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

Hello DHELC families!

This is a friendly reminder that our carline arrival ends promptly at 8:30 a.m.

At 8:30 a.m., our doors close so staff can move fully into the building to supervise students and begin the school day safely. If you arrive after 8:30 a.m., we kindly ask that you:

• Park your vehicle

• Walk your child into the building

• Sign your child in using the tablet located in the vestibule

We will be enforcing the 8:30 a.m. carline cutoff. This helps us ensure appropriate supervision throughout the building and allows us to accurately track student attendance and tardies.

We truly appreciate your cooperation and partnership in helping our mornings run smoothly and safely for all of our Little Indians. Thank you for your continued support! 💜

This month at Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, we continue focusing on integrity—making good choices, being honest, and doing the right thing even when it takes extra effort. For young children, integrity is learned through everyday moments and gentle guidance.

In our classrooms, children practice integrity by following routines, using kind words, telling the truth, and learning how to fix mistakes. We remind students that everyone makes mistakes, and what matters most is taking responsibility, trying again, and learning from those moments. These lessons help children build confidence and understand that their choices matter.

Families play an important role in growing these roots at home. Talking with your child about making good choices, keeping promises, and treating others with respect helps reinforce what they are learning at school. When children see integrity modeled consistently, they learn that it is an important part of who they are becoming.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we support our Little Indians in developing strong character and caring hearts. Together, we are growing learners who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and guided by integrity. 💜

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.

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 continuing to strengthen their understanding of integrity by practicing honesty, responsibility, and kindness in everyday moments. In the classroom, children are learning that integrity means making thoughtful choices, using respectful words, and following through on expectations—even when it feels challenging.

Teachers are supporting students as they learn how to pause, think, and make things right when mistakes happen. These moments of problem-solving and repair help children understand that integrity isn’t about being perfect—it’s about learning, growing, and caring about how our actions affect others.

Here are a few simple ways to encourage integrity at home this week:

⭐ Talk it through — Ask your child what they can do if something doesn’t go as planned and guide them in thinking of solutions.
🧸 Model honesty — Share age-appropriate examples of telling the truth or fixing a mistake so children can see integrity in action.
👏 Notice the effort — Acknowledge when your child tries to do the right thing, even if it’s hard.

When children see integrity practiced both at school and at home, they build confidence, empathy, and trust in themselves and others. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue growing strong character and caring hearts.

💜 Rooted in Heart. Driven by Purpose. Guided by Integrity.

This week, invite your child to practice integrity by noticing “make it right” moments at home. Talk together about how everyone makes mistakes—and integrity means taking responsibility and fixing things when we can.

You might encourage your child to practice things like:

• Saying “I’m sorry” and helping fix a problem

• Putting something back where it belongs

• Trying again after a rule is forgotten

• Helping someone who is upset

• Asking for help when something feels tricky

When one of these moments happens, pause and name it:
“That was a great way to make it right,” or “You showed integrity by trying again.”

At the end of the week, ask your child:

• How did it feel to make things right?

• Which moment made you feel proud?

These small conversations help children understand that integrity is about learning, growing, and caring for others—both at school and at home.

💜 Rooted in Heart. Driven by Purpose. Guided by Integrity.

Thank you so much for the donations of tissues! Our teachers and staff appreciate it so very much! The three classes that had the most donations earned a hot chocolate party, and one lucky winner won a winter day fun basket.

The Meramec Valley R-III School District is proud to launch our Continuous School Improvement Plan, building on our tradition of excellence while looking ahead to a future where every student thrives in our schools!

Our work is guided by four key pillars that drive an incredible educational experience for all students:

⭐ Academic Excellence

⭐ Family and Community Engagement

⭐ Positive Culture

⭐ Attendance

The Bridge Foundation is excited to announce two upcoming community events. Every dollar raised goes directly toward the Annual Back to School Bash, Classroom Grants, and Student Scholarships. Help us invest in our students' success!

Event 1: Pianos for a Purpose

Looking for a fun night out? The Pacific Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Dueling Pianos event to benefit the MVR-III Bridge Foundation.

• When: January 31st

• What: A high-energy musical evening for a great cause.

• Tickets: Purchase Tickets Here

Event 2: The Shamwalk & Run 5K

It’s time to lace up those sneakers! Registration is officially open for our annual 5K. This isn't just a race—it’s a chance to show your school pride.

Help Your School Win the Trophy! We are awarding a traveling trophy to the school with the highest participation. Whether you run or walk, make sure to select your child’s school during registration to help them take home the bragging rights this year!

• When: Saturday, March 7th at 8am

• Student Perk: Discounted registration is available for all MVR-III students.

• Register here for the race.

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:

• February 10, 2026

• March 10, 2026

• March 31, 2026

• April 14, 2026

• May 12, 2026

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

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

February 2nd - PJ Day to celebrate Groundhog's Day

February 3rd - Wear Blue or Green

February 6th - Sweetheart Dance

February 2nd-6th - SOUPer Bowl Canned Food Drive

February 13th - Classroom Valentine's Day Parties

February 16th - No School for President's Day

February 18th - District Board Meeting

February 23rd - No School for Staff Professional Development

As we close out another week at Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, we are grateful for the many ways our Little Indians are learning and growing through everyday experiences. From practicing honesty and kindness to learning how to try again after mistakes, these moments help children build confidence and strong character.

Your partnership makes a meaningful difference. When families and school work together to model integrity, responsibility, and care, children feel supported and secure as they learn what it means to make thoughtful choices. These shared messages help create consistency that young learners truly need.

Thank you for trusting us with your children and for the support you provide each day. Together, we are nurturing learners who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and guided by integrity. 💜

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.