TOMAHAWK TRIBUNE

Dear Families,

As we wrap up our second trimester, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible progress our students have made. Our students recently completed our mid-year testing, and the results are outstanding. These assessments are more than just scores; they are a roadmap showing exactly how much your children have grown since August. We are seeing significant gains in all areas, proving that another trimester of hard work and effort is truly paying off!

Everything we do is driven by our commitment to our four new district goals. This trimester, we have seen these goals come to life:

• Increasing Student Achievement: Our mid-year data shows we are on the right track!

• A Positive Culture: From classroom collaborations to school-wide assemblies, our students are building a kinder, more inclusive environment.

• Positive Family & Community Engagement: Thank you for your partnership. Whether through conferences or school events, your involvement makes a difference.

• Attendance: Success starts with being here. We are continuing to prioritize consistent attendance to ensure no student misses a moment of important learning.

As you know, Missouri winters can be unpredictable! To date, our district has used four built-in inclement weather days. Moving forward, should we experience more snow or ice, the next five inclement weather days will be AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) days. This means:

• Students will participate in virtual learning from home.

• Teachers will provide assignments and be available for support online.

• This allows us to keep the learning momentum going without adding extra days to the end of the school year.

Finally, please keep an eye out for more information later in this newsletter regarding Prop S, which is a no-tax-increase bond issue that will appear on the April 7, 2026, ballot. This proposal is designed to fund the construction of a new middle school and critical safety and facility improvements at each school in our district, without changing our current tax rate. We encourage all families to stay informed about how this affects our schools.

Thank you for being such an essential part of our school community. Here’s to an even better third trimester!

Dr. Schwierjohn

In the Meramec Valley R-III School District, we believe that together, we make a difference by doing what’s BEST for kids.

Our core values guide our work each day:

🌟 Community

🌟 Integrity

🌟 Perseverance

🌟 Learning

Success is found in every classroom, every connection, and every child who believes they can.

Kindergarten registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year! To make the process as easy and efficient as possible for families, the district has streamlined registration so you can take care of several important tasks at the same time.

Through a single login in Infinite Campus, you can confirm information for all students in your household, which will complete your required Annual Update, register your child for kindergarten (if applicable), and enroll K-8 students in 2026 Summer Discovery.

Completing all three tasks at once saves time and eliminates the need to complete separate registrations.

Families new to the district will begin registration by contacting the office of their assigned school. Staff will provide a link to complete the process.

Existing families will complete these registrations through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (watch this IC online registration video for a preview).

If you do not have your Infinite Campus Parent Portal set up, please contact your school building secretary for assistance. You will be provided a KEY, which can be entered on this Infinite Campus-New User webpage to create your account.

Visit the Enrollment Info page on our website or call Central Office at 636-271-1400 if you have any questions. Thank you for ensuring MVR-III has the latest information for your student(s)!

The Meramec Valley R-III School District has been selected to participate in the Ameren Electric School Bus and Charging Program, an initiative administered by the Eastern Missouri Alliance for Clean Transportation (EM-ACT). This opportunity represents an important step forward in the district’s ongoing efforts to support student health, environmental responsibility, and long-term operational sustainability.

As part of the selection process, district leaders Mr. Sauvage, Mr. Guenzler, Mr. McCaw, and Mr. Pipes met with representatives from Ameren Missouri and EM-ACT to review the district’s current bus fleet, evaluate electric infrastructure at the transportation department, and discuss the economic needs within the district’s attendance area.

Through the Electric School Bus and Charging Program, the district will be able to purchase three new electric school buses, which will require the retirement of existing diesel buses. The program also includes the installation of three charging stations and upgrades to the electrical infrastructure at the transportation department to support the additional power demands.

Electric school buses offer significant health and environmental benefits. Unlike diesel buses, electric buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, helping reduce greenhouse gases and improve local air quality. This is especially important for children, whose respiratory and cognitive systems are still developing.

EM-ACT and Ameren Missouri have expressed appreciation for the district’s leadership and vision in embracing this initiative and will continue to support Meramec Valley R-III throughout the implementation process. The district looks forward to moving ahead with this exciting project, which reflects a commitment to the long-term wellbeing of students, staff, and the broader community.

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:

• March 10, 2026

• March 31, 2026

• April 14, 2026

• May 12, 2026

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

On April 7th, 2026, the Meramec Valley R-III School District is bringing Proposition S to the ballot. Prop S WILL NOT raise property tax rates that will invest in our students and schools without raising property tax rates. Find out more by going to www.mvr3bond.org.

The Board of Education would like to extend its sincere thanks and special recognition to McKenna Lay and Grant Orris for their service as the 2025 student representatives to the Board of Education. Throughout their term, McKenna and Grant demonstrated dedication, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to representing the student voice at the board level.

Serving as student representatives provided McKenna and Grant with meaningful opportunities to grow as leaders and learn more about how the school district operates. Among the experiences they shared that stood out most were gaining confidence in public speaking, visiting and learning about different elementary school buildings, and developing a deeper understanding of how district decisions are made. They also valued the opportunity to get to know members of the MVR-III Board of Education and to meet several Missouri legislators, giving them firsthand insight into the broader educational leadership landscape.

The selection process for the next student representatives concluded earlier this year, with voting taking place on January 12, 2026. On January 14, the district announced Gabriella Guenzler and Lucas McKinney as the new student representatives to the board.

Gabriella and Lucas will officially be sworn in at the February 18 board meeting. The Board of Education looks forward to welcoming them and continuing the tradition of including student perspectives in district leadership and decision making!

Voters in the Meramec Valley R-III School District will consider four candidates on the ballot for the upcoming Board of Education election, with three seats available.

The candidates include three incumbents—Matt Trower, Dianna Meyer, and Amanda Nemeth—along with one new candidate, Kesha Nichols. Candidates will appear on the ballot in the order they filed for office: Matt Trower, Dianna Meyer, Kesha Nichols, and Amanda Nemeth.

As part of the filing process, each candidate submitted biographical information to help district residents learn more about those seeking election.

To learn more about each Board of Education candidate, visit www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/article/2680599.

Thank you to the 330 families, staff, and partners who shared feedback to help guide district communication by taking our Fall Communication Survey.

Key Findings:

• High Satisfaction: 80% of respondents are pleased with the timeliness and quality of district updates.

• Trust & Transparency: 72% agree the district is transparent, and 94% enjoy the "good news" stories shared about our students.

• Community Strength: Feedback highlighted our "close-knit" environment and the dedication of our caring employees.

• Preferred Channels: 80% of families prefer communication via email and text.

Opportunities for Growth: We are committed to improving by increasing the speed of urgent alerts when possible, streamlining the number of communication platforms used, and enhancing app functionality.

This data will be used to develop enhanced communication systems.

The Bridge Foundation is preparing for two upcoming fundraising events to support the Back-to-School Bash, teacher grants, and student scholarships. Volunteers and participants are encouraged to get involved. The Shamwalk & Run, the foundation’s largest fundraiser for the Back-to-School Bash, will take place on Saturday, March 7, at 8:00 a.m., with registration currently open.

The Board of Education has approved an expansion of Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities at Pacific High School through a new partnership with St. Louis Community College at the Wildwood campus. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the new CTE Academy will offer juniors and seniors a half-day, dual-enrollment pathway toward industry-recognized credentials and college degrees.

Student interest in vocational and technical training continues to exceed available space in the Four Rivers Vocational Program. The CTE Academy is designed to expand access and ensure more students can pursue high-demand career pathways while still enrolled in high school.

Through the program, students may earn up to 13 college credit hours per year while working toward industry credentials, certificates, or associate degrees. Programs are intentionally aligned with workforce needs, preparing graduates for immediate employment or advanced standing in college.

CTE pathway options include:

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Cybersecurity

• Geospatial and Drone Piloting

• Health Science

• Software Development

The CTE Academy will operate as a morning program from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., allowing students to maintain a full high school schedule similar to the district’s Early College Program. Students will enroll in 2-3 college courses each semester at an STLCC campus. As with Early College, students are responsible for their own transportation and textbook costs.

To support the launch of the program, the Meramec Valley Bridge Foundation has committed financial support, including a $10,000 startup gift and a $4,000 annual recurring donation to help ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.

Program planning and outreach will take place in early 2026, with student and parent presentations scheduled for February. Student applications will be due February 27, and the CTE Academy will officially launch in fall 2026.

On February 23, the district will allow parents to utilize the Kid Account App as an additional resource to pick up their students. This only applies to our prekindergarten and elementary student population.

The app allows parents and caregivers to stay informed while managing their child’s school dismissal. It offers secure access to crucial dismissal and pickup information, including the ability to share digital ID access to authorized individuals. Additionally, the KIDaccount Parent App eliminates the workload of distributing physical cards, as there will no longer be extra time waiting for cards to be printed for new students.

For more information, visit https://kidaccount.com/parent-app.

Mark your calendars for Family Resource Night, happening Thursday, March 12!

A nationally recognized initiative hosted annually by the MVR-III School District since 2023, this evening offers families and community members a chance to discover valuable local resources. It emphasizes the importance of engaging families and community members as partners in the character-building effort, fostering a strong family-school-community partnership rooted in shared values and sharing a common vision.

When an entire community can come together to help students and their families to have their basic needs met, it benefits the entire community. Mr. Josh Grodie, Director of Special Education, and teacher representatives, hope to see families join the event starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center.

The MVR-III Bridge Foundation will be providing a FREE meal for all who attend the event. Use the signup form to help us with meal planning: Family Resource Night Sign-Up.

We are hiring for a variety of teaching and staff positions—both for this school year and for 2026-27.

Help us make a difference in the lives of our over 3,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students. Start the process of finding your home in #MVNation today!

Learn more about these opportunities and apply today at http://bit.ly/JOINMVR3.

The Meramec Valley R-III School Board is committed to excellence in governance and leadership. The Board of Education meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Find Board News at www.mvr3.k12.mo.us.

Please note that the March Board of Education meeting has been moved to Wednesday, March 11th, due to Spring Break.