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! 💜

At Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, we are spending this month intentionally growing the roots of respect—helping children learn how to care for themselves, others, and their environment through everyday interactions and routines. In early childhood, respect is built through modeling, gentle guidance, and consistent language that shows children what it looks and sounds like in real life.

Throughout the week, our Little Indians are practicing respect in meaningful, age-appropriate ways: listening when others speak, taking turns, using kind words and gentle hands, caring for classroom materials, and honoring shared spaces. These small daily habits lay the foundation for strong relationships and a positive learning community. We remind students that respect is not just a rule—it’s a way we show others they matter.

Staff can continue strengthening these roots by noticing and naming respectful behaviors, giving specific praise, and reinforcing shared expectations across classrooms and common areas. When children experience consistent messages and modeled behavior from all adults, the impact grows deeper and lasts longer.

Thank you for continuing to model and nurture respect each day as we live out our mission—Rooted in Heart, 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.

Are you interested in joining our PTO? Our next meeting is Monday, March 2nd 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 building their understanding of respect by learning how their words, actions, and choices show care for others and their learning environment. In our classrooms, children are practicing respect by listening when friends and teachers speak, using kind words, keeping safe hands and feet, and taking care of classroom materials.

Teachers are supporting students through real-life moments—like sharing space, waiting for a turn, and noticing how others feel—to help them understand that respect means treating people and things with care. These daily practice moments help children grow empathy, patience, and strong relationship skills.

Here are a few ways families can support respect at home this week:

⭐ Model respectful language — Let your child hear polite words like “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” in everyday conversations.
🕊️ Practice listening turns — Take turns talking and listening during family conversations so your child can practice waiting and attending.
🧸 Care for belongings — Invite your child to help put toys and materials away properly to build respect for shared items and spaces.

When we work together, children learn that respect helps everyone feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Thank you for partnering with us as we grow caring learners who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose. 💜

This week, invite your child to be a Respect Helper at home. Talk together about how respect means using kind words, listening to others, taking care of belongings, and being gentle with people and spaces. Help your child see that respect shows others, “You matter.”

Throughout the week, encourage your child to look for ways to show respect, such as:

✔️ Listening when someone else is talking
✔️ Using polite words like “please” and “thank you”
✔️ Taking turns during play or conversation
✔️ Using gentle hands with people and pets
✔️ Putting toys and materials away carefully

When you notice respectful moments, name them out loud:
“I noticed how you listened and waited — that was respectful.”
“You took care of your things — that shows respect.”

To wrap up the week, reflect together:

• When did you show respect at home?
• How did it help someone else feel?
• What is one respectful choice you can make tomorrow?

These small daily habits help children build empathy, patience, and strong relationship skills. Thank you for partnering with us as we grow caring learners who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose. 💜

Kindergarten registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year!

We are excited to welcome the Class of 2039! Children who turn five on or before August 1, 2026, are eligible to enroll. Registering early helps families receive timely information about screenings, school events, orientations, and important next steps.

How to get started:

👉Families new to MVR-III should contact the office of their assigned school Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm. School staff will share guidance and a registration link to begin the enrollment process.

👉Families with students already attending MVR-III will complete kindergarten registration through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

👉Families whose children are not enrolled in MVR-III prekindergarten will need to schedule a kindergarten screening. To sign up for a kindergarten screening time, complete the online screening form: https://bit.ly/MVR3KDG

Learn more about kindergarten registration on our website: https://www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/article/2674251

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 an upcoming community event. 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: 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 6th - 100th Day of School

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

February 23rd-27th - Parent Teacher Conferences

As we wrap up another wonderful week at Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, we’re proud of the many ways our Little Indians are learning to show respect each day — through kind words, listening ears, gentle hands, and caring for their classrooms and one another. These everyday moments may seem small, but they are powerful building blocks for strong relationships and a positive school community.

We are so thankful for the partnership we share with our families. When children experience consistent messages about respect at both school and home, they feel secure, valued, and understood. That shared support helps them grow not only as learners, but as thoughtful friends and community members.

Thank you for your continued encouragement, communication, and trust. Together, we are growing children who are Rooted in Heart, Driven by Purpose, and learning to show respect in all they do. 💜

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.