Maple Elementary in Newbury Park is pulling Chromebooks from its youngest classrooms and sending every grade outside for daily lessons.

The Newbury Park school's new program, called "Where Learning Lives Outdoors," launched with the 2026-2027 school year. The Conejo Valley Unified School District announced the initiative alongside a board-approved resolution recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 15.

No Chromebooks, daily outdoor time

The Maple program rests on three pillars: daily outdoor learning, a low-tech emphasis and community partnerships. Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students will have no Chromebooks at all. Students in first through third grades will not bring Chromebooks home.

Teachers began weaving outdoor lessons into the daily schedule last spring, according to the Maple Elementary website. The school reported that students showed increased engagement and collaboration during the pilot.

Maple is developing partnerships with the National Wildlife Federation's Annenberg Wildlife Crossing project, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, Conejo Parks and Recreation and Students for Eco-Education & Agriculture. In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Maple an Ocean Guardian School grant, the first step toward full NOAA Ocean Guardian School status.

The school also adopted a new mascot: the Mountain Lion. Students learned in science class that P-22, the famous mountain lion tracked across Los Angeles, was born within the school's attendance area.

Hispanic Heritage Month resolution

Separately, the CVUSD Board of Education approved Annual Resolution #26/27-01 in support of National Hispanic Heritage Month at its Aug. 12 meeting. The observance runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. This year's national theme is "Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future."

The district said the month will center on celebrating Hispanic, Latino and Latinx contributions through literature, art, music, dance, language and cuisine across Conejo Valley schools. The board also approved a separate resolution supporting Attendance Awareness Month at the same meeting.

Families interested in Maple's outdoor learning program can call (805) 498-6748 to schedule a school tour.