Welcome

Welcome to Maryland Avenue

Dear Maryland Avenue Families,

Welcome to Maryland Avenue Elementary! I am honored and excited to join this incredible school community as your new principal. From the moment I stepped onto campus, it was clear that Maryland Avenue is a special place where students are known, valued, and encouraged to grow every day.

As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, our school theme is “We Rise by Lifting Others.” This theme reflects what we believe about learning, leadership, and community. When we encourage a classmate, include someone who feels left out, celebrate another person’s success, or lend a helping hand, we all become stronger. Throughout the year, our students will discover that kindness, compassion, teamwork, and service are not just important character traits—they are the foundation of a thriving school community.

At Maryland Avenue, we believe every child deserves a learning environment where they feel safe, supported, challenged, and inspired. Our dedicated teachers and staff work together to help students develop strong academic skills while also nurturing the confidence, resilience, and empathy they need to be successful both in and out of the classroom.

One of the things that makes Maryland Avenue so special is our commitment to building a culture of belonging. We believe that kindness is more than simply being nice—it is choosing to lift others up through empathy, encouragement, respect, and collaboration. Our school theme, “We Rise by Lifting Others,” reminds us that each person has the ability to positively impact those around them. Every student has something valuable to contribute, and every act of kindness helps strengthen our school community.

Our instruction is grounded in providing engaging, high-quality learning experiences that encourage students to think critically, collaborate with others, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Alongside academics, we are committed to supporting students’ social and emotional growth through positive relationships, restorative practices, and opportunities to develop leadership, responsibility, and strong character.

Families are essential partners in this work. The success of our students is greatest when school and home work together. I encourage you to stay involved by attending school events, volunteering when you are able, participating in our PTA, and maintaining regular communication with your child’s teacher. Together, we can model for our children what it means to lift others up through encouragement, partnership, and service.

Each Friday, I will send home a family newsletter to keep you informed about important dates, celebrations, upcoming events, and ways to stay connected with our school community. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read each edition so you don’t miss the many exciting things happening at Maryland Avenue.

As we begin this new school year together, I look forward to getting to know each of you and working alongside our students, staff, and families. Together, we will continue building on Maryland Avenue’s many strengths while creating new opportunities for every child to learn, grow, and thrive. Together, we will continue to foster a school community where every child feels valued, challenged, and inspired to do their very best.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. It is truly a privilege to serve as your principal, and I am excited for the wonderful year ahead.

Warmly,

Vanessa Joy
Principal
Maryland Avenue Elementary School