Hawk's Tale Newsletter

September 4th - Hawk Pride Spirit Day

September 7th - NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY

September 12th - Jesse Pickett Family Safety Day @Grand Chute Fire Station

September 14th - Sports Team Spirit Day

September 15th - PTO K-1 Social 5:30-6:00pm (Playground)

September 15th - PTO Meeting 6:00pm

September 16th - PTO Family Night Out @ Red Robin

September 18th - All School Picnic 11:30-12:20

September 18th - Fox Cities Kids Fun Run @ Fox Cities Stadium

September 24th - Picture Day

September 25th - NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development

Miss a newsletter? Find them all here!

Visit Our Houdini Elementary School Website Here!

Dear Houdini Families,

What a joy it has been to have everyone back at Houdini! Just three days into the 2026–2027 school year, and we are already so impressed by our students and staff. Classrooms are coming alive as students build new communities, learn and practice expectations and procedures, reconnect with friends, and begin the joy of learning together.

The beginning of a school year is filled with so many new experiences, and we are grateful for the partnership of our families as we help our students settle into their routines. Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and support as we get this year off to a great start!

A few quick reminders:

💙 Goodbyes happen outside.

All morning goodbyes are said outside before students enter the building. If your child is having a tough morning or needs a little extra care getting started, please know that any Houdini staff member would be happy to help walk them to class. We want every student to feel safe, supported, and ready to begin their day.

🍎 Lunch from home or school is welcome.

Students may bring a lunch from home or order a hot lunch at school. However, we are not able to accept food deliveries for students, including deliveries from services such as DoorDash.

🚗 Thank you for helping us keep arrival and dismissal safe.

We appreciate families following the posted parking signs, using designated areas, and driving carefully around our school. Your attention to these expectations helps us keep all of our students, families, and staff safe.

🧺 Save the Date: School Community Picnic

We are excited to bring our Houdini community together for our School Community Picnic on Friday, September 18, from 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m. on the back playground! This will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy lunch together, meet new families, and reconnect with others in your child’s class.

Families are welcome to join us and bring their own lunch. Hot lunch will be available for Houdini students, and families are encouraged to bring a blanket or camping chair for the grassy picnic areas surrounding the playground. Following lunch, students will enjoy recess, and we ask families to help us supervise and keep everyone safe.

We are just getting started, and we cannot wait to see all that the 2026–2027 school year will bring! Thank you for being such an important part of our Houdini community. Here is to an incredible year of learning, caring, and inspiring!

With Hawk Pride,

Katie Hardesty
Principal, Houdini Elementary

At Houdini, we set annual goals to help us continue growing as a school community. This year, our goals focus on academic growth and growth mindset.

Reading Growth: We are working toward 100% of students meeting their individualized i-Ready Reading growth targets by the end of the school year. Additionally, students currently performing a year or more below grade-level proficiency will work toward achieving their stretch growth goal, or 150% of their expected growth.

Growth Mindset: By the end of the year, our goal is for 80% of students to demonstrate growth in Practice & Strategies and Perseverance. These skills help students build the confidence, curiosity, and resilience they need to approach challenges and keep learning.

These goals reflect our commitment to helping every student learn, grow, and thrive and to creating the conditions where all students can experience success at Houdini.

Appleton Area School District

Houdini Elementary School

We learn, we care, we inspire

Kathryn Hardesty, Principal

Jeff Sheptoski, Dean of Students

Dear Houdini Families,

We are excited to invite all Houdini families to our School Community Picnic on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on the back playground.

This is a wonderful opportunity to build our school community, meet new families, and reconnect with others in your child's class while enjoying lunch together.

To help make this event enjoyable and safe for everyone, please review the following information:

• Lunch: Hot lunch will be available only for Houdini students. Family members are welcome to bring their own lunch to enjoy during the picnic. If you plan to purchase lunch from a local restaurant, we encourage you to plan ahead and allow extra time, as many Houdini families may have the same idea and nearby restaurants could experience higher-than-usual demand during the lunch hour.

• Where to Eat: We will be eating in the grassy areas surrounding the playground. Please bring a blanket or camping chair for your family's comfort.

• Stay Together: We ask that families remain in the designated playground and picnic area during the event. If you would like to take your child to another area on or off school grounds, your child must be signed out through the school office before leaving.

• Recess Supervision: Following lunch, students will enjoy recess. We appreciate your partnership in helping supervise your child and the playground activities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

• Staff Availability: Classroom teachers and staff will be outdoors enjoying lunch and the picnic alongside students and families. While this is a wonderful opportunity to connect as a community, it is not the best setting for individual student conferences. If you would like to discuss how your child is adjusting to the school year or have specific questions, please reach out to your child's teacher by email or phone to schedule another time to connect.

• Campus Safety: To help maintain a safe school environment, please leave items that are prohibited on school grounds, such as vapes, lighters, and similar restricted items, at home or securely stored in your vehicle.

Events like this are successful because of the partnership between our school and families. Thank you for working with us to create a welcoming, safe, and fun experience for all of our students.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, September 18 and celebrating another great year together!

Warmly,

Katie Hardesty
Principal
Houdini Elementary School

The Houdini health room is in need of donations of underwear of all sizes for boys and girls, and pants of all sizes for boys and girls.

Donations can be dropped off in the office or sent to school with your student.

We appreciate your continued partnership in supporting our Houdini students!

Hello, Houdini families,

Please see the link below for Appleton West Terror gear, available to order until September 7th. Now is a great time to grab some great Terror apparel to support our West Cluster school just in time for homecoming spirit day on October 9th.

Click here to view the Appleton West Terrors apparel store!