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!

about 2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Carla Vela with flowers and Teacher of the Year poster.
Carla Vela with flowers.
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!
about 2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Magician with a student doing a trick with a balloon.
Magician with a group of students.
Magician, Mike Hamilton, posing with a class of 2nd graders and their thank you note.
Students in awe of what they are seeing at the magic show assembly.
Students waiting for the magic show assembly to start.
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)
about 2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students in the foyer holding their certificates.
A big thank you to Springville Rotary who generously donated a dictionary to each of our Maple Ridge third graders!
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
A third grade class with their dictionaries.
A rotary member showing third graders a dictionary.
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!
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Mr. Gatten and students looking at rocks.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Students looking at rocks.
Students looking at rocks.
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!
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students laying on the floor during a lesson with Ms. Jones where she was adding movement to a lesson.
Ms. Jones with 3 students showing some movement during a lesson.
Maple Ridge fourth graders were able to go and hear the Utah Symphony at Payson High School. They enjoyed the concert!
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students dressed up and ready for the symphony.
Students dressed up and ready for the symphony.
Students dressed up and ready for symphony.
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)
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students in the school front foyer holding their certificates.
Merry Christmas from Maple Ridge faculty and staff! Enjoy your break!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Kindergarten teachers.
First grade teachers.
Fourth grade teachers.
Fifth grade teachers.
Office staff.
Miss Hailee being the gingerbread man.
Miss Hailee being the gingerbread man.
Christmas at Maple Ridge continued!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Santa reading a story to students at Maple Ridge.
Choir students.
Ms. Wilde's first graders on Santa Day.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
More Christmas at Maple Ridge!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Grinch Day in Ms. Hardy's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
First grader in Christmas pajamas.
Mrs. Berbert playing the piano and the Christmas choir.

Christmas at Maple Ridge! So many fun things happened in December!

3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Maple Ridge choir.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Christmas in Mrs. Rasmussen's room.
Christmas in Mrs. Rasmussen's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
We are collecting food for the food bank in Provo in honor of Nate Carr. Please send canned goods to school with your student. Mrs. Rasmussen (3rd grade) is collecting the food and it can be taken to her classroom or dropped of in the office. We are so happy to continue our tradition of "doing something great in honor of Nate!"
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Nate Carr food drive. December 8-19. Drop off food to Mrs. Rasmussen's 3rd grade.
We missed posting about our October Students of the Month! (Better late than never!) These students were recognized for being healthy. Congratulations to all of them! We are proud of you!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students holding their Student of the Month certificates.
Students holding up their student of the month certificate.
Some of our kindergarten staff celebrating a "Holly Dolly" Christmas!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Teachers dressed in Holly Dolly Christmas sweatshirts.
Before the Thanksgiving Break we held our annual Maple Ridge Gobble Off. We had so many awesome gobblers! Our winners this year were: 1st Place--Steele Hansen, 2nd Place--Beckton Westfall, and 3rd Place--Ezra Wade. They each got to take a turkey home to their family. Thank you to all who participated in this is favorite Maple Ridge tradition!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Gobble Off winners with their turkeys and a giant turkey and four pilgrim ladies.
Maple Ridge office staff dressed up for Thanksgiving--4 pilgrim ladies and a turkey.
On Monday, Maple Ridge teachers started the holiday season (a little early) by wearing Christmas sweaters. Mrs. William's and Mr Lee's sweaters made us laugh! We are looking forward to a fun December!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Mrs. Williams and Mr. Lee in their Christmas sweaters
Last week in library, Maple Ridge students have been celebrating American Heritage Month by learning some Native American games and toys. The game Run and Scream had many purposes such as mental toughness, burning off extra energy, relieving stress and building lung capacity. It's also really fun! You take a deep breath and run and scream until you run out of air. No taking an extra breath! When you run out of air, you stop and mark your spot. Go back to the beginning and start again, but this time, try to get past your first mark!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
Students playing "Run and Scream" on the field.
We recently celebrated National School Psychologist Week! Our school psychologist Mrs. Sonntag is the absolute BEST! She works so hard to help students and teachers be successful. We are so grateful for her and all she does at Maple Ridge. We love you, Mrs. Sonntag!
5 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Mrs. Sonntag holding gifts for National School Psychologist Week.
Last week was our first spirit week! Ms. Spencer's second grade was the winning class with the most students dressed in Maple Ridge gear. Every Friday is a Spirit Day so wear your Maple Ridge clothes and show some school spirit!
5 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Ms. Spencer's second graders dressed in their Maple Ridge gear.