Maple Marquee

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to a new school year at Maple School! We hope you are enjoying the final weeks of summer! Our team has been busy preparing for the 2026-2027 school year, and we are excited to welcome students back on Wednesday, August 19 at 8:35 a.m.

As we enter the third year of District 30’s 2024-29 Strategic Plan, we remain committed to our shared mission: to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resilience, and cares deeply for every child. We are proud of the progress made so far and excited to continue this important work with our students, staff, and families.

Our program at Maple is designed to support the academic, social, and emotional development of students during a time of rapid growth and change. We know that middle school is a unique and formative experience, and we are committed to helping students navigate their learning journey with care, support, and high expectations.

We are excited to welcome the newest member of our Maple administrative team, Mrs. Maggie Price! Mrs. Price will serve as our Assistant Director of Student Services, a new role at Maple focused on partnering with staff and families to ensure every student receives the support, accommodations, and opportunities needed for success. She will serve as a key resource for questions related to the IEP and 504 processes and looks forward to supporting our students as they navigate their middle school experience.

Another improvement you will notice this fall is a new, district-wide visitor management system at each school building. This will enhance the safety of our students and staff and streamline the check-in process. When visiting Maple, please be prepared to present a valid photo ID and allow a few extra minutes for entry as we roll out this new system. For more information, please visit our website here. This summer, we have added new bike racks to better support the high number of students and families who choose to ride to school.

We look forward to your partnership this year. Families play a vital role in student success, and there are many ways to get involved at Maple. Whether by volunteering through the PTO, attending school events, joining parent education opportunities, or maintaining open communication with teachers and staff, your engagement helps strengthen the sense of community that makes Maple such a special place. When school and home work together, our students thrive.

Strong communication between home and school is essential to student success. Our staff is committed to keeping you informed, engaged, and connected throughout the year. Below, you will find important dates, including a printable calendar, along with key information to help your family start the year smoothly. Please take special note of our attendance procedures, including the requirement to report absences through the Parent Portal. Additionally, we are excited to introduce our new bell schedule, which is designed to provide students with more dedicated time to receive teacher support, complete unfinished assessments, and engage with our student services team in meaningful social-emotional learning opportunities.

Throughout the year, your best source of up-to-date school information will be our weekly Maple Marquee email, sent every Friday. You can also find our school and PTO calendar—including sports, activities, and events—on the Maple School website at district30.org/maple.

Again, welcome to our new and returning Mustang families! We are eager to begin a new school year and to partner with you in supporting your child’s success. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our office or reach out to your child’s teachers at any time. We are one herd!

Warmly,

Dr. Sam Kurtz
Principal
skurtz@district30.org

Ms. Angela Jaeger
Assistant Principal
ajaeger@district30.org

Mrs. Maggie Price

Assistant Director of Student Services

maprice@district30.org

Monday, August 10

• Class schedules released

Tuesday, August 11

• New student orientation 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
• Locker set up day: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 12

• Locker set up day: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Friday, August 14

• PTO registration opens

Wednesday, August 19

• First day of school

Monday, August 24

• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Testing window opens (all Maple grades)

Wednesday, August 26

• High school placement info (8th-grade parents and guardians only): 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

• Orchestra/Band info (6th-grade and new parents/guardians only): 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

• Curriculum Night 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.

Friday, August 28

• PTO registration closes (available again after August 30 with $20 late fee)

Monday, September 7

• District holiday - NO SCHOOL

Thursday, September 10

• Picture day

Mustang Resource Time (MRT) is a dedicated period built into our schedule on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays designed to provide students with meaningful opportunities for support, enrichment, and growth. MRT represents an evolution of our previous Advisory model and is a direct, positive outcome of our recent scheduling audit conducted last school year—reflecting thoughtful feedback from our families, students, and staff.

During MRT, students may meet with teachers for additional academic help, participate in Band or Orchestra lessons, or receive targeted MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) instruction to strengthen key skills. This time will also be used for social-emotional learning, led by our school psychologists and social worker, helping students build important life and interpersonal skills. In addition, MRT allows students to get a head start on homework, complete unfinished assessments, and stay organized with their learning. Ultimately, MRT is a flexible and responsive block that ensures every student has access to the time and support they need to be successful.

Please note: The bell schedule will look slightly different on Mondays and Fridays than it does on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, when MRT takes place.

Student attendance will remain 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.
2. It is important for parents to know the difference between "excused" and "unexcused" absences. Please see the table below for more details. It is the expectation that students return from unexcused absences with their work completed and prepared to continue with the class's work. Excused absences will be granted extensions for students to complete work after their return.
3. Maple's administration and teachers are always available to support students and families to remediate attendance issues. Please contact Maple's administrators 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.

Our new district-wide Student-Parent Handbook is intended to be a convenient tool for our district's families and staff, summarizing key information on procedures, services, and programs. We encourage every parent and guardian to review this handbook before the start of school, as some practices and policies may have evolved over time.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR:

We're excited to launch the 2026-27 school year with a positive school culture that is based on the TRRFCC Pillars of Character Counts (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship) and our ongoing TRRFCC program. These values and behavior expectations across our building help us to create a safe, respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment. Students are encouraged to embody these pillars and can be rewarded through the TRRFCC program for demonstrating them. We also promote the six behavior expectations below to ensure an optimal learning environment for all Maple students.

STUDENT SMART DEVICES, ETC.: We understand that some students may carry communication devices to school, including smart watches. To support a consistent learning environment, these items must be turned off during school hours and stored in lockers. Parents/guardians may contact the office if they need a message relayed to their student, and students may use the office telephone when necessary.

Each grade has its own school supply list below:

• 6th Grade Student Supply List

• 7th Grade Student Supply List
• 8th Grade Student Supply List

For your convenience, the PTO offers a ship-to-home service that allows parents and guardians to purchase supplies online through the School Tool Box. Each box can be customized to add or remove items. It’s an easy way to order school supplies, and a portion of sales benefits the Maple PTO. Click here to order!

We encourage all students to label their supplies and water bottles, as we tend to collect quite a few items in our lost-and-found throughout the year.

A special orientation has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 11 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. for all incoming 6th-grade students and Maple students new to District 30. The information discussed during this time will mirror that which was shared during last spring's incoming 6th-grade orientation.

Math and Multilingual Learners (ML) placement testing for all students new to District 30 will be held Tuesday, August 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Locks will be available for purchase during the New Student Orientation and on locker set-up days (see schedule below). Locks cost $8.00; please bring exact change or a check made payable to Maple School. Parents, guardians and students need to keep a record of the lock combination as Maple School does NOT keep these records.

As has been the practice each of the past few years, students will not change for physical education or utilize the gymnasium locker rooms. Therefore, students will not need to purchase or wear uniforms during PE.

7th- and 8th-graders should be returning to school with the lock that they have used in the past.

The building will be open to parents, guardians and students for locker set-up on:

• Tuesday, August 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, August 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

To ensure a smooth start to the school year, please review the following Illinois health requirements:

Sixth-graders and students new to District 30

• Health exam - All 6th-graders and any student who is new to District 30 must have a completed Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination on file before the first day of school. The physical exam must have been completed within the past 12 months and include all required immunizations. Students who do not have the required documentation after October 15, 2026, may be excluded from school per state mandate until it is received.
• Eye exam: These students must submit a completed Illinois Eye Examination Report by October 15, 2026. The eye exam must have been completed within 1 year of the start of the school year.
• Dental exam: Illinois law requires students entering 6th grade/new students to submit a completed Dental Examination Form by May 15, 2027. The dental exam must have been completed within the required state timeframe (18 months prior to the deadline).

• If your child requires medication at school or has a medical condition that requires a health care plan, please complete and submit the required forms before the first day of school. If updated forms are not received, the school will continue to follow the previous year's health care plan for students with life-threatening allergies or other qualifying medical conditions until new documentation is provided.

All forms are available on the Maple website.

Maple athletics:

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.

Medication dispensation:

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.

• Maggie Price, Assistant Director of Student Services
• Norbert Barszczewski, Instructional Assistant
• Jill Burns, 6th grade Science, 7 grade Guided Studies
• Emily Gad, 6th and 8th grade ELA
• Michelle Hettel, 7th grade Special Education
• Susan Kwon, Art teacher
• Lisa Martin, 7th and 8th grade Math
• Allison Miller, 6th grade Social Studies
• Mariana Reyes, Occupational Therapist
• Ashley Torbert, French long-term sub for Mrs. Samantha Allen's maternity leave

On Wednesday, August 19 students should report to their advisory classroom indicated in the Parent Portal, under 2026-27 School Year Information.

All parents and guardians who have completed all registration forms and payments can access student schedules in Parent Portal after August 11 following these steps:

1. Log into Parent Portal at ps.district30.org/public
2. Click Student Reports in the left navigation menu
3. Click Maple Student Schedule (2026-2027) under Archived Reports
   
   

The school district supplies an assignment notebook to each student. This is given to your student on the first day of school. Students are expected to bring their Maple assignment notebook to each class every day. The assignment notebook is an instructional tool used by every teacher.

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.

When members of the public, including parents and siblings, have reason to visit our building during regular hours of operation, they must enter through the main entrance and check in with the front desk. All visitors to school property are required to:

1. Report to the main entrance

2. Show proper identification

3. Clear the district’s security screening identification system

4. Wear a visitor badge in a manner that is visible to all employees and students at all times when on school property and

5. Return the issued visitor badge upon departure from the building

This step-by-step guide can help you prepare for a visit or to check out a child during the school day using our new system. Additional visitor information can be found in the District 30 Student-Parent Handbook on page 10.

Beginning Wednesday, August 19, school buses will be in operation for arrivals and departures. Students should report to the bus stop early for the first few days. Buses will depart from Maple no earlier than 3:45 p.m. Buses will arrive and depart from the bus lane on the south side of the building.

Bus passes will not be required during the first couple of weeks. First Student Transportation has mailed registration materials, including a fee schedule for AM and PM Activity Routes, directly to your home. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact First Student at 847-724-7200. The registration form can be downloaded here.

While e-bikes are permitted in the Village of Northbrook, safety officials have provided this guidance for residents. It states that, to ensure safety and compliance with local laws, electric bikes and electric scooters are not permitted on school grounds. It also adds that the majority of e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-motos cannot be driven on roadways or in parks, even if they are used to get to school. In Glenview, e-bikes are prohibited.

The village also shares these tips:

• To ensure the safety of pedestrians, all students must walk their bikes or scooters to the bike racks once they are on school property.
• Helmets are an essential safety tool when riding a bike or scooter and are required by law for students who are under 16.

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.

At the start of the 2026-27 school year, the district's online adaptive assessment, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), will be administered to all Maple students. The MAP test window will open on August 24 and run through September 15. Please check with your child's teacher about their testing schedule so there are no conflicts if appointments need to be scheduled during this time.

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 26, 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/guardian information meeting, 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
• Curriculum Night presentation, 6:00 - 7:15 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. session on Thursday, September 24 at our District 30 Offices, 2374 Shermer Road, Northbrook, or during a 6 p.m. online session that same day. 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!

Maple School Utilizes MealTime Point of Sale System.

• Go to: 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 Sweet Treat Days are NOT part of the Quest lunch program
  

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 Mustang Resource Time (MRT), 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.

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 $35.00. This will increase to $37.00 after winter break.

Please use your students full name when ordering, do not use a nickname or a parent name. You will also be asked to provide your students Advisory Teacher name.

The CHAMBER ORCHESTRA will perform the National Anthem on the FIRST DAY of school, August 19, at the opening day assembly. We will have a rehearsal that morning at 7:45-8:25 a.m. to tune and warm up. More info. to follow in August!

Orchestra will officially start the second week of school on Monday, August 31 for String and Tuesday, September 1 for Chamber Orchestra

Our after-school athletic programs begin the first full week of school with fall sports clinics and tryouts for girls’ volleyball and soccer.

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. A 2026 summer examination prior to the start of school covers a student for all sport teams offered throughout the 2026-27 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 2026-2027 school year in the coming weeks: District 30 Athletics

Our Maple Parent/Teacher Advisory Council is seeking parent members for the 2026-27 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 15- to 20-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 5, December 7, March 1, and May 10 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 11.

Maple School has several ways of communicating with parents about their child's learning and progress:

• Curriculum Night: At the beginning of the school year, parents are invited to participate in Curriculum Night which focuses on the sharing of curricular information.
  
• Parent-Teacher conferences: There are also conferences twice a year, in October and February.
• Report cards: Report cards are sent home in December, March, and June.

It is equally important that parents communicate with the school. Anything that would affect your student's progress, emotionally or academically, should be discussed with their teacher(s). Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students!

This year's field trip to Springfield will be on Thursday, November 5. We will visit and tour the following locations:

• President Lincoln's home
• Lincoln's tomb
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
• Illinois State Capitol
  
  

More information will be sent out shortly after the school year begins regarding registration and other important details.

One exciting social aspect of the 7th-grade year can be attending Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. For many years, articles of clothing have been given to the attendees as favors. The majority of the students like to wear this clothing on the next school day, usually the Monday following the celebration.

While most students see this as an act of support for the student who has reached this milestone, it can also be a hurtful gesture that emphasizes who wasn’t invited to the party. In grade school, students are asked not to bring birthday party invitations to school if the entire class is not invited. This is done in order to spare the feelings of those who are not invited.

We feel that this is a similar situation at the middle school level. There are many students who are hurt and embarrassed on the Mondays following the celebration when they are surrounded by a sea of students wearing the clothing received at the party. Many teachers and social workers have had students discuss this problem with them. Finding one’s way socially in middle school can be difficult enough as it is, especially in a small school like Maple. Unfortunately, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah clothing situation often exacerbates this problem.

The school is not banning the wearing of these clothing items but strongly discourages students from wearing them on the first school day after the party or in any organized fashion. We feel that most students who wear these articles of clothing would gladly stop doing so if they were aware of the hurt feelings that it creates in others.

To ensure all Maple students feel equally valued and cared for, locker decorations – both inside and outside – by small groups of students are NOT permitted. Students should NOT bring treats (candy, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, cakes, etc.) for distribution during advisory or lunch.

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. By now, you should have completed the online registration process so that you can receive all of our school's communications. The next issue will be emailed on Friday, August 21. Please contact the office if you do not receive this edition by Saturday, August 22. 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:

• District 30 Facebook
• Maple School PTO Facebook
• District 30 Instagram
• 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

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 15, 2027. Please join us for the 26th Annual Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk. Registration for our May race opens in the winter. Please click here to explore all of the excitement from this meaningful community event.

We will need volunteers for committees to coordinate this event. If you can volunteer, please email Maple's Assistant Principal, Angela Jaeger, at blondrun@district30.org.

Be a helper. Be a runner. Be a sponsor! Do them all!!

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.

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/maple