Parent info night at Maple Street Magnet School set Feb. 1 ahead of citywide lottery

The Maple Street School utilizes a project-based learning model, which is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester's pre-eminent elementary school, the Maple Street Magnet School, will host a Parent Information Night next month for prospective parents to learn about the school in advance of the annual school lottery.

The Maple Street School utilizes a project-based learning model, which is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges, then use critical thinking and creativity to seek solutions. The Maple Street Magnet School also focuses heavily on family and school partnerships in which regular, two-way communication between families and school staff create meaningful participation in student learning.

"Students and educators at the Maple Street Magnet School bring hands-on learning to life using outdoor learning spaces to learn about the community they live in and to explore how the work they do can improve their local and regional environments," said Principal Erin Mahoney. "We invite any family from Rochester that is interested in learning more about our school to join us on Feb. 1."

Families that are interested in sending students to the Maple Street Magnet School can pick up application packets from Rochester Schools Superintendent Kyle Repucci's office starting on Feb. 1. The deadline to return the application packets to the Maple Street Magnet School is March 10. The lottery will be held on March 16.

Some highlights of the 2022-2023 school year at the Maple Street Magnet School have been:
Grades 4 and 5 have been working with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the N.H. GLOBE Program and the USDA Forest Service developing a "Water Tent" -- a traveling educational exhibit that will combine hands-on science activities centered around the hydrosphere and a 10-foot by 10-foot pop-up tent with murals depicting students' observations of their local water ecosystems. In this case, students are studying the Cocheco River. Once completed, the Tent will be available for New Hampshire schools to "check out" and will come with all materials needed to engage in the science activities.
Ongoing collaboration with an urban forester from the New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands to develop a plan for dealing with Ash Borer Beetles -- an invasive species -- that have taken over several trees on school property.
Guest speakers from varying careers have educated students on various topics and career possibilities; providing students the opportunity to learn more about potential life and career pathways.
Grade 4 continues to participate in the annual Sea Perch competition in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
The school encourages students to be creative and to make choices by offering Boundless Exploration time, in which students select a topic of interest and get to learn more about the selected topics on Friday afternoons.
The school includes full-day kindergarten from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a 200-day school year -- 20 days more than other schools -- to help students retain more of what they learn and to give teachers more time to provide enriching activities.
French language classes are offered to all grades, as are gym, art, music, and library.
"The Maple Street Magnet School provides an enriching opportunity for students to develop and use creativity and problem-solving skills to tackle real-life problems, while also giving students an early start on considering what they want their future to hold," said Repucci. "We are proud of the exceptional learning community that exists at the Maple Street Magnet School, and I encourage any interested families to attend the information session to learn more."

The Parent Information meeting will be on Feb. 1 from 6-7 p.m.

The school is located at 27 Maple St., Rochester.