From the Desk of Dr. Sladek
Welcome Back for the 2023-2024 School Year
Welcome Back!
August 2, 2023
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! It is my pleasure to serve as the principal of Truman Elementary. I have worked for Meramec Valley R-III School District for 7 years. This will be my 5th year as the Truman Elementary principal. I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well, and hope that you were able to enjoy some time away this summer. We have been preparing for the 2023-2024 school year which starts with our Open House on August 17th where you will meet your child’s teacher and tour their classroom and our building. On August 3rd (tomorrow), you will receive an email with the name of your child's homeroom teacher. Additionally, your child’s teacher will be contacting you prior to Open House.
Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
Dr. Sladek
School Hours
The school day begins at 8:35 AM and 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 - 8:20 will either eat breakfast or wait in the gym.
We will be starting our school day, every day, with an all school pledge and morning pep/announcements. Students will be released by class from the gym at 8:35am to start their official day.
SACC
SACC is our before and after school care program.
If your child needs morning childcare before 8:05 am, contact the school office at 636-271-1434 or information about the School Age Child Care Program registration.
For more information regarding our program please see the flyer below:
Birthday Celebrations
In compliance with our Healthy Generation School goals, Truman will focus on healthy celebrations. Student birthdays will be recognized on our daily announcements. To comply with the national health guideline, we do not accept birthday or holiday treats.
*Every student at Truman receives a free book for their birthday!
Prop E
The Meramec Valley R-III Board of Education has made the difficult decision to propose a tax levy increase on the August 8th ballot. This decision was not made lightly, and it came only after a two-year process in which the district identified and enacted nearly $2.5 million in cost-cutting efficiencies and reductions. Even with those savings, reduced state funding and major cost increases have forced the district to deficit spend, and now valued student programs, extra-curricular activities, and critical staffing is at-risk. More information may be located at www.mvr3.k12.mo.us. Please vote on August 8th.
Annual Student Information Update
The annual online student information update for the 2023-2024 school year will be emailed to families during the week of August 14th. Each school will have a station set up at Open House/Registration events to assist families with the online update. Additionally, Free/Reduced Meal Applications will be emailed to families with paper copies available at Open House.
Communication
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, sign up with your student’s teacher on ClassDojo, and like us on Facebook. I also send out a parent newsletter every Sunday to help you and your student best prepare for the week ahead.
Transportation
First Week of School:
We continue to request that parents bring their students to school in the manner they plan on using for the school year. If your student will be a bus rider we encourage them to ride the bus to and from school on the first day. Students need to meet their bus driver and get into the routine of those normal procedures starting on day one. Help your child be successful and have a smooth transition to school by starting their day off with our friendly bus drivers. Parents are welcome to meet their student at school, on the first day, after they arrive on the bus and snap a picture outside.
Bus Routes (Coming Soon)
Open House
Open House Truman Elementary
Thursday, August 17th from 6-7 p.m.
Student supplies can be dropped off, meet the teachers, nurse, finish enrollment, enroll in SACC, PTO involvement, and much more!
To make this event more personal for each student and their parents and enjoyable, we will have a Super Smokers Food Truck that you and your family can enjoy dinner! The dinner is at your own cost but the truck will be here the entire time of the event...which is prime dinner time... so if you would like to have a meal the cafeteria will be open for you to enjoy a meal, meet the teacher, stop by all the tables, and simply enjoy the environment of Truman Elementary at its best - filled with families!
Nurse Barb
A copy of the most updated shot record should be turned in to 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.
School Supply Lists:
Please refer to the district website School Supplies for a complete list of school supplies.
School Breakfast & Lunch
Studies show that a healthy breakfast gives children a head start to a successful day. The cost of breakfast is $2.10 per day; lunch is $3.30 per day. Students may purchase extra milk for $.75 per carton. All money to be deposited into your student’s lunch account should be placed in an envelope with the student’s name, grade, teacher’s name, and the amount enclosed. MVR-III asks ALL families to complete the meal application to ensure continued funding to support ALL students in our district. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Periodic notices will be sent home regarding meal account balance and can also be accessed through the SIS Parent Portal System.
You can access the Truman Elementary School Menu by clicking on the link below or downloading the nutrislice app:
Truman PTO
Truman Elementary is in the process of giving full focus on building an involved parent community! ...knowing that being 'involved' can look different and be supports down many different avenues. Our main focus this year is to really hone in on that and find what works best to unite our adult community! The organization has traditionally sponsored activities such as Family Bingo, Trunk or Treat, Breakfast with Santa, Trivia Night, and various fundraisers to support the school.
Our first meeting of the year will be on Wednesday August 30th @ 4:00pm please join us!
Here is a message from our PTO President:
Hello there Truman Tribe Families!
The first day of school is approaching soon and there is definitely a buzz of excitement in the air! I would like to introduce myself! My name is Alicia Snyder and I am the new PTO President! My daughter will be in the second grade this year and I have to say, we love Truman! The staff members are amazing, and the kiddos, well I've had the pleasure of spending a lunch with them and the experience gave me so much joy! With that being said our teachers and kiddos deserve a great support system, so the PTO will be hosting several events throughout the year, to yes, not only raise funds to spend on the staff and our kiddos, but to also encourage family involvement in our Truman Tribe. We are planning some of our staple events (Trunk or Treat and Trivia Night), but we also have a few other ways you can participate! We will have many flyers and be posting a lot of information on our Facebook page - one main thing to look for is our YEARLY calendar. That's right! We want to ensure you are "in the know" as soon and as early as possible! We also will have opportunities to volunteer in any capacity, as this also gives you the opportunity to get to know students and staff on another level! I am truly looking forward to this school year and building this PTO up into something to be proud to be a part of. Look for me at the TRUMAN TRIBE PTO table during Open House,
I am looking forward to meeting you!
PTO President,
Alicia Snyder
Watch Dog's Program
The district is also expanding the Watch D.O.G.S. (dads of great students) safety program at each K-8 building in the district. If you are interested learning more about this program or volunteering even 1 day a year as a Watch D.O.G.S. in your child’s school.
Watch D.O.G.S. (dads of great students) is a national innovative program focusing on the prevention of violence in our children's schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures for two purposes:
1) To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2) To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying. WATCH D.O.G.S. are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and any other father-figures who volunteer as a positive presence for at least one whole school day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school.
Please complete the sign up below if you are interested in serving as a WATCH D.O.G.S. at Truman Elementary
From me to you:
At the end of each weekly newsletter throughout the year I like to leave a feel good, inspiration, or self reflection of some sort because some days 'adulting' and 'life' win and other days WE win... so it is always nice to know we have a Tribe that understands and is there for us every step of the way.
Today I will leave you with this hope for the coming school year:
Leading is tough, teaching is tough.
Being a student can be tough. Parenting is tough.
This year, let’s show grace and not be afraid to ask for help. Safe schools are more than locked doors, policies and rules. Safe schools accept each individual for who they are, wherever they may be in their journey and I know the staff at Truman's hearts want our daily workplace and your child's home away from home to be a safe haven!
We look forward to seeing all the Truman families at the Thursday, August 17th Open House event from 6:00-7:00!
If you have any questions concerning the 2023-2024 school year, please contact me at 636-346-6156 or email me at jsladek@mvr3.k12.mo.us
Leading & learning with a smile,