8.29.25 Merriam Family Newsletter

Posted Date: 8/29/25 (5:40 PM)

August 29, 2025

Merriam Families,

Welcome Back! What a delight it was to welcome so many smiling faces at Merriam this week. It’s been a fantastic first week back and we are off to an amazing start. As I've walked through halls and classrooms this week, I've seen the excitement and uplifting energy firsthand in every part of the school. Having spent the first two days of the week with staff, I can say with confidence and pride that all of our our educators, office staff, kitchen staff, nurses and custodians went above and beyond to create a welcoming environment for our students this week. We're so glad our students are here, and very happy for the return to school!

Belonging
Merriam's theme for this school year is belonging. This week, our staff spent time reflecting about our WHY as educators, and what it means to create a sense of belonging for every child at school. Creating a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment is something that Merriam does exceptionally well, and at the same time, we recognize that belonging isn’t a one-time achievement: it requires ongoing, intentional effort, each and every day. No two children are the same, and what it takes for a child to feel seen, safe, and valued may look different, depending on the day, the moment, or the circumstances. There are infinite ways to demonstrate inclusion and belonging, and Merriam is deeply committed to nurturing a culture where every child feels that they matter, and looks forward to coming to school each day. When I imagine the kind of community that we aspire to create together, I return to this poem as my north star, again and again.

Speaking of creating a sense of belonging, we want to thank the Merriam families, who over the summer, shared warm feedback about their teachers with Superintendent Peter Light. These words of praise and celebration were shared at our district's opening ceremony, and they meant to much to us!

Merriam Teacher Recognition

Allyson fosters love in art for so many in the Merriam community. She has created a space for kids to love art when so many are having these experiences taken away. She is so loved in our household she is spoken about weekly but all of our children. Thank you Allyson for making art special for our children.

Kaitlin is a magical teacher you dream about your kids having as an educator. She creates a space where not only your children are learning but also fosters an emotional safe haven. This is not something that doesn’t take a lot of hard work and dedication to truly know each kid in her class. She is truly a gift to the Merriam community.

All School Meeting

We always extend an invite to parents/caregivers to attend our All School Meetings, however, this first ASM next week is just for our students. We look forward to seeing you at a future assembly!

No School on Monday
A friendly reminder that there is no school on Monday 9/1 in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the three day weekend and we'll see everyone on Tuesday!

Warmly,

Christina Gavin

Merriam Principal

Important Dates

Mon 9/1 - NO SCHOOL, Labor Day
Fri 9/12 - Back to School Picnic, 5:30pm
Tue 9/16 - Picture Day
Tue 9/23 - NO SCHOOL, Rosh Hashanah
Wed 9/24 - Back to School Night, 6:00-7:30pm
Thu 10/2 - NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur
Mon 10/13 - NO SCHOOL, Indigenous People's Day

The 2025-26 AB Academic Calendar is available here.

We are proud that Acton-Boxborough has honored an inclusive calendar. Please make sure to review the district calendar to be aware of “no school days” and early dismissals.

Dog Therapy Program at Merriam 🐾

Dog Therapy is returning to Merriam this year! This program was a huge success last year, bringing joy, comfort, and connection to our students, staff, and families! Our first visit with 6th grade will be on Wednesday of next week.

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting students' social-emotional well-being, we will be welcoming visits from licensed and registered therapy dogs. These calm, gentle, and well-trained dogs will be scheduled to visit classrooms, offering a unique way to promote joy, reduce stress, and support a positive school environment.

Each K–6 classroom will have the chance to meet and spend time with one of our therapy dogs. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in this special experience.

We recognize that some families may prefer their child not participate in dog therapy visits due to allergies, discomfort around dogs, or personal reasons. Families will be notified by their classroom teacher about their scheduled classroom visit and provided an Opt Out Form. All students will have the opportunity to visit with a therapy dog unless their parent opts out their child.

We’re truly looking forward to this exciting and heartwarming program, and we can’t wait to see the smiles it brings!

🍎 What's for lunch? 🥪

Food services info and lunch menus are found here.