Principal Newsletter // APRIL 1st, 2025

Mar 31

Dear Appleton Community…

Welcome back! I hope you had an opportunity to have some fun with your children over spring break. Only one quarter to go this school year! Are you ready? LET’S GO!

School Board Decision Looming

Dear Appleton Families,

No doubt you have all been anxiously waiting for the school board to make their final decision on the future of Appleton Elementary. I’m sure you all have been following the news, like me, and wondering what the final decision will be. Well, tonight’s the night at the school board meeting that the future of Appleton Elementary will be announced. Will Appleton be an all boys school going forward next year or will it be an all girls school? Months of deliberation, research and surveys have gone into this decision and I’m confident that the school board has the best interests of our students at heart. I of course am hoping it will be an all boys school as then I will be allowed to remain as principal since the school board has already declared that all staff have to mirror the all boys or all girls ruling.

While some may worry about losing our wonderfully balanced school community, rest assured that the staff is prepared to make the necessary adjustments. Parents, please stay tuned for tonight’s big reveal. It has been rumored that the school board will release some hidden helium filled balloons in either bright pink or blazing blue to designate the decision.

Happy April 1st,

Corey Hafey ;)

Principal

Art Night a Big Success

Our 9th annual Appleton Art Night was a big success! Thank you for attending in huge numbers. If you see Danielle Cox (Appleton Artist in Residence) or Vanessa Bradley (PTA Vice President), give them a big pat on the back for the hours and hours of volunteer work they put in. Their creative genius and amazing leadership made this year’s Art Night one to remember.

We also had many Appleton community volunteers who were a big help including: all the parents who volunteered, John Cox, Jared Johnson, April Fogarty, Joe Kuta, Kim Buczek, Chandler & Wendi Ingle, Meagan Frahm, and the volunteers from the River of Life Church. We also need to shout out to local student volunteers under the leadership of Tammie Widhammer with FMHS and her National Art Society students and the National Honor Society at FMHS. And of course our own Appleton staff stepped up with set up, support, and cleanup. You GUYS ROCK!

From the moment you walk into our school, we hope you can recognize that Appleton Elementary is supportive of making art an important piece of a well rounded education. Art education is important because it develops: creativity, school engagement, improved academic performance, motor skills, perseverance, and focus. If the attendance at our Art Night is any indication of how much our Appleton community values art education you might say the Art Night at Appleton was a masterpiece. Thank you to the hundreds of you who attended Art Night!

Art Contest Winners:

Kindergarten

1st - Rhett Rawlings

2nd - Kinzleigh Kesy

3rd - Sawyer Mays

1st Grade

1st - Cooper Stanley

2nd - Billy Berguin

3rd - Rhaya Stoller

2nd Grade

1st - Addie Davies

2nd - Wyatt Eccles

3rd - Landon Schmalz

3rd Grade

1st- Mele Logo

2nd - Adeline Osborne

3rd - Alice Wilkins

4th Grade

1st - Ruby Britt

2nd - Finley Olive

3rd - Rachel Medved

5th Grade

1st - Cadence Cranston

2nd - Parker Hrubes

3rd - Hanley Davenport

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 2025-2026 must be turned in to the office by Friday, April 25, 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.

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.

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”