Chief Weekly
Week of August 25th - 29th, 2025!
Week @ a Glance:
Monday: A Day.
Tuesday: B Day.
Wednesday: C Day.
Thursday: D Day.
Friday: A Day.
*3rd & 4th Grade Girls on the Run Registration is OPEN (see link below)
School Hours
The school day begins at 8:35 AM and students will be released at 3:40 PM.
Students should not be dropped off before 8:05 am; there is no supervision available.
Students dropped off between 8:05 - 8:20am will either eat breakfast or wait in the cafeteria.
*If your child is a morning car rider and will not eat breakfast, we strongly encourage you to drop them off after 8:20am.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Parent Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures
To keep things safe, smooth, and consistent for every child, please review our updated arrival and dismissal procedures. You’ll find visuals attached to help clarify the flow for both drop-off and pick-up.
🕗 Morning Drop-Off (8:05–8:35 AM)
Drop-off location: Main entrance.
Doors open at 8:05 AM. Students arriving between 8:05–8:20 will wait in the cafeteria, where they may eat breakfast or chat with friends. Students are released to classrooms at 8:20.
After 8:35: Students are tardy. Please park, walk your child in, and sign them in at the office.
Walk-Ups: Use the crosswalk and say goodbyes at the door. Visitors must check in with ID to enter the building.
🚌 Dismissal (Begins at 3:25 PM)
There are three options for end-of-day dismissal:
SACC (Aftercare): Dismissal at 3:25 PM to the SACC entrance.
Bus Riders: Dismissed at 3:35 PM. Buses aim to leave by 3:40–3:45 PM. Please allow extra time the first week as routes adjust.
Car Riders:
Line begins at the main entrance and splits into two lanes in the Pacific Intermediate lot.
KidAccount scanning starts at 3:15 PM. Have your card ready or show ID.
Cars begin loading at 3:35 PM. Please pull to a green cone and wait for staff to release the line.
Carline Reminder
- For everyone’s safety, please drive slowly and remain stopped in the loading zone until a staff member signals the line to move forward. We kindly ask that parents stay in their vehicles during drop-off and pick-up.
- If your child is still learning to buckle themselves, we encourage you to pull into the parking lot after pickup to assist them safely. This is a great chance to help them build independence with this important skill!
- Be Brave - if the first line is at the flagpole at Pacific Intermediate we need the next car to START the second line on the inside lane!
- Thank you for helping us keep carline safe and efficient!
Important Reminders:
We use KidAccount to track dismissal accurately. All students remain in their dismissal holding areas until staff mark them for release. We start organizing students and moving kiddos to dismissal spots around 3:20-3:25pm.
Any dismissal changes must go through the office by 2:00 PM. Calling the office ensures updates are made in KidAccount and teachers are notified.
**Teachers are focused on instruction—office communication is key.** SAME FOR SACC - ALL DISMISSAL CHANGES WITH THE SACC SCHEDULE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE OFFICE!***
📞 Office Contact: 636-271-1440
Thank you for your support in making arrival and dismissal safe and efficient!
Building Communication
Our goals as a community will be obtained with strong partnerships between the home and school. Please check out our website, download the free MVR3 App to have the ability to communicate through Rooms, and like us on Facebook.
Our Zitzman parent newsletter, called Chief Weekly, 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! Students will also bring home a Purple Thursday Folder each week with flyers and classroom communication!
Girls on the Run - 3rd & 4th Grade Girls!!!
Picture Day @ Zitzman Elementary
Pre-Order Password: 2E8T3U4X
District Communication
Did You Receive Our School Closure Notification?
If you did not receive a text, phone call, or email about Tuesday’s water main break and school closure, please take this as an opportunity to update the phone numbers and email addresses you have on file in Infinite Campus. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to call the office—we’re happy to help.
Rooms App Update
If you are an existing Rooms user and haven’t received updates or messages from your child’s teacher, your app may be out of date. Please visit your device’s App Store to make sure you have the latest version.
Meramec Valley R-III School District offers a variety of FREE apps to keep families informed, connected, and engaged in their student’s education—from tracking grades and assignments to following bus routes in real time. Explore the apps at bit.ly/mvr3apps to streamline communication, stay on top of schedules, and support your child’s success—anytime, anywhere! #MVR3success
Download the FREE MVR-III District app in the Apple App or Google Play Store. Be sure to:
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Allow Notifications
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Select Settings to choose your school(s)
Teachers use the Rooms link inside the MVR-III app to communicate directly with parents.
Transportation
Important Reminder
If there is a change in how your child is getting home, all changes must be made through the school office—not through the teacher. Teachers are busy teaching and may not see last-minute emails or messages. Calling the office ensures your child is notified of the change and gets home safely the correct way.
BusRight Parent App
MVR-III uses the BusRight Parent App to communicate bus routes and times with parents. BusRight is a FREE parent app that allows families to:
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Follow their child’s bus route in real-time
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Receive notifications when the bus begins and ends its route
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View the expected arrival time at your child’s designated bus stop
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Receive direct communication from the Transportation Department
This app is especially helpful because it lets you track your child’s bus arrival both in the morning and afternoon, giving you peace of mind and helping ensure your child’s safe arrival.
To access BusRight, please follow these simple steps:
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Download the App: Download the BusRight app from your mobile device’s app store.
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Create an Account: Use your Infinite Campus email address to create a login.
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Track Your Student: Begin tracking your child’s bus routes immediately.
KID Account - Visitor Passes/Car Riders/Dismissal
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. All visitors must enter the school through the office doors. Students who are going to be picked up before the end of the school day will be released through the office only.
We are continuing to use Kid Account for dismissal this year—this will be our second year using this system in the carline. Each family will receive a Kid Account card specific to your student. You are welcome to take a picture of the card, as we can scan the barcode image on phones as well. If you are a returning family, your card from last year will still work. This card will be scanned at pickup to ensure each child is released to the correct guardian. We also use Kid Account as students board the bus and are released to SACC or an afterschool club, each day to make sure all students are safely released to the correct location.
School Dental Visits
School Breakfast & Lunch
Studies show that a healthy breakfast gives children a head start to a successful day. The cost of breakfast is FREE for ALL students; lunch is $3.30 per 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 to load money onto your student's account electronically. We’re updating our online payment system and expect everything to be switched over soon. Once the transition is complete, families will receive instructions on how to create a new login and set up payment methods. After that, you’ll still be able to easily add money to your student’s account through the parent portal—just with a new and improved system.
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.
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
MVNation Opportunities
Bridging the Future Event
PHS Cheer Camp
We are hiring!
Oasis Tutoring
All Things PTO
Meet your Zitzman PTO
We’re excited to kick off a new school year and look forward to connecting with families and supporting our amazing students and staff!
2025–2026 PTO Board
President: Melissa Feldman
Vice President: Mallorie Wilmering
Secretary: Lauren Miriani
Treasurer: Missy Allen
Public Relations: Meaghan Sodemann
Teacher Reps: Sarah David & Stephanie Titter
Contact Us
Email: zitzmanelempto@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/zitzmanelempto
Donations: https://givebutter.com/zitzman-elementary-pto
PTO Meetings
Join us every third Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Zitzman library.
Can’t make it in person? Meetings are streamed live on our Facebook page!
25-26 PTO Activities
- Sept. 26th - Bingo Night
- Oct. 17th - Homecoming Parade Float
- Oct. 30th - Trunk or Treat
- Dec. 12th - Pizza with Santa
- Mar. 28th - Trivia Night
Zitzman Spirit Wear!
Click on the link below:
Preview our Spirit Wear store! Get yourself some Zitzman or MVR3 gear to show your spirit on purple Fridays or wear our logo around town proudly! Lots of good items and you are able to pick colors and logos to customize to your liking!
MVR3 Spirit Wear!
District Store
This store has a WIDE variety of options and mostly PHS and Athletics based but there are some options where you can choose the Zitzman logo or just the district logo!
Guiding Us This School Year: Our Why & How
Looking Ahead - Save the Date:
- Monday, September 1st- Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, September 17th- Fall Picture Day
From me to you...
Dear Zitzman Families,
We had a weird week one and are running into week two!!! I just want to pause and say—you’re doing a great job. I know the start of the year can feel like a whirlwind: new routines, calendars, apps, reminders, practices, and all the things that pull at your attention. It’s a lot, and I feel honored to be walking through it alongside you.
Please know your kids are in such good hands. The Zitzman staff has worked hard to make our school a welcoming, safe place where every child can shine. I couldn’t be more proud of the way they’ve wrapped around students to help them feel settled, cared for, and ready to learn.
Together, we’ve got this.
Thank you for trusting us with your children—it’s the best part of what I get to do.
Leading & learning,
Dr. Sladek
