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Appleton Area School District
Family Communication 11-15-24

Appleton Area School District families,

Included in this family message is

  • information about the charter school application window for the 2025-26 school year and the upcoming Charter School Fair, 
  • an invitation to a listening session on Sandy Slope attendance boundaries, 
  • referendum project updates, 
  • helpful health guidance,
  • attendance reminders, 
  • a summary of the weather-related school closure process, 
  • an opportunity to provide feedback on instructional materials, 
  • and Community Opportunities for Students.

Important Upcoming Dates

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

AASD Charter School Application Window Opens December 2, 2024

Our charter school application window will open on Monday, December 2, 2024, for the 2025-2026 school year. AASD charter schools are free, public schools that offer unique, innovative programming such as environmental education, online learning, project-based, engineering, manufacturing, fine arts, bilingual learning, and Montessori education. Our application is a lottery process so there is no need to rush; take your time learning about all of our offerings. Learn more about our application timeline and what is needed to apply here.

Only in the AASD Charter School Fair to be Held on January 11, 2025

We will be hosting the Only in the AASD Charter School Fair this January! Learn more about the innovative and unique learning opportunities found only in the AASD. Join us from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in the Appleton West Emmanuel Gym (610 N. Badger Ave). The event is free and open to the public. Interpreters will be available for families whose home language is Spanish or Hmong.

Listening Session on November 21, 2024, for Development of Sandy Slope School Attendance Boundaries

Next fall we will open Sandy Slope Elementary School, the district’s 17th neighborhood elementary school. Sandy Slope will be located on the northeast side of Appleton, near Appleton North High School. To prepare for this, Superintendent Greg Hartjes and Assistant Superintendent Ebony Grice are gathering community input on established criteria that will be used by the Board of Education in setting attendance boundaries for Sandy Slope Elementary School. These new boundaries will determine student enrollment at Sandy Slope and ensure the efficient use of resources. The goal is to balance enrollment, staffing, and student support across all AASD schools. 

This session is open to all interested families and community members. Superintendent Hartjes will provide an overview of the proposed attendance boundaries and answer questions. Find more information here.

Event Details:

  • Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Ferber Elementary Library Media Center
  • Parking is available in the school parking lot, on Capitol Drive in front of the building, or on North Windward Lane and Northbreeze Drive. Please enter through the main entrance.

Referendum Projects Update

Projects currently under construction are Sandy Slope Elementary School, additions to East High School, North High School, and Classical School, and the construction of an indoor facility at West High School. The final projects funded by the referendum are STEM room renovations at each of our elementary schools which are currently in the design phase. Follow along with our progress here.

Is Your Child Well Enough to Go to School?

It is not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. Children who come to school are expected, with few exceptions, to participate fully in school activities. Here are some guidelines that might help a parent/guardian decide if a student should stay home from school or not. 

We monitor illness rates within our schools and community with the collaboration of the City of Appleton Health Department, and we will continue to do so. If rates increase, our site teams, Student Services team, and Facilities team communicate and increase cleaning efforts and family communication as preventive measures. Families can help us with these preventive measures by following the guidelines linked above.

If your child has a medical concern in school, we will need to be able to reach you. Please make sure to notify your school’s office of any phone number changes as they occur.

Thank you for Embracing the Every Day

As we prepare to take time off from school (November 27 through 29) for Thanksgiving Break, we want to express our gratitude to our families and staff who continue to encourage and support routines related to school attendance.  Daily routines are essential for reducing stress and creating a sense of security for students and adults.

As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class on time when school is in session. We recommend that families schedule vacation times during school breaks whenever possible. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn and connect with peers and their teachers. Please see the linked Health Guidance for Going to School.

We thank: 

•    Our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy. 

•    Our teachers who go above and beyond to help make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.

•    Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.

•    Our many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our students need. 

We appreciate each one of you. May these days off be restful and relaxing. We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on December 2nd. Thank you for partnering with us!

School Closure Information

When the weather is bad, we follow a process for deciding if schools will be open or closed. The district must make a decision that is best for all students. We encourage and strongly support you in making the decision that is best for your child(ren). You are always the best judge of your child’s health and safety. If you do decide to keep your child(ren) home on a day when school is in session, please be sure to contact their school to report the absence.

How can I find out if schools are closed or delayed? Families will be notified via Infinite Campus alerts with robocalls, emails, text messages, or a combination to reach all families in case of school start delays or closures. Please ensure that your Infinite Campus contact preferences are up to date. On days when the weather is questionable, families can always check the District website or their school's website for an alert. The District’s social media will also be updated. Families can also listen to any local radio station or watch many local television stations for information about school closings.

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. The selection of educational materials is delegated to the professionally trained and certified personnel employed by the school system. The responsibility for coordinating and maintaining qualitative standards in the selection process rests with the Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction (ACI) department.

We are currently soliciting feedback on the instructional materials for several courses:

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. 

Miss a Family Communication? Find them all here.

 

First page of the PDF file: FamilyCommunication11-15-24-Spanish
First page of the PDF file: CopyofFamilyCommunication11-15-24HMONG