AES Press

Dear AES Families,

Happy New Year! As we return from the holiday break, I want to take a moment to reflect on 2025 and look ahead to the exciting opportunities that await us in 2026. Throughout 2025, our students and staff demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a commitment to learning that makes me proud every single day. From academic achievements to acts of kindness in our hallways, we continue working as a true learning community. Our December Christmas concert was a beautiful celebration of our students' talents and hard work. The joy on their faces as they performed for you was a perfect reminder of why we do what we do.

We were welcomed back this week with a special assembly with resident actor Eric Peterson, who brought Broadway magic to our school with stories from his time playing Shrek on stage. His visit inspired our students to dream big and reminded them that with dedication and passion, anything is possible. K-5 will have the privilege of attending a Shrek play performance in February by the Central Wisconsin Educational Theater Alliance which will be funded by YES.

As we continue on into 2026, we're focused on continuing the momentum we've built together. This month, our students will participate in their Aimsweb and Fastbridge assessments. These valuable tools help our teachers gather important data about each student's progress in reading and math. Our dedicated staff will use this information to plan targeted instruction and interventions, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to reach their full potential. This assessment window is an essential part of our commitment to data-informed instruction and student-focused learning.

Our goals for growth in 2026 center on strengthening our academic foundations while nurturing the whole child. We'll continue to focus on reading proficiency, mathematical reasoning, and social-emotional learning. We're committed to creating an environment where every student feels valued, challenged, and supported in their individual learning journey.

As always, it is truly a gift to work alongside such supportive and engaged families. Your partnership in your child's education makes all the difference. Thank you for your trust, your collaboration, and your commitment to our school community.

Here's to a year filled with growth, discovery, and success!

Warmly,

Mrs. Redmann

The Superintendent Connection is designed to communicate important district updates, highlight key events, initiatives, and decisions that may impact our schools, students, staff, families, and the broader community.

On April 4, 2023, voters approved a four-year, non-recurring operational referendum. This approval enabled the District to strengthen and expand student programming, while continuing to provide activities, athletics, and fine arts opportunities for all students.

How has the School District of Athens utilized the funds from the April 2023 operating referendum over the past two years? Throughout January, we invite our community to follow along as we share weekly updates on social media and the school district website. Visit athens1.org and click on “Superintendent Connection.”

We encourage you to read, learn, and stay connected on the following dates as we highlight key areas strengthened by referendum funding:

January 8 – Retain high-quality staff
Discover how referendum support has helped us recruit, retain, and invest in exceptional educators who make a daily difference in our students’ lives.

January 15 – Maintain and expand educational opportunities
Learn how these funds are sustaining and growing academic programs that provide students with diverse, engaging, and future-ready learning experiences.

January 22 – Invest in and update essential technology
Find out how our technology upgrades are improving classroom learning, strengthening district operations, and preparing students for a digital world.

January 29 – Restore financial stability
Explore how referendum resources have helped stabilize the District’s financial footing, ensuring we can continue delivering high-quality education for years to come.

We hope you’ll join us each week to see how your support is making a lasting impact on the Athens school community.

AES students brought holiday magic to life through the Sound of Music. Students in Mr. Triebold's class practices very hard for their program and it showed.

Ms. Bricko's class has had a fun first half of the year enjoying a field trip to Rhinelander for the first Thanksgiving reenactment, Glow Day, and a classroom gift exchange to celebrate the holidays.

• 01/07 & 01/09 Bridging Brighter Smiles Dental Services
• 01/19 Board Meeting 5:00
• 01/21 Professional Learning No Students
• 01/23 PK Switch
• 01/30 Birthday Lunch January and July 1/2 Birthdays
• 02/03 & 02/05 Parent Teacher Conferences

President-Shannon Kuck

Vice President- Jessie Harrison

Treasurer-Melanie Parkes

Secretary- Emily Rossi

Upcoming Events:

• 01/31 YES Group will be working the Marawood Wrestling Conference concessions to raise money to support classroom needs, field trips, and additional special events. If you are able to volunteer some of your time on that day please sign up using the attached link.

For more information on upcoming events, and meeting updates follow YES on Facebook

Meetings are the 3rd Thursday of the Month from 6:00-7:30 in the AES library

Title 1 Resources

• Reading Rocket
• Florida Center for Reading

Parenting Resources

• Triple P Positive Parenting Program
• FREE UW-Madison Raising Wisconsin's Children Conference [Helping Children Thrive When Life Gets Tough]