Maple Marquee

The first week of school is in the books, and we are off to an amazing start! The students are smiling and energized, and our staff is simply the best there is, forming meaningful relationships and engaging our students throughout the day. Our classrooms and hallways are filled with excitement and enthusiasm for learning.

Thank you all for your support with our traffic procedures and for helping your students acclimate to a new school year. Please be sure to read through our weekly Friday Maple Marquee, as we strive to provide all the activities and happenings here at Maple School.

Dr. Kurtz and Ms. Jaeger

Monday, August 26

• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing begins

Wednesday, August 28

• 6:30-7:00 p.m. – 8th grade parent/guardian informational meeting (cafetorium)
• 6:30 -7:00 p.m. - 6th grade and new band (rm 163) orchestra (rm 164) meetings
• 7:00 p.m. – Curriculum Night Presentations

Thursday, August 29

Friday, August 30

Monday, September 2

• District holiday - NO SCHOOL

Monday, September 9

• PTO general meeting

Friday, September 27

• Picture day

Across District 30, we are building our students' and staff members' capacity for emotional intelligence by using RULER, an evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning. As outlined in the previous edition of this newsletter, this year we want to share what we've learned to support our families at home. Check out this spot in your newsletter for monthly RULER themes and tips for applying these ideas at home.

The RULER Acronym

• Recognizing emotions in oneself and others through facial expressions, body language, voice, behavior

• Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions in oneself and others

• Labeling emotions with accurate words from a nuanced vocabulary

• Expressing emotions differently depending on context, situational expectations, and culture

• Regulating emotions with effective strategies and supporting others in their regulation of emotions

In our next Maple Marquee, watch for our first tip of how you might discuss this at home! Also, join us at Curriculum Night Aug. 28 to learn more about this program.

Due to a change to the State of Illinois School Code, Maple School Health Office will only be able to distribute over-the-counter (OTC) medications (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen) to students with a completed Medication Authorization Form (for OTC). The new requirements include a physician’s signature along with a parent/guardian's signature.

Please return the completed form to the school’s health office if you would like your child will be able to receive over-the-counter medications at school. Thank you!

Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 will have three school board seats to be filled at the Consolidated Election on April 1, 2025. Candidates who are elected will fill four-year terms expiring in April 2029.

Candidates for the office of the school board can now circulate nominating petitions for signatures. The period for filing nominating petitions concludes November 18, with November 12 being the first day permitted to file a petition.

A candidate for the school board is required to file the nominating petitions, Statement of Candidacy, and receipt for filing their Statement of Economic Interests with the applicable county election clerk and not with the school board secretary or the administrative offices of the school district. The county clerk may have petition forms available, or blank petitions may be downloaded from the State Board of Elections website, elections.il.gov.

Candidates who are interested in seeking endorsement from the District 30 School Board Caucus should contact Caucus Chair Marci Goldgar at marci257@aol.com by Friday, October 18. The School Board Caucus is a committee of District 30 residents that includes families both with and without children enrolled in Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple schools. The Caucus' role is to source, screen and endorse potential school board candidates. To be considered by the Caucus, candidates will need to complete a detailed application as well as an interview.

Maple students will be participating in the Fall MAP test from August 26-29. Math assessments will take place on August 26 and 27, followed by English Language Arts assessments on August 28 and 29. Make-up sessions for any missed tests will be held after September 3rd. This assessment will help us better understand your child's academic growth this year. We appreciate your support in ensuring our students are prepared and present at school for these important state exams, please try not to schedule any appointments during your students test times, if possible.

These assessment results will continue to be used (1) by teachers to assist them in differentiating lessons in reading/language arts and mathematics; as well as (2) to measure student academic growth. Students' fall assessment reports will be made available to parents and guardians later in the school year.

We will offer an in-person Curriculum Night experience on Wednesday, August 28, in which families will have the opportunity to experience an expedited version of their student’s schedule. During this event you will hear from each of your student's teachers and learn about them and their class. The night's events include:

• 8th-Grade parent information meeting, 6:30-7:00 p.m.
• 6th-Grade and new Band (Rm 163) and Orchestra (Rm 164) meetings, 6:30 - 7:00 pm.
• Curriculum Night presentation, 7:00-8:15 p.m.

All who live in District 30 boundaries are invited to meet Superintendent Dr. Tammaru and a member of our Board of Education to ask questions and share what is important to you in our schools.

You can pick from either the 12 p.m. or 6 p.m. session on Wednesday, September 25 at our District 30 Offices, 2374 Shermer Road, Northbrook. RSVP is optional so we can plan for space and send a reminder to participants close to the event date.

Please share with neighbors, as this event is for everyone in our boundaries – even if they do not have children in our schools. Click below to join us!

Student attendance will be a focus at Maple School this year.

1. Your student's attendance matters -- there are social, emotional, and academic impacts to inconsistent attendance. We want to make sure we all get on the same track for a successful school year. Everything you need to know about attendance can be found in the Maple School Handbook.
2. It is important for parents to know the difference between "excused" and "unexcused" absences. Please see the table below for more details.
3. Maple's administration and teachers are always available to support students and families to remediate attendance issues. Please contact Maple's principals if you'd like to discuss methods of support.

All parents and guardians must report student absences, late arrivals or early departures through the Parent Portal. Please do not contact the Health Office, School Office, or classroom teacher via phone or email.

For a step-by-step guide on how to report an absence, click here. Please ensure to include as much detail as possible when entering the reason for the absence.

If no information is in the Parent Portal by 10:00 a.m. and a student is absent, the school will attempt to contact a parent or guardian.

If the absence is medically involved, please report the absence first in the Parent Portal. Following this, you are welcome to contact the school Health Office to communicate with the nurse about the condition.

Questions? Please contact the front desk.

6th-graders and students new to Maple are required to provide the school with a health exam, which was completed within one year prior to the first day of school. Students new to Illinois will need to hand in a completed eye exam. Sixth graders must also provide the school with a dental exam form or waiver.

All forms are available on the Maple website.

If your child will be participating in Maple athletics, it is required that your student have a health exam that was completed within one year prior to the last game of the season, on file in the health office.

Before any medication can be dispensed, the school must receive written instructions and a signed permission form from the student’s physician and parent. All medications must be properly labeled and kept in the Health Office. Parental permission must also be obtained for non-prescription medication.

All forms can be dropped off with a member of the Maple front desk team, or emailed to School Nurse Mrs. Katie Weissler (kweissler@district30.org). Please contact the Health Office at 847-400-8908 if you have questions.

The Maple Marquee is a communication that the school sends out weekly to families and staff on Fridays. All copies will be sent electronically to the email addresses that families previously provided us using the online registration system. Please contact the office if you do not receive this edition by Saturday, August 24. The Maple Marquee is also posted on the district website.

Important information is sent home throughout the year in the Maple Marquee, so please make sure to take the time to read each week's issue. We don't want anyone to miss out on seeing notices about current or upcoming events at the school.

Other ways to stay connected with what's happening in our schools include:

• Maple School PTO Facebook
• District 30 Facebook
• District 30 Instagram
• District 30 X (formerly Twitter)
• District 30 LinkedIn
• District 30 YouTube
• Watch for e-blasts from the PTO about upcoming events
  
• Check out the Maple PTO website for all PTO events and forms

Student pick-up and drop-off procedures are designed to provide a safe and controlled environment for students as they enter and exit cars. The only vehicle entrance into Maple School after 2:45 p.m. will be off of Shermer Road. Please watch the video below from when this procedure debuted in 2022 and reference the map, also below, that details the new traffic pattern. These will allow you to be prepared for a smooth pick-up on our first day of school.

Students may be dropped-off along the curb on the north side or east side of the Maple School building. There is NO student drop-off on Sherman Drive or at the GBN parking lot. After drop-off, drivers should continue and exit onto Sherman Drive or Shermer Road. Students may enter the building through Maple’s Main Entrance (north side) or the Activity Entrance (east side).

Please remember, during the school year students will not be permitted to enter the building until 8:05 a.m. unless they are attending a band, orchestra, or choir rehearsal, or they have a scheduled meeting with a teacher. After drop-off, music students should proceed to their classrooms, while all other students should proceed directly to the cafetorium.

Patience is a key component to a safe and efficient pick-up and drop-off experience. We appreciate your cooperation and your kindness toward our custodians and staff who are assisting with the traffic flow.

Maple School Utilizes MealTime Point of Sale System.

• Go to: www.mymealtime.com and create an account

• Parents, guardians or students can deposit money on their Maple student IDs to pay for food and beverages in the Cafetorium serving line

• Cash will also be accepted

• PTO Special Lunch, Ice Cream Days, and Blizzards are NOT part of the Quest lunch program
  

Any items, including iPads, dropped off in the office for a student should have the student's name and grade on it and be placed on the cart labeled by grade for the student to pick up.

When a student forgets their iPad or any other items for the day, they should first check in with their teacher, then come to the office to see if it was dropped off. Students are also welcome to make a phone call from the office phone to request items to be dropped off that day.

In order to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum, students will NOT be called to the office to pick up items. The procedures for distribution of these items are listed below.

Place your items on the cart in the vestibule, labeled by student name and grade:

• Before lunch - they will be brought to the lunchroom during the student's lunch period by the lunchroom supervisor to be given to the student.

• After lunch - students will be called to pick up items at the end of the day.

• Items not picked up by a student by the end of the school day will remain in the office until the next day's lunch period for delivery to the student.

• Unclaimed lunch boxes left at school will be discarded at the end of each week.

We ask parents and guardians NOT to order food or beverages to be delivered directly to school during their child’s lunch period. Our front office staff will not be responsible for its timely delivery to the lunchroom.

Board Games & More Club will be held on selected Monday and Friday afternoons beginning August 26 from 3:45-4:30 p.m. in the FACS room. A variety of games will be provided and students are also welcome to bring in their favorites. Please pick up your student(s) at the front doors at 4:30 p.m. Feel free to contact Mrs. Schmidt with any questions at jschmidt@district30.org.

Physical Information:

Athletes must have a current physical BEFORE they can participate in ANY competitions. Physicals are good for 13 months. Please contact our school nurse, Katie Weissler, for more information and to assure we have the necessary documents for your athletes.

Deadlines for each sport to submit a current physical:

Grades 6-8 Girls' Volleyball : September 6

Grades 7-8 Co-ed Soccer: September 4

Grades 6-8 Cross Country: September 12

Tryout Dates:

Grade 6 Girls' Volleyball: August 27 & 28

Grades 7-8 Girls' Volleyball: August 26 & 27

Grades 7-8 Soccer: August 26 & 27

Cross Country is a non-cut sport open to Maple students in all grades. Informational meeting TBD.

Cross Country:

We are excited for the upcoming Cross Country season at Maple! The season will begin very quickly, and coaches will get information out soon. Please remind your athletes to check their emails nightly for more information to come. The uniform isn't mandatory to purchase, but will be used by the team during the Cross Country competitions and during the Track & Field season. In order to get the uniforms for our first Cross Country competition, we need to close the online store on August 25.

Any students who will be participating on the Maple soccer team, please click the button below to order a shirt.

Students who participate in the interscholastic programs are required to provide evidence of a recent physical examination (within one year prior to the start of the first practice). The examination date must be within one year of the conclusion dates of the sport season or a more current physical will be required. Parents and guardians are encouraged to obtain their child’s physical examination as soon as possible to avoid any delay in the student’s participation. An Illinois Department of Public Health “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form is available online at the district webpage under the parent documents and forms link. A 2024 summer examination prior to the start of school covers a student for all sport teams offered throughout the 2024-25 school year. Student participation in any sport begins only after the completed permission form is returned to the Maple School office.

Students must maintain a minimum level of academic achievement with no grade below a C prior to tryouts and throughout the season. It is the expectation that the students demonstrate appropriate behavior and good sportsmanship at all times.

Please visit the very informative Maple Athletics Website to find out all necessary information for the 2024-25 school year in the coming weeks: District 30 Athletics

Our Maple Parent/Teacher Advisory Council is seeking parent members for the 2024-25 school year. The Parent/Teacher Advisory Council (PTAC) has been created and designed to engage our learning community in discussion and dialogue about the education of our students. The PTAC focuses on topics regarding the school’s curriculum, programming, procedures and any other areas that may impact our students and their learning environment. Additionally, the Parent/Teacher Advisory Council will review and explore educational research and best practices relative to Maple School and the middle-level child.

We intend to maintain a 10- to 15-member council that is representative of the diversity of our Maple School community. Members of the Maple Parent/Teacher Advisory Council will be a well-informed group in order to provide support and guidance for our learning community during the school year.

Planned meeting dates are: October 7, December 9 and March 3 and May 12 at 6:30-7:30 p.m. The meetings will be held in Maple School’s LMC.

If you are interested in serving on the Maple Parent/Teacher Advisory Council, please complete the PTAC Google Form below by Friday, September 13.

2024-2025 PTO Registration is OPEN! This is your opportunity to register for the PTO, as well as purchase Ice Cream and DQ Blizzards for your student. Don't miss out! Registration Deadline: Friday, August 30, at 11:59 p.m. ($20 Late registration fee after midnight on August 31). Registration is best viewed on a computer.

PTO donations and registration fees directly address the school's immediate needs and priorities, supporting Maple's staff, students, and community overall. The Maple PTO appreciates your support! Thank you!

The Maple PTO has teamed up with Lunch Solutions to manage our monthly Special Lunch program. Special Lunch will be held one Wednesday every month for all grades and Field Day for 6th & 7th grade only.

Please note that Hot Lunch Service is NOT available on PTO Special Lunch Days. If your child does not participate in the PTO Special Lunch Program, they must bring a lunch and drink from home. The first Special Lunch of the school year will be held on September 18 and your students will enjoy Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Families have until 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 12 to order Special Lunch. Thank you!

Looking for a fun way to make new friends? Interested in learning new dance moves? Join us for the 6th grade Social Dance Program.

Anyone wishing to purchase a yearbook for their student should click here to complete the online order or call Josten's at 877-767-5217. Purchasing the yearbook is optional, but most students like to have one at the end of the year. The current cost per book is $32.00. This will increase after winter break.

Any time a student feels unsafe, any adult in their school can help!

But sometimes, students or parents wish to reach out for help in a different way or after school hours. Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe way to share information 24/7 that might help prevent any threat to school safety, including bullying, self-harm or other serious concerns.

The goal of this program is to get students to “seek help before harm;" it is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish. Safe2Help Illinois also offers a Mental Health Toolkit that provides resources for parents and educators reinforce the components of this program.

Safe2Help Illinois offers around-the-clock help via:

• Hotline: 844-4-SAFEIL
• Text line: 72332
• Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
• Plus a website full of resources for young people seeking help for themselves or a friend. Its Ways To Get Help page is a directory of specialized hotlines, and other sections of its website provide practical steps for dealing with depression or helping a distraught friend. The checklist called "20 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Feel Like Giving Up" can help older children overcome a bout of anxiety or depression.

To ensure a safe school environment for all, we ask that food with nuts be limited only to the lunchroom. If teachers permit snacks during Advisory, students are expected to only bring healthy, nut-free options.

Students are only permitted to drink water throughout the school day, and are encouraged to bring water bottles. The only exception is during their lunch period, when they can enjoy other appropriate beverages.

Maple School is part of Northbrook/Glenview District 30, which exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.

We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.

Main Office: 847-400-8900

Location: 2370 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL, USA

Website: district30.org