December Newsletter – Merryhill School

Dear Merryhill families,

Tick-tock…tick-tock…tick-tock…

The countdown to the Holidays begins!

Things will be getting busier and busier as the holidays approach. Please remember to read the notes we send home, check the news board in front of the preschool door, and check our website to mark important dates on your calendars. Our annual “Giving” event that we will host again this year is the Toys for Tots toy drive. This event kicked off this week!! Please bring in a new toy for a child in need and your child will receive their name on a star for our Holiday Tree. Our first toy donation was from Tristan Chen and he will get the star at the top of the tree! I look forward to filling our Holiday tree with lots of stars.

Our Holiday Show is next week already! We have so many wonderful children here at Merryhill School that we need to separate the age groups to different days of the week. We normally do all of our events outside to fit all of our lovely families, but with the winter’s cold weather we are forced inside. With that said, Tuesday, December 8th will be our Beginner Room Show in the Green Room at 3:30 pm. Wednesday, December 9th is the Intermediate show at 3:30 in the Yellow Room. Thursday, December 10th is the Pre-K Red A Room’s show with Ms. Sharmin, Ms. Shubhda and Ms. Usha at 3:30 pm in the Yellow Room. Last, but not least, Friday, December 11th is the other Pre-K Red B Room’s show with Ms. Maria and Ms. Maribel at 3:30 pm, also in the Yellow Room. We hope to see you all there!

And the fun, just never ends! Santa Claus will be coming to Merryhill School on December 18th at 9:30 AM. Santa always comes with gifts for the children! These gifts are brought in by the parents, please. Can each family bring in one or two wrapped books? Please bring the gift wrapped book with the tag made out “from Santa”. Leave the “to” section blank. If everyone brings a book we will have enough books to pass out to the children from Santa. The Elementary School is having a book fair this week in building D. This is the perfect opportunity to buy a book for the Santa gift and support our Elementary program at the same time! Please bring in your books by Wednesday, December 16th. We will have all of the books collected before Santa arrives, so that Santa Claus can pass out the “presents” to all of the children.

After Santa visits the classrooms on Friday, December 18th we will have our “Multi-Cultural” lunch potluck from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM (*Important Reminder: Please look at the ingredients and make sure there are no nuts or nut products used*) . Please join us for Santa’s visit and our yummy nut-free lunch with the children where we will share foods from all around the world!! The children may also dress in their culture’s attire for this festive day! We have so much in store for December!! Try to relax and enjoy all of the fun!

We wish you a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!

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!

Heather Bilbro Palmer

Merryhill School Principal

Calendar of Events

*November 30^th – Start “Toys for Tots” Drive

*December 8^th– @ 3:30 pm Holiday Performance for the Green Room (Ms. Lidia, Ms. Joanna & Ms. Cecilia) in the Green Room

*December 9^th– @ 3:30 pm Holiday Performance for the Yellow Room (Ms. Perla, Ms. Kelsey, Ms. Amorous and Ms. Shudan) in the Yellow Room

*December 10^th– @ 3:30 pm Holiday Performance for the Red A Room (Ms.Sharmin, Ms. Shubhda and Ms. Usha) located in the Red Room

*December 11^th– @ 3:30 pm Holiday Performance for the Red B Room (Ms.Maria & Ms. Maribel) located in the Red Room

*December 18^th – @ 9:30 am Santa Claus is coming Merryhill Preschool

*December 18^th – @ 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Multi-Cultural Feast. Come dressed in your cultures traditional dress.

*December 24^th& 25^th – School Closed for Holiday. Happy Holidays! Enjoy the Days with Your Families!

*December 31^st & January 1^st – School Closed for New Year’s Holiday. Happy New Year! See you in 2016!

Join us for our next Open House!
January 23, 2016 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

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 link: https://challenger.mycustomevent.com/ShoppingCart.aspx?com=detailview&iid=76592

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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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.

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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.