Foster Falcon Newsletter

What a great start to the school year!

This week we started our leadership learning with paradigms. A paradigm is just the way we see something, like a pair of glasses we look through.

Here is what that looks like for a child. One student thinks, “I’m bad at reading.” Another thinks, “I’m still learning to read.” Those two students will act very differently, even if they read exactly the same. The words we use about ourselves matter that much.

We start the year here because everything else we teach sits on top of it.

Leading at Home: Listen for how your child talks about themselves this week. If you hear “I’m not good at math,” you can say, “You’re not good at it yet.” Changing the words can change how a child sees themselves.

Enjoy your long weekend,

Mrs. Van Fossen

When you see a red dot posted at our entrance doors, it means we are using our indoor morning arrival:

• Bring your child to the front doors
• Students will go directly to the gym and sit with their class instead of going to their usual outdoor line-up spot

As we prepare for a new school year, please remember that per AASD Board Policy 443.5, elementary students follow a bell-to-bell expectation: personal devices may not be used from the start of the school day until the end, including lunch, and must remain turned off and stored in a backpack. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and other wearable technology. To reach your child during the school day, call the office at (920) 852-5470.

SOCKTOBER is a 3rd grade lead fundraiser. Last year they donated one of their highest amounts yet...was it 300? 400? 500? Do you think we can beat it this year?

Start collecting now when the deals from back-to-school are still running!

We are so excited to share that Foster is partnering with the Building for Kids Children's Museum to open Curiosity Classroom, a permanent space in our building where kids get to explore, play, and create. It's the kind of hands-on learning the museum is known for, and it's becoming part of the regular school day.

As a leadership school, this is a perfect fit. In the Curiosity Classroom, students are in charge — they choose what to build, decide what to try next, and figure out what to do when something doesn't work the first time. That's leading your own learning, in the most hands-on way there is. Every class, kindergarten through fifth grade, will have regular time in the space each week, and every student will help care for a room that belongs to all of us.

We're only the second school outside of Chicago to open one. Our staff have spent the summer planning how our students will use the space, and Building for Kids is designing the room, ordering and installing the materials, and training our teachers.

None of this would be possible without two community funders who believed in the idea. Foster was awarded a Big Idea Grant from the Appleton Education Foundation and generous donation from SECURA Insurance, both for this project, and we are grateful to them!

The room opens later this fall, and we can't wait to invite you in for a ribbon cutting once it's ready.

Sep 7...................... No School (Labor Day)

Sep 7...................... Kindergarten Teachers Assigned in Infinite Campus

Sep 8...................... Foster Family Network 5pm / Charter Board Meeting 6pm

Sep 9...................... Picture Day

Sep 11.................... No BGC Friday

Sep 15.................... Staff Meeting (Office Closes at 3:30pm)

Sep 16.................... Family Night at Pizza Ranch

Sep 24.................... Freddy Falcon's Color Run 5:45pm (must sign waiver)

Sep 25.................... No School/Boys & Girls Club

Sep 30.................... BGC Talent Show 6pm

📚 Registration for Boys & Girls Club 2026–2027 School Year is OPEN! 💙💛

The Boys & Girls Club is excited to welcome new and returning members for another school year!

Our program offers a safe, supportive, and fun environment where kids can learn, build friendships, complete homework, and participate in exciting activities every day Before and after school.

Don't miss out—spots are limited! Register now to secure your child's place for the 2026–2027 school year.

We can't wait to make another year full of learning, laughter, and unforgettable memories

Every Kindergarten though fifth grade student at Foster is able to have 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch PER SCHOOL DAY for the 26-27 school year.

If your student has cold lunch, they'll need to purchase a milk, if they prefer milk with their meal. If your student already had one lunch but is still hungry (other than the extra veggies and fruits offered already), they'll need to purchase a FULL meal, in order to get another entree. Prices listed below.

You are more than welcome to send extra items with your student (like a cold lunch) to supplement the free hot lunch if they tend to be picky or a really good eater.

Milk w/cold lunch or Additional Milk........ $0.50

Additional Meal...........................................$3.10

The Foster Charter Board meets at 6:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, in the Foster LMC. This meeting is held in-person, however an online option is available via Google Meet at this link: https://meet.google.com/pyr-vtfj-jhr . If you have any questions for the board or would like to request childcare for an upcoming meeting, please email FosCharter@gmail.com. Would you like to learn more? Check out their page on the school website!

Foster Family Network (FFN) meets at 5:00pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, in the Foster staff lounge (103). This meeting is held in-person, however an online option is available by request via Google Meet with this code: Vgu-agtx-yke . If you have any questions for the group who creates a lot of the family based, after-school events, on and off school grounds, please email stephenfosterffn@gmail.com. Would you like to learn more? Check out their page on the school website or their Facebook page: Foster Falcon FFN-PTO!

3-5 Year Old Developmental Screenings (flyer): Free screenings are available by appointment for children ages birth to five living in the Appleton Area School District attendance area. If you have questions or would like to schedule a screening, please contact Sharon at 920-832-6109 or visit our website for more information.

Meet My Milestones: This class supports parents of 3–4-year-old children who may want more resources and opportunities to work with their child on speaking, listening, thinking, social and motor skills. Since parents are their children’s first teachers, this class empowers parents to engage and learn with them through teacher-led activities and play to foster learning, create friendships, and teach skills that will support school readiness. Registration required - We require a familiar adult to accompany each child in the class and are encouraged to play along with them. You must live in the AASD attendance area to participate. Playgroups are FREE! Please call 920-832-6109 with any questions. Click here to register: MMM registration