2026-27 Hoffman Highlights

As we prepare to welcome students back to Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to both our returning families and those joining our Little Indian family for the very first time. There is something so special about the beginning of a new school year—the excitement, fresh starts, new friendships, and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

As I begin my second year as principal of Doris Hoffman, I find myself even more grateful for this incredible school community. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of getting to know our students, families, and staff, and I continue to be inspired by the love, dedication, and support that make Doris Hoffman such a special place. Thank you for entrusting us with your children and for allowing us to be part of these important early years.

This year, our school theme is "Little Steps, Big Successes." In early childhood education, we know that the smallest moments often lead to the biggest growth. Every new skill mastered, every friendship formed, every act of kindness shown, and every ounce of independence gained is worth celebrating. Throughout the year, we will focus on recognizing and honoring these little steps as we work together to help each child reach their fullest potential.

At Doris Hoffman, our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children feel loved, families feel welcomed, and staff feel supported. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school create the foundation for student success, and we look forward to working alongside you throughout the year.

Whether your child is walking through our doors for the first time or returning for another year of learning and growing, we cannot wait to see the amazing things they will accomplish. Thank you for being part of our Doris Hoffman family. Here's to a wonderful school year filled with learning, laughter, growth, and many little steps that lead to big successes!

We are hosting our Open House on Tuesday, August 18th! You will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and tour their classroom and our building. Due to the amount of families attending, please try to abide by the 30 minute split sections based on the letter of your last name:

5:30-6:00pm A-H

6:00-6:30pm I-P

6:30-7:00pm Q-Z

We will end the evening by sending your student home with a sweet treat to enjoy! Enjoy the last few weeks of summer! See you soon!

Mrs. Huson

Tuition Programs - Full Day Drop-Off 8:15 AM & Pick-Up 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 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

To help students understand and practice their arrival/dismissal routine, we encourage parents to start the year with the routines they plan on using for the entire year. If your student will be a bus rider, we encourage them to ride the bus to and from school on the first day. Students need to meet their bus driver and get into the routine of those normal procedures starting on day one. Help your child be successful and have a smooth transition to school by starting their day off with our friendly bus drivers. On the first day, parents are welcome to meet their student at school after they arrive on the bus and snap a picture outside!!

Please read the information below and look at the map for our updated arrival and dismissal process.

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. As a reminder, you will be asked to show your ID, so please make sure to bring it with you.

We will be using Kid Account to dismiss this year. We will provide you with more information and a car tag that is specific to your student. We also ask that you download the Kid Account App where you will have a QR code that will be scanned at pick up to ensure each child is released to the correct guardian. We will also use Kid Account as students get on the bus each day to ensure all students are released to the correct bus.

When you arrive at school:

• Please pull into the drop-off car lane. We will begin bringing students into the building at 8:15 am.
• Staff will meet you at your car door to escort children into the building.
• If outside of normal drop-off time, you must announce your arrival via intercom/monitor and wait for a staff member to let you in. Please DO NOT allow others to enter as you leave.
• Parents who bring students after the starting time for each session must sign the child in at the main office.
• When exiting the parking lot, please be mindful of traffic and follow the arrows.

• Dismissal will begin at 3:30 pm - tuition students may attend until 4 pm**

  • Follow the designated traffic pattern shown on the map and remain in your vehicle during regular dismissal times.

  • Staff will come to your car to scan your KID Account code.

  • A staff member will escort your child out of the building to you.

  • Children will only be released to parents/guardians or individuals listed as authorized contacts in our student information system and may be required to show identification before a child is released.

  • If someone different will be picking up your child, please notify the office in writing or by phone prior to dismissal.

  • If your child requires an alternative transportation arrangement, please notify the office by:

  • 10:45 AM for AM students

  • 3:00 PM for PM or full-day students

• When exiting the parking lot, please be mindful of traffic and follow the arrows.

Meramec Valley R-III School District uses BusRight, a transportation software aimed at designing more efficient bus routes for our students and providing better communication to our families.

The BusRight app will 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 communications from the Transportation Department. Parents should get an email from support@busright.com with the subject “You’re Invited to BusRight.” Your invite will contain a link to create an account with BusRight and will officially go live with bus routes on the first day of school.

Once launched, if you log in to the system and observe the bus appearing to be offline, it does not mean the bus route is not in operation - it is most likely the result of one of the following reasons:

• The bus route has completed its run and is back at the bus lot and not turned on.

• The driver is using a spare bus that is not equipped with BusRight's GPS tracking system.

• The GPS Tracking system on the bus is not online due to technical issues.

• If the route does not show as an option on your route list, you may not be assigned to the stop in the BusRight system, but you can be added by contacting the Transportation Department Office at (636) 271-1470 or email Ruby Taylor at rtaylor@mvr3.k12.mo.us.

Please note that if you have students on routes that are not yet being launched on BusRight, you may also see the live locations of those vehicles, but they may not be accurate until officially launched.

Questions or issues regarding the use of the BusRight app should be directed to

support@busright.com. As always, questions about your child's bus stop or route should be directed to the Transportation Department at (636) 271-1470.

We appreciate your support and patience as we implement the BusRight safety system.

The City of Pacific has notified the district of a new traffic ordinance that will impact arrival and dismissal routines. Any left turns from South Indian Pride Drive onto Payne Street are prohibited during the following peak hours:

Morning: 7:00am to 8:30am
Afternoon: 2:30pm to 4:00pm

This change impacts those visiting or working at the Pacific Intermediate, Zitzman Elementary, and Doris Hoffman Early Childhood campuses.

We encourage all families and staff to plan for potential delays, allow extra time for your commute, and consider alternate routes to ensure safe travel for our school community.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to the safety of our students and staff.

SACC is our before and after school care program.

If your child needs morning childcare before 8:15 am or after school care, 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:

We are incredibly blessed to have our amazing school nurse, Ms. Jessica, as part of our Doris Hoffman family! She truly has such a caring heart and is always willing to go above and beyond to support our students and families. If you have the opportunity during Open House, please take a moment to stop by and introduce yourself.

As we begin the school year, please make sure the office has a copy of your child's most up-to-date immunization records. If your child has any allergies, medical conditions, dietary restrictions, requires medication during the school day, or has any other health concerns that we should be aware of, we ask that you please reach out to Nurse Jessica. Open communication helps us ensure that we are meeting your child's individual needs and providing the safest, most supportive environment possible.

We know that no one knows your child better than you do, and we value your partnership tremendously. Even if you have already shared information with the school, a quick conversation or email to Nurse Jessica is always appreciated. Working together allows us to make sure every one of our Little Indians is healthy, safe, and ready for a wonderful year of learning and growth!

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!

Download the MVR3 APP!

Download the FREE MVR-III School District mobile app to streamline school communication on the go. Apple App Store & Google Play links can be found at the bottom of every district website page. Be sure to ALLOW Notifications & select SETTINGS to choose the school(s) you want to follow. We will use the communication platform called ROOMs, which integrated into our MVR-III School District mobile app.

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!

Breakfast and lunch are included in the tuition price for tuition paying students, so this information does not apply to your family.

In compliance with our Healthy Generation School goals, Doris Hoffman will focus on healthy celebrations. The health and safety of our students is one of our highest priorities. Because we have students with food allergies and special dietary needs, Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center follows district food safety guidelines to help create a safe environment for everyone.

Sharing Snacks with the Class

If you would like to send a snack to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion, or if your child’s teacher requests that snack be sent in to share with the class, we appreciate your help in keeping all students safe. Please follow these guidelines:

• Doris Hoffman is a peanut-free facility.

• All snacks must be store purchased and individually packaged.

• Homemade treats are not permitted.

• All items must have the original ingredient label on the packaging.

• Treats must come from the approved snack list.

• Please check with your child's teacher before sending treats to coordinate a celebration date and verify the class size.

For birthdays and celebrations, we also encourage families to think beyond food! Many students enjoy celebrating with items such as stickers, pencils, bubbles, bookmarks, temporary tattoos, or donating a favorite book to the classroom.

Thank you for helping us provide a safe, inclusive, and fun learning environment for all of our Little Indians. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

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.

We suggest families plan ahead and complete the process prior to the start of each school year or 10 days prior to an off campus field trips. Volunteers should review the links below. Please contact your child's school office if you have any questions.

• Volunteer Process

• Volunteer Handbook

We are excited to continue partnering with our wonderful Doris Hoffman PTO this school year! Our PTO plays an important role in supporting our students, staff, and families by helping host fun events and creating memorable experiences throughout the year. Some of the exciting events families can look forward to include Trunk or Treat, a Christmas event, the Sweetheart Dance, and several other special activities.

Our PTO is led by President Kellie Cowsert, and we would love to welcome new members! Whether you have a lot of time to give or just want to help when you can, there is a place for everyone. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact Kellie at kcowsert@mvr3.k12.mo.us or follow the Doris Hoffman PTO Facebook page for updates, event information, and volunteer opportunities. We hope you will consider joining us as we work together to make this school year extra special for our Little Indians!

August 18th - Open House 5:30-7:00 pm

August 24th - First Day of School

September 2nd - Fall Picture Day

September 7th- Labor Day - No School

September 11th - Red, White & Blue Day

The start of a new school year always brings a special kind of excitement. Soon our halls will once again be filled with smiling faces, laughter, and the joyful sounds of children learning and growing together.

As parents, it can be easy to focus on the big milestones, but I encourage you to take time to notice and celebrate the little moments this year too. A confident wave goodbye, a new friendship, sharing with a classmate, or trying something new for the first time are all important steps in your child's journey.

Thank you for trusting us with your little ones and for partnering with us throughout the year. We are looking forward to a year filled with special memories, meaningful growth, and many reasons to celebrate our Little Indians.

I can't wait to see everyone soon!

With gratitude,

Mrs. Amy Huson
Principal

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.