on Calvine Rd. in Elk Grove, CA
A Note from Our Principal
As the cooler air and vibrant colors of October arrive, we’re reminded of how much this season inspires curiosity and creativity in our students. From exploring nature’s changes to incorporating pumpkins, leaves, and autumn themes into activities, this month is full of hands-on learning and discovery. Last month, the children learned about family through Grandparents Day and Hispanic Heritage. We had fun during Apple Week with lots of fun activities, and of course, ended the week with Crazy Hat Day! During October, we will celebrate World Teacher Day, Fire Safety, Diwali, and Halloween, where our students can have fun and make new memories. As always, thank you for trusting us with your child’s growth and learning.
Sincerely,
Karina Medina
World Teacher Day
World Teacher Day is an international day held annually on October 5th that celebrates the work of teachers. World Teacher Day aims to focus on “appreciating, assessing and improving the educators of the world” and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and teaching. We will celebrate our amazing teachers on Thursday, October 2nd, with spooky pajama day! The teachers have been feeling a wealth of appreciation through our Apple Tree as they stop by to take a peek at the kind messages. We will continue the messages during the week with World Teacher Day! A huge thank you to the parents who posted reviews and listed their child’s teachers, and explained how they made their Merryhill experience a memorable one. We are grateful for our Merryhill community!
Fire Safety Month
October is fire safety month! The children will learn through books, activities, and will practice stop, drop and roll. We will also have a fire drill on October 23rd to practice our school safety plan. Our Intermediates and Pre-K classes will meet the Community Fire Fighters and hear about fire safety firsthand.
Family Hoe Down
Yeehaw! It’s that time of year again to celebrate our family with our annual Hoe Down. Come join the fun on October 16th from 5:00pm-7:00pm! Enjoy Music, Food, Games, Prizes, and of course Dancing! We highly recommend western attire during the event, which will be located at the Cougar Quad at the Elementary School. We look forward to catching up with our families!
Classroom Door Competition
During the week of October 27th, we will have a friendly competition to decorate our classroom doors! The children and teachers will work together to make a spooky door. Parents, please help us by casting your vote during the week. Remember to look for children’s work and creativity! We are looking forward to seeing all the Spooktacular doors!
Family Referral and Open House
Do you know a colleague who has recently had a baby, a friend in need of care who just relocated to the area, or a family member who is seeking a new preschool for their child? Invite them to our Open House event on October 2nd from 5pm-7pm. When you refer a friend and they enroll, you’re eligible for a referral discount.
Important Dates
October 2 – Pajama DayOctober 2- Open House- 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.October 3 – Professional Development Day- School ClosedOctober 5 – World Teachers DayOctober 30- End of the Month Folders sent homeOctober 31- Trick or Trunk 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.October 31- Professional Development Day- School ClosedOctober 23 – Open House 4 PM – 6 PMOctober 31 – Halloween Celebrations
Celebrating Fall: Crafts and Activities for Your Preschooler
Fall is here! The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and it’s the perfect time for some fall fun with crafts and activities. From pumpkin projects to apple treats, all paired with seasonal book recommendations, these activities are designed to delight your preschooler, spark creativity, and create joyful memories to treasure.
Create Leaf Art
Go on a leaf scavenger hunt, inviting your child to collect their favorites. Then, head inside and gather some construction paper and glue. Ask your child to create leaf art by gluing their leaves onto the paper to create simple collages and designs, or more distinct images like animals or people. Encourage them to take their time, talk about their creations, and even write or tell a story about their picture.
Book Suggestion: Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert – A beautiful picture book showing all sorts of images created by leaves.
You’ll need some small, soft leaves, a plastic decorative jar or glass mason jar, and child-friendly Mod Podge. Have your child “paint” the back of each leaf and press them onto the jar. Let those dry, then add another layer of Mod Podge over the leaves and jar. Once everything dries, place a battery-operated candle inside, and your child will have a beautiful and warm seasonal light for their bedroom. *For easier application, you can also use fall-colored tissue paper leaves.
Go apple picking and make apple pie cups
Once your child has harvested apples, chop them up into small pieces. In a muffin tin, have your child place pre-made biscuit dough. Next, your child can mix the apples with cinnamon and sugar, then place the mixture in each cup. Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and the apples are tender. Enjoy!
Book Suggestion: Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington – Follow along as Annie tends to her orchard, harvests apples, and bakes delicious apple treats.
Take a trip to the farmers market or pumpkin farm, and have your child pick out some small pumpkins, gourds, and apples. Supply your child with some bins for their produce and encourage them to set up a small shop, kitchen, or farm of their own. You can also challenge them to sort their goods by shape, color, size, or type.
Book Suggestion: Pumpkins and Apples by Anne Rockwell – A young girl and her parents visit a local farm to pick apples and choose the perfect pumpkin.
Make Pumpkin Ornaments
Directions for making salt dough can easily be found online. Have your child help you mix the dough and create the pumpkin shapes, then press their handprint onto it. Once it’s dry, they can paint the pumpkin orange and add a green stem. A special treat for you as you now have a keepsake to treasure forever!
Book Suggestion: The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano. Spookley the Square Pumpkin learns that being different is something to celebrate. After reading the story, talk with your child about how everyone is different, and that’s a good thing! Notice that no two fingerprints are the same and compare each other’s fingerprints.
Pumpkin Playdough
Mix 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix and knead until a dough forms. If it’s too wet or sticky, you can add more flour. Once it’s ready, your child will enjoy the scents of fall as they work with the dough. You can also provide your child with fall-themed cookie cutters such as leaves, pumpkins, and acorns.
Book Suggestion: The Smell of Fall by Mary Ann Hake – April, who is blind, explores the autumn season by experiencing its rich scents, from the crisp air at school to the earthy aromas on a farm, celebrating the beauty of fall.
Have a Spooky Story Night
Create a warm ambiance with a lit fireplace, candles, or twinkle lights. Gather up some cozy blankets and pillows and a flashlight. Read some spooky (but not too scary!) stories as a family. Encourage your child to make up their own spooky story, too! They can even use props like a pumpkin or broom to act out their story. This would be fun to pair with themed snacks or Halloween treats.
Book Suggestions: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, and Click, Clack, Boo!: A Tricky Treat by Doreen Cronin – all bringing spooky twists and fun!
Make Jack-0-Lantern Rocks
Children love to decorate pumpkins. Decorating rocks instead makes the fun last longer! Collect some smooth rocks from your yard, then wash and dry them. Next, have your child paint them orange. Once dry, your child can add all kinds of jack-o-lantern faces! They’ll really love it if you sit beside them and make some jack-o-lanterns as well. Washable markers will get the job done, but for more vibrant faces, and if you’re brave, paint markers work great.
Book Suggestion: Ten Little Jack O Lanterns by Amanda Sobotka – A fun, counting story where ten pumpkins disappear one by one, leading up to a spooky Halloween surprise!
