2025-26 Hoffman Highlights

Tuition Programs - Full Day Drop-Off 8:15 AM & Pick-Up by 4:00 PM

Tuition Programs - Half Day (AM) Drop-Off 8:15 AM & Pick-Up 11:15 AM

Tuition Programs - Half Day (PM) Drop-Off 11:15 AM & Pick-Up by 4:00 PM

ADA Full Day Drop-Off 8:15 AM & Pick-Up 3:40 PM

ECSE AM Session - Drop-Off 8:15 AM & Pick-Up 11:15 AM

ECSE PM Session - Drop-Off 12:40 PM & Pick-Up 3:40 PM

Hello DHELC families!

This is a friendly reminder that our carline arrival ends promptly at 8:30 a.m.

At 8:30 a.m., our doors close so staff can move fully into the building to supervise students and begin the school day safely. If you arrive after 8:30 a.m., we kindly ask that you:

• Park your vehicle

• Walk your child into the building

• Sign your child in using the tablet located in the vestibule

We will be enforcing the 8:30 a.m. carline cutoff. This helps us ensure appropriate supervision throughout the building and allows us to accurately track student attendance and tardies.

We truly appreciate your cooperation and partnership in helping our mornings run smoothly and safely for all of our Little Indians. Thank you for your continued support! 💜

At Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, we continue nurturing the roots of integrity—helping children learn to make thoughtful choices, be honest, and take responsibility for their actions. At the early childhood level, these skills grow through daily experiences, supportive relationships, and consistent expectations.

Throughout the week, our Little Indians are practicing integrity in simple but powerful ways: following classroom routines, using respectful words, admitting when something doesn’t go as planned, and working through problems with guidance from trusted adults. These moments help children understand that integrity isn’t about being perfect—it’s about learning, growing, and trying again.

At home, families can help strengthen these roots by talking with children about choices, modeling honesty, and encouraging them to take ownership of their actions in age-appropriate ways. When children see the same messages at school and at home, those lessons take deeper root.

Thank you for partnering with us as we grow confident learners with caring hearts—Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and learning to live with integrity each day. 💜

As we move further into fall, colder temperatures are on the way! Please remember to check the weather each morning and make sure your student is dressed appropriately for the conditions. When laying out school clothes for the next day, keep in mind that temperatures can be dangerously low for students.

For recess and other outdoor activities, we follow the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Cold Weather Guidelines:

• 10°F or below: Students will remain indoors

• 10–20°F: Outdoor time limited to 5 minutes

• 20–32°F: Outdoor time limited to 10–15 minutes

• 32–90°F: Outdoor time allowed as normal

Please note that these temperatures include the “feels like” (wind chill or heat index) temperature.

We want all students to enjoy their time outside safely.

If your student needs a coat, please reach out to your child's teacher. We may have an extra we can share!

And don’t forget the hats and gloves — they make a big difference!

Temperatures are falling and with that comes wintery weather. The Meramec Valley R-III School District recognizes the challenges that result from school being canceled due to inclement weather. As such, we want to share some information to keep you informed about our district's procedures for school closings and delays due to weather.

In the case of inclement weather:

1. The district administration will make a decision as soon as they can. In general, school officials will not cancel school based on a forecast. However, there are occasional instances where decisions could be made when inclement weather appears to be inevitable.

2. When possible, the decision to cancel school may be made the night before, usually by 9:00 pm. However, in most situations, a decision isn’t made until the following morning. An early morning decision is typically made by 5:00 a.m. A decision to cancel school will be shared in the following ways: automated phone call, email, text notification through our mobile app, district social media sites, and local news television stations.

3. The district has a 2-hour late start option. This option would generally be used if the weather forecast indicates the conditions present in the early morning hours will be temporary and improved weather/temperatures are expected.

As we look ahead, we ask that all parents:

1. Create a plan for unexpected school closures and share the plan with your student. School cancellations due to weather are unavoidable and will happen at some point.

2. Please watch our district website, mobile app, and social media pages for information related to school closures. We will post periodic updates about the decision making process. We will not respond to questions submitted on social media asking if we plan to have school.

3. Recognize that snow itself rarely closes school. Snow in the forecast is not our primary concern. Rather, safety, visibility, road conditions, ice build-up, and the status of plowing are more important issues to consider. In addition, the capability of our staff to safely travel to school and for our maintenance department to clear sidewalks and parking lots have a large impact on our ability to have school.

As always, the highest priority for our district is the safety of our students and staff, for whom we will always err on the side of caution.

Are you interested in joining our PTO? Our next meeting is Monday, January 5th from 5-6pm at Doris Hoffman. Kellie Cowsert has created a Group Me and is adding members as they sign up. Please download the Group Me App to to receive messages about future details and other information.

This week, our Little Indians are continuing to grow their understanding of integrity by learning how their choices, words, and actions impact others. In our classrooms, children are practicing integrity by following routines, being honest with trusted adults, and showing responsibility during learning and play.

Teachers are guiding students through real-life moments—such as sharing materials, waiting their turn, and fixing mistakes—to help them understand that integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. These experiences help children build self-confidence and learn that making things right is an important part of growing up.

Here are a few ways families can support integrity at home this week:

⭐ Name the choice — Talk about choices your child makes during the day and praise moments when they choose to be honest or kind.
🧩 Practice problem-solving — When challenges arise, help your child think through what they can do next to make things better.
💬 Use encouraging words — Remind your child that mistakes are part of learning and that trying again shows responsibility.

By working together, we help children develop strong character, empathy, and a sense of pride in doing the right thing. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we nurture learners who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and guided by integrity. 💜

This week, invite your child to become an Integrity Helper at home. Talk together about how integrity means making good choices, being honest, and doing the right thing—even in small, everyday moments.

Throughout the week, encourage your child to look for opportunities to show integrity, such as:

✔️ Following a family rule the first time
✔️ Telling the truth, even when it feels hard
✔️ Taking care of their belongings
✔️ Helping clean up without being asked
✔️ Using kind words during a disagreement

When you notice these moments, name them out loud:
“You showed integrity by telling the truth,” or
“That was a responsible choice—you did the right thing.”

To wrap up the week, take a few minutes to reflect together:

• What was one good choice you made this week?
• When did you show integrity at home?
• How did it feel to make a responsible choice?

These simple conversations help children connect their actions to positive outcomes and build confidence in doing what’s right. Thank you for helping us grow strong character and caring hearts at home and at school.

💜 Rooted in Heart. Driven by Purpose. Guided by Integrity.

The Meramec Valley R-III School District is proud to launch our Continuous School Improvement Plan, building on our tradition of excellence while looking ahead to a future where every student thrives in our schools!

Our work is guided by four key pillars that drive an incredible educational experience for all students:

⭐ Academic Excellence

⭐ Family and Community Engagement

⭐ Positive Culture

⭐ Attendance

The Bridge Foundation is excited to announce two upcoming community events. Every dollar raised goes directly toward the Annual Back to School Bash, Classroom Grants, and Student Scholarships. Help us invest in our students' success!

Event 1: Pianos for a Purpose

Looking for a fun night out? The Pacific Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Dueling Pianos event to benefit the MVR-III Bridge Foundation.

• When: January 31st

• What: A high-energy musical evening for a great cause.

• Tickets: Purchase Tickets Here

Event 2: The Shamwalk & Run 5K

It’s time to lace up those sneakers! Registration is officially open for our annual 5K. This isn't just a race—it’s a chance to show your school pride.

Help Your School Win the Trophy! We are awarding a traveling trophy to the school with the highest participation. Whether you run or walk, make sure to select your child’s school during registration to help them take home the bragging rights this year!

• When: Saturday, March 7th at 8am

• Student Perk: Discounted registration is available for all MVR-III students.

• Register here for the race.

Family and community engagement is a top priority for the MVR-III School District. To support this goal, Superintendent Dr. Carrie Schwierjohn is hosting monthly Coffee with Carrie sessions.

These informal gatherings offer a dedicated space for parents and community members to ask questions, share new ideas, and stay informed about district news. We invite you to join us for free coffee and conversation at Little Ireland Coffee, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., on the following dates:

• February 10, 2026

• March 10, 2026

• March 31, 2026

• April 14, 2026

• May 12, 2026

We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your perspectives!

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.

SACC is our before and after school care program.

If your child needs morning childcare before 8:15 am, contact the school office at 636-271-1464

or visit the School Age Child Care Program website to register.

For more information please see the flyer below:

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, and like us on Facebook.

Our Doris Hoffman parent newsletter, called The Hoffman Highlights, will be sent out on Thursday each week. 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!

Breakfast if FREE! See the link below to see the menu.

If you plan to volunteer, attend field trips, or help at school events, you will first need to complete the background check process. Two background checks are now required, and the process takes up to 10 days to complete. Volunteers should review the links below. Please contact your child's school office if you have any questions.

• Volunteer Process

• Volunteer Handbook

February 2nd - PJ Day to celebrate Groundhog's Day

February 3rd - Wear Blue or Green

February 5th - 100th Day of School

February 6th - Sweetheart Dance

February 2nd-6th - SOUPer Bowl Canned Food Drive

February 13th - Classroom Valentine's Day Parties

February 16th - No School for President's Day

February 18th - District Board Meeting

February 23rd - No School for Staff Professional Development

As we finish another meaningful week at Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, we are proud of the growth we see in our Little Indians each day. Through learning, play, and everyday interactions, children are practicing how to make responsible choices, use kind words, and take ownership of their actions—important steps in building strong character.

We are grateful for the partnership we share with our families. When children hear consistent messages about integrity, honesty, and care at both school and home, they gain confidence and a strong sense of belonging. These shared values help create a safe and supportive environment where children feel encouraged to learn and grow.

Thank you for your continued trust, communication, and support. Together, we are nurturing learners who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and growing in integrity each and every day. 💜

With gratitude,
Mrs. Amy Huson

If you have any questions concerning the 2025-2026 school year, please contact me at 636-271-1464

or email me at ahuson@mvr3.k12.mo.us.