Maple Run Connection

Happy Monday, Maple Run Community,

Today is February 2nd - Groundhog Day - a tradition that dates back to the late 1800s and blends folklore, farming history, and a bit of playful hope for the changing seasons. According to legend, if a groundhog sees its shadow, we’re in for six more weeks of winter. And this year… the shadow appeared. Six more weeks it is!

Here in Vermont, that news feels familiar. Winters are cold. Snow comes and goes. Some days test our patience, and others invite us to slow down and lean into the season we’re in. While the temperatures have been chilly, nothing has been record-breaking, just another reminder that resilience, preparation, and community are part of everyday life here.

Last Monday brought our first snow day of the 2025–2026 school year. An unexpected pause and a small gift of time. Snow days are one of those shared experiences that connect generations: a little extra rest, outdoor play, quiet moments, and the simple joy of something unplanned. Thank you to our families and staff for your flexibility and care on those days.

As we move into the first full week of February, there’s a strong sense of energy across Maple Run. Classrooms are active, learning is happening, and relationships continue to grow. With winter vacation at the end of the month, we have three full weeks ahead filled with teaching, learning, creativity, connection, and momentum.

Our School Board will meet this Wednesday evening, continuing important conversations about our district and our shared future. Community engagement matters, and we’re grateful to everyone who takes the time to stay informed and involved.

Even in the colder months, our schools remain places of warmth - built through kindness, curiosity, collaboration, and respect for one another’s lived experiences. Every student, every family, and every staff member belongs here.

Thank you for all you do to make Maple Run a place where people feel seen, supported, and valued in every season.

Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay supported.

Episode 9: Midyear Reflections

As we move into winter and reach the midpoint of the school year, the latest episode of Tap Into Maple Run offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. Each episode of the podcast is grounded in one of Maple Run Unified School District’s Core Values, and Episode 9 focuses on Accountability & Integrity.

This midyear reflection aligns closely with Maple Run’s Mission to ensure a meaningful, flexible, rigorous, and safe education where all students can thrive and excel, as well as our Vision of cultivating a welcoming environment that invites students and our community to tap into their love of learning.

In this episode, listeners are invited to consider how accountability and integrity show up in our daily work—through thoughtful decision-making, shared responsibility, and a commitment to doing what is right for children, first and foremost. The conversation highlights how reflection helps strengthen collaboration, build trust, and keep our work centered on students, equity, and continuous growth.

We also take time to celebrate moments of learning, connection, and progress happening across Maple Run schools, even during a busy and often demanding season. A midyear wellness tip encourages staff, families, and community members to pause for reflection as a way to reduce stress, gain clarity, and stay grounded in purpose.

Episode 9 features Christina Boissoneault, Principal of St. Albans Town Educational Center, who shares thoughtful insights on leadership, reflection, and maintaining integrity while supporting students, staff, and families throughout the school year.

As always, we close with gratitude for our Maple Run community students, staff, families, and partners whose dedication, care, and commitment to our Core Values make a meaningful difference every day.

Tap Into Maple Run continues to highlight the values that guide our district: collaboration and relationships, joy and curiosity, relevance and rigor, independence and perseverance, flexibility and adaptability, respect and diversity, accountability and integrity, and our shared commitment to equity in access to a quality education for all.

Music Intro & Outro by Kaydince Dezotelle

We invite you to listen, reflect, and continue tapping into the heart of Maple Run.

Coffee & Conversation: FY27 Maple Run School Budget

Join us for Coffee & Conversation at The Traveled Cup and be part of a thoughtful, community-centered discussion about the FY27 Maple Run School Budget. These informal chats are your chance to ask questions, share perspectives, and learn more ahead of Town Meeting Day on Tuesday, March 3rd.

Coffee & Conversation Dates:

• Saturday, February 7, 8:00–9:00 AM

• Sunday, February 22, 9:00–10:00 AM

• Saturday, February 28, 9:00–10:00 AM

Location:
The Traveled Cup, 94 North Main Street, Staint Albans City

Who to talk to:

Maple Run School Board Vice-Chair Charlie Brooks will be available to answer questions and provide insight in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Can’t make it?

• Email: mrusdschoolboard@maplerun.org

• Phone: 802-370-3931

Learn more about the FY27 budget here: FY27 Budget Information

Thank you to our community for staying informed, engaged, and involved in our schools.

Our students. Your voice. Your vote.

The Maple Run Unified School District continues to move forward in the FY27 budget process, and community engagement remains an essential part of this work.

With the proposed FY27 budget adopted by the School Board, we encourage families, staff, and community members to take time to learn more about how this budget supports our students, staff, and schools.

Visit the FY27 Budget Information website:
www.maplerun.org

There you’ll find our FY27 Annual Report, which provides clear, detailed information about:

• Budget priorities and investments

• How resources support student learning and well-being

• Staffing, programming, and operational considerations

• What the budget means for our school communities

Upcoming FY27 Budget Information Meeting
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
6:00 PM
Maple Run Central Office, 28 catherine Street, Saint Albans

Community members are welcome to attend, ask questions, and engage in thoughtful conversation about the proposed budget.

Community Vote — Town Meeting Day
Tuesday, March 4, 2026

Residents of Saint Albans City, Saint Albans Town, and the Town of Fairfield are encouraged to vote. Early voting options are available, and we encourage community members to plan ahead.

The FY27 budget reflects our shared commitment to students academically, socially, and emotionally and to maintaining strong, supportive schools for all learners.

Our Students. Your Vote. Your Voice.

Thank you for staying informed, asking questions, and continuing to support Maple Run and the work happening in our schools every day.

Vermont’s system for funding public education is unique and can feel complicated.

Decisions made at the local level by our school boards and community voters are connected to statewide processes that determine how education is paid for and how property tax rates are set. In short, local budget decisions influence what we invest in our schools and how the funding is generated across the state.

This topic is especially important right now because lawmakers are considering changes to the system that could affect school funding and property taxes in the coming years. One potential shift is toward a “foundation formula,” which would set base funding amounts per student and reshape how supplemental local spending works.

We know this can be a lot to take in, and it matters to families across our communities. That’s why we’re sharing these trusted resources that explain Vermont’s current approach to school funding and how it works:

• Vermont Public explainer on school funding - A clear overview of how our statewide system works, including common terms and key ideas people hear during budget conversations.

• Vermont Agency of Education report on education finance - A detailed look at how the Education Fund combines revenue sources and supports schools across the state.

• Legislative Joint Fiscal Office “Education Finance 101” documents - Nonpartisan resources that provide a foundational understanding of how education financing is structured in Vermont.

Understanding how our schools are funded helps families and community members engage with local and state decisions that impact students, classrooms, and tax rates.

We hope these resources support your questions and conversations about school budgets, education funding, and what it means for all of us.

As we move through the midpoint of the school year, this week’s wellness focus is on reflection. A simple, grounding practice that supports clarity, reduces stress, and helps us move forward with intention.

Midyear can feel full. Full calendars, full classrooms, and full expectations. Taking even a few quiet moments to pause allows us to notice how far we’ve come, not just how far we still have to go.

Try a brief reflection this week on your own, with a colleague, or as a family:

• Name one thing you accomplished this semester that you’re proud of.

• Name one intention you want to carry into the second half of the year.

Reflection doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming to be meaningful. You might:

• Pause during a quiet moment at the end of the day or week.

• Write your thoughts down or share them with someone you trust.

• Invite students to reflect on a recent success and set one personal or academic intention moving forward.

This small act of reflection connects closely to our Maple Run values. It encourages accountability and integrity by helping us take ownership of our growth, choices, and goals. It supports self-awareness and thoughtful decision-making for students, staff, and families alike.

Sometimes, the most supportive thing we can do is pause not to judge or fix, but simply to notice. Those small moments of reflection can create space for purpose, balance, and renewed energy as we continue the year together.

Screen-Free Moments That Matter

Research suggests that children with lower overall screen time often experience stronger well-being and deeper social connections.

Screen-free moments don’t need to be big or complicated to make a difference. Simple routines like family meals without devices, a short check-in conversation at bedtime, or starting the evening with reading or quiet play can help children rest, reconnect, and reset.

These small pauses from screens support sleep, emotional regulation, and readiness to learn, helping students arrive at school feeling grounded and engaged.

Every family’s routine looks different, and there is no single “right” approach. Even one intentional, screen-free moment a day can support balance and well-being for the whole family.

At Maple Run, we’re grateful to partner with families in supporting healthy habits that help children thrive at school and at home.

At Maple Run, attendance is about more than showing up. It’s about connection, consistency, and care.

Research continues to show that regular attendance supports both academic growth and social-emotional well-being. Students who attend school consistently are more likely to:

• Build strong, trusting relationships with peers and adults

• Feel a sense of belonging and safety at school

• Stay engaged in learning and develop confidence over time

When students miss school, they don’t just miss lessons — they miss conversations, routines, encouragement, and moments that help them feel grounded and supported.

Being present matters for our school community:

• Relationships grow through shared experiences and daily interactions

• Learning builds best when students are part of the rhythm of the classroom

• A sense of belonging strengthens when students know they are noticed and missed

Attendance is not about being perfect. It’s about being part of something — a classroom, a team, a school family. Every day a student is here, they are reminded: You matter. You are valued. You belong.

We know that life can be complicated. Illness, stress, weather, and family needs all play a role. When challenges arise, we want families to know they are not alone. Schools and families working together make a real difference.

If attendance feels hard or routines are challenging, please reach out. Support starts with connection:
TapIn@MapleRun.org

Be Here. Be Engaged. Be Inspired.

Because our community is stronger when we’re together.

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.