Principal Newsletter // January 20th, 2026

Jan 20

Dear Appleton Community…

A Better Parking Lot

Over the years, I have taken many concerns about the traffic volume at Appleton. One thing I continue to share with folks is that for the most part, our arrival and dismissal processes last for 10-15 minutes at their peak. This hasn't changed over my 15 years at Appleton even though we’ve grown from about 340 students to 465. If we all are looking out for the welfare of our children and have patience in those 10-15 minutes, then everyone will get to and from school safely.

Here are some easy ways you can help with parking and H Road safety:

Slow down. Multiple times per year we’ve had vehicles pulled over by law enforcement on H Road. In the morning and in the afternoon. Security is making a concerted effort to slow people down.
Never drop students off in the driving lane. No matter how convenient this seems, you are endangering your child. Way too many close calls.
When dropping off in the morning, do not leave your car unattended against the curb. It’s ok to get out and give a quick hug and kiss but please do not leave your car to walk your child inside the building. The curb is a quick drop off and go section in the morning. If you need to walk your child inside, park in the lot spaces.
Never stop in the striped sections. Don’t wait in the striped section for a spot against the curb to open up. Pull forward and find an opening further down the lane or use a parking spot.
Don’t use the handicapped spaces unless you have a placard or license plate designation. This includes the striped areas next to them for wheelchair lifts. These spots may seem like they don’t get used much but I have had numerous times a person with a disabled designation has been unable to use a spot because an able bodied person took this convenience away from who it was intended.
Turn right out of the parking lot. Many of you have figured out the secret hack to getting out of the parking lot fast. Turning right even if you need to go left. Just 10 seconds west on H road and you can turn left down 23 ½ road and then left on the I-70 Frontage road. It is a faster alternative and doesn’t hold up traffic. Give it a try.
Stay out of the bus loop. Please don’t cut through the bus loop to avoid the H road line.

By following these ideas, you will help us continue to provide a safe and convenient drop off and dismissal process for our kids.

Safety is Taken Seriously at Appleton

Appleton Elementary takes part in over a dozen safety drills each year. These include: Fire/Evacuation Drills, Shelter in Place Drills, Lock Down Drills, and Reunification Drills. We have long been the safety standard bearer for the elementary schools in D51 and over the years a friendly competition has developed between schools for how high we can be scored/rated according to the Safety and Security officers that administer the Lock Down drills. Recently, Appleton received many accolades from the Safety and Security officers in attendance at a lockdown drill. Kudos to the students who follow their teacher’s directions during drills and to their teachers and staff members who take safety so seriously.

First Night of Mid Year Conferences Have High Attendance

The first night of mid year conferences are in the books and Appleton families are continuing our great tradition of high attendance at these important meetings. Appleton conferences are typically attended by at least 95% of families and this year seems to be no different. Thank you for supporting your child’s educational journey. Conferences resume on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22.

White Iced Tickets on Sale Now

The White Iced Celebration for the D51 Foundation is Saturday, Feb. 7 at the CMU Ballroom. Check out the link to this D51 Foundation sponsored event. GET TICKET HERE!

Prepare to Go Outside

Please bundle your children in layers and with proper hands, feet, and head gear. We do have a coat and hat closet for students, but please plan for a cold week. Typically, when the wind chill is 10 degrees or below, we have indoor recess. The school district leaves this decision up to each school’s individual principal and at times the temperature at one location in the valley is different from another’s. I have found that if kids are dressed appropriately, they will enjoy our Colorado winters. However, safety will continue to be our biggest concern.

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 $5,800 this year already!

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”