Maple News
August 7, 2026
It’s hard to believe back-to-school season is already here! The halls are spotless, and our staff is busy getting everything ready to welcome back our kids.
We’re excited to introduce a few new team members this year:
Ms. Corona & Ms. Hernandez will both be joining the second grade team. Many of you know Ms. Corona, who stepped in to teach first grade after Mrs. Howe retired last year—we're so glad to have her back as a second-grade teacher! Ms. Hernandez, an Ashland University grad, comes to us after finishing a long-term position in Vermilion.
Mrs. Kestner is joining Maple as our EL teacher following Mrs. Raed’s retirement. A longtime NOCS teacher, Mrs. Kestner brings years of expertise in second grade, reading intervention, and EL instruction.
Mrs. Farraj is returning from maternity leave and will be taking on a new role as one of our noon aides.
Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year
The new school year kicks off on Thursday, August 20th! We’re hard at work getting the building and classrooms ready for a great year ahead, full of new faces, new staff, and fresh opportunities.
Moving forward, you’ll receive a digital newsletter every Sunday at 4:00 PM with upcoming school events and PTA news. Since this is our first update of the year, it’s packed with information to help you get ready for day one. On that note, please help us give a warm welcome to our new Maple PTA President, Mrs. Amy Mills!
Don't forget about our One Book, One Summer celebration next Tuesday, August 11th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the North Olmsted High School pavilion (by the tennis courts)!
Still need to finish the book? Head over to our website to follow along with read-aloud videos of the first five chapters, read by our NOCS elementary administrators.
Class Assignments & PowerSchool Update
The Parent Portal will be available on August 12th for parents/guardians to complete, verify or update important information such as phone numbers, email addresses and emergency contact information. It is important to include more than 1 or 2 people in case of an emergency. Please also make sure your contact information is current as we need this information in order to communicate with our families using our school district messaging system. Additionally, forms such as technology acceptable use policies, and the student code of conduct need to be completed.
Student schedules and teacher assignments will be available in PowerSchool starting August 12th. This information will only be available to those who have updated their parent portal and completed their back to school forms. Even if you do not have any changes to make, you must go in and confirm your information and sign the acceptable use policy and the student code of conduct documents.
Note: If you do not know your login information for the PowerSchool Parent Portal please call us at Maple 440-588-5515.
Directions for Updating Student Information
See you soon,
Mrs. Stark
Bus Riders
If your child is riding a bus, details can be found in PowerSchool by the end of the day on August 14th.
Walkers
Please refer to our arrival map to locate our crosswalks. Please do not walk students across the traffic. We will have a staff member at the crosswalk.
Car Riders
Please review the attached maps for our arrival and dismissal routes. We are following the same procedures as last year:
Traffic Flow: All vehicles, with the exception of school busses/daycare vans, must enter from the east and make a right turn into the school parking lot. When exiting, vehicles will turn right to continue east, towards Clague Road. To keep traffic moving safely and efficiently, left turns into or out of the parking lot will not be permitted.
Drop-off & Pick-up: Please remain in your vehicle. Our staff will be on hand to assist your child to and from the building. For safety, if at all possible, have your child exit the car on the passenger side.
Building Access: For the safety and security of all students, families will not be permitted inside the building during arrival and dismissal times.
Our doors open at 7:55 AM.
Thank you in advance for following staff directions and exercising patience—especially during the first couple of weeks of school while everyone gets back into the routine!
Please join us during your scheduled time to meet your child's teacher, listen to a short presentation and drop off school supplies. Thank you in advance for arriving promptly at your scheduled time and not before, allowing our first group to finish.
Tuesday, August 18th
Last Names (A - L) - 6:00 - 6:45pm
Last Names (M - Z ) - 7:00- 7:45pm
Please be sure all school bags, lunch boxes and supplies are clearly labeled with your child's name for easy identification. The Maple PTA will be sharing membership information during this event as well, please consider joining!!
Our First Day of School
The first day of school for students in 1st-3rd grade is Thursday, August 20th.
The school day begins at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m. Our doors open at 7:55. Students are expected to be in their seats and ready to learn at 8:10.
Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students. Students are able to grab their breakfast as they enter the building and will eat in their classroom. Menus can be found on the website.
As we start a new school year, we want to partner with you to give your child the best environment to learn, grow, and make friends! One of the biggest drivers of student success is simple: showing up on time, every day.
The Facts on Attendance
Missing just two days of school a month adds up to 10% of the school year—the threshold for chronic absenteeism. Chronically absent students are less likely to read on grade level by 3rd grade and are more at risk of falling behind in high school. Every day of classroom connection counts!
Being Late to School
Arriving late might seem like just a few missed minutes, but those minutes quickly add up!
State Tracking: Under Ohio law, attendance is measured in hours and minutes—so tardy minutes directly count toward state absence thresholds.
Classroom Routine: Arriving late often leaves children feeling flustered or anxious as they try to catch up on morning routines already underway. Starting the day on time helps them feel settled, calm, and ready to learn.
Ohio Attendance Laws (House Bill 410)
Since attendance is tracked in total hours missed:
Excessive Absences: 38+ hours in a month or 65+ hours in a school year (excused or unexcused).
Habitual Truancy: 30 consecutive hours, 42 hours in a month, or 72 hours in a school year (unexcused).
If these thresholds are reached, state law requires schools to create a support plan with the family to get attendance back on track.
When to Keep Your Child Home
We want every healthy student in class, but protecting our school community comes first. Please keep your child home if they have had:
A fever within the last 24 hours. (Note: Your child must be fever-free for a full 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Motrin before returning to school.)
Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
*When returning to school, if your child saw a doctor, please submit the medical excuse letter. They will provide this for you if you ask.
Partner With Us
Establish Routines: Stick to consistent bedtimes and morning habits to ensure smooth, on-time arrivals.
Schedule Smart: Book appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.
Notify Us: Always call the office if your child needs to stay home, will arrive late, or will be picked up early.
If your family is facing transportation or personal hurdles, reach out—we are here to help! Thank you for making school attendance a priority.
Mark your calendar with important school dates and closures!
Join us for a parade!
Show your Eagle pride by joining us for the annual Homecoming Parade on Sunday, August 16!
Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to walk alongside North Olmsted City Schools staff as we celebrate this community tradition.
Participants should meet at the high school by 1:45, with the parade stepping off promptly at 2:00.
Wear your black and orange and bring your school spirit!
Do you need childcare before school? You can sign up using the link below. Before School Care is located in the gym at Maple and begins at 7:15. Only students registered for morning care are able to enter the building before 7:55.
Help your child step into the new school year feeling confident, rested, and excited! Here are a few ways to build great routines and ease those first-day jitters together:
1. Build a Predictable Sleep Routine
After summer break, shifting bedtimes can be tough for kids. Most 1st through 3rd graders need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night to stay focused, regulate emotions, and feel their best.
The 2-Week Reset: Gradually move bedtimes and wake-up times 15 minutes earlier each day starting two weeks before school starts.
Screen-Free Wind Down: Turn off tablets, TVs, and phones 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Blue light tricking the brain into thinking it’s daytime makes falling asleep harder.
Calming Bedtime Habits: Establish a relaxing evening flow—like a warm bath, reading together, or talking about their favorite part of the day.
2. Establish Morning & Eating Habits
Mornings run much smoother when routines are prepped ahead of time.
Night-Before Prep: Involve your child in picking out their clothes, packing their backpack, and prepping water bottles the night before to eliminate morning stress.
Free School Breakfast: We offer free breakfast to all students each morning!
Important Timing: If your child plans to eat breakfast at school, please ensure they arrive by 8:05 AM. This gives them enough time to grab their breakfast and reach their classroom ready to learn by 8:10 AM without feeling rushed!
3. Build Emotional Readiness & Confidence
Transitioning into a new grade comes with big emotions. Helping your child talk through their feelings builds long-term confidence.
Talk About What to Expect: Walk through their daily schedule together, practice your drop-off routine, or visit the school playground so the environment feels familiar and safe.
Acknowledge First-Day Jitters: Validate their feelings! Reassure them that it’s completely normal to feel a mix of excited and nervous, and remind them that their teacher is there to help.
Create a Goodbye Ritual: A special handshake, a warm hug, or a reassuring phrase ("I'll see you at 2:50!") helps children transition smoothly at drop-off without lingering anxiety.
Comforting Books to Read Together
Reading together before the first day is a gentle way to open up conversations about back-to-school feelings.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn: A heartwarming story about Chester Raccoon, who is afraid to start school until his mother shares a family secret—a comforting kiss in the palm of his hand to remind him of her love wherever he goes.(If your child comes in with a heart on the palm of their hand, we will know why! From experience, make sure it is done with a permanent marker to avoid tears after hand washing!)
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst: A comforting story reminding children that love connects us even when we are apart—great for drop-off anxiety!
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg: A funny, relatable read with a surprise twist that shows everyone gets nervous for day one.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes: A sweet tale about a mouse who worries about starting school—until she makes a friend and realizes how fun it can be.
