Principal Newsletter // April 7th, 2026

Apr 7

Dear Appleton Community,

2nd Annual Burgers & BINGO Night - April 15

Bingo night (Apr. 15th , 5-6:30pm) falls on the same day as our Restaurant Fundraiser at Freddy’s! Feel free to pick up your dinner at Freddy’s and enjoy eating it at Appleton’s Bingo Night! Or stay for a while at BINGO and then go out and enjoy Freddy’s.

BINGO is a FREE family event and every student will walk away with free books. There are two Freddy’s locations in town;

2489 HWY 6 AND 50

737 Horizon Dr.

SEE YOU THERE!

School Ends 2 Days Sooner + Bond Issue Update

Exciting improvements are coming to Appleton this summer!

As part of our continued voter-approved bond work, Appleton is set to receive more than $7 million in construction upgrades, including asbestos abatement, HVAC improvements, fire suppression updates, the addition of a makerspace area in the library, and important ADA accessibility enhancements. These upgrades will greatly improve our learning environment for students and staff for years to come.

To help ensure a smooth and well-organized transition into construction, district leadership is working closely with staff to prepare for the upcoming changes. This includes time for packing, organizing, and relocating materials before work begins.

As a result, the last day of school for Appleton students has been moved to Monday, May 18, 2026—two days earlier than originally scheduled.

We appreciate your flexibility and support as we take this exciting step forward in improving our school!

Parent Recommendations for Classroom Assignments for Next Year

Parent Recommendations for Classroom Assignment Forms will be available at the Appleton office starting April 1. Parent requests for classroom placement for 2026-2027 must be turned in to the office by Friday, April 24, 2025 at 4:00pm. A completed Parent Recommendation for Classroom Assignment is not a guarantee that your child will be placed with the requested teacher. As in past years, teachers are subject to moving to different grade levels and assignments well after requests have been made.

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Q & A

Q: When is CMAS?

A: Selected dates between April 6-April 24. Students take 3 tests per week for 2 weeks (each test is 65-90 minutes in length) in math and English Language Arts. 5th grade takes an additional 3 sessions of science. 4th grade takes an additional 1 session of social studies.

Please avoid appointments during these dates.

3rd grade tests - April 6,7,8,14,15,16,

4th grade tests - April 6,7,8,14,21,22,23

5th grade tests - April 6,7,8,14,15,21,22,23

Warmer Temperatures and the Dress Code

We want students to be comfortable, but at the same time they need to dress in a manner that will not create a distraction, is safe, and follows the dress code. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

Shorts and skirts should be approximately to the end of the index finger, or longer when arms are held at the sides. For shorter-styled skirts, it is suggested that shorts be worn underneath.
Shirts and tops should be long enough to meet the top of pants and shorts.
Spaghetti strap tops are not allowed. Straps, at the minimum, should be approximately two finger widths.
Undershirts should not be worn as the primary shirt. If worn, undershirts should be covered by a regular shirt.
Skate shoes (Heelys) and skateboards are not allowed at school.
“Blowouts” on flip-flop sandals are very common. If flip-flops are to be worn, please send additional back up shoes.

Thank you for your help in ensuring your child dresses appropriately for school. When students dress in a manner that reflects the belief that school is important, a more focused atmosphere is created which helps to improve achievement

Go Bookworms!

Corey Hafey

“Expect Excellence!”

Appleton Elementary School

2358 H Road Grand Junction, CO 81505

Phone (970) 254-6400 Fax (970) 243-6604

Corey Hafey - Principal

Todd Witzel - Assistant Principal

Lisa McClelland / Angie Wallace - Secretar