our school activities has been amazing! Thank you for your support and ongoing commitment to our Merryhill School family.
This holiday season we will be collecting toys for Santa’s Helpers. Please donate new unwrapped toys from December 7th through December 17thth. We will take the donations to Chick-Fil-A on December 18th for them to donate to Santa’s Helpers. We appreciate your family helping us to help families in our community!
‘Tis the season to explore December celebrations, observances and activities from several cultures. What is another name for St. Nicholas? What is a Menorah? What is a Karamu? The answers to these questions will be highlighted in December lessons that will cover multi-cultural holiday traditions. Be sure to check out classroom education boards in and outside of your child’s classroom to see evidence of learning fun! Speak to your child’s teacher if you would like to share a special tradition from your family with the class.
Please read below to stay connected with December events and dates to remember.
Wishing you and yours,
Angel Inman Ahlbrandt, Principal
& Shirley Gent, Assistant Principal
At Merryhill School we provide a challenging and nurturing environment where children are given a strong academic foundation to be lifelong learners.
December Classroom Newsletters
Calendars
Reminders
- Please remember to bring extra changes of clothes for your child. We especially need extra clothes for sizes 2, 3, & 4 (boys and girls), any donations would be greatly appreciated!
- Please sign up for our Celly Text Alerts. This is the fastest way we can communicate to our families for school closures, important reminders, etc. Please see the front desk for information.
- Check this website if we have a closing due to weather!!!
- Per state licensing, please send your child in closed-toe and closed-heel shoes; such as, sneakers. This will help prevent your children from being injured.
- Please remember to sign your child In and Out daily.
- For the safety of all our children, it is required that a parent/adult escort your child to their classrooms. Please also remember an authorized adult (18 years and older) must sign children out for the day.
Elementary Age After School & Camp Program
Winter, Spring & Summer Camp full day schedules
Please consider us for your child’s after school program! We pick up at the following elementary schools:
- Keller ISD: Whitley Road, Freedom, Florence, Shady Grove, Liberty
- Birdville ISD: Green Valley
- International Leadership
For Parents
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
A Message From the Principal:
Dear Parents,
Now that the holiday season has arrived, many of us will take time to visit with family and friends or to connect with important people in our lives. This type of personal connection is an important part of our school’s philosophy and continues to flourish through our many school events. Meaningful connections between teachers and parents guarantee academic, social, and emotional growth of each of our students. Your participation in our school activities has been amazing! Thank you for your support and ongoing commitment to our Merryhill School family.
This holiday season we will be collecting toys for Santa’s Helpers. Please donate new unwrapped toys from December 7th through December 17thth. We will take the donations to Chick-Fil-A on December 18th for them to donate to Santa’s Helpers. We appreciate your family helping us to help families in our community!
‘Tis the season to explore December celebrations, observances and activities from several cultures. What is another name for St. Nicholas? What is a Menorah? What is a Karamu? The answers to these questions will be highlighted in December lessons that will cover multi-cultural holiday traditions. Be sure to check out classroom education boards in and outside of your child’s classroom to see evidence of learning fun! Speak to your child’s teacher if you would like to share a special tradition from your family with the class.
Please read below to stay connected with December events and dates to remember.
Wishing you and yours,
Angel Inman Ahlbrandt, Principal
& Shirley Gent, Assistant Principal
At Merryhill School we provide a challenging and nurturing environment where children are given a strong academic foundation to be lifelong learners.
Reminders
Elementary Age After School & Camp Program
Winter, Spring & Summer Camp full day schedules
Please consider us for your child’s after school program! We pick up at the following elementary schools:
For Parents
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