Hawk's Tale Newsletter

August 23rd - Houdini Online Apparel Store Closes

August 27th - Meet & Greet 4:00-5:30

September 1st - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

September 7th - NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY

September 15th - PTO Meeting 6:00pm

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!

Dear Houdini Families,

As we begin the new school year, we want to remind everyone of our arrival and dismissal procedures to help keep all students, families, and staff safe. Parking and traffic flow continue to be a challenge at Houdini, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation.

All school parking lots and the circle drive are closed from 8:10–8:30 a.m. and again from 3:10–3:30 p.m. Barricades will only be moved for buses, cabs, and students with individualized drop-off/pick-up plans arranged through the school office. For the safety of all students, students may not be dropped off or picked up in any school parking lots.

Please follow all Loading Zone and No Parking signs around our school. Loading Zones are intended for quick student drop-off and pick-up only when students are able to independently enter or exit the vehicle. Please do not park, leave your vehicle, or wait in these areas.

We also want to recognize our Houdini Safety Patrol members. These students volunteer their time to help make arrival and dismissal safer for everyone. They are still students who are learning and growing, and they are doing their very best to support our school community. We ask all adults to please be patient, respectful, and kind when interacting with them.

Thank you for helping us create a safe and organized arrival and dismissal process for all Houdini Hawks. Please review the map below for available parking and traffic flow information.

We appreciate your partnership and support!

Katie Hardesty

Principal

Houdini Elementary School

Josh Bohlen

School Resource Officer

Grand Chute Police Department

In compliance with Wisconsin State Law, the Appleton Area School District has adopted a policy for the administration of medications. For school personnel to administer medication safely and efficiently, parents/guardians must comply with district policy.

Medications should be administered at home whenever possible. Parents/guardians are urged to consult with the prescribing practitioner to determine if medications can be scheduled outside of school hours. In the event that this is not possible, designated district staff will administer medication according to district policy (453.4)

Medication forms may be obtained by following the link below. Forms are available in the school office during the school year.

Click here to access the AASD Medication Consent Forms

Parents/guardians are encouraged to drop off medication and the completed medication form at our Meet & Greet event on Thursday, August 27th in the main office, prior to the first day of school.

Questions? Please contact our school nurse at hietpasjessaly@aasd.k12.wi.us or via the Talking Points messaging system.

To support a focused learning environment and follow Appleton Area School District Policy 443.5, students are not permitted to use cellular phones, electronic paging devices, two-way communication devices, or gaming devices during the school day (8:10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.).

If your child brings a personal electronic device to school, it must remain turned off and stored away during the school day unless a teacher has provided specific permission for a classroom activity. Smart watches and other communication devices should also be used only for their intended classroom-approved purposes during the school day.

If a student uses an electronic device in violation of this policy, the device may be confiscated and turned into the school office. The following steps may be taken based on the situation:

• The device is turned into the office for the day, and the student may pick it up at dismissal.

• The device is turned into the office for the day, and a parent/guardian must pick it up.

• The student checks in the device at the beginning of each school day and picks it up at dismissal for the remainder of the school year, or the student may choose to leave the device at home.

We appreciate families partnering with us by reminding students of these expectations. Limiting access to personal electronic devices during the school day helps reduce distractions, supports student engagement, and allows students to fully participate in learning.

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

View the 2026-2027 Houdini Elementary school supply list here!

Please help your child to be prepared for the school year by collecting the required supplies and sending them with your child to our Meet & Greet event or on the first day of school.

If you have any questions, please call the Houdini School office at 920-852-5490.

Annual Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now OPEN!

Please complete your child's registration through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal by selecting More > Online Registration. New to AASD or returning after another district/homeschool? Register through the AASD website.

Help us spread the word to new families in our community!

Questions? Contact the Houdini office at 920-852-5490. Thank you for registering early!

Meal Prices for 2026-2027

Elementary Breakfast - FREE for all students

Elementary Lunch - $3.10 per meal

How do I pay for meals for my student(s)?

• Send a check with your student to school or in the mail, payable to "AASD". Please include your student's PIN and/or full name in the memo line.
• Send cash with your student, or deliver to the school office, in a sealed envelope, labeled with their PIN and/or full name.
• Online through the Infinite Campus Portal with a credit card. (There is a $0.50 fee using an e-check or a 3.75% fee per credit card transaction)

Helpful Forms

Access free & reduced forms and special dietary needs forms here. Families only need to submit one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals application per household, even if children attend different schools within the Appleton Area School District. Paper forms are available at the Houdini School office.

Online applications for the 2026-2027 school year are available now through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Families may apply or reapply at any time during the school year. If your household income changes due to circumstances such as unemployment or financial hardship, your children may become eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

You may also complete a paper Meal Benefits Application and submit it using any of the following methods:

• Return the completed application to your student's school office.
• Email a PDF of the completed application to foodservice@aasd.k12.wi.us
• Drop off the application in person at the Appleton Area School District Food Service Office
• Mail the application to:

Appleton Area School District

Attn: Food Service Office

531 N. Morrison St.

Appleton, WI. 54911

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to remind families of our supervision expectations before and after the school day. Student safety is our highest priority, and we appreciate your partnership in ensuring students are supervised at all times while on school grounds.

Before School Supervision
Morning supervision begins at 8:10 a.m. Students should not arrive at school before this time unless they are enrolled in a supervised before-school care program. Houdini staff members have professional responsibilities and commitments before the start of the school day and are not available to supervise students before 8:10 a.m.

School doors open at 8:15 a.m. Students should report directly to their classrooms and be seated by the 8:27 a.m. bell. Students may not be in the building before doors open unless they have a pass or are participating in a supervised activity.

If your family needs care before 8:10 a.m., please consider enrolling your child in the Appleton YMCA School Age Program, which provides before- and after-school care in the Houdini gym.

After School Supervision
After-school supervision ends at 3:30 p.m. Students who remain on campus after this time will be brought to the school office, and staff will contact families to arrange pickup. To ensure student safety and appropriate supervision, families who need care beyond 3:30 p.m. should make arrangements through an approved childcare program.

Extended Day Learning – Appleton YMCA
The Appleton YMCA provides before- and after-school care for Houdini students of all grade levels. Care is available on school days from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. (when school is canceled, YMCA care is also canceled). For availability and enrollment information, please contact the YMCA School Age Program at 954-7614.

After-School Care – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley provides after-school care from 3:00–7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with special hours available on non-school days. Students are supervised at the Houdini foyer and transported to the Badger Avenue site. For more information, please contact the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley at 731-0555.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for all Houdini Hawks. We appreciate your planning and partnership!

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!

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!