Maple Run Connection

With the school year now behind us, summer has officially settled into Maple Run. While our classrooms may be quieter without students, our schools remain busy places.

This week marks the beginning of our Summer Meal Box Program, which will continue throughout the summer to help ensure children and teens in our community have access to nutritious meals while school is out. We are grateful to our many staff members who make this important program possible each year.

Across the district, summer work is already well underway. Classrooms are being cleaned and organized, maintenance and construction projects have begun, technology is being updated, and staff members are planning for the year ahead. Summer is a busy season in our schools, and these nine weeks pass quickly as we prepare to welcome students back in August.

Whether you're spending the summer working, traveling, relaxing, or simply enjoying time with family and friends, I hope you have opportunities to recharge and make the most of the season.

Even though students aren't filling our classrooms each day, the work of Maple Run continues. Our staff remains committed to preparing safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments for another successful school year.

As always, I'd love to hear from you. If you have a story to share, a question to ask, or an idea you'd like us to explore, please reach out anytime at TapIn@MapleRun.org.

Thank you for your continued support of Maple Run. I hope you have a wonderful week.

We asked for your feedback about how the District Office communicates with families and our community. Thank you to the 122 people who took a few minutes to complete the survey. We appreciate your time and your honest feedback.

We heard you.

A few things stood out:

• Email continues to be the preferred way to receive district information.
• For urgent messages, most of you want to hear from us through multiple methods, including text, phone, and email.
• Many of you asked for clearer subject lines and more straightforward communication.
• We also learned that many people weren't aware of the Maple Run Connection, this weekly Superintendent newsletter.

Over the summer, we'll be making some changes to how the District Office communicates with families based on what we heard. We'll share more about those changes before the start of the new school year.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your feedback will help us do a better job of keeping our community informed.

This week, we are launching Maple Run Stories, a new weekly feature that highlights the people who make up our Maple Run community: students, staff, alumni, and retirees.

Each story will share the journey of someone in our community and reflect what we believe at Maple Run. Learning is ongoing. It does not stop at graduation. It grows through experience, connection, and perseverance. We want every person to feel supported as they learn, grow, and find their path.

Through these weekly spotlights, we will highlight the many ways our community shows up in the world through service, leadership, creativity, and learning that lasts a lifetime.

This work connects directly to our mission of providing a meaningful, flexible, rigorous, and safe education so all students can thrive and excel. It also reflects our vision of a welcoming environment where students and community members can tap into their love of learning.

Lucas Mackenzie has continued to build on his time at Bellows Free Academy with steady effort, strong academics, and persistence through challenges.

At BFA, Lucas participated in cross country, track & field, and nordic skiing, and was also involved in the BFA Band. He stayed active in many parts of school life and carried that same commitment forward after graduation.

Following his graduation in 2022, Lucas attended Wheaton College, where he studied Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies/Education and competed in cross country and track & field. During his college years, he faced injuries and setbacks that impacted his athletic season, but he continued to stay focused on his studies and his goals.

Lucas graduated from Wheaton College this spring. This fall, he will begin his next chapter at Suffolk University Law School.

We congratulate Lucas on his accomplishments and wish him the very best as he continues his journey.

Vermont recently ranked #1 in the nation for reaching children with summer meals, and we are proud to be part of that effort here in Maple Run.

This summer, we are once again offering Summer Meal Boxes to help keep children and teens nourished while school is out. These 7-day meal boxes are available for children and teens 18 years old and younger who are not enrolled in a summer program.

Meal boxes may be picked up at the following locations:

Saint Albans City School
Tuesdays | 6:30–7:30 a.m.
June 23 – August 18

Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center
Wednesdays | 1:00–2:00 p.m.
June 24 – August 19

Please note: Meal boxes should only be picked up at one site per week, and parents or guardians may pick up meals if children are not present.

Questions: summer.meals@maplerun.org | 802-524-2600

More information on summer nutrition supports: www.fns.usda.gov/summer

Summer often reminds us that not every moment has to be busy.

Take a little time this week to slow down, enjoy the longer days, and do something that helps you feel refreshed. Even a few quiet moments can have a positive impact on your well-being.

Wishing you a healthy and enjoyable week.

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.