March 14, 2014Volume 1, Issue 1

Merry-Land Academy Newsletter

Merry-Land recently received a grant from the Federal Food Program. Jennifer and Mary attended the Central Piedmont Culinary College to learn how to add healthier breakfast, lunch, and snack recipes to our menu. Our new menus reflect the following:

Adding protein to our Breakfast menu.

Limiting beef to once a week.

Adding beans as a protein to the menu weekly.

Serve water to drink every day with snack.

Introduce the children to a new food at least twice a month.

Director’s News

Some friendly reminders that apply to all classrooms:

Check parent pockets daily

Sign your child in/out everyday

Make sure your child has extra (weather appropriate clothing), and bedding

Bring bedding home weekly to be washed

Contents

Director’s News 1

Dear Parents 1

Reminders 1

Infant Room News 2

One Year Old News 2

Two Year Old News 2

Three Year Old News 2

Four Year Old News 3

Birthdays 3

Recipe of the Quarter 3

Serve baked or grilled meats instead of the breaded and fried options.

Many of you may be surprised to learn that the children’s favorite new recipe is Spaghetti Squash Bake with Turkey. This has become such a popular dish that Mary has decided to include the recipe in our first news letter. Please enjoy it at home.

The hearing and screening testing has been rescheduled to a later date, which will be posted and a letter will be sent out of when it will be when it becomes available.

and returned on Monday.

Holidays & Closings

3/17 St. Patrick’s Day 4/18 & 4/21 Spring

Break (closed) 4/20 Easter

Mary St i les, DirectorWritten by: Jennifer Lumley

Reminders

We have Girl Scout cookies for sale in

the office. They are $4 a box. The

flavors that are left are thin mint, caramel deLights

and peanut butter patties. If

interested in a box or more, just let

Mary know.

Three year olds trying star fruit

Face painting in the twos

Ms. Beth would like parents to know the infants will be learning about spring over the next few weeks. The infants will be focusing on St. Patrick’s Day art, along with some Easter bunny art too. They will be working on gross motor skills and making word sounds. The infants will be introduced to

Infant News

Ms. Stephanie B. & Ms. Stephanie R. would like to inform the parents that for the next couple of weeks the children will be learning about spring, feelings, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and colors. Ms. Stephanie will be sending home a note with your child

One Year Old News

Two Year Old News

The Infant room getting dressed up to enjoy some

outside time.

Page 2 of 3 Merry-Land Newsletter

homemade shakers made with plastic Easter eggs and rice.Ms. Beth has asked that the parents bring pictures of your infant with his/her parents, family, and pets. This will help your child relate home life with school as being a safe and fun place to be. News WorthyKinley and Isaiah began crawling

about which color they will be focusing on each week. Ms. Stephanie requests, that if possible to dress your child in that specific color at least one day of that week. The children will also be having water play (inside and out- weather permitting) more frequently as the weather starts to get warmer.

Grade Level News

Three Year Old News

Ms. Julianna is planning to work with her children learning about spring, numbers, ABC’s, Easter, and farm animals. Some topics that they have already learned about are colors, senses, families, shapes manners, and winter. On Monday March 17th, the two’s will be having a St. Patrick’s

Days party (wear green!). And during the week of April 14-17, they will be celebrating Easter. If you would like to bring something for the parties, talk to Ms. Juliana about what is being requested. Ms. Julianna would like to praise the parents and the children on the excellent progress everyone has been making with potty training! Mrs. Jennifer’s class will be

learning about space, writing their names and letters, manners, spring, and insects over the next several weeks. Mrs. Jennifer asks that the parents send pictures of your child with their family, pets, and friends for a future project.On Monday, March 17th, the threes will be having a St.

Patrick’s Day party (wear green!), and if you would like to bring a special treat, just let Mrs. Jennifer know. Mrs. Jennifer would also like to praise the children for the willingness to try new foods and being so open to new friends who have joined the classroom. Great job children!

Baked Spaghetti Squash with TurkeyIngredients:

1 Medium Spaghetti Squash (Cut in half. Bake 45 minutes at 350º F. Scrape out insides with a fork. It will resemble spaghetti noodles.)

1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce (Our favorite is Ragu—Garden Combination)

1 Can Low Sodium Diced Tomatoes1 Cup Low Fat Shredded Cheddar Cheese1 lb. Ground Turkey, Browned

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and place in a 9”x13” pan. Bake at 350º F until heated through. About 25-35 minutes. Sprinkle grated cheese on top 5 minutes before removing from oven if desired.Serve and enjoy!

Recipe of the Quarter

Merry-Land Academy & Child

Care Center2693 C Hwy 105 SBoone, NC 28607

Phone:(828)265-2333

Fax:(828)265-2898

E-mail:merrylandacademy@

bellsouth.netwww.merrylandacademy.c

om

Page 3 of 3Merry-Land Newsletter

Grade Level News

Ms. Tabitha would like for you to know that they will be learning about St. Patrick’s Day, spring, and other related topics. The fours are also making great progress with their number of the week;

Four Year Old Newscurrently they are up to number 22. The children will also begin learning sight words!On Monday March 17th, (wear green!) the fours will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

January (2nd) Westin- Four (10th) Tierra- Three (10th) Bianna- Three (28th) Enoch- Four

BirthdaysFebruary

(7th) Ms. Stephanie B- Ones

(20th) Ebè- Five (22nd) Abby H.- Five

March (31st) Ms. Beth- Infants

Baked Spaghetti Squash with TurkeyIngredients:

1 Medium Spaghetti Squash (Cut in half. Bake 45 minutes at 350º F. Scrape out insides with a fork. It will resemble spaghetti noodles.)

1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce (Our favorite is Ragu—Garden Combination)

1 Can Low Sodium Diced Tomatoes1 Cup Low Fat Shredded Cheddar Cheese1 lb. Ground Turkey, Browned

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and place in a 9”x13” pan. Bake at 350º F until heated through. About 25-35 minutes. Sprinkle grated cheese on top 5 minutes before removing from oven if desired.Serve and enjoy!