Principal Newsletter // February 24th, 2026

Feb 23

Dear Appleton Community,

Art Night Desperately Needs Volunteers! Please sign up here.

We rescheduled this super fun family event for this Friday, February 27th 5-7PM and have created a NEW SIGN UP. If you are available to help, we would greatly appreciate you signing up. We couldn't do these events without helping hands and caring hearts like yours,

Thank you! Please sign up below to help.

PTA Has Opportunities

We are taking nominations for President and Vice President for the next two years of service. If you are interested, please email Corey Hafey at corey.hafey@d51schools.org . Our current President, Joe Kuta, is retiring to continue important committee work on the Business Partnerships. Our Vice President, Vanessa Bradley, has had many folks asking her to apply for the President position and she has thrown her hat in the ring.

Additionally, there is a committee position available to lead the Staff Appreciation Committee as Allison Horner has unavoidable conflicts .

We want to thank Joe and Allison as their service to our students and staff have been exemplary. Now it’s time for other folks to step up.

The President and VP positions will be voted on at our next meeting, March 26 at 4:10pm in the library.

City Market Fundraiser has already made $1,600 this year!

- 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”

The Theatre Project Entertains Appleton Students

Appleton students joined Alice in Wonderland last Friday as the The Theatre Project brought their interactive community theatre to our school. Dana Lyn Schmidt, Artistic Director for The Theatre Project, and her troupe created a fun live performance where several of our students were pulled from the audience and became part of the play while students in the audience created the sound effects. What a fun opportunity for our students!

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

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