The Summit
School News You Can Use
Dear Merrywood Families,
As we move into November and the season of Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on just how much we have to be grateful for here at Merrywood Elementary.
First and foremost, I am thankful for our students. Their smiles, laughter, curiosity, and excitement for learning are what make our school such a special place. Even on the busiest and most challenging days, it only takes a few minutes spent with our children to remind me why I love what I do!
I am also incredibly grateful for our teachers and staff. They pour their hearts into our students each and every day, often going above and beyond in ways that others may never see. Teaching is not easy work, but it is important work, and I am thankful for the dedication, patience, and love our staff brings to Merrywood.
And to our families, thank you! Thank you for trusting us with your children, supporting our teachers, showing up for school events, and partnering with us to help your children grow. We know that educating children is a team effort, and we simply cannot do it without you.
I am especially thankful for our wonderful PTO! We are so fortunate to have such an active, supportive group of parents who give generously of their time, energy, and resources to make Merrywood an even better place. From organizing special events and creating fun memories for our students to finding ways to encourage and support our teachers and staff, our PTO makes a BIG difference! Their hard work and willingness to jump in wherever needed certainly do not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for all they do!
As I continue my first year as principal at Merrywood, I am especially grateful for the warm welcome I have received and the relationships we are building. I am proud to be part of this school community, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together.
My hope is that every child who walks through our doors knows they are loved, that they matter, and that we believe in them. That is something worth working toward every single day.
From my family to yours, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving season filled with time to slow down, enjoy the people you love, and appreciate the many blessings around us.
With gratitude,
Jennifer
Principal, Merrywood Elementary
Next Level – Together We Elevate!
Flu season is here, and we are beginning to see an increase in flu cases across our district. We want to do everything we can to keep our students, staff, and families healthy!
We need your help! Please reinforce these simple habits at home to help prevent the spread of illness:
Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Keep your child home when sick to help protect classmates and teachers.
Important Reminder: Students must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
We know it can be challenging to rearrange schedules when your child is sick, but keeping them home when they aren't feeling well makes a BIG difference in preventing the spread of illness.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our Merrywood Musketeers healthy, happy, and ready to learn!
We are excited to honor the brave men and women who have served our country during our Merrywood Music Makers Veterans Day Assembly on Wednesday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. in our gym/cafeteria. Doors will open at 1:15 p.m.
We invite parents, grandparents, relatives, and family friends who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces to join us for this special celebration! Our guest veterans will be recognized during an opening parade, accompanied by the students who invited them. Students will then sit alongside their special guests throughout the program. Veterans are encouraged to wear their military uniforms, hats, shirts, pins, or medals as we celebrate their service and sacrifice.
If your child plans to invite a veteran, please complete the Veteran Information Form linked below and return it to your child's homeroom teacher by Friday, November 6. This will help us prepare to recognize our special guests.
We look forward to this meaningful opportunity to teach our students about gratitude, service, and the sacrifices made by those who have served our country. We hope you'll join us as we say THANK YOU to our veterans!
Questions? Contact Mrs. Beard at beardk@gwd50.org.
Simple Ways to Support Reading and Math at Home
Did you know that some of the best learning opportunities happen during everyday family activities? Supporting your child's learning at home doesn't have to mean worksheets, flashcards, or hours of extra practice. Just a few minutes each day can make a BIG difference!
Here are some simple ways to help your child grow as a reader and mathematician.
📚 Growing Strong Readers
Read together every day! Aim for 15–20 minutes of reading each evening. Younger children love being read to, and older children benefit from reading independently and talking about what they've read.
Ask questions that make them THINK! Instead of simply asking, "Did you like the book?" try "Why do you think the character made that choice?" or "What evidence from the story supports your thinking?"
Build vocabulary through conversation. Introduce new words during everyday activities. Explain what they mean and encourage your child to use them!
Practice retelling. After reading, ask your child to tell you what happened at the beginning, middle, and end. Older students can summarize the main idea and important details.
Let them see YOU reading! Children who see adults enjoying books, magazines, recipes, or newspapers learn that reading is an important part of everyday life.
🔢 Building Math Confidence
Make math part of everyday life! Let your child help measure ingredients, count change, compare prices at the grocery store, or figure out how much time is left before bedtime.
Practice math facts in fun ways. Spend a few minutes playing games with dice, cards, or dominoes to build addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division fluency.
Ask, "How did you figure that out?" This might be the most important math question you can ask! Encourage your child to explain their thinking, even when their answer isn't correct.
Play games together! Board games, puzzles, and card games build number sense, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
Celebrate effort, not just correct answers! Remind your child that making mistakes is part of learning. Instead of saying, "I'm not good at math," encourage them to say, "I'm still learning!"
❤️ The Most Important Thing?
Make learning a positive experience! Encourage curiosity, celebrate small successes, and remind your child that you believe in them. You don't have to know every answer or teach every skill. Your encouragement, conversations, and willingness to learn alongside your child matter more than you might realize.
Just 15–20 intentional minutes a day can help build stronger skills, greater confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Thank you for partnering with us as we work together to help every Merrywood Musketeer reach the next level!
It’s time to celebrate another group of birthday Musketeers! Our November Birthday Lunch will take place on Friday, November 20, during each student’s regular lunch time.
Families of students with a November birthday will receive an invitation with all the details. Parents and guardians are welcome to join their birthday student for lunch, and for this special celebration, you may bring outside food to enjoy together. Our Merrywood PTO will also provide a cupcake for each of our November birthday boys and girls! 🧁
Watch for invitations and RSVP information coming home soon. We love having our families join us for these special celebrations and look forward to celebrating our November birthdays!
Sunshine Soda Spirit Day
Mark your calendars for a fun (and delicious!) way to support Merrywood!
Friday, November 13, is Merrywood Spirit Day at Sunshine Soda! A portion of all sales that day will be donated to our Merrywood PTO to help support our students, teachers, and school! Make plans to stop by, grab your favorite drink or treat, and let them know you're there as a Merrywood Musketeer!
It's an easy way to enjoy a little something special while giving back to our school!
More details will be sent home soon! Thank you for supporting our PTO and helping make Merrywood such a special place!
🎁 Polar Pals Holiday Shop is Coming!
Get ready for some holiday shopping fun! Our Polar Pals Holiday Shop is coming to Merrywood! Students will have the opportunity to shop during the week of December 7, picking out special gifts for family members and loved ones.
To make shopping a little easier, families will have the option to add money to their child's shopping account online ahead of time. This will help make the shopping experience smoother for our students!
Be on the lookout for more information about shopping dates, how to add money to your child's account, and other important details.
We can't wait to help our Merrywood Musketeers experience the joy of giving this holiday season!
November
2 - Meals Matter Visit during lunch for Grades 3-5
2 - Good News Club
3 - No School - Election Day
9 - Good News Club
11 - Veterans Day Program at 1:30pm
16 - Good News Club
20 - November Birthday Lunch
23-27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
December
2 - MAP Reading Assessment for K5 - 5th Grade
3 - MAP Math Assessment for K5 - 5th Grade
7-11 - PTO Polar Pals Fundraiser
11 - December Birthday Lunch
15 - PTO Holiday Performance - 2nd and 3rd Grades and Music Makers Chorus
16 - Half Day
17-18 - Remediation Days
21-Jan. 1- Winter Break