Maple Run Connection

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and found a chance to enjoy some of the spring weather in between the rain.

It’s hard to believe we’re now down to just about five weeks left in the school year.

This time of year always seems to speed up. Across Maple Run, classrooms are busy, concerts and celebrations are filling the calendar, spring sports are underway, field trips are happening, and students are continuing to work hard each day.

As exciting as this time of year can be, it’s also an important reminder that every school day still matters.

We know that as the weather gets warmer and family calendars get busier, it can be tempting to start thinking summer a little early. But these final weeks of school are incredibly important. Learning is still happening every single day, routines still matter, relationships matter, and being present makes a difference.

To our families, thank you for continuing to support strong attendance and helping students arrive at school each day ready to learn, grow, and finish the year strong.

To our staff, thank you for the energy, patience, and care you continue to bring every day during one of the busiest times of the school year. There is so much happening across Maple Run right now, and it truly takes all of us working together to make these experiences possible for our students.

I hope everyone can find a little time to slow down and enjoy some of these spring moments.

There’s a lot happening across Maple Run right now, and a lot to be proud of.

One of the highlights of the past few weeks for me personally has been launching the new Maple Run Excellence Award and having the opportunity to surprise some truly deserving educators across our district.

There is incredible work happening every single day in classrooms across Maple Run. Our teachers build relationships, inspire curiosity, create safe and welcoming learning environments, challenge students to grow, and make a lasting difference in the lives of kids, often without looking for recognition.

This spring, we wanted to pause and intentionally celebrate some of that work.

Over five Fridays this spring, ten licensed educators from across Maple Run will be recognized with the Maple Run Excellence Award for the impact they make on students, families, colleagues, and our school communities.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve already had the opportunity to visit classrooms, surprise award recipients, meet with students, and see firsthand the joy, excitement, and appreciation that comes with recognizing great educators in the moment.

I can honestly say it has been one of the most rewarding parts of my spring.

To our award recipients thank you for the difference you make each and every day.

And to all of our educators across Maple Run, please know your work matters, it is seen, it is appreciated, and I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible people who serve our students every day.

We’re just getting started, and I’m excited for the weeks ahead as we continue celebrating excellence across Maple Run.

This week, I also want to take a moment to recognize Glenn McCabe, a science teacher at Bellows Free Academy, as one of our Maple Run Excellence Award recipients.

Glenn does an outstanding job engaging students across all levels of science learning. Whether students are just building their foundation in science or taking on Advanced Placement coursework, he meets them where they are and helps them grow in confidence, curiosity, and understanding.

What stands out most is the way he makes science both accessible and challenging at the same time. Students are encouraged to think deeply, ask questions, and see science as something that connects to the world around them.

It was a pleasure to surprise Glenn in his classroom and recognize the impact he is making each day with students.

We are fortunate to have educators like Glenn in Maple Run, and I’m grateful for the work he does to support our students.

This week, I also want to recognize Geoffrey Murray, a social studies teacher and community service coordinator at Bellows Free Academy, as one of our Maple Run Excellence Award recipients.

Geoffrey has a long-standing commitment to students and a strong belief in connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences. Through his work as community service coordinator, he helps students find meaningful ways to get involved, give back, and see the impact they can have beyond the classroom.

In his social studies classes, Geoffrey encourages students to think critically, engage in discussion, and make connections between history, current events, and their own lives. He creates opportunities for students to not only learn content, but also understand how they can contribute to their school and community.

It was a pleasure to surprise Geoffrey and recognize the steady, meaningful work he does each day with students.

We are fortunate to have educators like Geoffrey in Maple Run, and I am grateful for the difference he makes for students every day.

On Wednesday, Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center was filled with energy, determination, and plenty of Maple Run pride as our middle school students took part in the first track and field meet of the season.

Students from Fairfield Center School, Saint Albans City School, and Saint Albans Town Educational Center competed alongside student-athletes from across Franklin County in a day that brought our communities together through sports, teamwork, and school spirit.

Even with the cold, wet weather, the smiles, encouragement, and positive energy never faded.

A special thank you goes out to our Bellows Free Academy track and field student-athletes who helped run the meet, along with the many staff volunteers who gave their time and energy to support our students throughout the day.

It was a long day, but also a great reminder of what makes Maple Run special: students, staff, families, and schools coming together as one community to support kids.

The school year may be winding down, but there is still so much learning, growth, and opportunity ahead.

Let’s keep showing up, supporting one another, and making these final five weeks count.

Stay informed. Stay connected. New issue every week!

Each week in the Maple Run Connection, we highlight something positive happening in our schools or across the district. It’s a chance to recognize the everyday work of students, staff, and families.

This week, I want to highlight something that often happens quietly behind the scenes, but plays a huge role in keeping our schools running each day classroom coverage and the incredible teamwork that happens when staffing is tight.

Like many school districts across Vermont and across the country, Maple Run continues to navigate the ongoing challenge of substitute shortages. There are days when staff absences, meetings, trainings, field trips, and student needs can create a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes.

What continues to impress me is how our staff step up for one another and most importantly, for our students.

Across all Maple Run schools, teachers, support staff, interventionists, specialists, counselors, administrators, office staff, and many others regularly adjust schedules, shift responsibilities, cover classrooms, support different grade levels, and jump in wherever they’re needed to make sure learning continues without missing a beat.

It’s not always easy, and it often requires flexibility, teamwork, and a willingness to put students first.

In many ways, our students benefit from this as well. They build relationships with different trusted adults, see firsthand what teamwork looks like, and experience a school community where everyone is willing to help.

This kind of teamwork may not always be visible to families, but it happens every single day across Maple Run, and it’s a big part of what keeps our schools strong.

Thank you to all of our staff who continue to step up, support one another, and do whatever it takes to keep students learning.

As we wrapped up National Teacher Appreciation Week last Friday, I just want to take a moment to say thank you.

Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to visit schools across Maple Run, and everywhere I went, I saw joy, gratitude, laughter, and a genuine appreciation for the incredible people who make our schools such special places for kids.

I saw handwritten notes, kind messages, decorated doors, thoughtful surprises, staff celebrations, and so many small moments that reminded me just how strong and caring our Maple Run community truly is.

To our families, students, community members, and staff thank you for helping make the week so meaningful. Whether you sent a note, shared a kind word, dropped off something thoughtful, or simply took a moment to say thank you, it truly made a difference.

We know we have some of the very best staff anywhere, and I couldn’t be more proud of the people who show up each and every day to teach, support, encourage, care for, and inspire our students.

To every member of our Maple Run team, thank you. You are deeply appreciated, and I’m so grateful for all you do for our students, families, and one another.

It was a fantastic week of celebration, and I’m thankful to everyone who helped make it so special.

Did you know Maple Run offers an Early Childhood Program for children ages 3 and 4?

Our preschool programs are located in five schools across the district and help our youngest learners build confidence, routines, friendships, and the skills they need for a strong start in kindergarten.

Registration for next school year is now open.

Because we have a limited number of spots, student placement is done through a lottery system, so I encourage families to register early.

If you have a child who will be preschool age next year or know a friend, neighbor, or family member who does—now is a great time to learn more.

Registration information can be found on the Maple Run Unified School District website. If you have questions, please reach out to Jessica Barnes jbarnes@maplerun.org or 802-370-3951.

We’d love to welcome your child to Maple Run!

We’re excited to welcome new Kindergarten students to Maple Run Unified School District! Children must be five years old on or before September 1, 2026, to enroll.

If your child is new to Maple Run, please complete the School Interest Form: School Registration

Once approved, you’ll receive instructions to create a Parent Portal account and complete enrollment forms: Parent Portal

Timing Matters: Early registration helps our schools plan staffing, classroom supports, and meet-and-greet opportunities—ensuring a smooth, welcoming start for every child.

Required Documents: You may be asked to provide a birth certificate and proof of residency. If uploading is difficult, you can bring documents to your school or contact your school to discuss other options.

Contact Your School for Support:

Fairfield Center School: Judy Magnan | (802) 827-6639 | jmagnan@maplerun.org

Saint Albans City School: Darcy Millette | (802) 527-0565 | sacsregistrar@maplerun.org

Saint Albans Town Educational Center: Michelle Dow | (802) 752-2600 | mdow@maplerun.org

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure every child has a strong, welcoming start to Kindergarten!

As we head into the final five weeks of the school year, I want to take a moment to talk about something that really does make a difference showing up to school each day.

This time of year gets busy. The weather gets nicer, family calendars fill up, and summer starts to feel right around the corner.

But the truth is, these final weeks matter.

Sometimes missing one day here or there may not feel like a big deal, but over time, those days add up faster than most people realize.

A student who misses just 2 days a month can miss nearly 18 days of school in a year, that’s close to four full weeks of learning.

And it’s not just classroom lessons students miss. It’s class discussions, group work, hands-on projects, time with friends, connections with trusted adults, routines, and all of the little moments that make school such an important part of a child’s day.

Across Maple Run, we see it every day, students who are here regularly feel connected, confident, and ready to learn.

Thank you to our families for continuing to make attendance a priority and helping our students finish these final five weeks strong.

Maple Run MISSION Statement

Maple Run ensures a meaningful, flexible, rigorous, and safe education for all to thrive and excel.

Maple Run VISION Statement

At Maple Run Unified School District, we are committed to cultivating a welcoming environment where our students and community can tap into their love of learning.

OUR CORE VALUES

In partnership with our families and community we value:

Children, first and foremost;
Safety and security;
Collaboration and relationships,
Joy and curiosity;
Relevance and rigor;
Independence and perseverance;
Flexibility and adaptability;
Respect and diversity;
Accountability and integrity;

And commit to provide equity in access to a quality education.