Maple Grove Fox Report

Happy New Year, Maple Grove families! I hope your winter break was filled with rest, joy, and time together. As we welcome our learners back to school, we are excited to start fresh and jump into all that 2026 has to offer.

January is a time for new beginnings—a chance to reset routines, reconnect as a community, and refocus on what helps our learners thrive. In fact, we had a few learners return asking very seriously if a new year meant a new classroom and a new grade already! While we love the enthusiasm, we assured them they get to stay right where they are… for now.

As we settle back in, you may hear your child talk about reviewing expectations and routines. This is intentional and important as we help students ease back into learning with confidence and purpose.

At Maple Grove, we continue to center our work around our CRISP traits:

• Craftsmanship in our learning and effort

• Respect for ourselves, others, and our environment

• Integrity in doing the right thing

• Stewardship of our school, animals, and land

• Perseverance when learning feels challenging

These values guide our classrooms, our interactions, and our daily learning.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are grateful to be part of such a strong, caring school community. Here’s to a wonderful start to 2026—we’re so glad to have our learners back!

Warmly,
Robin Hanson

The Superintendent Connection is designed to communicate important district updates, highlight key events, initiatives, and decisions that may impact our schools, students, staff, families, and the broader community.

On April 4, 2023, voters approved a four-year, non-recurring operational referendum. This approval enabled the District to strengthen and expand student programming, while continuing to provide activities, athletics, and fine arts opportunities for all students.

How has the School District of Athens utilized the funds from the April 2023 operating referendum over the past two years? Throughout January, we invite our community to follow along as we share weekly updates on social media and the school district website. Visit athens1.org and click on “Superintendent Connection.”

We encourage you to read, learn, and stay connected on the following dates as we highlight key areas strengthened by referendum funding:

January 8 – Retain high-quality staff
Discover how referendum support has helped us recruit, retain, and invest in exceptional educators who make a daily difference in our students’ lives.

January 15 – Maintain and expand educational opportunities
Learn how these funds are sustaining and growing academic programs that provide students with diverse, engaging, and future-ready learning experiences.

January 22 – Invest in and update essential technology
Find out how our technology upgrades are improving classroom learning, strengthening district operations, and preparing students for a digital world.

January 29 – Restore financial stability
Explore how referendum resources have helped stabilize the District’s financial footing, ensuring we can continue delivering high-quality education for years to come.

We hope you’ll join us each week to see how your support is making a lasting impact on the Athens school community.

Open Enrollment and applications for NEW families to Maple Grove Charter School will be open February 2 – April 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM.

Who needs to apply?

• The application is only for NEW learners at any grade level, including incoming kindergarteners.

• If your child already attends Maple Grove and you have a new kindergartener starting, you will need to complete an application for that child only.

Who does NOT need to reapply?

• Families with learners currently attending Maple Grove Charter School.

• Families who live outside the School District of Athens and have already open enrolled in previous years.

DPI Open Enrollment Forms

• DPI Open Enrollment forms (available on the DPI website starting February 2) are only for families new to Maple Grove Charter School who live outside the School District of Athens boundaries.

We’re sharing this information early so you can help spread the word! Word of mouth has been our best marketing tool, and we would love for your friends and neighbors to hear how much you love Maple Grove and the education your child(ren) are receiving.

Encourage interested families to:

• Call the school with questions

• Schedule a tour

• Meet with me

• Learn more about our school

We will also be hosting an Open House later this spring—more details coming soon!

We know Open Enrollment and the application process can feel confusing. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions, and thank you for helping share the amazing things happening at Maple Grove Charter School!

Another tradition continues!! The Kindergarten and 5th grade students enjoyed the Polar Express movie, along with a cup of hot chocolate, a Polar Express goodie bag and each student even got a hard cover copy of the classic Polar Express book!!

Thank you to the Artus family for their time and dedication to Maple Grove learners.

Mrs. Clause visited our learners to read “Santa’s Christmas Cookies”, followed by a fun and festive cookie-decorating activity. Our holly-jolly day wrapped up with an all-school sing-along and a special visit from Santa himself!

Thank you to Mrs. Artus and her family for bringing so much holiday cheer and fun! Also thank you to Mrs. Triebold for ending the year with such joyful and festive music!

Once again, our students shined during both holiday concerts and did a fabulous job! A heartfelt thank you to our parents, teachers, and staff for helping make these evenings so memorable and special for our learners and community. Thank you to Mrs. Triebold for putting all of the music

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Maple Grove Foundation Inc. for their incredibly generous gift to the learners and staff of Maple Grove! Treating our school to a special showing of Zootopia 2—complete with popcorn and sodas—was such a fun and memorable experience. Since it was pajama day at school, learners came ready to get cozy with their blankets and enjoy the movie together. It was truly the perfect way to celebrate the season and bring some extra holiday cheer to our school community. We are so grateful for your continued support and for creating such a special experience our learners and staff will remember for years to come. 💙

All grades will be taking their midyear screeners starting the week of Jan. 5th and will continue over the next 2 weeks. Please make sure they get plenty of sleep and a good breakfast or have breakfast here at school those days. This is a screener we take 3 times a year in reading and math to monitor progress and determine where we need to best support our learners. You will receive the results after we complete it and review the data. Thank you for your continued support at home with your child's education!

We continue to support and encourage all students to learn TOGETHER! Every other week learners go to their assigned fox den, which is a culmination of K-5th grade learners intermixed, to create relationships and support each other in teamwork activities.

Just a reminder about after school pickup: Please remain in your vehicle when loading your child. If you are waiting and your car is idling, please turn off your vehicle to reduce emissions entering the environment and our building as part of our environmental focus. If your child needs help opening their door, a supervisor will assist. If your child needs help buckling in, please pull ahead into the playground area around the corner of the building to do so safely and to help keep the pick-up line moving efficiently. 10 minutes of idling equals a gallon of gas.

The kids loved finding Jesper the Elf each day in the month of December. Jesper watched to make sure kids were using their CRISP traits each day and reported back to Santa each night! He had some very creative ideas of places to hang out each day!

Reminder that our annual Pizza Fry Fundraiser sponsored by the MGCS PTO runs through January 15th! Order forms and money is due to the office on 1/15/26.

Pick up at MGCS from 9am to 11am is on 2/21/26. Please remember to bring boxes or containers to carry your order home!

As the weather continues to get colder (and wetter!), please make sure your learner comes to school with proper winter gear each day. This includes a warm jacket, snowpants, boots, gloves, and a hat so they can enjoy recess safely and comfortably.

We also ask that each learner keeps an extra pair of shoes at school to help prevent water and mud from being tracked into the building.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone warm, dry, and ready to learn!

At Maple Grove, we believe that kids still need to be kids when they go home at night. That’s why we keep homework to a minimum. However, reading is always a priority. We ask that all learners either be read to, read on their own, or read with someone else each night. Seeing you read at home is also one of the best ways to spark and sustain their love of reading.

Each month, learners will meet with their classroom teacher to set a reading goal that is both realistic and challenging. If the goal doesn’t feel like the right fit for your child, please reach out so we can adjust it together.

We ask parents to:

Record the minutes read each day on the reading calendar.

Sign the log weekly.

Return it at the end of the month.

Learners who meet their goals every two months will take part in an all-school reading incentive. Those who do not will use that time in another classroom to catch up on their reading minutes.

Together, let’s make reading a joyful and daily habit for all our learners!

The school day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m., with attendance taken shortly thereafter. If you are dropping off your learner(s), please make sure they arrive with enough time to enjoy breakfast (if they choose) and be settled in their classrooms by 8:00 a.m. Being on time helps your child start the day ready to learn and ensures a smooth start for everyone!

Please continue to pull ahead during pick-up (and drop-off) to avoid traffic issues on Schoolhouse Lane and Hwy L. If your child needs help buckling in please pull around to the side of the building on the playground to buckle them so you don't hold up the pick up line.

Also, please remember that parent pick-up runs from 3:00–3:15 PM each afternoon. To help our end-of-day routine run smoothly—and to ensure our staff can get to their scheduled meetings—please make sure your learner is picked up no later than 3:15 PM.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep dismissal safe and efficient! 💙

If your learner will be absent, late, or leaving early for an appointment, please contact Mrs. Plisch in the office. You can:

✉️ Send a Seesaw message
📧 Email Mrs. Plisch at bplisch@athens1.org
📱 Or call 715-257-2199 (Option 1) to leave a message on our absent reporting voicemail.

Thank you for helping keep our attendance records accurate!

Invitations may be handed out at school only if they include the whole class, all boys, or all girls. If not, please distribute them outside of school. Thank you!

To avoid take-backs, unfair trades, and situations families may not be aware of, students should not trade items or give “gifts” during the school day. Thank you for your support!

If students bring personal toys to school, they may be used only at recess and must stay in their backpack during all other times. Toys are the student’s responsibility, and if they are lost, taken, or damaged, staff will not be able to search for or investigate these situations. Thank you for your understanding.

Learners will have off on:

• January 21st (Professional Learning)

Thank you to the Maple Grove Foundation for making this happen!

Our Kwik Trip Card order is a year long fundraiser to help support our Maple Grove Foundation and our school. If you are in need of another order form, please contact Mrs. Plisch in the office.

Cindy Artus is the contact person for questions 715-551-3808.

The School Store will be open on the following days during your learner’s lunch hour. All items are priced reasonably—just a couple of dollars goes a long way!

You are welcome to send a small amount of money with your child, or place it in an envelope for their teacher to hold until lunch time.

The next PTO meeting will be 1/12/26 at 3:20pm.

The next Governance Board meeting is scheduled for 1/12/26 at 5:30pm.

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone enjoyed their break and is ready for the new year. December is always a busy month for the PTO. The Christmas programs were a success, and we applaud those who braved the weather. Thank you to the PTO volunteers who planned the student gifts, helped assemble, and handed out the presents at the concerts. It was also a pleasure for the PTO to fund and provide the refreshments. The PTO also has the honor of surprising the staff with presents and treats. It's always fun to gather ideas and come up with something unique and special for those who make Maple Grove both unique and special.

Coming up in January is our annual family movie night. We will be featuring Rio! Thursday, January 15th at 5 pm, bring your coziest blanket, an appetite for pizza and popcorn, and enjoy a movie at Maple Grove's cafegymatorium.

Thank you to the families and community for their continued support of the Maple Grove Charter School PTO.

For those interested in volunteering, sharing ideas, and participating in meetings, please join us on the second Monday of every month at 3:30 pm in the Maple Grove gymnasium.

Jan. 09: Bridging Brighter Smiles

Jan. 12: PTO Mtg. 3:20 & Governance Board Mtg. 5:30

Jan. 14: Grade 4 Merrill School Forest Field Trip (rescheduled)

Jan. 15: PTO Movie Night

Jan. 20: Q2 Ends & Grade 1 Planetarium Field Trip

Jan. 21: No School- Professional Learning

Jan. 27-28: Grade 5 Merrill School Forest Overnight Field Trip

Jan. 29: School Store

Jan. 30: Popcorn Friday

Feb. 09: PTO Mtg. 3:20 & Governance Board Mtg. 5:30

Feb. 10: 100th Day of School

Feb. 26: School Store

Feb. 27: Popcorn Friday

Email: rhanson@athens1.org

Website: www.athens1.org/o/mgcs
Location: 135594 County Road L Hamburg, WI 54411
Phone: (715) 257-2199
Facebook: facebook.com/AthensSchoolDistrictWisconsin