Fun in the Valley
Mrs. Webb Teacher of the Month
On January 31st Representative Angela Witwer presented Mrs. Webb with a Certificate of Recognition for being chosen as Teacher of the Month for the House District 76 in November of 2024.
Sports
For sports schedules please visit the Athletics Website: Upcoming Sporting Events
On January 27th the 7th & 8th-grade girls' basketball teams traveled to Reading to face off against the Rangers. The 7th-grade team placed with determination and skill, securing a hard-fought win. The 8th-grade team dominated their game, winning with a commanding 36-5 victory. Mel Jones led the charge with 14 points, while Byrnlee Joseph contributed 8, helping the team secure the win.
On January 27th, the Varsity competitive cheer team traveled to Springport to compete in a Big 8 Jamboree. The team put on impressive performances, securing a 3rd-place finish at the event. With this strong showing, the team is now tied for 2nd place in the league.
On January 29th, the wrestling team faced tough competition in matches against Reading and Quincy, putting forth strong efforts despite coming up short in both matches. Against Reading, the team fought hard but fell 36-48. Standout performances came from Joe Long (285), Robert Schilz (138), and Filip Nowak (144), who all secured victories in their respective weight classes. In the match against Qunicy, the team showed resilience but took a 27-40 loss. Roman Schilz (113), Filip Nowak (144), Jackson Burpee (190), and Tyrese Robinson (215) each came away with wins.
On February 1st the Wrestling team competed in the Big 8 Wrestling Conference Championships, finishing 6th overall out of eight teams with a total of 65.5 points. Several wrestlers put on strong performances, securing key placements and points for the team. Filip Nowak (144) received 1st place earning 15.5 team points, Jackson Burpee (190) received 1st place earning 18 team points, Joe Long (285) received 3rd place earning 9 team points, Roman Schilz (113) received 4th place earning 6 team points, Robert Schilz (138) received 4th place earning 8 team points, and Jeremiah Penny (157) received 4th place, earning 6 team points. Noah Lucas (215), Kade Wright (165), and Josh Depee (15) also competed, contributing to the team’s overall performance.
On January 31st, the JV & Varsity teams traveled to Union City to take on the Chargers. Despite strong efforts, both teams fell short against tough competition. The JV team put up a fight but ultimately lost 44-58. The Varsity team battled hard but faced a tough Charger squad, falling 38-62.
On January 27th, the JV & Varsity girls’ basketball teams traveled to Delton Kelloff to face off against the Panthers. The JV team came out strong, controlling the game on both ends of the court and earning a 35-17 win. The Varsity team fell to a tough Delton Kellogg squad, losing 22-46.
On January 28th, the JV & Varsity boys’ basketball teams faced off against the Stockbridge Panthers at home. Despite a hard-fought effort, both teams came up short against a tough opponent. The JV team played with determination but ultimately fell 32-47 and the Varsity team, despite their efforts, lost 40-78.
On January 29th, the 7th and 8th-grade girls’ basketball teams traveled to take on the Stockbridge Panthers in a night of intense competition. The 7th-grade team secured an impressive 36-5 victory where their success came from an aggressive defense, racking up numerous steals. The 8th-grade team battled in a highly physical game but fell just short in a 25-27 loss.
On January 30th, the JV & Varsity girls’ basketball teams traveled to Stockbridge to face the Panthers. The JV team played a strong game, coming away with a 27-20 win. The Varsity team battled hard but fell to a dominant Panther squad, losing 15-64.
On February 1st, the JV and Varsity girls’ basketball teams hit the road to take on Qunicy in a competitive matchup. Despite their determination and hard work, both teams fell short against strong opponents. The JV team fought hard but ultimately fell to Qunicy with a final score of 21-31. In the Varsity game, the Lions faced a tough Quincy squad and ended with a 12-59 loss.
Activites/Clubs
FFA District Leadership Development Events
On January 29th, members of the Maple Valley FFA chapter competed in the District Leadership Contests at the Calhoun Area Career Center, showcasing their skills in various areas of leadership and communication.
Kearson Keiffer earned 3rd place in the Job Interview Contest, receiving a Gold rating. Dakota Griffin also competed in the Job Interview Contest, securing 12th place with a Silver rating. The Demonstration Team, consisting of Hope D’Agostino, Leannah Johnson, and Mikayla Griffin, presented a great demonstration and earned a 4th place finish with a Silver rating.
In the Jr. High Public Speaking Contest, Brooklyn Myers took 1st place with a Silver rating. Myers will continue on to the Regional competition. Gage Jordan who competed in the Greenhand Public Speaking Contest, earned 1st place with a Silver rating. Jordan’s performance secured a spot at Regionals as well.
Regionals will be held at Calhoun Area Career Center on February 12th starting at 4 pm.
NHS Blood Drive
On January 29th, the Maple Valley National Honor Society (NHS) hosted a successful Red Cross Blood Drive at the high school, collecting 21 units of blood. A total of 31 donors, including students, teachers, staff, and community members, participated, with many students donating blood for the first time. NHS students volunteered throughout the day, providing snacks, ushering, and assisting with check-in. The event was a great success, thanks to the support of all who contributed.
World Languages Club 2026 Trip
Maple Valley is planning a student trip to France and Spain for next year's spring break in 2026! Registration is NOW if you'd like to sign up for the trip and we are spending this year working on fundraisers to help get the money together. The cost of the trip is approximately $4,400 and covers all airfare, hotels, entrances to museums, and breakfast and lunch each day. We'll be visiting Paris and Madrid. Students are welcome whether they’ve studied French, Spanish, or no languages at all. Everyone has something to gain from a trip like this. See Ms. Catchick if you are interested!
Senior Highlights
Gauge Linn
After high school, Gauge plans to pursue a career in business. One teacher who has had the biggest impact on him is Mr. Rosin. One thing he is most looking forward to after graduation is leaving Michigan and exploring new opportunities. His advice for incoming freshmen is simple: “Just do the work. It isn’t that bad.” Looking back on his senior year, his biggest highlight was probably track season.
Julia Mater
After high school, Julia plans to attend KCC to become a medical assistant. One teacher who has had the biggest impact on her is Mrs. Catchick. Julia is grateful that Mrs. Catchick came to Maple Valley and offered French during her freshman year. Without her, Julia believes she wouldn’t have learned a new language or had the opportunity to visit France. She is especially thankful for the valuable lessons Mrs. Catchick taught her, such as not being afraid of failure and looking where you want to go. After graduation, Julia looks forward to growing her faith and seeing where life takes her. Her advice to incoming freshmen is simple: “Give it your best effort, but at the end of the day, you can’t take your grades to heaven.” The highlight of her senior year will be playing soccer one more time with her team, cherishing every moment on the field.
Izabelle Taylor
After high school, Izabelle plans to attend college to become an art teacher. One teacher who has had the biggest impact on her is Mrs. Webb. She has helped Izabelle through many personal struggles and has also guided her to become a better student. After graduation, Izabelle looks forward to owning her own home and embracing the next chapter in her life. Her advice for incoming freshmen is: “Do your work and pay attention. No matter how much you like or dislike school, always try your hardest. It is so easy to get behind, and once you do, there’s no coming back from it. It affects your future, so try—even if you fail.” The highlight of her senior year was making memories with the people she loves, cherishing every moment along the way.
Staff Highlight
Jennifer Burpee, who is an Administrative Assistant at Maplewood, is a proud Maple Valley graduate who returned to the area from Tennessee to be closer to family. After years as a stay-at-home mom, she wanted to find a job that matched her children's school schedule. She loves working with her colleagues and seeing the students every day. In her free time, she enjoys shopping and cheering on her kids at their sporting events. Her advice to students is simple: "Enjoy school, spend time with friends, and embrace the joys of being a kid."
