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Family Communication 8-16-24
Family Communication 8-16-24

Appleton Area School District families,

There are just a few weeks to go until the start of a new year! We hope this communication will help to prepare your student and your family for the new school year so that your first days and week are productive and exciting. Our entire staff is so excited to see our students on Tuesday, September 3!

In this message we’ll cover:

  • Family Engagement Survey results

  • A reminder to register your student

  • An overview of back-to-school information

  • The first AASD Unified Cheer & Dance Team camp and performance planned for this fall

  • Student meal information, including the continuation of free breakfast at elementary schools, which schools are in a program that provides free breakfast and lunch to all students, free and reduced applications, and pricing information

  • Transportation updates

  • Student health guidance

  • Reminders about school safety processes in the AASD

Important Upcoming Dates

  • Tuesday, September 3, 2024, is the first day of school for our neighborhood schools

  • Find this year’s calendar here.

Family Engagement Survey Results

This past spring a Family Engagement Survey was administered to all parents/caregivers with a student in the AASD. The purpose of the survey was to assess the level of satisfaction parents have with their student’s school. We’re proud to share that we received the highest family satisfaction rates since surveying began in 2019. 

The AASD is committed to creating a great place for students to learn, teachers to teach, staff to work, and for parents to send their students to receive a great education. To build on this commitment, District leadership gathers and analyzes data on essential goals and measures, including parent satisfaction. Results from this survey empower District leaders to identify gaps, take action, and follow through to ensure continuous improvement. 

Our most recent Family Engagement Survey shows that most families believe our schools are safe and respectful environments, our families are treated with respect, and student learning is a high priority. 

Below are some highlights of the survey.

  • 89% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their family is treated with respect at their school.

  • 86% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child’s learning is a high priority at their school.

  • 84% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the staff members at their school demonstrate a genuine concern for their child.

  • 83% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child's school maintains an environment that is safe, respectful, and conducive to learning.

Thank you to the nearly 2,600 families that responded! 

Back to School

Meet and Greet Events

Date and time information for Meet and Greet events can be found on each school website calendar and under Our School and then Annual Student Registration. We encourage you to attend your school’s Meet and Greet. This is a great way to meet school staff and familiarize yourself with the building and drop-off process. 

If your student will be walking to school, we encourage you to walk to the Meet and Greet to ensure your student knows the best way to safely get to and from school. Check out the City of Appleton’s recommended Safe Routes to School here.

Attendance

Good attendance is vital to the academic success of every student. Please make sure your student arrives at school on time every day. Click here for more attendance information.

First Annual AASD Unified Cheer and Dance Team Camp and Performance Planned for this Fall

The first annual AASD Unified Cheer and Dance Team Camp and Performance invites students in grades 6-12 enrolled in the Appleton Area School District who have been identified as having a disability to participate in this inclusive and exciting event. The camp will hold practices on Tuesday, October 15, Thursday, October 17, and Friday, October 18, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the Appleton East High School Commons. It’s important for participants to attend all three practices in order to be part of the halftime performance during the Appleton East vs. Kaukauna Varsity football game on Friday, October 18, which starts at 7:00 p.m. 

This is a free event where students will learn choreography and join the Appleton East Dance and Cheer team to be part of this exciting new tradition! Families are encouraged to learn more and sign up here. If you have questions, please reach out to Kara Riebau, Coordinator for Unified Champion Schools, via email.

Student Meals

All elementary schools will have free school breakfasts available during the 2024-2025 school year. This will continue to encourage our elementary students to fuel up with breakfast at no cost to our AASD families.

The AASD will also be continuing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) while participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program for the 2024-2025 school year. Appleton Bilingual School, Badger Elementary, Columbus Elementary, Dunlap Elementary, Edison Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Foster Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Horizons Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Johnston Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Richmond Elementary, Wilson Middle, and West High School students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge during the upcoming school year. Enrolled students of these schools can participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application. We continue to work to expand the CEP program within our District.

We encourage the annual submission of meal applications from households with a student participating in the CEP: however, receipt of free breakfast and lunch meals does not depend on returning it. If you think your family may qualify for Free or Reduced meals, or you aren’t sure, we encourage you to fill out the Free and Reduced meal application. Forms can also be completed online through the Parent Portal. When logging into the Portal, the Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application is available on the center panel under "Meal Benefits.” Only one application is needed per household. 

If you do not fill out a Free and Reduced form for this school year and you qualify, it may be impacting other benefits that can come along with a completed meal application. Families may apply or reapply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed or experiences financial hardship may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit. Have questions? Please call the Food Service office at (920) 852-5314, they are happy to help!

Meal prices for the 2024-25 school year have been updated. Pricing information and instructions on adding funds can be found here.

Transportation

The AASD will again provide transportation to and from school for qualifying students. If your student qualifies and wishes to accept transportation, please read the AASD’s Student Transportation Services and Policies, complete the transportation services agreement, and return the agreement to your student’s bus driver within the first two weeks after transportation services begin. Find more information here. 

If you have questions about bus eligibility, routes, times, or stop locations, please contact Lamers Bus Lines at (920) 832-8800, extension 2. Routing information will be available closer to the start of the school year through the Parent Portal. When logged into the Parent Portal, please click on the menu on the left side, then click More. Click on the Transportation tab and select the appropriate student on the right side if needed. The screen will refresh when you change students.

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

Student And School Safety

Weather events, fire, accidents, intruders, and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by students, teachers, staff, and administration. The AASD utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by the i love u guys Foundation, to respond to security incidents and emergencies. Standard Response Protocol offers clear, distinct, common language among first responders, students, and staff.


The SRP Parent Handout explains the five actions and the responsibilities of teachers and students. Each protocol has specific staff and student actions that are unique to the action ("Hold", "Secure," "Lockdown," "Evacuate," and "Shelter"). In the event of an emergency, the action and appropriate direction will be announced. Students and staff will be trained and the school will drill these actions over the course of the school year. Learn more here.