Nike Scout News

I hope this letter finds you and your family well, and hope that you were able to enjoy some time away this summer. I am Dr. Jessica Tollison, the Nike Principal. I am excited to start my sixth year as the Nike Principal and my twenty-fourth year in education. I have three children named Elizabeth, Landon, and Jackson. I enjoy running my two boys to their sporting events, but when I'm not at a child's sports event, I love spending time outside, reading, and running.

The Nike faculty and I have been preparing for the 2026-2027 school year which starts with our Open House on Wednesday, August 19th from 5:30-7 p.m. where you will meet your child’s teacher and tour their classroom.

On Monday, Aug. 10th, you can check Infinite Campus to see your child's teacher assignment. Additionally, your child’s teacher will be contacting you via email prior to Open House.

In our ongoing efforts to establish positive student routines and avoid any confusion or miscommunication regarding transportation, we ask that students follow their regular pick-up/drop-off routine starting on the first day of school. Parents are welcome to meet their student at school, on the first day, after they arrive on the bus and snap a picture outside. Meramec Valley uses BusRight to see bus routes. Please see directions below in the Transportation section to download the BusRight app.

If you plan on dropping off your child before school and/or picking up your child after school, please review the map below.

Please communicate any Dismissal Changes through the main office! We will be using the Kid Account system to update teachers as you call in. This includes SACC dismissal too! Our main office needs to know before 2:45pm each day if there is a change in your child's normal dismissal schedule; whether it be they go to SACC, go home on bus or are a Car Rider.

*We do understand that emergencies and last-minute plans can happen, so if something comes up after 3:00pm please notify the main office immediately. It gets confusing if you go to the teacher first, so for safety, all dismissal changes and communication should go through the main office.

Our Nike family newsletter, called the Scout Report, will be sent out every Thursday. This is intended to help your family best prepare for the week ahead so you have plenty of time to know about the 'next' thing going on!

Our goals as a community will be obtained with strong partnerships between the home and school. Please check out our website: https://www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/o/nike , download the free MVR3 App, and like us on Facebook at Nike Elementary. Rooms is our district’s two-way communication platform. More information will be shared soon regarding the Rooms two-way communication platform.

In the case of inclement weather or other emergency situations, an announcement of changes will be made through our Communication Notification System. MVR-III utilizes this tool to enhance ongoing communication with parents and staff through voice call, text, mobile app notifications, social media, and the district website live feed. In cases of school cancelation, news channels 2, 4, and 5 will also have the information.

This system allows school administrators to keep parents updated quickly and efficiently with personalized messages that help them stay actively involved in their child’s education. Patrons can use the free mobile app to get rapid notifications and access a variety of school-related information.

Parents are encouraged to download the FREE MVR-III School District mobile app to streamline school communication on the go. Find the Meramec Valley R-III School District app in the Apple App or Google Play Store. Be sure to select notifications from your preferred buildings and enable Push Notifications on your phone settings. Teachers will use the Rooms link inside the MVR-III app to communicate directly with parents.

Rooms makes it easier to stay in touch with teachers and class information from that same app. You can easily switch from district and school information in the app to Rooms, where you can see your student's classes and engage directly with teachers. Rooms can be accessed via the web (at edurooms.com) and from our district app, which is available for free and can be used from both Apple and Android phones. To access Rooms, you will need to create a login and password.

Be sure to:

• ALLOW Notifications

• Select SETTINGS to choose the school(s) you want to follow

MVR-III uses the BusRight Parent App to communicate bus routes and times with parents. BusRight is a FREE parent app to allow parents to, in real-time, follow their child’s bus route to and from school, receive notifications when the bus begins and ends its route, view the expected arrival time at your child’s designated bus stop, and receive communication from the Transportation Department.

To access BusRight, please follow these simple steps:

1. Download the App: Download the BusRight app from your mobile device's app store.

2. Create an Account: Use your Infinite Campus email address to create a login.

3. Track Your Student: Begin tracking your child's bus routes immediately.

If you have issues creating your account, you will need to verify with your school building office that you are listed as the primary guardian in Infinite Campus. Find out more on BusRight on the District website under Transportation.

It is the goal of the Meramec Valley R-III School District to provide a safe environment for students. The district recognizes that rules regarding dismissal of students are a necessary part of the district’s safety program. There is a district bus transfer procedure in place to help keep students safe after dismissal. All visitors must enter the school through the office doors. Visitors are required to show their ID to pick up their student(s). Students who are going to be picked up before the end of the school day will be released through the office only. We will be using Kid Account again this year to dismiss students.

Infinite Campus offers a secure and intuitive online portal that allows you to access your child's grades, attendance records, and assignments. This feature will enable you to stay up-to-date on their academic progress. Parents and students have access to the Campus Portal, a confidential and secure website that allows users to log in and view information about progress in school.

How do I begin using my Parent Portal?

Mobile applications are available for both iOS and Android devices. Download to access information about your child's education anytime, anywhere. You will have the convenience of monitoring their progress and staying connected even while on the go.

How can I learn more about using Infinite Campus?

Infinite Campus created a Study Guide site, which provides step-by-step walk-throughs, screenshots, and videos of how to do most common activities within the portal. Check it out for the best way to find the information you need!

If you have additional questions regarding Infinite Campus or Campus Portal, please contact the Nike office.

At Meramec Valley R-III School District, we remain committed to ensuring every student has access to healthy, nutritious meals that support their learning and success in the classroom. While we have been proud to provide free breakfast over the last two years, it has been funded at a shortfall, and the district has been making up the difference to cover the cost. As a result, the district will no longer be able to provide free breakfast to all students.

While we work hard to absorb rising operational costs, MVR-III will be adjusting meal prices for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. This is the district’s first meal price increase since before 2022. Beginning this fall, student lunch prices and secondary breakfast will increase by 30 cents, and elementary breakfast will increase by 25 cents.

To help families navigate these changes, we highly encourage everyone to complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application. Eligibility guidelines change from year to year, and many families who may not have qualified in the past find that they do now. This application will be available at all Back-to-School events. Approved applications not only assist your family with meal costs but also ensure our schools continue to receive other vital funding.

Detailed information regarding finalized meal prices, payment options, and the application process will be shared before the start of the school year. If you have any immediate questions regarding free or reduced lunch applications, please reach out to Michelle Dawson at (636) 271-1428 or email Michelle at mdawson@mvr3.k12.mo.us.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we prepare for a fantastic school year ahead!

Studies show that a healthy breakfast gives children a head start to a successful day. Students may purchase extra milk for $.75 per carton. All money to be deposited into your student’s lunch account should be placed in an envelope with the student’s name, grade, teacher’s name, and the amount enclosed. There is also a feature through the parent portal to load money onto your student's account electronically.

MVR-III asks ALL families to complete the meal application to ensure continued funding to support ALL students in our district. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Periodic notices will be sent home regarding meal account balance and can also be accessed through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal System

A copy of your child’s updated shot record should be turned in to the office, as many shots are required by law. Special health conditions regarding your student should be reported through our Medical Information Form filled out during the annual student information update. You can bring your child's updated shot records to Open House on August 19th.

The district is also expanding the Watch D.O.G.S. (dads/guardians of great students) safety program at each K-8 building in the district. If you are interested learning more about this program or volunteering even 1 day a year as a Watch D.O.G.S. in your child’s school.

Watch D.O.G.S. is a national innovative program focusing on the prevention of violence in our children's schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures for two purposes:

1) To provide positive male/adult role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.

2) To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying. WATCH D.O.G.S. are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and any other father-figures who volunteer as a positive presence for at least one whole school day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school.

Please contact the Nike office if you are interested in serving as a WATCH D.O.G.S. at Nike Elementary.

Nike has an active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). The organization has traditionally sponsored activities such as Movie Night, Breakfast with Santa, Trivia Night, and fundraisers to support the school. This year we are planning to hold similar events. We will share our first meeting date soon!

2026/2027 School Year

Aug. 19th: Open House 5:30-7 pm

Aug. 24th: First Day of School

Aug. 27th: Fall Pictures

Oct. 15th: Fall Retake/Absentee Pictures

Nov. 3rd: 4th FT to JA Biztown 9:30 am-1:15 pm.

Dec. 11th: Dental Safari @ Nike

We look forward to seeing all the Nike families at the Wednesday, August 19th Open House event. If you have any questions concerning the 2025-2026 school year, please contact me at (636) 271-1444 or email at jtollison@mvr3.k12.mo.us .

Your Partner in Education,

Email: jtollison@mvr3.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/o/nike
Location: 2264 Hwy Ap, Catawissa, MO 63015
Phone: (636) 271-1444