Maple Marquee
Back-to-School Edition, 2023
Principals' welcome
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation! We have been busy at Maple School preparing for the 2023-24 school year and are excited about the first day of school on Wednesday, August 23 beginning at 8:35 a.m. With each new school year, we look back on previous accomplishments and look forward with expectations for an even more successful year.
The program at Maple School is designed to foster and enhance each aspect of our students’ development. We recognize that this is a time in our students’ lives reflecting tremendous growth and change. Our goal is to address students’ daily needs and to assist them with the variety of learning experiences they will encounter during the school year.
Below, you will find essential event dates and information for the 2023-24 school year. Please review each item carefully and note our new attendance policy that requires absences to be reported through the Parent Portal. Through the year, the best source of information about our school is through our weekly electronic Maple Marquee that is emailed each Friday. In addition, the Maple calendar listing sports, school, and PTO events is always available on our Maple website at district30.org/maple.
We look forward to the start of the year and partnering with all of our Maple students and families. Please feel free to call our office for information about our school or contact your child's teachers at any time during the year to discuss their progress.
Sincerely,
Mr. Sam Kurtz
Principal
847-400-8905
Ms. Angela Jaeger
Assistant Principal
847-400-8904
Important dates
August 9
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – New student placement testing (ELL)
August 14
Students schedules available in the Parent Portal (see "First Day of School" item below)
August 15
9:00-10:00 a.m. – All 6th grade student orientation
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 1:00-4:00 p.m. – Locker set-up
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – New students to the district math placement testing
August 16
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 1:00-4:00 p.m. – Locker set-up
August 18
PTO registration opens
August 23
8:35 a.m. – First day of school begins
August 28
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing window opens
August 30
7:00 p.m. – Curriculum Night
6:30-7:00 p.m. – High school placement info (8th-grade parents and guardians only)
September 4
District holiday - NO SCHOOL
September 7
Picture day
September 27
Superintendent Dr. Emily Tammaru's "Conversation with the Community" open houses – 12:00-1:00 pm. & 6:00-7:00 p.m.
NEW absence policy
For the 2023-24 school year, 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 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.
School supplies
Each grade has its own school supply list below:
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.
For new students
New student orientation
A special orientation has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 15 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 year’s incoming 6th-grade orientation.
New Student Orientation and Tour: Tuesday, August 15 from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
New student placement testing
Placement testing for all new students to District 30 will be held at Maple School at the following times:
English Language Learners: Wednesday, August 9 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Math Assessments: Tuesday, August 15 from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Locks and lockers
Locks will be available for purchase during the New Student Orientation and on locker set-up days (see schedule below). Locks cost $6; 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 two years, students will not change for physical education or utilize the gymnasium’s 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 15 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 16 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Health exam requirements
6th-graders and students new to Maple are required to provide the school with a health exam, which was completed within one year prior to the first day of school. Students new to Illinois will need to hand in a completed eye exam. Sixth graders must also provide the school with a dental exam form or waiver.
All forms are available on the Maple website.
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.
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.
Please contact the Health Office at 847-400-8908 if you have questions.
First day of school - August 23
On Wednesday, August 23 students should report to their advisory classroom indicated in the Parent Portal, under 2023-24 School Year Information.
All parents and guardians who have completed all registration forms and payments can access student schedules in Parent Portal after August 14 following these steps:
- Log into Parent Portal at ps.district30.org/public
- Click Student Reports in the left navigation menu
- Click Maple Student Schedule (2023-2024) under Archived Reports
Bus transportation
Beginning Wednesday, August 23, 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 pm. 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.
PLEASE READ: Student pickup and dropoff
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 last year 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.
Quest lunch service
Maple School Utilizes MealTime Point of Sale System.
Go to: www.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 Blizzards are NOT part of the Quest lunch program
Dropping off items during school day
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 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.
Assignment notebook
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. The replacement cost is $6.
MAP testing
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
Following the start of the 2023-24 school year, the district's online adaptive assessment, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), will be administered to all students in grades 1-8. The MAP testing window will open on August 28 and run through September 18. Students in grades 2-8 will take two assessments: reading and mathematics. Grade 1 will take mathematics only. 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.
Curriculum Night is August 30
We will offer an in-person Curriculum Night experience on Wednesday, August 30, 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 information meeting, 6:30 - 7:00 pm.
- Curriculum Night presentation, 7:00 - 8:15 pm.
Meet Superintendent Dr. Emily Tammaru
Join her for 'Conversations with the Community'
District 30's new Superintendent, Dr. Emily Tammaru, invites all who live within Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 boundaries to join her and a member of the Board of Education for "Conversations with the Community" at on Wednesday, September 27 at 12:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. at our district offices, 2374 Shermer Road in Northbrook.
You are welcome to ask questions and share more with her about what matters to you in our schools. Registration is not required, but you may RSVP to either time below to help us plan to accommodate attendance.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you September 27!
Yearbook
Anyone wishing to purchase a yearbook for their student should click here to complete the online order or call 877-767-5217. Purchasing the yearbook is optional, but most students like to have one and enjoy signing each other’s yearbooks at the end of the year.
Band, Orchestra and Choir
Band
7th- and 8th-grade band members will play the National Anthem on the first day of school, August 23. We will have rehearsal that morning at 7:45-8:25 a.m. to warm up/tune.
The band program will begin for everyone on Tuesday, September 5. Students should bring their instruments and meet in the band room (room 163) on their assigned days. The band program will follow this schedule:
Concert Band: Tuesday and Thursday mornings 7:45-8:25 a.m. - (All band students 6th, 7th and 8th grade)
Symphonic Band: Monday and Wednesday 7:45-8:25 a.m. (Audition in September)
Jazz Band: Friday mornings 7:45-8:25 a.m. (Audition in September)
Drop off between 7:30-7:40 a.m..- ACTIVITY DOOR ENTRANCE
Please bring: Summer music, black music binder, highlighter, and pencil to all rehearsals.
Students with NO BAND EXPERIENCE may still join the band! Please contact Mr. Robert Pittman at rpittman@district30.org for more information.
Orchestra
ALL students in orchestra will begin on Tuesday, September 5. Students should bring their instruments and meet in the orchestra room (room 164) at 7:45 a.m. The orchestras will follow this schedule:
String Orchestra: Mondays and Wednesdays 7:45-8:25 a.m. in Room 164 (ALL orchestra students)
Chamber Orchestra: Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:45-8:25 a.m. in Room 164 (Students selected for Chamber Orchestra will be in both orchestras and have rehearsals Monday -Thursday.)
Drop off between 7:30-7:40 a.m..- ACTIVITY DOOR ENTRANCE
Please bring: instrument, black 1 inch music binder, and a pencil to all rehearsals, lessons, and concert!
Cellos and basses ONLY - There are school owned instruments for you to use at Maple. Please keep the rental instruments at home for practice.
Our teacher, Mrs. Renee Yoo, looks forward to sharing the rewards of music with you and your child. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Yoo at ryoo@district30.org
Choir
Choir will begin on Tuesday, September 5. Choir is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 7:45 - 8:25 a.m. Students who are interested in joining the choir should come to a rehearsal in the music room (Room 165) on any of those days to get started. All students are welcome to join the choir! Students who are in band or orchestra may also join the choir. The directors will work out a schedule to share students.
Rehearsal schedule:
Tuesdays - sopranos
Thursdays - altos and tenors
Fridays - everyone
Students will receive their voice placement when they attend their first rehearsal. Students have through the month of September to join. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Decima Panitch at dpanitch@district30.org.
Uniforms for Band, Choir and Orchestra
Band/choir/orchestra polos and sweaters are available for purchase from the PTO’s supplier –EmbroidMe. Parents and guardians may purchase their order at the EmbroidMe store at 2845 Dundee Road in Northbrook, 847-272-9000. Store hours are: Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
If your child already has a band/choir/orchestra uniform from previous years, you do NOT need to purchase a new one.
As has been the practice each of the past two years, students will not change for PE or utilize the gymnasium’s locker rooms. Therefore, students will not need to purchase or wear uniforms during PE.
Athletics
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 at the district webpage under the parent documents and forms link. A 2023 summer examination prior to the start of school covers a student for all sport teams offered throughout the 2023-2024 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 2023-2024 school year in the coming weeks. District 30 Athletics
Maple Parent/Teacher Advisory Council
Survey deadline is September 15
Our Maple Parent/Teacher Advisory Council is seeking parent members for the 2023-2024 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 10- to 15-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 9, 2023, December 4, 2023, February 26, 2024, and May 13, 2024 at 7:00-8:00 pm. 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 by Friday, September 15.
7th-grade Springfield trip
The tentative date for this field trip is November 9, 2023. We are finalizing details with our partner travel company. More information will be shared as soon as it is available.
7th-grade Bar and Bat Mitzvah clothing
One exciting social aspect of the seventh 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.
Birthday recognitions
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.
Maple PTO Book Fair
Maple’s PTO Book Fair will be held from October 10-13. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
The Maple Marquee and staying connected
The Maple Marquee is a communication that the school sends our 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 25. Please contact the office if you do not receive this edition by Saturday, August 26. 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:
Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 18, 2024. Please join us for the 23rd 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 Assistant Principal Angela Jaeger at blondrun@district30.org.
Be a helper. Be a runner. Be a sponsor! Do them all!!
Maple School
Main Office: 847-400-8900
Health Office: 847-400-8908Location: 2370 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL, USA
Website: district30.org