Maple Grove Charter School - One Town. One Team. One Dream.

There is something pretty special about watching our older learners simply PLAY at recess. 🌳🦊❤️ Creativity, imagination, teamwork, and friendships were in full force at Maple Grove! From digging, building, and creating in the woods to climbing, swinging, exploring, and inventing their own games, our learners were busy turning the outdoors into whatever their imaginations could dream up. As kids get older, opportunities for unstructured play can become fewer—but these moments remind us just how important it still is. They’re problem solving, negotiating, cooperating, taking risks, creating, laughing, and building friendships…all while just thinking they’re having fun. 😊 This is childhood. This is learning.

🍎🦊 TWO DAYS DOWN… AND OUR FOX FAMILY IS BACK! 🦊🍎 What a way to begin a new school year at Maple Grove! ❤️ Yesterday, we welcomed our 1st–5th grade learners back through the doors, and today our littlest foxes officially joined us for their very first day of kindergarten! 🦊 They learned new routines, met new friends, explored their school, tackled that all-important first school lunch…and by dismissal, I think it’s safe to say we had some tired little foxes! We’re hoping they went home with plenty of stories to tell and are excited to come back tomorrow! These first two days have also been such a reminder of how fortunate we are at Maple Grove Charter School. We have a staff who genuinely couldn’t wait for our learners to return and spent countless hours preparing classrooms, planning, organizing and finding little ways to make those first days special. We have a district and community that support our school and appreciate the work happening inside these walls. From flowers and welcome-back surprises to treats for staff and cookies for our learners, there have been so many thoughtful reminders this week that people are cheering us on. 🌻🍪❤️ And most importantly, we have hallways, classrooms, playgrounds and lunch tables filled with kids again. The conversations, laughter, hugs, nervous smiles and excitement are back—and that is what makes this building a school. Two days in. Lots of smiles. A few tired kiddos (and maybe a few tired adults 😉). And one happy Fox Family.

🦊🍎 Maple is ready… ARE YOU?! Maple has been making the rounds at MGCS—checking out the playground, visiting the chickens, testing out the Buddy Bench, and making sure everything is ready for our learners! 🌳🐔❤️ And now there’s only ONE thing missing… YOU! 🫵🦊 We cannot wait to fill Maple Grove with laughter, learning, exploring, creating, growing, and all the energy that comes with having our learners back together again. ❤️ 📚 FIRST DAY REMINDER 🍎 Grades 1–5: Your first day is TOMORROW, Tuesday, September 1! 🦊 Kindergarten: Tomorrow is your special one-on-one meeting day with your teacher. Then we can’t wait to officially welcome our kindergarten learners for their first day on Wednesday, September 2! Our classrooms are ready. Our teachers are ready. Maple is DEFINITELY ready. 🦊 MGCS learners… we’ll see you soon! ❤️🌳

School might be out for the summer, but Maple Grove Charter School is still buzzing with life! 🌞🐝🌱 Our honey bees have been hard at work pollinating and producing honey, our vegetable and pollinator gardens are growing more every day, and our baby chicks are getting so big! It’s amazing to see how much life continues to thrive, even while our classrooms are quiet. One of the things we love most about Maple Grove is that learning doesn’t stop when the school year ends. Nature keeps teaching, growing, and reminding us that every season has something special to offer. We can’t wait for our students to come back and see all that’s changed!

These photos speak volumes about the hands-on learning, friendships, engagement, and CRISP traits demonstrated throughout our two weeks of Summer Learning.

Part 3 of 4 of Summer Learning...

More pictures of Summer Learning action...Part 2 of 4

☀️ What a wonderful two weeks of Summer Learning at Maple Grove! ☀️ We wrapped up our summer adventure today with a splash as learners enjoyed a variety of games, activities, and a slip-and-slide to celebrate all they accomplished over the past two weeks. 💦😄 Before the afternoon fun began, our 3rd-5th grade actors and actresses took center stage and performed the plays they have been practicing. Complete with props, costumes, and plenty of enthusiasm, they did a fabulous job! 🎭👏 We were so proud of the confidence, teamwork, and creativity they showcased. Over the last two weeks, our learners explored STEM activities, jewelry making, archery, swimming lessons, cooking and food projects, stories, and countries from around the world. They learned new skills, discovered new interests, built friendships, and created memories that will last long after summer ends. A huge shout-out to our amazing staff who made these two weeks such a success: Ms. Riehle, Mrs. Jacoby, Mrs. Zarins, Mrs. Kohlmoos, Mrs. Haines, Mrs. Dake, Mrs. Cyrtmus, Mrs. Plisch, Mr. Langenhahn, Mrs. Thurs, Ms. Ann, Mrs. Hartmann, and our wonderful bus driver, Ms. Karen! ❤️ Thank you for sharing your talents, energy, patience, and enthusiasm with our learners each day. We hope all of our students head home with a little more knowledge, new friendships, wonderful memories, and maybe a few stories they’ll be sharing all summer long. Have a safe, fun, and relaxing summer! ☀️🦊💚 Part 1 of 3

☀️ Summer Learning Field Day! 💦

Tomorrow, Friday, June 19th, our summer learners at Maple Grove will celebrate the last day of Summer Learning with an exciting Field Day during the second half of the day!

Some activities will involve water, so please send your learner with:
👙 A swimsuit or change of clothes
🧺 A towel (optional)
💧 A water bottle
☀️ Sunscreen (learners may self-apply before activities begin)

We are looking forward to an afternoon filled with games, laughter, friendship, and fun as we celebrate a wonderful Summer Learning session. We can't wait to make some great memories together!

🦊 Let's finish Summer Learning strong!

☀️ As we head into the final days of Summer Learning at MGCS, I’m feeling incredibly grateful for the many people who have helped make this experience so special for our students. Over the past two weeks, our learners have stepped into the roles of junior chefs, world travelers, actors and actresses, scientists, and explorers. Along the way, they’ve learned from some amazing guest speakers and community experts who brought real-world experiences and passion. A special thank you to Mike Fasse, Lynn Wilson, Kelly Steidinger, Ashley Lange, and Regi Education for sharing your knowledge, stories, and encouragement with our students. From raptors and forestry to travels across Europe and Kenya, tree identification, and lessons in perseverance, you helped spark curiosity and inspire learning in ways that will last far beyond summer school. Our students are lucky to be part of a community that is so willing to invest in them. Thank you for helping make Summer Learning at Maple Grove such a memorable experience! 🦊💚🌲

🦊 The June Maple Grove Fox Report is here! Check out the latest news, events, and happenings from our school this month. Click the link to read all about it!​
https://app.smore.com/n/spm80x

Our 5th graders wrapped up the school year with an unforgettable field trip to Camp Birch Trails. During their adventure, learners paddled canoes and kayaks, discovered turtles and a floating island, and even learned how to create a raft using their canoes. It was a day filled with exploration, teamwork, and hands-on learning in the outdoors. This trip was especially meaningful because it was also the final class led by Mr. Noland, Director of the Merrill School Forest. Mr. Noland has a special connection to Maple Grove Charter School. He was the first lead teacher when MGCS became a charter school with the Merrill School District. After leaving MGCS, he went on to serve as Director of the Merrill School Forest, where he continued to inspire countless learners through outdoor education. When MGCS joined the School District of Athens, our PTO made it a priority to continue providing School Forest experiences for our learners because of how closely they align with our environmental agriscience curriculum. Thanks to that commitment, generations of Maple Grove learners have benefited from these unique opportunities. Mr. Noland has always held a special place in his heart for Maple Grove, and we are grateful for the impact he has had on our school and students over the years. You will be missed, Mr. Noland. We wish you many exciting adventures and wonderful memories in your retirement!

The power outage didn’t stop the learning—or the fun—at MGCS! When the lights went out, our learners kept right on exploring, creating, and discovering. Summer Learning was full of folktales, cooking, STEM challenges, theater, archery, beading, outdoor exploration, countries around the world, and picnic lunches in the fresh air. One unexpected highlight of the day? Watching the WPS crew safely remove a tree from the power lines. Our learners were fascinated by the equipment, teamwork, and problem-solving involved. Who knows—we may have a few future linemen, linewomen, arborists, or engineers in the making! At Maple Grove, learning happens everywhere—from the classroom to the woods, around the picnic table, and even during a power outage. Sometimes the best lessons are the ones you never planned. 🌳⚡🔧🦊☀️

As we wrap up another incredible school year at Maple Grove Charter School, we're reflecting on one of our favorite traditions—the celebration of our Kindergarten and 5th Grade graduates. 🎓🦊 A few weeks ago, we gathered with families, staff, and friends to honor two very special groups of learners: those who were just completing their first year of elementary school and those preparing to leave Maple Grove for middle school adventures. Our kindergarteners spent the year asking questions, exploring the outdoors, making new friends, learning to read and write, and discovering that they are capable of far more than they imagined. Watching them proudly walk across the stage reminded us just how much can happen in a single school year. Our 5th graders leave behind a legacy of leadership, stewardship, perseverance, and kindness. They have grown from little foxes learning the ropes into confident young people ready to take on new challenges. They helped make Maple Grove a better place. As we look back on that evening, we're reminded that graduation isn't just about moving on—it's about celebrating growth, relationships, and all the moments in between. To our kindergarten graduates: Keep wondering, exploring, and dreaming big. To our 5th-grade graduates: Thank you for the impact you've had on our school. We can't wait to see what comes next for each of you. And to the parents who swear it was just yesterday that you dropped them off for their first day of school—we believe you. Somehow the school year flies by faster than a kindergartener running to recess and a 5th grader trying to avoid one more writing assignment. ❤️ Congratulations again to our graduates, and thank you for an unforgettable year at Maple Grove Charter School!

☀️ School may be out for the summer, but we sure packed a lot of fun into the last few days of the year! Field Day is always a favorite at Maple Grove Charter School, and this year we were treated to perfect weather. From relays and duck races to axe throwing and everything in between, our learners had the opportunity to spend the afternoon making memories with their Fox Dens. We wrapped up the day with one of our favorite traditions—the 5th Grade vs. Staff Tug-of-War. After a hard-fought battle, the staff managed to hold onto the title for another year! 🦊💪 Thank you to everyone who helped make this special day possible. Wishing all of our MGCS families a summer filled with sunshine, adventure, great memories, and maybe a little bit of water too! ☀️🌊😎

Last Day of School Picnic at Maple Grove Charter School! 🦊☀️ What a wonderful way to wrap up an incredible school year! A heartfelt thank you to our amazing Maple Grove community—our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and volunteers who helped make today’s picnic such a success. Your willingness to jump in, lend a hand, and create special memories for our learners is what makes Maple Grove such a special place. A special thank you to our PTO for generously sponsoring the food for today’s picnic. Your continued support of our learners, staff, and school community is greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Geiss Meat Service for the delicious brats and M & M Bakery for the fresh buns that helped make our meal a success. Thursday's picnic was a perfect example of the generosity that defines Maple Grove. There was plenty of food, laughter, and community spirit—and enough hospitality that we were even able to feed the unexpected internet technicians who were on-site. Nothing says “Maple Grove” quite like making sure everyone leaves with a full stomach and a smile. As we celebrate another year of growth, learning, and adventure, we are reminded how fortunate we are to be part of a school community that truly embodies our CRISP values. From classrooms and outdoors to community events like Thursday's picnic, Maple Grove continues to be a place where people show up for one another. Now it’s time for summer! The cubbies are cleaned out, the pencils are worn down, and the staff may need a few days to recover from hearing, “Can we go outside?” one last time. 😄 Thank you for an amazing school year. We hope everyone has a safe, fun, and memory-filled summer. We’ll see you next year for more learning, more laughter, and more moments that make Maple Grove feel like family.

🐣 First grade has been keeping a BIG secret! 🐣

For the past few weeks, our classroom has been transformed into a mini hobby farm since we incubated chicken eggs — and now we have 12 adorable baby chicks! 🐥💛

This hands-on project gave students the opportunity to become real scientists and caretakers. Throughout the incubation process, learners monitored and recorded the temperature and humidity levels daily, learned why eggs must be rotated regularly, and observed how each factor plays an important role in helping chicks grow and hatch successfully.

Students practiced responsibility, teamwork, observation, and data collection while learning about life cycles, animal development, and the science behind incubation. Watching the chicks hatch after 24 days of care and patience was an unforgettable experience for everyone!

We were also fortunate to welcome Tracy, a chicken expert, into our classroom to teach learners all about caring for and identifying chickens. She even brought Lulu and Maximus along for their very first field trip at 8 months old! 🐓✨ The students loved meeting them up close and learning even more about our feathered friends.

To help build even more responsibility and care, each learner has also “adopted a peep” at their desk. Since we cannot fully handle or focus having a chick at every table.

Students are taking turns helping care for and observe the chicks while practicing gentle handling, patience, and teamwork.

Next week, these adorable chicks will be adoptable for families looking to add some feathered friends to their home! 🐥❤️

We are so proud of our young learners and all they discovered through this exciting project. Stay tuned for more chick updates and photos! 📸✨

☀️📚 LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR SUMMER LEARNING! 📚☀️ Tomorrow — May 15 — is the FINAL DAY to register for our Summer Learning Program at Maple Grove Charter School! 🦊 Join us for 2 fun-filled weeks of learning, exploration, creativity, and summer fun from 8:00 AM–3:00 PM each day! 🌿 Hands-on activities 🎨 Creative projects 📚 Engaging learning opportunities ☀️ Outdoor adventures 🤝 Time with friends and staff Don’t miss out on a great way to keep kids learning, active, and connected this summer! ⏰ Registration closes tomorrow!