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

As we move further into December, the spirit of caring continues to shine throughout our halls. We see it in the way children wait patiently for a turn, share a favorite toy, notice when a friend needs help, or even take a deep breath during a big feeling. These everyday choices show us that caring grows not all at once, but moment by moment—through practice, guidance, and gentle reminders.

In our classrooms, we celebrate these moments by naming caring actions, modeling kind language, and creating space for children to solve problems together. At home, you help this learning flourish when you talk through feelings, encourage helping hands, or pause to listen closely to your child’s thoughts. Together, we are helping them build the roots of empathy, friendship, and connection that will support them far beyond preschool.

Thank you for being an essential partner in this work. When school and families unite around caring, children feel safe, valued, and ready to learn—Rooted in Heart and Driven by Purpose. 💜

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.

Dear Parent or Guardian,

We are working to improve the character initiative at Doris Hoffman Early Learning, and we

would appreciate it if you would complete our parent survey. The information you provide is

important to us and will be used in planning for our school.

The survey should only take 10 minutes of your time. Please complete the survey today, if

possible, but no later than December 12, 2025.

Your response to the survey is anonymous, confidential, and voluntary. Responding to the

survey constitutes your consent for us to use the information for district and school planning.

To access the survey, please go to https://characterplus.surveymonkey.com/r/parentDHEL25 or

use the QR code.

The password to access the survey is dor541.

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 taking another step in understanding what caring looks like and sounds like. In classrooms, children are practicing using kind words, offering to help a friend during cleanup, inviting others into play, and noticing when someone might need a little extra comfort. We celebrate these moments because each one helps children grow empathy, patience, and the confidence to care for others.

Here are a few simple ways to nurture caring at home this week:

💬 Practice caring words — Try phrases like “Can I help you?”, “Are you okay?”, or “Would you like a turn?”.
🌟 Model kindness out loud — Let your child hear you speak kindly to others, say thank you, or show patience during a tough moment.
🤲 Create moments to help — Give your child a job like handing out napkins, choosing a book to read together, or helping a sibling clean up.

When children see and feel care from the adults around them, they learn to share that same care with others. Together, we’re growing hearts that are gentle, thoughtful, and full of kindness.

💜 Rooted in Heart. Driven by Purpose. Grounded in Care.

This week, try making Caring Coupons as a family!

Cut out small rectangles or use sticky notes to create “coupons” your child can give to others. Together, brainstorm caring actions that could go on each one. Some ideas:

✳️ I can help you clean up!
✳️ I will give you a hug.
✳️ I can share a toy with you.
✳️ I will use kind words.
✳️ I can be a good listener.

Let your child choose one coupon to use each day. When they give it to someone (a family member, neighbor, or friend), celebrate the caring moment together! This simple activity helps children notice caring opportunities and take action in a meaningful way. 💜

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

December 13th - PTO PJ Party Holiday Event @10 am - 12 pm

December 22nd - January 2nd - No School Winter Break

As we move into this season of warmth and togetherness, we are grateful for the caring spirit that fills our Doris Hoffman community. Every day, we see children taking brave steps toward kindness—offering a helping hand, comforting a friend, and learning that their actions make a difference. These moments remind us that caring isn’t just taught—it’s lived, modeled, and practiced through connection.

Thank you for partnering with us in nurturing compassionate hearts. Your encouragement at home makes our school a place where children feel safe, supported, and surrounded by love. Here’s to another week of kindness in motion—Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and growing stronger together. 💜

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.