on Karitsa Ave. in Natomas, CA
Dear Merryhill Families,
April promises to be an exciting and busy month for our students! We look forward to celebrating April Fool’s Day, Week of the Young Child, Earth Day, and spending plenty of time gardening together.
Planting and gardening provide wonderful opportunities for students to learn about plant life cycles, how to care for plants and the Earth, and the impact we have on our environment. As we welcome the spring season, we invite our families to contribute items such as soil, seeds, plants, pots, or any other gardening supplies so we can refresh and re-create our garden. No donation is too small—everything is greatly appreciated!
The Week of the Young Child will be celebrated at our school from April 13–17, featuring five fun-filled themed days dedicated to celebrating our youngest learners. This annual event, hosted by NAEYC, highlights the importance of early learning and recognizes young children, their teachers, families, and communities. Our goal is to bring awareness to the value of high-quality early education and the important role early childhood educators play in a child’s development.
As we prepare for these spring activities, we kindly ask that you keep an extra set of clothes in your child’s cubby. With more outdoor and hands-on experiences, children may get wet or messy, and we want to ensure they stay comfortable and clean throughout the day.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,Yvonne Valenzuela
As we prepare to kick off a new school year, we want to ensure you stay informed and connected. In addition to this newsletter, our website’s “For Parents” section includes helpful resources such as our school menu, monthly calendar, and academic year calendar.
If you are not currently receiving your child’s daily reports and photos, you can easily sign up by downloading the Links 2 Home app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Once downloaded, simply register using the same email address you provided when enrolling your child.
Click ere for the different websites and apps to help you stay connected
Your continued trust and commitment to our Merryhill community truly means so much to our entire team. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with your family and to be part of your children’s learning journey as they grow, build confidence, and reach new milestones. These moments—both big and small—are what make our work so meaningful.
Because of families like you, Merryhill is more than just a school; it’s a warm and caring community. We look forward to another year filled with learning, laughter, and growth together.
If you have not yet registered but would like to reserve a space for the upcoming school year, please connect with a member of our administrative team for more information about availability. We are always happy to assist you!
Week of the Young Child: A Celebration of Early Education
Week of the Young Child (WOYC), sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), is a special celebration that highlights the importance of early childhood education, the amazing young learners in our care, and the people who support them.
During this exciting week, learning comes to life with themed days like Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday. Each theme sparks fun, hands-on activities that mirror the meaningful moments happening in our classrooms every day, all inspired by our Links to Learning curriculum. As we celebrate, we reaffirm our commitment to giving every child engaging early experiences that build a strong foundation for the future.
To learn more about the importance of early childhood education and WOYC, we’re speaking with Gilda Villaflores from our Education Team. With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Gilda brings a strong background as a teacher, mentor, and director.
Hi, Gilda. Can you explain why early childhood education is so important?
Early childhood education is crucial because it lays the foundation for a child’s lifelong learning. It helps children develop language, social-emotional, and cognitive skills through play, exploration, and guided experiences. These early years are a time of rapid brain development, and quality learning environments give children the confidence and skills they need in school and beyond.
Can you share what Week of the Young Child celebrations look like in our classrooms?
We celebrate this important week with hands-on activities that spark curiosity and joy. Children explore fresh, exciting ideas through music, cooking, art, building, and play, practicing important skills along the way. We also take time to honor our educators for their dedication and care. The week is filled with learning, teamwork, and fun!
How does Week of the Young Child foster social-emotional skills?
Through music activities, children engage in group experiences and express themselves. Collaborative projects—such as cooking, building, or creating art together—encourage sharing, patience, and problem-solving. By celebrating families and school communities, children develop a strong sense of self, belonging, and connection.
How are language & literacy promoted this week?
Language and literacy are woven into every activity. Listening to music and singing songs strengthens phonological awareness and expands vocabulary. When children follow cooking instructions and build together, they practice early reading skills, sequencing, and using descriptive language. Children share stories about their art and families. All of these experiences nurture strong language skills and lay the foundation for future learning.
Can you tell us how Week of the Young Child supports numeracy and math skills?
Yes! As children explore rhythm and beats on Music Monday, they learn patterns and sequences. Measuring ingredients, counting items, and comparing quantities on Tasty Tuesday help strengthen number sense. Building and design activities during Work Together Wednesday support spatial relationships (how things fit together) and problem-solving. When children engage in art activities on Artsy Thursday, they may sort materials and notice shapes and sizes.
I’d love for you to tell us more about Family Friday.
On Family Friday, we talk about our own families and our school community, helping children recognize the support and care around them. We invite families to a special event that brings our whole community together. This day strengthens the bond between home and school, fosters a sense of belonging, and shows children that their learning is valued by the people who matter most.
Can you recommend any resources for families who want to learn more or incorporate some ideas at home?
Families can refer to some of our previous blogs for ideas.
Musical Milestones for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
Nurturing Young Taste Buds: A Guide to Helping Picky Eaters
The Benefits of Small Group Learning in Centers
10 Art Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
How Bedtime Routines Promote Connection
I also love these articles that highlight the benefits of art, music, and working together: The Complete Guide to Process Art, Music Supports All Learning, and Let’s Work Together.
Do you know a colleague who recently welcomed a new baby, a friend who just relocated and is looking for quality care, or a family member searching for the perfect preschool?
When you refer a friend and they enroll at Merryhill, you’ll be eligible to receive a free week of tuition!
Contact us for full details and start sharing the gift of learning with your friends and family—we’d love to welcome them into our community.
Follow us on social media for an inside look at all the exciting happenings at our schools!
Summer Camp 2026: Kinder Prep Camp, Open to ALL! 7:30AM-5:30PM, $315/week and include extended care!
We’re thrilled to already have many of you signed up for Kindergarten! Whether you are enrolling with us for Kindergarten or not, we hope you’ll join us for our Kinder Prep Summer Camp program. This program is designed to be a bridge from preschool to Kindergarten and is a perfect balance of work and play. From Food Truck Fridays, to onsite guests including face painters, Disney Princesses, and more, our Summer Camp program has been voted one of Sacramento’s Favorite camp programs. We’ve attached the Summer Camp Brochure, and you may register your child here. Please note that our Kinder Prep Summer camp program waitlists every year, but Merryhill families are guaranteed a space if they sign up before 2/2. Merryhill students typically graduate PreK in early June, and join our camp program after graduation. The program runs all summer, and is the perfect way to transition students between PreK and Kindergarten.Chick here for more information about our Kindergarten Prep Camp
Kindergarten Enrollment 26-27 (age 5 by 10/1 – later than the public school cut off!)
From now through the end of the year, Our Elementary School will be holding monthly Kindergarten Virtual Informational Sessions for families on Zoom. Information about these sessions will be provided to Merryhill preschool families each month. The next steps from Merryhill Preschool for these students is Kindergarten, and we would love to welcome you to Elementary program.As a note, the age cutoff at Merryhill Elementary is October 1st, so students who are 5 on or before that time are eligible to join. The school also offer early admissions for students who may not meet that age cutoff, but who are ready for Kindergarten (based on our assessment, which is offered at no cost to you).Click here for information about the 26-27 Kindergarten enrollment process for Merryhill Preschool Students.
We look forward to welcoming many of our Merryhill Preschool students at our Merryhill Midtown campus soon!To learn more or to schedule a private tour, reach out to Michelle Gosselin, Manager of Enrollment, at Michelle.Gosselin@merryhillschool.com or call 916-429-6055.
