Hawk's Tale Newsletter

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

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Visit Our Houdini Elementary School Website Here!

Dear Houdini Families,

The Appleton Area School District is committed to creating a great place for students to learn, teachers to teach, staff to work, and families to partner in their children's education. Each spring, the district gathers feedback from families through the Family Engagement Survey to celebrate strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and guide continuous improvement.

This spring, 120 Houdini parents and caregivers completed the Family Engagement Survey, an increase from 100 responses last year. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your experiences and perspectives. Your feedback helps us better understand what is working well and where we can continue to grow.

This year's overall satisfaction rating for Houdini remained very strong with an overall mean score of 4.29 out of 5. Our highest-rated areas included:

• My child's school is clean and well maintained.

• My family is treated with respect at this school.

• My child's learning is a high priority at this school.

We are incredibly proud of these results and grateful for the dedication of our staff, students, and families who make Houdini such a positive place to learn.

One area identified for continued improvement, both at Houdini and across the district, is the statement:

"I regularly receive feedback from school staff on how well my child is learning."

While this item continues to receive positive ratings, we know there is an opportunity to better support families in understanding their child's academic progress throughout the school year. This has become one of our School Improvement Plan goals for the 2026-2027 school year.

Throughout the year, families can expect information about student learning through:

• Classroom assignments and feedback shared by teachers.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences and discussions of assessment results.

• Emails, phone calls, newsletters, and classroom communication as appropriate.

• Progress updates regarding intervention, enrichment, or individualized support when applicable.

In addition, we would love to hear more from our community about what meaningful communication looks like to you. What types of feedback would help you better understand how your child is learning? Is there information you would like more frequently, in a different format, or at different times throughout the year?

Your input will help us strengthen communication practices so they better meet the needs of our families. We encourage you to share your thoughts with your child's teacher or contact me directly throughout the school year.

Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your continued support of Houdini Elementary. We look forward to working together to ensure every child continues to learn, grow, and thrive.

Your partner in education,

Katie Hardesty
Principal, Houdini Elementary School

Hello Houdini Families,

The included behavior flowchart is used as a reference point for families to understand how different behaviors are managed at school. This flowchart can be used as a tool for understanding the procedures the Houdini staff follow, as well as Mrs. Hardesty and I when behaviors arise at school. The list of behaviors is not exhaustive but outlines different situations that can occur here at school. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions regarding the flowchart. It has been a great start to the school year, and I am looking forward to watching our Houdini students continue to learn and grow!

Thank you,

Mr. Shep

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!