Welcome Back to School!

The Mentone Educational Resources Foundation (MERF) would like to welcome back all of our teachers, students, parents, and families for another school year. We also want to extend a special welcome to our new teachers and thank our returning educators for the dedication they show to our students and community.

MERF is proud to support a close-knit community that believes in Valley Head School. When people come together to support students, administrators, and teachers, everyone benefits. Investing in education is something that pays forward for generations. Some of the most heartwarming stories are of local students who return after college or a major life change to give back to the community that helped shape them. Their example inspires the next generation to do the same. Our community is special, and it will remain that way as long as we continue supporting our youth and the environments where they learn and grow.

This fall, MERF will award the Sue Henry Scholarship to help a graduate continue their education without financial barriers. In the spring, we’ll be excited to award the Carter Holland Memorial Scholarship to graduating seniors as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Throughout the year, we also welcome teacher requests for classroom supplies and field trips.

MERF is excited to continue supporting Sherryl Lewis and the K–6 art program. Research continues to show that art education plays an important role in a child’s development. Through art, students build creativity, problem-solving skills, confidence, and a growth mindset while learning to express themselves and collaborate with others. Art also supports brain development by strengthening critical thinking, communication, and fine motor skills. With new materials, including drying racks and other classroom essentials, Ms. Lewis’s space is becoming more like a true art room, giving students even more opportunities to learn and create. We can’t wait to see what they make this year.

Thank you to everyone who supports MERF and our schools. Without your donations, our mission would not be possible. If you’d like to support the art program at Valley Head or any of MERF’s other initiatives, you can send a check to P.O. Box 107, Mentone, AL 35984.

We wish all of our students, teachers, and families a wonderful school year!