Meramec Valley R-III School District

The Dorris Hoffman Early Learning Center and our Parents as Teachers program are excited to invite families to a Sweetheart Dance! This event is open to DHELC students and families participating in Parents as Teachers. 💖

Join us for an evening of music and dancing on Friday, February 6, from 6:00 to 7:30pm in the DHELC gym. Admission is free, but cash donations are welcome and appreciated.

This special event is designed to create sweet memories for our youngest learners and their families. There will be cookies, punch, glow sticks, and flowers available for cash-only purchases.

To RSVP for the Sweetheart Dance, complete the registration form: https://bit.ly/dhelcsweetheartdance

Due to the forecasted winter storm, all MVR-III activities scheduled for Saturday, January 24, and Sunday, January 25, have been cancelled.

Please stay safe and warm this weekend, and we will continue to communicate any updates as needed. ❄️

Students at Arrow Academy are hard at work on a special quilt project. 🧵

This work in progress showcases creativity, teamwork, and patience as each piece comes together. It will soon be sewn into one quilt to hang proudly in the hallway!

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Pacific High School Art Seminar students recently had a meaningful opportunity to give back through art! 🎨💜

Students were invited to paint the windows leading to the labor and delivery room at Mercy Hospital in Washington, Missouri—with each window representing a birth month for babies born there. As new babies arrive throughout the year, nurses add birth announcements to the corresponding month’s decorated window.

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Nike Elementary kindergartners started gym class strong! 💪

Coach Missey’s kindergarten class kicked things off last week with fun warm-up exercises focused on building muscular strength through activities like scissor kicks and planks.

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DHELC recently came together for a week-long tissue drive after running very low on supplies. Thanks to the generosity of our students and families, more than 333 boxes of tissues were collected, including an incredible 55 boxes donated by one standout contributor! 🤩

Incentives like hot cocoa parties for the top three classes and a snow day bag (awarded through a random drawing) added some friendly competition. We are so grateful for our amazing school community for always stepping up to support our needs! 💜

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Coleman Elementary students wrapped up their final lesson in the Cycle of Nature reading unit by learning all about the water cycle! ⛈️☀️

As a fun culminating activity, the class worked together to create a collaborative water cycle poster. Students shared ideas, reviewed key vocabulary, and demonstrated their understanding of how water moves through our world.

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Gather your friends for a lively evening of dinner, music, and entertainment! 🎵

The Pacific Area Chamber and MVR-III Bridge Foundation invite you to the P-Town Piano Party on Saturday, January 31! Your attendance helps fund classroom grants and the annual Back-to-School Bash for Meramec Valley students.

Doors open at 5:30pm, with dinner at 6:00pm and dueling pianos from 7:00 to 10:00pm. Individual tickets are $50. A Regular Table for eight is $375, and a VIP Table for eight is $500. 🎹

Secure your tickets on the Pacific Area Chamber website: https://pacificchamber.com/event-6417041/Registration

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Nike Elementary is grateful for the generosity of the Knights of Columbus Pacific Branch 335, who recently donated proceeds from their Tootsie Roll fundraising campaign to support student Avery Whitaker. ❤️

The donation was presented by Mr. Roger Wiersma and CJ Ruyle, with the valued partnership of MVR-III.

Avery was diagnosed with Perthes disease, a rare childhood condition affecting the hip joint that requires ongoing care and recovery. This meaningful gift is a reminder of how our community comes together to support students and families during challenging times.

Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for their kindness, generosity, and continued commitment to the students of MVR-III.

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At Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center, preschool students participated in an activity with Ms. Jenny. While lying on a scooterboard, students pulled themselves up a ramp to collect a puzzle piece, then rode back down to match it into the puzzle. 🧩

This engaging activity supported core and trunk strengthening, visual processing, and sensory input all at the same time!

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Coleman Elementary’s 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students spent time in the library honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by learning about his leadership, courage, and vision for a better world. 🌟

Mrs. Knickmeyer read “Martin’s Big Words” by Doreen Rappaport, and students listened to a clip from Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Students reflected on what their own dreams would be for the world by writing or illustrating their ideas. Their work was displayed in the cafeteria as an interactive installation, allowing all students to view, read, and reflect on the hopes shared by their peers. 🌟

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Secondary Parent-Teacher Conferences start tonight! Don’t miss the chance to connect with your child’s teachers and learn more about their progress so far this school year.

Conferences will take place January 20-23. Thank you for being an essential part of your student’s success! 🙌

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At Coleman Elementary, 1st grade students collaborated with peers to create models of the planets in our solar system. 🌎💫

As they worked together, students used science vocabulary to discuss the order of the eight planets, incorporating terms such as planet, rotate, orbit, tilt, axis, solar system, Milky Way, universe, and energy into their conversations.

To extend their learning, students also listened to a story read aloud by an astronaut in space! 🚀

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Students in our Arrow Academy Program have been organizing and sharing their learning through information boards that highlight what they are currently working on and what they have already accomplished. 📌

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to justice, equality, and peaceful change. His message continues to inspire our schools and communities to lead with empathy, act with courage, and serve with purpose.

All schools will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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Our Parents as Teachers (PAT) parent educators partner with families to support children’s growth and development from the very beginning. During our free developmental screenings, children engage in hands-on activities while trained PAT educators observe skills, celebrate strengths, and help identify next steps for learning and development.

Developmental screenings are offered bi-monthly at no cost to families in the MVR-III School District. These screenings provide valuable insight into your child’s development and help connect families with resources, support, and early learning opportunities.

We are proud to work alongside families to help every child build a strong, confident start, because early support makes a lifelong difference. 💜

To learn more about the Parents as Teachers program, visit our website: https://www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/o/dhelc/page/parents-as-teachers

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Baking up life skills at Riverbend Middle School! 👩‍🍳

Students in Mrs. Alt’s Family and Consumer Science class practiced kitchen safety, followed a recipe, and made biscuits from scratch. This hands-on lesson built confidence and independence while showing how classroom learning connects to real life. 🤝

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Third graders at Nike Elementary wrapped up their Viking’s Quest with a gallery walk!

Students rotated through each station, identifying important facts and real-world uses for the resources the Vikings relied on, bringing history to life through collaboration and critical thinking. 💡

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Students in our Arrow Academy Program have been bringing creativity to a variety of hands-on projects! 🎨

Recent submissions showcase a wide range of skills and interests, including:
⭐ Ornament designs created with paint, crayon, and ink
⭐ Soap-making using goat’s milk, scents, textures, and molds
⭐ Ceiling tile artwork
⭐ And a word search; currently in progress!

These projects reflect the problem-solving skills our students bring to their learning.

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