The last week in February was White Ribbon Week for internet safety. Our wonderful PTA did a great job with activities that reminded us all to be safe and kind online. We even had a special visitor the last day of the week: Cosmo! Students enjoyed interacting with him and he posed for pictures with all of our classes. A big thank you to our PTA and all the parents who helped make the week successful! @maple_ridge_elementary_PTA
February was Kindness Month at Maple Ridge. Mrs. Paynter, Mrs. Jensen, and our Student Council put together activities all month to help remind students how important it is to be kind. One of our favorite activities was when our fifth grade classes participated in our "Honk for Kindness" each Friday morning before school to welcome students to school. It was a fun month that ended with White Ribbon Week activities by our wonderful PTA.
Maple Ridge Elementary is excited to welcome Mrs. Nicole Steiner as our new principal!
This past year, Mrs. Steiner has served as our assistant principal, and during that time she has already built strong relationships with our faculty, staff, students, and parents. Her positive energy, sense of fun, and genuine care for others have made her a wonderful part of the Maple Ridge community—and she is already well loved by so many.
Before coming to Maple Ridge, Mrs. Steiner was part of the faculties at East Meadows Elementary, Mapleton Elementary, Cherry Creek Elementary, and Salem Elementary, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to education.
Mrs. Steiner has a deep love for students and for teaching. She believes strongly that all students can learn and be successful, and she is passionate about supporting both students and teachers in reaching their full potential.
As we begin this new chapter, we are confident that Mrs. Steiner will continue the incredible legacy that Mrs. Matis started when she opened Maple Ridge. We are excited for the future of our school under her leadership.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Principal Nicole Steiner! 🍎💙
This past year, Mrs. Steiner has served as our assistant principal, and during that time she has already built strong relationships with our faculty, staff, students, and parents. Her positive energy, sense of fun, and genuine care for others have made her a wonderful part of the Maple Ridge community—and she is already well loved by so many.
Before coming to Maple Ridge, Mrs. Steiner was part of the faculties at East Meadows Elementary, Mapleton Elementary, Cherry Creek Elementary, and Salem Elementary, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to education.
Mrs. Steiner has a deep love for students and for teaching. She believes strongly that all students can learn and be successful, and she is passionate about supporting both students and teachers in reaching their full potential.
As we begin this new chapter, we are confident that Mrs. Steiner will continue the incredible legacy that Mrs. Matis started when she opened Maple Ridge. We are excited for the future of our school under her leadership.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Principal Nicole Steiner! 🍎💙
This post has taken some time for us to post because we hate to admit that it's true! After 11 incredible years at Maple Ridge Elementary, we are saying goodbye to Mrs. Sara Matis at the end of this school year. As the founding principal who opened Maple Ridge, she helped build not just a school, but a community grounded in care, high expectations, and a deep commitment to students.
She is loved by parents, students, teachers, and staff alike for her dedication and remarkable ability to make everyone feel known and valued. In fact, she knows the names of nearly all 775 Maple Ridge students—a reflection of how deeply she cares about each child who walks through the doors.
Mrs. Matis' leadership has always been centered on what matters most: students. She is a true champion for learning and consistently advocates for what is best for kids. Because of her vision and heart, Maple Ridge is the special place it is today.
While we are excited for the students and community she will serve in Santaquin at Orchard Hills Elementary, she will be deeply missed at Maple Ridge. Thank you Mrs. Matis for 11 years of incredible leadership, care, and dedication! We love you!
She is loved by parents, students, teachers, and staff alike for her dedication and remarkable ability to make everyone feel known and valued. In fact, she knows the names of nearly all 775 Maple Ridge students—a reflection of how deeply she cares about each child who walks through the doors.
Mrs. Matis' leadership has always been centered on what matters most: students. She is a true champion for learning and consistently advocates for what is best for kids. Because of her vision and heart, Maple Ridge is the special place it is today.
While we are excited for the students and community she will serve in Santaquin at Orchard Hills Elementary, she will be deeply missed at Maple Ridge. Thank you Mrs. Matis for 11 years of incredible leadership, care, and dedication! We love you!
Congratulations to these Maple Ridge 5th graders who were award winning students from the 2026 Nebo Elementary STEM Fair. All of the award winners are invited to participate in the Central Utah Fair at BYU on March 18th. We wish all our students good luck! We are proud of you!
Students in Mrs. Barlow's 2nd grade made a Valentine's Day craft as part of their Valentine's Day celebration.
Valentine's Day fun in Mrs. Mathews' 4th grade class.
Mrs. Williams’ first graders just finished one of the best units in CKLA knowledge. They learned all about the layers of the Earth, fossils, dinosaurs, and the different types of rocks and minerals.
Valentine's Day fun in Mrs. Williams' first grade!
At the beginning of February, we celebrated National School Counselor Week by recognizing our school counselor, Ms. Bree. We are grateful for her and all she does to help us at Maple Ridge! Thank you Ms. Bree!
Ms. Vela was chosen by the Maple Ridge faculty as Maple Ridge’s Teacher of the Year for 2025-26. Carla Vela exemplifies the very best of what it means to be an outstanding educator. She holds high expectations for her students while creating a warm and caring classroom where respect, unity, and kindness are taught daily. Ms. Vela is also a true leader among her colleagues, welcoming other teachers into her classroom to observe and learn from her practice. Even with her exceptional skills, she seeks out opportunities to be coached and continually seeks ways to improve. Her positive attitude, genuine smile, and encouragement for everyone she meets make her a treasured member of the Maple Ridge faculty. Her teammate, Meredith Berglund said, "Carla is simply amazing! Her classroom is a place where students feel safe, seen, loved, and encouraged! She has the kind of impact on students that lasts far beyond a single school year. I’m thankful every day to share a hallway and friendship with a teacher as dedicated and compassionate as Carla!"
Congratulations Carla!
Maple Ridge wants to thank Mike Hamilton for the amazing "Magic in Learning" assembly on Friday. Students learned how their choices are important and how they impact others. Mr. Hamilton taught us how we can be kind to one another and support each other here at Maple Ridge. We also want to thank Les Schwab of Santaquin for sponsoring this wonderful event! Thank you Les Schwab for supporting schools in Utah. You are awesome!
Congratulations to these students for being our Students of the Month for December/January. They were recognized for being perseverant. We are so proud of all of them! (Not pictured: Addilyn Sell, Graham Ehlert, Lacey Carter, Austin Guapo Hartgraves, Macy Sessions, Harlow Hutchings, Millie Clark, and Dylan Maciel)
A big thank you to Springville Rotary who generously donated a dictionary to each of our Maple Ridge third graders!
Maple Ridge fourth graders have been learning about geology during language arts. Mrs. Mathew's class was lucky enough to have Malachi's Great Grandpa Gatten, who is a geologist, come and share his knowledge with the class. Students even got their own bag of rocks to study. Thank you, Mr. Gatten!
We are enjoying having Ms. Jones at Maple Ridge for these next couple of months. She is one of our district arts specialists who is helping teachers add engagement into their lessons using dance and movement. She was recently in Mrs. Curby's third grade helping with a math lesson!
Maple Ridge fourth graders were able to go and hear the Utah Symphony at Payson High School. They enjoyed the concert!
Congratulations to these students for being recognized as Maple Ridge Students of the Month. These students were recognized for being grateful. We are proud of them! (Not pictured: Caden Herman, Cora Wyman, Harper Simonsen, Brookson Measom, Kable Cervantes)
Merry Christmas from Maple Ridge faculty and staff! Enjoy your break!
Christmas at Maple Ridge continued!
