2026-27 Hoffman Highlights

October is such a fun time to be at Doris Hoffman! 🍂🎃 Our classrooms are filled with excitement, curiosity, and hands-on learning as our Little Indians explore the changing season. From investigating pumpkins and discovering new sounds to creating fall masterpieces, there are so many opportunities for learning happening all around us!

One thing I love most about early childhood is that some of the most meaningful learning happens when children don't even realize they're learning! When they're playing, exploring, asking questions, getting messy, and trying something new, they're building important skills that will stay with them long after preschool.

Next week, we're especially excited to bring a little fall magic to Doris Hoffman with our very own pumpkin patch! 🎃 Thanks to the generosity of Alt Farm and our wonderful PTO parents, every student will have the opportunity to pick a pumpkin of their own! Experiences like these are about so much more than pumpkins. They're about creating memories, building excitement for learning, and making school a place our children love to be.

As always, thank you for sharing your Little Indians with us and for being such an important part of our school family. It truly takes a village, and we're so thankful you're part of ours! 💜🤍

Amy Huson
Principal

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

Next week, we're kicking off ELLC Unit 5 – Week 1: Pumpkins & Sounds! 🎃🍂 Our Little Indians will explore all things pumpkins while learning about the different sounds we hear in the world around us!

Throughout the week, students will have opportunities to investigate pumpkins using their five senses, practice counting and comparing sizes, explore new vocabulary, and strengthen their listening skills. We'll also explore environmental sounds, experiment with making sounds, and practice recognizing sounds in words through stories, songs, and playful activities. 🔊🎶

🎃 We're bringing the pumpkin patch to Doris Hoffman! Thanks to the generosity of Alt Farm and our amazing PTO parents, every Little Indian will have the opportunity to visit our very own pumpkin patch and pick a pumpkin to take home! We can't wait for this special hands-on learning experience!

Try it at home! Encourage your child to listen for sounds during a walk, count pumpkins on porches, or talk about the different colors, shapes, and sizes of pumpkins you see. These simple conversations help connect classroom learning to everyday life!

From picking pumpkins to discovering sounds, every little experience is another Little Step toward a Big Success! 👣💜🤍

Join us on Thursday, October 15, at 6:00 PM for our Student Learning Night at Doris Hoffman! Families will have the opportunity to learn about what their Little Indians are working on, connect with teachers, participate in fun learning activities, and discover ways to support learning at home. Plus, every child will receive a FREE book, and we'll have snacks for the whole family! 📖🍪

We can't wait to see you there! 💜🤍

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we're showing our support with our Little Hands, Big Pink Hearts shirt fundraiser! 💗

A huge thank you to our wonderful PTO members who organized this special fundraiser! All proceeds will go toward supporting two members of our Doris Hoffman family who are currently battling breast cancer. 💕

We encourage everyone to purchase a shirt and wear pink every Thursday throughout October to show your support!

Both DHELC and non-DHELC designs are available, so please feel free to share this fundraiser with friends, family, and others throughout the district!

Thank you for coming together to support our Doris Hoffman family and showing that even the littlest hands can make a BIG difference! 💗

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

Did you know that some of the best learning opportunities happen during everyday routines? 🏡 From getting dressed in the morning to preparing dinner or taking a trip to the grocery store, ordinary moments are full of opportunities to help your child learn and grow!

Try turning daily activities into simple learning experiences! 🧦 Count socks while folding laundry, 🎨 name colors while getting dressed, 🍎 sort foods while putting away groceries, or 💬 talk about your day during bath time. These little interactions help children build language, problem-solving, early math, and social skills—all while spending meaningful time with you!

Our FREE Parents as Teachers (PAT) program helps families discover ways to support their child's development through everyday experiences. PAT is available to district families from the prenatal period through kindergarten entry, whether your child attends preschool, childcare, or stays home!

Remember, you don't need fancy toys or special activities to help your child learn. The most important learning tool your child has is YOU! 💜👣

Our Doris Hoffman PTO is already working hard to make this a fun and memorable year for our Little Indians! Our PTO is led by President Kellie Cowsert, Vice President Emily Lawson, Secretary Nicole Gipperich, and Treasurer Jordan George, and we are so thankful for the time and energy they give to our school. 💜

Get ready for one of our favorite fall traditions! Our Doris Hoffman Trunk or Treat will be held on Thursday, October 22, with trunks open from 6:00–7:00 PM. 🎃🍬 We need our families to help make the evening extra special by decorating a trunk and handing out treats to our Little Indians! If your family would like to host a trunk, please complete the Google Form linked below the flyer so we can plan for the evening.

We’ll also be hosting our 2nd Annual Snack Drive! Families attending Trunk or Treat are encouraged to bring district-approved snack donations to help stock our classrooms. For each approved snack donated, your name will be entered into a drawing for a Cozy Basket—so five boxes of snacks means five chances to win! 🧺✨ Please check the approved snack list before purchasing your donations.

We can’t wait for an evening filled with costumes, decorated trunks, treats, and family fun while also helping support our classrooms! 💜🤍

Looking for a fun way to show your Doris Hoffman pride? Our online Spirit Wear Store is open! 🎉 Families can shop a variety of items for both kiddos and grown-ups, including T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, tumblers, kids’ water bottles, decals, stickers, and more! Many items are available with different logo and color options, so there’s something for everyone in the family. Grab some Hoffman gear and help us show off our purple and white pride! 💜🤍

October 16th - Fire Station Walking Field Trip

October 20th - Fall Picture Retake Day

October 22nd - DHELC Trunk-or-Treat

October 23rd - PHS Football Game

October 26th - DIAL Screenings

October 27th - PAT Parent Advisory Meeting

October 30th - Halloween Classroom Parties