Chief Weekly

Hi, Zitzman families! I’m Dr. Jenna Sladek, and I’m beyond excited to begin my third year as principal of Zitzman Elementary! Over the past two years, we have learned, grown, overcome challenges, celebrated successes, and continued building a school community rooted in trust, strong relationships, and a true sense of family. I’m incredibly grateful for the support of our students, staff, and families, and I can’t wait to see where this year’s adventure takes us!

I’ve been with the Meramec Valley R-III School District for nine years, serving as principal at Truman Elementary and assistant principal at both Coleman and Zitzman. Before joining Meramec Valley, I spent six years teaching in the Hazelwood School District. When I’m not at school, you can find me alongside my husband, Nick, as we chase after our two energetic boys, Eli (13) and Luke (12), who keep us busy with soccer, baseball, basketball, and just about anything involving sports or the outdoors. It might be the ultimate cardio workout!

I believe in leading with heart, building meaningful connections, and creating a school where every child and family feels known, valued, and like they truly belong. If you see me with a coffee in one hand and a smile on my face, you know it’s going to be a great day! I’m so excited for another year of learning, growing, and celebrating together. Adventure awaits!

Hi, Zitzman families! I’m Mrs. Christine Pruett, and I’m so excited to begin my third year as assistant principal of Zitzman Elementary! Over the past two years, Zitzman has become much more than the school where I work—it has become a true family. I’m incredibly proud of the way our students, staff, and families support one another, celebrate progress, and work together to make Zitzman such a special place.

With 20 years in education, one of my favorite parts of each day is connecting with students. I especially enjoy helping them work through challenges, make positive choices, and become the best versions of themselves—one small victory at a time. Outside of school, you’ll find me with my husband, Adam, loudly cheering at our son Max’s hockey games and keeping up with our daughter Alex’s busy schedule of gymnastics and softball. Our kids definitely keep us on our toes!

I’m committed to creating a positive environment where every student feels known, supported, and valued. If you see me during arrival, dismissal, or around the building, please don’t hesitate to say hello—I truly enjoy connecting with our families. I’m excited for another year of learning, growing, and celebrating together as each student follows their own path and makes progress along the way.

Open House is a fun evening to take care of all the things—drop off supplies, meet your child’s teacher and our school nurse if needed, complete enrollment, sign up for SACC, connect with the PTO, and more!

Join us Wednesday, August 19, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. during the time slot that matches your LAST NAME:

A-E 5:30-6:00

F-J 6-6:30

K-P 6:30-7

Q-Z 7-7:30

Families will have 30 minutes to meet their teacher and converse about all things back to school as well as drop off student supplies. You are welcome to take time to adventure through Zitzman, explore the school, find important locations and enjoy fun photo opportunities.

Be sure to visit our bake sale benefiting the Mrs. Lee’s Legacy of Love Scholarship and the Pop-Up Book Fair supporting Washington’s local bookstore, Neighborhood Reads in our Library.

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.

SACC is our before and after school care program.

If your child needs morning childcare before 8:05 am, contact the school office at 636-271-1440

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

For more information please see the flyer below:

We love celebrating our students! If you plan to send a birthday treat, classroom snack, or special celebration item, please review the guidelines below.

All food items must be individually prepackaged and include an ingredient label, and homemade treats cannot be distributed at school. Because individual classrooms may have additional allergy restrictions, please check with your child’s teacher before sending any food or non-food celebration items.

Infinite Campus offers a secure and intuitive online portal that allows you to access your child's grades, attendance records, and assignments. This feature will enable you to stay up to date on their academic progress. Parents and students have access to the Campus Portal, a confidential and secure website that allows users to log in and view information about progress in school.

How do I begin using my Parent Portal?

Mobile applications are available for both iOS and Android devices. Download to access information about your child's education anytime, anywhere. You will have the convenience of monitoring their progress and staying connected even while on the go.

How can I learn more about using Infinite Campus?

Infinite Campus created a Study Guide site, which provides step-by-step walk-throughs, screenshots, and videos of how to do most common activities within the portal. Check it out for the best way to find the information you need!

Website, Social Media & Rooms

The Zitzman Elementary website is your main source for school information, including calendars, important links, staff contacts, menus, and resources. Families can also download the free MVR3 app and follow Zitzman Elementary on Facebook. Your child’s teacher will post a weekly newsletter in Rooms with grade-level learning, assessments, upcoming events, and our core value focus.

Chief Weekly

Each Thursday, Dr. Sladek will email the Chief Weekly Smore with building-wide news, reminders, and important dates to help your family prepare for the week ahead.

Thursday Folders

Your child’s folder will come home each Thursday. Please review the papers, keep what belongs at home, return anything that needs to come back to school, and check the protected pages for updates on your child’s goals. Students will also use their folders to track i-Ready growth and celebrate badges earned for positive behavior, attendance, schoolwide activities, and personal or academic achievements.

Questions or concerns should begin with your child’s teacher. Open communication helps us work together to best support your child.

Rooms: We use Rooms to communicate with families, staff, and students. Messages may come from district administration, school administration, teachers, and staff members. Please keep an eye on your inbox!

District Website: www.mvr3.k12.mo.us.

• Information Hub: The website is your go-to place for all updates and information.

• News & Events: The main page features news, district highlights, and upcoming events.

• Calendars: Find key dates and events for the district and each school throughout the year.

• Contact Information: The Explore drop-down features a staff directory with contact information.

Social Media

• Facebook: @mvr3schools
• Instagram: @mvr3schools
• X: @DistrictMVR3

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.

The three main apps you will use as a Zitzman Elementary parent/guardian are: rooms for communication, Infinite Campus for grades and attendance, and Kid Account for dismissal.

We encourage families to have students arrive and leave school using their regular transportation method beginning on the first day. Bus riders should ride the bus to and from school so they can meet their driver and begin learning the routine. Parents may meet their child at school after the bus arrives to take a photo outside.

MVR-III uses the free BusRight Parent App to share bus routes and times. Families can track the bus in real time, receive route notifications, view estimated arrival times, and receive Transportation Department updates.

To get started:

1. Download the BusRight app.
2. Create an account using your Infinite Campus email address.
3. Begin tracking your child’s bus route.

If you have trouble creating an account, contact your school office to confirm you are listed as the primary guardian in Infinite Campus. More information is available 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.

This will be our third year using Kid Account to support safe and efficient dismissal. Families are strongly encouraged to use the Kid Account App, but cards from previous years will still work, and paper barcodes can be printed as needed. Kid Account is used during carline pickup and as students are released to buses, SACC, or after-school clubs to help ensure every child goes to the correct dismissal location.

Nurse McKenna will be back as our nurse again this year. Please stop by during Open House to say hello or discuss any medical needs for the year.

A copy of the most updated shot record should be turned into the office as many shots are required by law. Special health conditions regarding your student should be reported through our Medical Information Form filled out during registration but a follow up with Nurse McKenna is always great confirmation with communication!

Meramec Valley R-III remains committed to providing healthy, nutritious meals that support student learning. Although the district has offered free breakfast for the past two years, the program has operated at a shortfall, with the district covering the remaining costs. As a result, free breakfast will no longer be available to all students beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.

Due to rising operational costs, meal prices will also increase for the first time since before 2022. Student lunch and secondary breakfast prices will increase by 30 cents, while elementary breakfast will increase by 25 cents.

Families are strongly encouraged to complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application. Eligibility guidelines change each year, and families who did not previously qualify may now be eligible. Approved applications help families with meal costs and provide vital funding for our schools.

For questions about free or reduced-price meals, contact Michelle Dawson at (636) 271-1428 or mdawson@mvr3.k12.mo.us.

This year at Zitzman Elementary, we are excited to embrace our theme: “Adventure Awaits! Your Path. Your Progress.”

As we begin our third year together as one school family, we are ready to continue building on the strong relationships, shared values, and sense of community we have created. Every student’s journey will look a little different, and we will celebrate the individual paths they take, the challenges they overcome, and the progress they make along the way.

Throughout the year, this theme will encourage our students to be curious, take positive risks, persevere through challenges, and recognize that growth happens one step at a time. The adventure ahead belongs to all of us, and we cannot wait to see where our paths lead!

• Wednesday August 19th - Open House 5:30-7:30pm
• A–G: 5:30 p.m.
  H–M: 6:10 p.m.
  N–Z: 6:50 p.m.
• Monday, August 24h- First Day of School!!!
• Monday, September 7th- Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

Plan Ahead—Attendance Matters!

Use this planner to schedule vacations, appointments, and family events around the school calendar whenever possible. Every day at school helps our Chiefs learn and grow!

Every school year is a new adventure—and while we may all begin in the same place, no two paths will look exactly alike. Each student will grow in different ways, face different challenges, and celebrate different kinds of progress. That is what makes the journey so special.

At Zitzman, our staff is ready to walk alongside your children—encouraging them when the path feels hard, celebrating every step forward, and helping them discover just how much they are capable of. But the most meaningful progress happens when school and home work together. It takes all of us—students, families, and staff—supporting one another along the way.

There will be exciting new experiences, unexpected turns, challenging climbs, and plenty of moments worth celebrating over the next nine months. Through it all, we want every child to understand that progress does not have to look the same for everyone. What matters is that they keep learning, keep growing, and keep taking the next step.

That is the heart of our theme for 2026–27: Adventure Awaits—Your Path. Your Progress. We cannot wait to begin this adventure together and see where the journey takes us!

“Little by little, one travels far.”

We can’t wait to see all of our Zitzman families at Open House on Wednesday, August 19th, from 5:30–7:30 pm!

If you need anything as we gear up for the school year, please don’t hesitate to reach out:

636-271-1440 or jsladek@mvr3.k12.mo.us.