Principal Newsletter // August 12th, 2025

Aug 11

Dear Appleton Community…

WElcome back!

What an exciting start to the school year! I am so proud of you! Our students, families, and staff all deserve a big ol’ Appleton-style pat on the back for making our first week one to remember. From smooth morning drop-offs (well, mostly smooth) to classrooms buzzing with learning and laughter, it’s clear: the Bookworms are BACK and ready to roll!

A special shoutout goes to our brave kindergarteners, who made it through their very first day of school on Friday! Sure, we had a few tears—but let’s be honest, most of them came from the parents. But we had tissues ready at the door. Your little ones did amazing, and we’re so excited to see how they grow this year!

I also want to give a huge thank you to our PTA for the incredible support they continue to provide. Over the past few years, their efforts have brought Aquos Smart Boards to every classroom—talk about leveling up! And they’re not stopping there. Their current dreams include upgrading our playground equipment (because our swings squeak louder than my knees on a cold morning), boosting our awesome art program, and continuing to fund our incredible reading and math intervention paras who work so hard to support our students who need a little extra love and learning time. We’d love your help—whether you can volunteer, donate, or just cheer them on!

And finally, don’t forget: our legendary Back-to-School Assembly is coming up on Thursday, August 14! It’s loud, it’s fun, and it’s one of our favorite traditions. We hope your kids come home absolutely pumped to tell you what they learned (and maybe even teach you the Bookworm theme). It’s going to be a year full of learning, laughter, and a whole lot of school spirit.

Go Bookworms!
~ Corey

Parent Information Night - You Gotta Be Here!

Calling all Appleton Bookworm parents and caregivers! Join us for Parent Information Night on Thursday, August 14! We’ve got two sessions—5:30–6:00 or 6:05–6:35—so you can visit multiple classrooms if you have multiple children. This is your chance to peek inside your child’s world, meet their teacher, and ask questions. We can’t wait to see you here—come learn, laugh, and maybe even pick up a few bonus points with your kid’s teacher.

P.T.A. Needs You!

Appleton’s great reputation and student achievements are directly linked to the generous volunteers who give the gifts of time and effort. A great way to volunteer and serve our school community is to participate in PTA. Our first meeting of the school year is Thursday, August 21 at 4:10pm in the Appleton library. If you are a parent of a kindergartner or first grader your incentive to participate is that your child’s educational experience at Appleton will be directly and positively affected for 5-6 years to come. Our meetings last about one hour. Come dedicate a little time and find out what we are all about!

Check out our Facebook page, and Website for great info and interaction around all things Appleton!

Carnival Support - Silent Auction Donations Needed!

The Appleton Carnival will be September 12. This is one of Appleton’s traditional fun events that supports many programs within our school (like our Aquos Smart boards, reading and math intervention support, Artist in Residence, and building towards playground upgrades).

If you can support the silent auction it would be greatly appreciated. We are accepting items that you, a business, or organization you are associated with, are willing to donate. Free services, gift cards, and goods are all appreciated. More than 1,500 people will attend the carnival. Donating an item from your business is a great way to advertise. Send in donations or call Corey Hafey 254-6400 for more information.

Appleton Students Are Soaring!

Families,
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news—our Appleton students knocked it out of the park on last year’s state assessments! Across the board, our 3rd–5th grade students outperformed both the state and district (D51) averages in every subject.

Here’s a look at just how much higher Appleton scored compared to the state and district. These results speak volumes about the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the support from YOU—our families!

We are incredibly proud of our students’ growth and achievement. Appleton is a place where hard work, great teaching, and strong relationships make magic happen. Let’s keep this momentum going—2025–26 is already off to a great start!

City Market Fundraiser - Please Register Your Value Card

Simply by registering your City Market Value Card, our school can earn a percentage of all purchases you make. We have earned thousands of dollars for our PTA through this low effort moneymaker.

go to: https://www.citymarket.com/topic/city-market-community-rewards and click on “Enroll Now”
Create an account
Find “Appleton Elementary PTA” and click on “Enroll”

Odds & Ends
Students having school breakfast can be dropped off in the morning at 8:30am. All others can be dropped off at 8:35. First bell rings at 8:45 and the tardy bell at 8:50am.
Please write your child’s name inside their hoodies, jackets, and coats. At the end of the year we typically donate over 100 items to charity when we can’t find the owners.