
Fun in the Valley

On October 7th, firefighters from Nashville and Vermontville visited Fuller Street Elementary and Maplewood School to teach students about fire safety. Students learned important tips on how to stay safe in emergencies, prevent fires, and understand the vital role firefighters play in our community. The visit was both educational and exciting, providing students with the opportunity to meet real-life heroes and examine their equipment up close.

Sports
For sports schedules, please visit the Athletics Website: Upcoming Sporting Events
On October 6th, the boys’ soccer team played at home against Quincy and came away with a 5–2 victory.

On October 9th, the boys’ soccer team faced off against Bronson in the district quarterfinals. The Lions battled hard and came out on top with a 1-0 victory, advancing to the next round of district play. Great job, Lions!

On October 7th, the JV and Varsity volleyball teams hosted Quincy at home. The JV team fought hard but fell in three sets, with scores of 21-25, 20-25, and 14-25. The Varsity team also battled throughout the night but came up short, losing in straight sets 18-25, 11-25, and 16-25.

On October 7th, the junior high cross country team competed in their third Big 8 Jamboree at Concord, with both teams earning strong finishes. The girls’ team placed 3rd overall, led by Adelita Tobias, who won the girls’ race, followed closely by Raegan Jones in 3rd place. Other top runners included Rece Nevins, Jojo Tobias, Rieleigh Thompson, and Karlee Davis. The boys’ team also placed 3rd, with Maple Valley taking the top two spots—Porter Bryson won the race, and Jaxson Eye finished 2nd. Rounding out the top Lions were Levi Whitford, Ashton Wood, and Jacob Blakely. Great job, Lions!

On October 11th, the Varsity volleyball team competed at the Comstock Volleyball Tournament. The Lions faced a tough lineup throughout the day. Against Allegan, they fell in two sets, 10-25 and 18-25. In their match with Galesburg-Augusta, they were defeated 17-25 and 19-25. Rounding out the day, the team faced Comstock, falling 14-25 and 14-25.
On October 7th, the high school cross country team raced in their third Big 8 matchup at Concord, where they recorded some impressive times. The girls’ team finished 6th overall, beating both Reading and Springport, with every runner achieving a personal record. They were led by Melanie Jones, who placed in the top 10, followed by Izabelle Soper, Lydia Emerick, and Ada Blakely. The boys’ team placed 7th, finishing ahead of Reading. Tyler Curtis led the Lions with a season-best time, followed closely by Cameron Murray and Grady Wilkes.

On October 11th, the high school cross country team competed against 38 schools in the Greater Lansing Cross Country Championships. The girls’ team was led by Melanie Jones, who ran her second-fastest time of the season. Other top runners included Izabelle Soper, Lydia Emerick, and Ada Blakely. Soper ran a new personal best by 19 seconds, while Blakely cut over two minutes off her previous best. The boys’ team finished 34th overall, with all five runners putting in strong performances. Tyler Curtis led the Lions with a new personal best time by 30 seconds, followed closely by Cameron Murray, who also ran a personal best. Other top runners included Grady Wilkes, Quincy Page, and Kelvin Davis. Wilkes ran a personal best by nearly a minute, and Page set a new season best by 20 seconds.
Activites/Clubs
DeWitt Marching Band Invitational
On October 11th, the Marching Band traveled to the DeWitt Marching Band Invitational, where they delivered an outstanding performance. The Lions earned a score of 76.6 and took 1st place in Class D. They also received awards for Best Percussion Performance, Best Color Guard Performance, Best Musical Performance, and Best Marching Performance, bringing home a total of five trophies. Congratulations to the band on their incredible showing!

Staff Highlight
Grandma Kathy, also known as Kathy Hansbarger, currently serves as the Online Tutoring Supervisor at Maplewood Elementary. She has been a paraprofessional substitute for about seven years and has been volunteering in her children’s and grandchildren’s classrooms since 1984. A proud Maplewood graduate from the Class of 1977, Kathy’s roots in the Maple Valley community run deep; her parents were graduates of Nashville Kellogg School. After retiring from being a business owner in Nashville, Kathy felt a calling to do more for her community. When someone from Fuller Street Elementary asked if she would be interested in being a substitute paraprofessional, she decided to give it a try. “It wasn’t long before I realized how much I loved it!” she shared. Kathy’s inspiration to work in education came from the fond memories she has of her own teachers. She hopes that one day, a few students might look back and remember her as someone who made a difference in their lives. One of her favorite parts of working at Maple Valley is that many students affectionately call her “Grandma Kathy”, a title she absolutely treasures. When she’s not at school, Grandma Kathy enjoys spending time with her kids and grandkids, as well as watching her grandkids play sports. Her advice to students is simple but meaningful: “Be respectful and kind. The world needs that right now. You don’t have to agree with everyone’s point of view, but you can still be respectful and kind to each other.”
