Principal Newsletter // October 13th, 2026

Oct 13

Dear Appleton Families,

A Peek Behind the Scenes at Appleton

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at Appleton? While we take teaching and learning seriously, we also believe that enjoying the people you work with matters. Our staff loves a good laugh, whether it's sharing funny AI-generated pictures of one another, exchanging good-natured ribbing that comes from years of friendship and trust, or celebrating life's milestones together. With many staff members who have worked alongside one another for years, we've built a culture where laughter, encouragement, and genuine care are part of each day.

That positive culture carries directly into our work with students. Every staff meeting begins with celebrations, and the stories are almost always about children—students who have made remarkable academic growth, gained confidence, shown perseverance, or demonstrated kindness. Our conversations focus on what students can do and how we can help them grow even more. Right now, our Kindness in the Classroom lessons are centered on what it means to be a Caring Bookworm, and you'll see those conversations happening throughout the building. At Appleton, we believe that when adults genuinely enjoy working together and consistently look for the good in one another, students experience a school where they feel they belong, are encouraged to grow, and are celebrated for becoming the very best version of themselves.

Conference Time is Here!

A huge thank you to the many families who are joining us for Parent-Teacher Conferences today! Your partnership makes a tremendous difference, and we appreciate the time you invest in your child's learning. Conferences continue on October 22, and we look forward to connecting with even more of our Bookworm families.

One of Appleton's greatest traditions is the incredible support of our community. Year after year, more than 95% of our families participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences—a reflection of our shared belief that students thrive when home and school work together. Thank you for helping make Appleton such a special place. Who Belongs? We Belong! If you are unsure of your scheduled time, please confirm with your child’s teacher.

Halloween at Appleton

I know it is a little early but to help in your Halloween costume planning, here are the protocols for our Halloween celebration:

Parade - We will have a costume parade out on the north playground,weather permitting at 10:00 am on Friday, Oct. 30. In case of poor weather the parade will be canceled and will not be held in the hallways.
No weapons or facsimiles of weapons. This includes: all martial arts weapons, bullets, bullet casings, all guns, all bladed props (swords, knives, scythe, tridents, etc.), bows and arrows.
Parents/Guardians - Parents are allowed to participate in person at the parties and the parade. Parents will be asked to sign into the parade (a sign-up table will be set up on the north playground and for parties).

Thanks for reading!

~ Corey Hafey

Principal, Appleton Elementary

“Expect Excellence!”