New this year to Maple Ridge Elementary is the N.O.V.A. program.  The mission of N.O.V.A. is: "Nurturing youth to seek out positive Opportunities, internalize good Values, and to accept Accountability for their choices in life.  N.O.V.A. assists parents, families, and communities in protecting youth from the potentially devastating effects of illegal drugs, violence, and negative media exposure."  Officer McCoy with Mapleton police, will come in weekly to teach the sixth grade classes the importance of these principles.  In between his classes, he has the opportunity to play with students out at recess, and get to know the students in the school to develop a positive rapport with them.