Appleton Area School District families,

In this update, you’ll find important announcements and ways to get involved in our schools.

• Boosting High School Student Attendance – Learn why the AASD is asking the City of Appleton to help improve attendance and support student success at the high school level.
• Support AP Students – Help ensure a smooth testing experience for our Advanced Placement (AP) students by signing up as a volunteer. With nearly 20 time slots available, your support can make a big difference.
• Summer Learning Opportunities – Mark your calendar! Summer school registration opens soon, and Appleton eSchool’s online summer courses are now available for high school students.
• Recognizing Our Amazing Staff – Nominations are open for the Mielke Educator of the Year, the new Mielke Support Staff of the Year, and the Helen & Ade Dillon Award. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the outstanding AASD staff who make a difference every day!
• Community Involvement – The Board of Education is seeking feedback on secondary STEM instructional materials, we have a new system for managing District meetings, and families have received the Annual Family Engagement Survey—your input matters!
• Health and Wellness – Learn more about talking to your student during Alcohol Awareness Month and stay informed about measles prevention, especially with increased travel and gatherings in the area.
• Spring Attendance Matters! – As the school year winds down, keeping a strong attendance routine is more important than ever. Get tips to help your student finish the year strong.
• Community Opportunities for Students – Discover community events, sports, arts programs, and enrichment activities available for students.

Plus, if you or someone you know is looking for a flexible way to support AASD students, Lamers Bus Lines is hiring bus drivers for sports teams and co-curricular events! Additionally, we’ve included a few ongoing topics from our last message: 2025-26 Appleton Community 4K online enrollment, SUSO information, and Ballard Road Interchange project details.

Important Upcoming Dates (Find our yearly calendar here.)

• Friday, April 18, 2025: No School

Charter schools and Appleton Central programs may follow their own calendars, please refer to your school or program calendar.

AASD Seeks Partnership with City of Appleton to Improve Attendance

State law requires children to be enrolled and consistently attending school until the age of 18. However, the law is not enforced by the State. So, it must be enforced through an ordinance by the city, town, or village where a student is enrolled in school. In 2019, the City of Appleton repealed its ordinance due to pressure from residents who felt it was overly punitive. Since that time, much has changed in the AASD in terms of how we support students who struggle with consistent attendance. Unfortunately, our support does not lead to success for all students. Last year, we had almost 300 high school students who missed 50 or more days of school.  

Missing 50 or more days of school in one year often leads to a lack of learning and growth, class failures, and ultimately, a student not graduating. It is these students for whom we are asking the City’s help through the reinstatement of the truancy ordinance. 

Appleton is one of the few municipalities in the state, and the only one in northeast Wisconsin, that does not have an ordinance to support student attendance.  Find our frequently asked questions here and learn more about how the AASD supports student attendance.  

Volunteers Needed for May AP Exams

Volunteers are essential to helping administer Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Nearly 20 slots are available on weekdays in May between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tasks include supervising the exam room, distributing materials, and assisting students with basic needs. A lead proctor will be present, and your support is greatly appreciated. Parents may not volunteer for exams their child is taking. To sign up, please click here. Please note the location you sign up for; a few of the tests are at split locations, with a test running simultaneously at two locations. Thank you for supporting our students!

Lamers Seeking Bus Drivers for Co-Curriculars

Lamers Bus Lines is seeking enthusiastic individuals interested in becoming bus drivers for AASD sports teams and other co-curricular events. Being a bus driver for these activities is an essential role that ensures our students have safe and reliable transportation. Learn more about this opportunity here.

District Meeting Management Update

We recently transitioned to a new system for managing District meetings. The new system provides a streamlined experience to view meeting livestreams, access upcoming agendas, and review meeting minutes. Learn more here.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month: How WI Prevents Underage Drinking  

Small talks about underage drinking can make a big difference in a kid's choices. That's because kids really do listen. Research shows that having frequent, casual conversations about alcohol, starting around age 8, can be a lot more effective and a lot less intimidating than one super serious discussion. So, start talking. Keep listening. Help give your child the confidence to grow up alcohol-free. Get tips from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services here.

Reminder: Annual Family Engagement Survey

All families should have received an email on Monday, April 7, including a link to this year’s annual Family Engagement Survey. The survey will close on Monday, April 21, 2025. Your input is valuable; please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Last year, we received over 2,500 responses. Your feedback will be used to celebrate our successes and to create action plans for improvement. Thank you for your support of your student’s education with us.

Nominate AASD Staff

Since 1983, the Mielke Educator of the Year Awards, funded by the Mielke Family Foundation, have celebrated exceptional elementary (EC-5) and secondary (6-12) educators within the AASD community. This year, we’re excited to introduce a new category: Mielke Support Staff of the Year, recognizing the invaluable contributions of EC-12 administrative assistants, Administrative Support Unit, custodial & maintenance staff, paraprofessionals, and substitutes!

Additionally, the Helen & Ade Dillon Award continues to celebrate staff who encourage a well-rounded life for students, fostering academics, fitness, and citizenship.

Award winners will receive a $1,000 cash award and a plaque, presented at the AASD All Staff Gathering in Fall 2025! Staff, parents, students, and community members are encouraged to submit nominations. The deadline is June 16, 2025. Nominate an AASD staff member today! More info, including nomination forms and past winner lists, can be found here.

Reminder: Summer School Registration Opens Monday, April 14

Summer School course registration opens Monday, April 14 at 9:00 a.m. for elementary and middle school. High School students should contact their counselor. Parents/guardians will register for summer school courses via the Infinite Campus Portal. 

As a reminder, your student can take up to 3 courses at the summer school site they are enrolled at. Parents/guardians should choose up to 1 course per time period. If the course is listed as an option to select, the capacity limit has not yet been reached. Please note, due to the popularity and seat capacity in some classes, they will fill up quickly. Find more information, including registration instructions and class options, here.

If you do not wish to use the online registration process, please complete and return the registration page of the summer flier to the school your child wishes to attend for summer school. You can find the fliers here.

eSchool Summer Interim Course Registration Now Open

If your high school student (this includes students who will have completed 8th grade) is thinking about enrolling in online course(s) during the 2025 summer interim through Appleton eSchool, here are some key points to consider:

• The complimentary summer interim session spans six weeks, running from June 9 to July 21, 2025, where students complete a full semester online course with an accelerated pacing schedule.  
• The course selection is extensive and encompasses both core and elective subjects. Summer Interim Appleton eSchool courses are open to incoming 9th to 12th-grade students. Students are typically permitted to enroll in one 0.5 credit course during the interim, although qualifying students may take up to two 0.5 credit courses during this time. Eligibility for multiple courses is contingent upon prior successful online performance with eSchool and no history of failing grades (e.g., F, WF, etc.).
• eSchool courses are designed to be primarily asynchronous, allowing students flexibility to work when it fits into their summer schedule within the timeframe of the summer interim dates. Assignment due dates are scheduled throughout the courses to assist students in completing their course by the end of the 6-week interim (and stay on pace). Many courses have periodic check-ins with the teacher, which may need to be scheduled during daytime working hours.
• Registration is now open, and details are available on the eSchool website.

Don't Let the Spring Attendance Slump Happen to Your Student

As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, it’s tempting to ease up on school routines. Spring fever sets in, and students (and sometimes parents) may start to feel less motivated to maintain strong school attendance. However, consistent attendance remains just as important in the final months of the school year as it is at the beginning.

Why Attendance Still Matters in Spring

1. Academic Progress: Learning is a continuous process, and missing school—even just a day or two—can disrupt a student’s understanding of key concepts. Spring is often a time when teachers introduce critical new material and prepare students for end-of-year assessments.

2. Engagement and Participation: Many classrooms shift to more hands-on, project-based learning in the spring. When students miss school, they lose opportunities to collaborate with peers, engage in special projects, and participate in field trips or other unique experiences.
3. Establishing Good Habits: Regular attendance fosters responsibility, time management, and a strong work ethic—skills that will serve students well beyond their school years.

How to Keep Attendance Strong

• Stick to a Routine: Maintaining bedtime and morning routines can help ensure students wake up on time and are ready to learn.

• Plan Trips Wisely: If possible, schedule family vacations and appointments outside of school hours or during scheduled breaks.
• Communicate with the School: If your child needs to miss school for any reason, stay in touch with teachers to ensure they stay on track with assignments.
• Encourage a Positive Attitude: Remind your student of the importance of finishing the school year strong and celebrate their commitment to good attendance.

With just a few months left in the school year, every school day counts! Let’s work together to ensure that students remain engaged, present, and ready for success through the final bell in June.

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy

With the upcoming NFL Draft being held nearby, people will be traveling in and out of the area as well as gathering in groups. At this time, across the United States, we are seeing rising numbers of people contracting measles. Whether you are remaining local or traveling, we encourage you to learn more about what to look for here, along with reviewing the information below. Together, our community can strive to prevent a local outbreak.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has advised schools that “unvaccinated individuals who have come in contact with a person who has measles may need to stay home for up to 21 days.” As of this publication, Wisconsin has zero reported measles cases and, with awareness, we can work to maintain this.
Measles English /  Measles Hmong  / Measles Spanish  / Measles Somali

Feedback Requested on Instructional Materials

The Board of Education, as the governing body of the District, is legally responsible for all educational materials utilized within the instructional program of the AASD. We are currently soliciting feedback on the instructional materials for:

• Secondary STEM

As part of the adoption process, AASD staff members, students, parents, and residents are provided with the opportunity to examine and contribute feedback on the recommended instructional materials. The feedback collected will be considered by the committee to determine the final list of instructional materials recommended to the AASD Board of Education. Learn more about Materials Review in the AASD.

Community Opportunities for Students

Each month, the AASD shares local community opportunities for students. These community opportunities for students include upcoming events and activities such as art and music camps, youth athletics, cultural events, enriching programs, and more. We encourage our families to review these opportunities for students of all ages. Check out this page at any time for a current list of opportunities. 

Ongoing Topic Quick Links

• 2025-2026 Appleton Community 4K Enrollment Now Open
• Have You Heard About SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO)?
• I-41 Interstate Improvement Project Impacting AASD Northside Schools

Miss a Family Communication? Find them all here.