Appleton Area School District families,

As we move into the winter season, we have several important updates to help your family stay informed and plan ahead. Below, you’ll find reminders about upcoming no-school days and the newly approved 2026–27 school year calendar, along with an invitation to join us for a Community Conversation where we will review results from our recent potential referendum survey. 

We’re also sharing information about charter school applications and events, student health and wellness updates, school closure procedures, and support for students experiencing housing transitions. Additional highlights include our winter clothing drive, deadlines for college credit programs, and a variety of community opportunities to enrich student learning. 

We encourage you to explore these updates and take advantage of the many resources and programs available to our AASD students and families.

Important Upcoming Dates (Find our yearly calendar here.)

• Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, January 2, 2026: No school for AASD neighborhood schools. We’ll welcome our students back to school on Monday, January 5, 2026.
  • Charter schools and Appleton Central programs may follow their own calendars; please refer to your school or program calendar.
• January 10, 2026: “Only in the AASD” Charter School Fair

2026-27 School Year Calendar Approved

The calendar for the 2026-27 school year was recently approved by our Board of Education. Meeting all State requirements, the calendar ensures instructional minutes and a post-September 1st start date. The approved calendar allocates surplus minutes to accommodate the potential cancellation of two school days due to severe weather conditions and ends the academic year during the first week of June. View and download next year’s school calendar here.

Invitation to Community Conversation on Potential Referendum Survey Results

The AASD will be hosting a Community Conversation to review the recent potential referendum survey results with our families and community members. This session will include a presentation of the survey findings, followed by a question-and-answer opportunity with district leaders.

The Community Conversation will take place on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 7:00–8:00 p.m. at the AASD Welcome Center, 2701 N. Oneida St., Suite C1, Appleton. Free parking is available in front of the Welcome Center.

We encourage families and community members to attend to learn more and ask questions. In January, the Board of Education will determine whether to move forward with an operational referendum.

Thank you for sharing your feedback through the survey. We received more than 7,000 responses, and your input plays a critical role in our decision-making as we work to ensure our resources continue to support student success.

AASD Arts League: Winter Session Sign Up Now Open

The Appleton Area School District Arts League is an after-school program offering inclusive, non-competitive arts experiences for students in grades 6–12 who have disabilities. Eligibility includes students with disabilities who benefit from adapted programming to safely and meaningfully engage in the arts.

The upcoming winter session will focus on theater and theater arts, beginning January 7, 2026, with support from skilled arts teachers, peer helpers, and Special Education staff. For more information or to complete the student interest form for the Arts League Winter Session, please click here. Families will be contacted in the coming weeks with additional details.

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? 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. Families can also listen to any local radio station or watch many local television stations for information about school closings.

We will stagger notifications to ensure timeliness while minimizing early-morning disruptions.

• Website and social media posting will be completed as soon as possible
• Email notification as early as possible, starting no earlier than 5:00 a.m.
• Text notification as early as possible, starting no earlier than 5:30 a.m.
• Phone calls at 5:45 a.m., to allow enough time for 10,000+ calls to be completed by shortly after 6:00 a.m.

A note about robocalls: We serve nearly 15,000 students, and our call-out system cannot call all of our families at the same time. It may take a few minutes to reach your family after the notification is sent. For that reason, we also post to our website and social media accounts as soon as we know the District will delay or close for the day.

Snow Day Partner Programs

When severe weather strikes and our schools are closed, our partners at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley and YMCA can help! Both programs offer care options for families on these days. From structured activities to nutritious meals, they provide a safe and nurturing environment for students when schools are closed due to severe weather or other unexpected situations. Explore the Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley and YMCA’s range of services designed to support families and students during school closures here.

Charter School Application Window Now Open

Our charter school application window is now open for the 2026-27 school year. Our 15 free, public charter schools offer unique, innovative programming such as environmental education, online learning, project-based learning, 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. 

“Only in the AASD” Charter School Fair on January 10, 2026

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. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, 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.

Discover Your Future at AASD High School Explore Night

Will your student be attending Appleton East High School, Appleton North High School, or Appleton West High School next year? Discover their course offerings and extracurricular opportunities, tour the school, and meet staff at each school's Explore Night held on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. 

Health Guidance for Going to School

We know it is not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. We also know that showing up every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement, and learning. We encourage our families to send their students to school if they are generally healthy and are participating in usual day-to-day activities. Learn more about whether your child is well enough to attend school here.

Health Office Visit Notifications

Beginning in the next month, parents/guardians will start receiving communication through Infinite Campus if their student visits their school’s Health Office or receives any as-needed medication during the school day. These messages are intended to keep you informed about your student’s health and wellness while at school. 

We encourage you to talk with your student about any Health Office visits they have, so you can stay connected about how they’re feeling and any support they may need. If you have any questions about a notification or your student’s health needs, please contact your school directly. Thank you for partnering with us to support your students’ well-being!

Support for Students Experiencing Housing Transitions

Under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, AASD has support available to students and their families when they are experiencing housing instability. Our McKinney-Vento Liaison, Molly McGregor, is available to help ensure students experiencing housing instability have the education services they need and a connection to community resources. Learn more here.

Winter Clothing Drive for AASD Students

We are collecting new winter items to support our students in need through January 30, 2026, with donations accepted on school days between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Welcome Center, Family and Community Engagement Office, (2701 N. Oneida Street, Appleton). 

Items needed include gloves, boots, warm hats, coats, jackets, and snow pants. To ensure the health and safety of our students, we can only accept new items. Please donate waterproof and warm items only, as these help keep our students the most comfortable and protected during the winter months. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Bargholtz. Thank you for your generosity and support! Learn more.

Start College Now/Early College Credit/Request for High School Credit Program Deadlines

AASD offers three programs for eligible high school students wanting to enroll in courses through two- or four-year participating colleges or universities in Wisconsin. 

The deadline to enroll in a spring semester course is October 1 of each academic school year. The deadline to enroll in a fall semester course is March 1 of each academic school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to your School Counselor. The requirements are included below:

Start College Now: Available to 11th- and 12th-grade students enrolled in Wisconsin Technical Colleges, this program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of eligibility determination. Summer courses are not eligible, and students may not participate in both the Start College Now Program and the Early College Credit Program at the same time.

Early College Credit Program: Available to students in grades 9–12, this program allows enrollment in University of Wisconsin System institutions, tribally controlled colleges, and private nonprofit colleges (excluding Wisconsin Technical Colleges) and requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of eligibility determination. Summer courses are eligible, but students may not participate in both the Start College Now Program and the Early College Credit Program at the same time.

Request for High School Credit: Learning takes place outside the school day, on the student’s own time and at their own expense. AASD will review the opportunity and decide if high school credit will be awarded, and in what amount.

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 Math

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.

New Wisconsin Law on Student Cell Phone Use

You may have seen that a new Wisconsin law was signed earlier this month that requires all school districts to have a policy in place by July 1, 2026, that limits student use of personal electronic devices—such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices—during instructional time. 

The AASD already has clear expectations in place regarding student use of personal electronic communication devices at both the middle and high school levels. These existing guidelines closely align with the intent of Wisconsin’s newly signed legislation, which seeks to limit distractions and support focused, engaging learning environments during instructional time.

Over the coming months, the AASD will review the new law in detail and work to integrate its requirements into our existing District policy. The law allows certain exceptions, including emergencies, health needs, individualized education plans (IEPs or 504 plans), or when a teacher permits use for educational purposes. This process will ensure continued consistency with state expectations while maintaining our commitment to creating safe, supportive, and distraction-free classrooms.

Reminder: Free Student Rides via Valley Transit Now Require WisGO

We want to share an important update about student transportation with Valley Transit. Beginning this school year, Valley Transit is transitioning to a new fare collection system. While AASD middle and high school students will continue to ride Valley Transit buses for free, student ID cards will no longer be accepted as fare. To ride for free, students must now use either the WisGO card or the WisGO mobile app. Students will choose one method only—either the card or the app—not both. Learn more about getting started here.

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 anytime for a current list of opportunities.