Chief Weekly

Monday: First Day of School! - A Day

Tuesday: B Day

Wednesday: C Day. PTO Meeting @ 4:00pm [Zitzman Library]. MVR3 Board Meeting 6:00pm.

Thursday: D Day

Friday: A Day

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.

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 class until staff mark them for release.

• 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.**

📞 Office Contact: 636-271-1440

Thank you for your support in making arrival and dismissal safe and efficient!

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!

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.

Be sure to:

• ALLOW Notifications

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

We continue to request that parents bring their students to school in the manner they plan on using for the school 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. Parents are welcome to meet their student at school, on the first day, after they arrive on the bus and snap a picture outside.

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. 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.

MVR-III is excited to welcome Dental Safari, our new mobile dental provider, beginning in the 2025–2026 school year!

Dental Safari brings high-quality dental care right to school, offering a wide range of services including:

• Comprehensive oral evaluations

• Digital X-rays

• Cleanings

• Sealants

• Fluoride treatments

• In-class dental education

• On-site follow-up restorative care (if needed)

This convenient model allows students to receive dental care with minimal disruption to their learning—most students return to class quickly after their visit.

Parent consent is required for students to participate. Consent forms will be available at registration and online, and can be returned to your building nurse.

🦷 Zitzman Elementary is scheduled for September 15–16, 2025.
We’re excited to partner with Dental Safari to help keep our students smiling and healthy!

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.

The district is also expanding the Watch D.O.G.S. (dads/moms/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 complete the sign up below if you are interested in serving as a WATCH D.O.G.S. at Zitzman Elementary

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

• Monday, August 18th- First Day of School!!!
• Wednesday, August 20th- PTO Meeting
• Monday, September 1st- Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, September 17th- Fall Picture Day

In just a few days, our hallways will be buzzing again — laughter, voices, and that special energy the first day of school always brings. As your principal, my focus never changes: keep kids safe, help them grow as humans, and give them the space to be curious, take risks, and learn from mistakes.

School is so much more than reading and math. It’s where confidence is built, friendships are made, and character takes shape. I want every child to feel seen, valued, and capable — even when learning feels hard or messy.

And for you, our families, I hope this year gives you chances to pause. Not because the school year will be slow (it never is), but because it moves so fast we sometimes miss the good stuff.

The quick wave at drop-off that turns into a confident smile from across the playground. The careful handwriting that becomes full, proud paragraphs. The quiet voice in class that starts asking big, bold questions.

If we’re not looking for those moments, they can pass us by in the rush of homework, practices, and everyday life. Let’s notice them this year — the little wins, the sparks of curiosity, the moments our kids surprise us. Those are the ones worth hitting pause for.

This year, I promise to cherish your children the way I hope others cherish mine — with patience, with belief in who they are becoming, and with excitement for all the ways they will grow. Together, we will make this a year filled with learning, laughter, and moments worth pausing for.

I’m so excited to get this year started with your kids. Monday morning, we Rise Up and Shine On Chiefs!

Leading & learning,

Dr. Sladek