Reminder! The 100th Day of School is coming up on Thursday, February 12 (barring anymore snow days) and our Merritt Elementary students will be celebrating in style - 100 year old style!
1 fish, 2 fish... our DK students are counting goldfish to count and compare numbers!
Brandywine is now accepting applications for preschool for the 2026-2027 school year. This applies to the Headstart program, as well as the Merritt Great Start Readiness Program. If your child will be 4 by or on September 1, 2026, they are eligible to apply. If they will 4 between September 2 and December 1, they can apply and be on the waitlist until after September 1.
To get an application, pick one up at the Merritt Elementary office or contact Preschool Teacher Maddi High at mhigh@brandywinebobcats.org.
We're highlighting members of our staff! 🐾
Meet Brittney Gmeiner, Developmental Kindergarten Teacher at Merritt Elementary. Ms. Gmeiner has a master's degree in elementary and early childhood education and has been teaching at Brandywine for 11 years now! Her favorite part of the day at Brandywine is watching the wonder and curiosity on her students' faces as they make new discoveries and enjoy learning with their friends.
In her free time, she loves paddle boarding with her golden doodle, baking, and spending time at the beach.
Meet Brittney Gmeiner, Developmental Kindergarten Teacher at Merritt Elementary. Ms. Gmeiner has a master's degree in elementary and early childhood education and has been teaching at Brandywine for 11 years now! Her favorite part of the day at Brandywine is watching the wonder and curiosity on her students' faces as they make new discoveries and enjoy learning with their friends.
In her free time, she loves paddle boarding with her golden doodle, baking, and spending time at the beach.
Mrs. Hefner's first graders had their "Cozy Up to a Good Book" day yesterday and read "If You Give A Pig a Pancake." They celebrated with a snack of mini pancakes and a writing craft.
First graders in Ms. Janke's class are over the moon!
Today in their Astronomy unit, they learned some of the phases of the moon, and practiced creating them with Oreo cookies! The best part - they were able to eat their moons afterwards.
Today in their Astronomy unit, they learned some of the phases of the moon, and practiced creating them with Oreo cookies! The best part - they were able to eat their moons afterwards.
Our fluffy coworker Copper visited Ms. High's Preschool class yesterday! Our youngest learners found out what Copper's job is at our district, and were able to give him pets and treats!
Second grade just finished up their Westward Expansion CKLA Unit!
To celebrate, they journeyed on the Oregon Trail, making covered wagons from milk cartons, churning their own butter, and eating cornbread.
To celebrate, they journeyed on the Oregon Trail, making covered wagons from milk cartons, churning their own butter, and eating cornbread.
Ms. Knapp's Kindergarten class became "Junior Engineers" on Friday! A parent volunteer, Ms. Sondra, brought in Legos for the class and the challenge was to design, build, and race custom-made cars down the ramp! The best part was the redesign phase—after every race, students headed back to the pits to tweak their creations for more speed. Everyone had a total blast!
The 100th Day of School is coming up on Thursday, February 12 (barring anymore snow days) and our Merritt Elementary students will be celebrating in style - 100 year old style!
Just a bunch of cuties playing Vet Clinic in Ms. Little's class as part of their animal unit!
DK is so fun!
Today during centers, our students are feeding goldfish to penguins and polar bears then comparing who has more and who has less. They are putting ABC puzzles together, creating winter creations with pattern blocks, counting playdough snowballs, and playing veterinarian at their play center.
Today during centers, our students are feeding goldfish to penguins and polar bears then comparing who has more and who has less. They are putting ABC puzzles together, creating winter creations with pattern blocks, counting playdough snowballs, and playing veterinarian at their play center.
The 2026 Mini Basketball Cheer Clinic is coming up for K-6 students. The Cheer Clinic Performance is Tuesday, February 3 at 6:45 p.m. at the basketball game. Students should arrive by 6:15 p.m.
The cost is $40. Sign up dates are at the high school on:
January 24 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
January 25 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Practices are:
January 31 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
February 1 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For more information and questions, contact Coach Mia Frazier at mfrazier@brandywinebobcats.org.
The cost is $40. Sign up dates are at the high school on:
January 24 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
January 25 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Practices are:
January 31 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
February 1 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For more information and questions, contact Coach Mia Frazier at mfrazier@brandywinebobcats.org.
On Wednesday, first graders in Ms. Hefner's class had a "Cozy Up to a Good Book" Day. Students wore cozy clothes and were able to bring a stuffed friend with them as a reward for good behavior! They read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" then did a few activities and had a cookie snack. It was a perfect day!
The 2026 Mini Basketball Cheer Clinic is coming up for K-6 students. The Cheer Clinic Performance is Tuesday, February 3 at 6:45 p.m. at the basketball game. Students should arrive by 6:15 p.m.
The cost is $40. Sign up dates are at the high school on:
January 24 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
January 25 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Practices are:
January 31 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
February 1 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For more information and questions, contact Coach Mia Frazier at mfrazier@brandywinebobcats.org.
The cost is $40. Sign up dates are at the high school on:
January 24 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
January 25 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Practices are:
January 31 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
February 1 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For more information and questions, contact Coach Mia Frazier at mfrazier@brandywinebobcats.org.
Mrs. Ramos' Kindergarten class worked on different ways of counting to 10 this week!
Our DK friends in Ms. Gmeiner's class made adorable paper snowmen last week to decorate the hallways with!
Yesterday at recess was the calm before the winter storm!
Our little learners have been practicing their writing skills, by identifying parts of a sentence and learning personal narratives. Seeing a student transition from scribbles to sentences is a front row seat experience!
Stormeigh had to dress the part for her 8th birthday AND being on video! Happy Birthday to second grader Stormeigh! She was also one of the guests on our Tall Tales Cat Chat episode a few months ago. Check it out here: https://sites.libsyn.com/497938/season-3-episode-5-tall-tales-fairy-tales-with-second-grade
