Only At Calvine Home / About Us / Only At Calvine Choosing Merryhill School We know that parents have a lot of choices for their child’s education. So, why do families choose Merryhill Elementary and Middle School Calvine and stay with us until their child graduates? It is because so many wonderful things happen at our private school, #OnlyAtCalvine. Let us tell you more! Better Together We start every day together because being a community is important to us. Even our kindergarten students join in! Younger students take part in Grateful Gatherings, while our older students engage in SAVERS. These routines help set our students up for success, both academically and socially, throughout their time at our private school and beyond. During these gatherings, our students write in journals, say positive affirmations, and get support from teachers and peers. At Merryhill, being kind and connected is part of who we are! Giving Back Every year, each class works on a big project about helping others. Students are always encouraged to seek out local connections and see how they can truly make a difference. For example, all of our elementary students raised $5,000 for Faces of Tomorrow. This organization helps children with similar deformities as the main character of Wonder. Our kindergarten students gave back by writing letters and making care packages for veterans. Swimming We believe that it is important for our students to exercise their bodies as much as their minds. We encourage them to stay active and have fun moving around! Exercise helps children feel less stressed from schoolwork and stay healthy. One way we do this is through swimming. We have a heated pool right here at school for swimming lessons, camps, and gym. To keep everyone safe, there are always lifeguards watching. 1st Grade Habitats Our 1st grade students turn their classroom into a habitat to learn about animals, plants, and the environment. They explore how living things work together in nature. They even visit zoo to see habitats in action. I.D.E.A. Studio At Merryhill Calvine, we have a special place called the I.D.E.A. (Inspire, Design, Engineer, Analyze) Studio. Here, children can explore, create, and learn. This space fosters imagination and is filled with state-of-the-art tools, including coding bots, a green screen, and computers. It is also part of our after-school program, where children get to solve problems and think creatively. Whether they are building something new or making art, the I.D.E.A. Studio is a place where children can thrive while learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math! Frequently Asked Questions How can parents get involved at Merryhill Calvine? Parents have many ways to get involved throughout the year, including volunteering at monthly school community events and field trips, supporting their child at academic and specialty award ceremonies and monthly Cougar Pride celebrations, and joining our Parent-Teacher Organization of Merryhill (PTOM) to give input at monthly meetings. We also release a yearly and monthly events calendar to keep families in the loop, and parents are welcome to watch their child participate in after-school activities and clubs like swim and sports. What does a typical school day look like at Merryhill Calvine? The day begins with community morning meetings—Grateful Gathering for grades K–4 and PAWS for middle school—where students discuss our Cougar character traits, explore age-appropriate current events, and share campus announcements. Students actively lead portions of these gatherings, building confidence, communication, and leadership skills, and middle schoolers present at the younger grades’ ceremony throughout the year. Academics begin with mathematics, based on our analysis of student achievement data, followed by an English Language Arts block covering reading, writing, vocabulary, and phonics. Both blocks include hands-on learning, movement, and collaboration. In the afternoon, students engage in science, social studies, and project-based learning, practicing curiosity, resilience, and problem-solving. Specialty classes round out the week: elementary students rotate through art, Spanish, PE, music, and technology, while middle schoolers choose daily electives each trimester to explore their interests. In our after school program, students can join clubs and lessons that rotate every 8 weeks, including music (piano, guitar, drums), sports (swim, cheer, flag football, soccer, volleyball, street hockey), technology, art, language (Spanish, Sign Language, Hindi), and academic tutoring. What is the average class size at Merryhill Calvine? For the 2026–2027 school year, our class sizes range from 14 to 22 students, ensuring a supportive and engaging learning environment while maintaining a strong sense of community within each classroom. What is the Merryhill Method? The Merryhill Method is our approach to developing students who are confident, resilient, and increasingly independent. We do that by making students active participants in their learning, not simply recipients of instruction. Do students at Merryhill Elementary and Middle School Calvine attend field trips? Yes. Most classes participate in field trips monthly or quarterly, extending learning beyond the classroom and into real-world experiences. Overnight field trips begin in 4th grade, and our 8th grade students travel to Washington, D.C. Students are transported on our school buses; for larger trips, we utilize approved charter services. Does Merryhill School Calvine have a pool on campus? Yes. Merryhill School Calvine has an on-site heated pool that supports swimming instruction, physical education, and camps throughout the year. Certified lifeguards are on duty at all times to ensure student safety.
