Chief Weekly

Monday - NO SCHOOL - President's Day.

Tuesday - D Day

Wednesday - A Day I ZE Spirit Squad Practice 3:45pm I PTO Meeting 4:00pm I MVR3 Board Meeting 6:00pm

Thursday - B Day

Friday - C Day I Read, Right, Run Club 7:30am I 2nd Trimester Celebration Day!

Pillar of the Month: Respectful

Counseling Week: Grey

We want to take a moment to remind everyone of our ID policy when picking up your child. While we understand it may not always be the most convenient, it is a non-negotiable safety measure to ensure that every child is released to the correct person. Our priority is creating a secure environment where kids can focus on learning while we handle pick-ups with accuracy and care.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. While we have encountered some not-so-pleasant reactions, please know that this policy is in place for the safety of all students. Let’s work together to keep our school community safe!

Thank you for your understanding and support.

We are excited and thankful for all of your fundraiser support. This fundraiser will raise funds to go into our Student Activity Account at Zitzman Elementary! This account plays a vital role in enriching your child’s school experience by covering costs for field trips, trimester celebration snacks, crafts and activities, end-of-unit celebrations, decorations, supplies, and so much more.

Every dollar raised goes directly toward making learning more engaging, fun, and memorable for our students. Your support—whether through participation, donations, or simply spreading the word—helps us continue creating special moments and opportunities for all of our kids.

Thank you for helping us make Zitzman Elementary an amazing place for our students!

Dear Parents,

This email is to inform you of slight adjustments to the 2024-2025 school calendar.

• Friday, February 21st will be a full school day for students.

• Monday, February 24th will now be a school day for students.

• The last day of the second trimester has been moved to Thursday, February 27th.

• Friday, February 28th will be a professional development day for teachers and students will not attend school on this day.

• Trimester 2 report cards will be available in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal on Tuesday, March 4th.

These changes were made to maximize instructional time for our students.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to prioritize student learning.

Sincerely,

MVR-III School District

Help us make a difference in the lives of our over 3,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students. Jobs available now and for next school year. Start the process of finding your home in #MVNation today! Questions? Visit bit.ly/JOINMVR3 for more info, email a member or our HR Department, or call our Central Office at 636-271-1400. #GrowingTogethe

Families: Save the Date! MVR-III will be hosting the FREE 2nd Annual "Together We Grow" Family Resource Event at Riverbend Middle School from 5:30 - 7:30 PM on Thursday, March 6. Gain insight with workshops on navigating power struggles, promoting language development, preventing drug & alcohol use, teaching safe Internet use, and more. Free childcare, dinner (with signup - coming soon), door prizes, & resources provided. Want to host a table? Contact Mr. Josh Grodie at jgrodie@mvr3.k12.mo.us or 636-271-1459. #MVNation #GrowingTogether

Do you have a rising Kindergarten student? Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open! Because you are an existing family within the district, this will be completed through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal (watch this IC online registration video for a preview).

If you do not have your Infinite Campus Parent Portal set up yet, please contact your school building secretary for assistance. You will be provided a KEY, which can be entered on this Infinite Campus-New User webpage to create your account.

• Once logged in, click the three-line menu > More > Online Registration / Update:

  • IMPORTANT - Smartphones are not supported devices for online enrollment.

  • If you do not have access to a computer, Chromebook, or tablet, please contact your building to set up an appointment. We are happy to provide a district device on-site and assist you with completing the application!

• At the next screen, click Start on the 25-26 Kindergarten (and New-Student-to-District) Registration item:

• On the Student tab, verify info for all other students returning for the 25-26 school year.

• Click Add New Student if your incoming Kindergarten student is not already in the system.

Visit the Enrollment Info page on our website or call Central Office at 636-271-1400 if you have any questions. Thank you for ensuring that MVR-III has the latest information about your student(s)!

Sincerely,

Meramec Valley R-III School District

Regular meetings will occur on the third Wednesday of each month at 4:00pm. There will be childcare provided by PTO if you are unable to find childcare for you kiddo and want to attend!

Reach out to PTO at zitzmanelempto@gmail.com

See the list of upcoming events below and use the button to sign up for the event you are interested in through our 'givebutter' links!

Dear Valued Community Member,

The Zitzman Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is dedicated to promoting a positive

and cooperative relationship between parents, teachers, and the school community. To achieve this

goal, the PTO organizes various events and activities that complement and enhance the educational

experience of students. While most of our events are centered around building a strong school

community, we also hold a once-a-year adult only fundraiser to meet a specific need. This year,

Zitzman Elementary PTO will be hosting a Television Trivia Night on March 8, 2025, at the Pacific

Eagles, to help raise funds to help provide enhancements to our school playground. Playgrounds

have many positive impacts on children including fostering physical development, promoting social

interaction and skill development, boosting creativity and imagination, enhancing cognitive

abilities, and increasing self esteem and confidence through overcoming challenges on playground

equipment; essentially contributing to overall well-being and healthy development of our Zitzman

students.

We are currently seeking items to be featured in our silent auction, raffles, or prizes for the winners

of our trivia night. We are also taking monetary donations for Round Sponsorships. We would

greatly appreciate any donation you can make. As acknowledgement for your donation to our

annual Trivia Night, your business will be recognized in our event program, as well as on our

website and social media platforms.

We will gladly provide a donation receipt letter with the PTO’s tax-exempt ID number for your

records upon request.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact me at (314) 922-3941 or

zitzmanelempto@gmail.com. On behalf of the students, parents, and faculty of Zitzman Elementary,

we thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

Meaghan Sodemann

Zitzman Elementary PTO President

Here are some fun and meaningful ways families can practice and show respectfulness at home and in the community throughout the month:

At Home

1. Respect Jar – Create a jar where family members write down acts of respect they notice in each other. Read them together at the end of the week.
2. Manners Challenge – Make a game out of saying “please,” “thank you,” and using kind words throughout the day.
3. Listening Circle – Take turns sharing about your day while practicing active listening (eye contact, no interruptions, asking follow-up questions).
4. Respect Coupons – Make and exchange coupons for kind gestures like helping with chores, making a sibling’s bed, or giving a compliment.
5. Dinner Table Discussion – Each night, discuss one way someone showed respect that day (at school, home, or in the community).
6. Role-Playing Scenarios – Act out different situations where respect is needed (e.g., losing a game, disagreeing with a friend, waiting patiently).
7. Gratitude Board – Display a whiteboard or poster where family members write what they appreciate about each other.

In the Community

1. Kindness Rocks – Paint rocks with kind messages and place them around the neighborhood or a local park.
2. Respect in Public Spaces – Practice using quiet voices in waiting rooms, putting shopping carts away, and saying “excuse me” when needed.
3. Community Clean-Up – Spend time picking up trash in a park or around the neighborhood to show respect for the environment.
4. Write Thank-You Notes – Send a thank-you card to a teacher, coach, librarian, or community worker.
5. Hold the Door Open – Make it a goal to hold the door open for others when entering or leaving public places.
6. Visit an Elderly Neighbor – Spend time talking to or helping an elderly neighbor with small tasks.
7. Library or Bookstore Visit – Discuss respect for shared spaces by returning books properly and keeping voices low.
8. Donate Gently Used Items – Clean out toys, clothes, or books to donate to those in need, teaching respect for others’ needs.

• February 17th - NO SCHOOL!
• February 19th - PTO Monthly Mtg 4pm
• February 21st - FULL DAY OF SCHOOL - 2nd Trimester Celebration Day!
• February 28th - NO SCHOOL: Staff PD Day

We will be reaching out to parents of students who will earn an award at our assembly in the next couple days to invite you to our event to help celebrate your child's achievement and recognition!