Janet Berry Elementary

Due to continued blowing and drifting snow from the recent storm, all Appleton Area School District schools and Appleton Community 4K classrooms will be closed on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. This additional day will allow crews more time to fully clear school campuses and ensure safe access to our buildings.

We will continue monitoring conditions that may affect transportation and access to schools, including drifting snow on roadways, limited street parking in some areas, and potential impacts to bus routes.

A decision about after-school activities will be made on Tuesday and shared with families through students’ coaches or advisors.

Thank you for your patience as crews work to clear snow and prepare our schools. We look forward to welcoming students back on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Due to a Blizzard Warning issued by the National Weather Service and the forecast for continued significant snowfall, all Appleton Area School District schools and Appleton Community 4K classrooms will be closed tomorrow, Monday, March 16, 2026.

Elementary, middle, and high school after-school activities are also canceled for Monday. In limited cases, some activities may still take place if necessary. Students and families involved will be notified by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.

The safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority, and we encourage everyone to stay safe and take care during the storm. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Reminder: All AASD buildings are closed today, Sunday, March 15, and several events have been adjusted:

- The referendum information session scheduled for today at Einstein Middle School has been canceled, with additional sessions available on March 19 and March 25.
- The Sunday matinee of Frozen: The Broadway Musical at Appleton North has also been canceled and rescheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at 6:00 p.m., with tickets automatically transferred.

Due to the forecasted weekend snowstorm and potential winter weather conditions, several scheduled events in the Appleton Area School District have been adjusted, and all AASD buildings will be closed on Sunday, March 15. ❄️❄️❄️

The Referendum Information Session planned for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Einstein Middle School has been cancelled. Community members are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming sessions instead:
- Thursday, March 19 – 6:30 p.m. Virtual Session via Zoom
- Wednesday, March 25 – 6:30 p.m. AASD Welcome Center (2701 North Oneida Street, Suite C3)

Additionally, Appleton North High School Theatre's Sunday, March 15 matinee performance of Frozen: The Broadway Musical at Appleton North High School has been cancelled. An additional performance has been added on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:00 p.m.

All tickets for the March 15 performance will automatically transfer to the March 18 performance, and reserved seat assignments will remain the same. Ticketholders will receive an email with details about transferring their tickets.

Learn more: https://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/details/~board/aasd-news/post/weather-update-schedule-changes-for-sunday-315-due-to-forecasted-snowstorm

This year, all AASD schools will be participating in the annual Fox Cities “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive. Schools will be collecting NEW hygiene and cleaning items starting next week through March 13, 2026.

Please send your donations to school with your student, or drop them off in the collection box located at your student’s school.

The most frequently needed items are
🧴laundry detergent
🧼 hand soap
🧴 dish soap
🧴 shampoo/conditioner (especially children’s products)
🧽 cleaning supplies
🧻 toilet paper
🛁 deodorant

Donations received at our AASD collection sites are used within our AASD school community to stock our Basic Needs Care Closet for students/families in need.

These donations are also the primary source of hygiene products provided to students and families experiencing homelessness.

Update: Due to the forecasted weekend snowstorm and potential winter weather conditions, several scheduled events in the Appleton Area School District have been adjusted, and all buildings will be closed on Sunday, March 15.

The Referendum Information Session planned for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Einstein Middle School has been cancelled. Community members are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming sessions instead.

___________________________________________________________

If you’ve heard about the upcoming operational referendum on April 7 but haven’t had a chance to dig into the details yet — or if you still have questions — we’re here to help.

We’re offering four opportunities this month for families to learn more, ask questions, and get clear, straightforward information. Learn more by attending an in-person AASD Referendum Information Session or the AASD Virtual Referendum Information Session.

Prefer to learn on your own time? We’ve also put together a video playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL972JoYOeBEjUQwZVfrgSx01Cawkc1VHV that walks through key topics like how we got here, the steps we’ve taken to reduce costs, how property taxes would be impacted, and what the referendum funds would support.

We encourage you to explore the information in whatever way works best for you. Find all of our referendum info here: https://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/district/district-information/referendum

We value our partnership with families and appreciate your support in making daily attendance a priority. 🤝📅

If your family needs support related to attendance, transportation, or scheduling, please reach out—we are here to help. 🚍🕒💬

Thank you for participating in AASD’s first annual Attendance Spirit Week! 🎉🏫👏

Regular attendance supports not only today’s learning, but also students’ long-term growth and readiness for the future. 🎓

Did you know? Regular attendance and being on time to school is the number one predictor of high school graduation rates.

Consistent, on-time attendance supports learning, classroom connections, and a positive start to the school day. ⏰

Simple routines—earlier bedtimes, preparing the night before, and setting alarms—can make mornings run more smoothly. Elementary students should aim for at least 10 hours of sleep per night.😴

Strong attendance is built through partnership. 🤝

When families and schools work together, students benefit academically, socially, and emotionally.

Meet your Berry Attendance Team 👋: Mr. Broeckel, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Wall, Ms. Annie, Mrs. Green, and Mrs. Schubring. We're here to provide resources and support for positive attendance.

We're excited for our very first Attendance Spirit Week, taking place February 23–27 for Elementary and Middle Schools! 🎉

Being at school consistently helps students build strong learning habits, confidence, and connections. When students are in school every day, they’re setting the foundation for a bright future.

Did you know? Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of whether a child can read at grade level. There's a strong, direct correlation between school attendance and literacy scores, particularly in early grades.

Help for the Homeless Collection begins February 23rd. See the links for more information.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pkm6-qXEMOzL9OSBZIJ7_SRbLX133XWj/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kbGito9jn8gZ9rwidYnUVxyhAdAlkBeY/view?usp=sharing

Our 5th graders at Janet Berry Elementary had an exciting STEM experience with special guest visitors, Robin and Joan Rolfs! They presented about Thomas Edison’s inventions and shared fascinating insights into the history of sound recording.

Berry’s very own Noah also gave a demonstration of his phonograph, showcasing how this incredible invention works. A special theme of the presentation focused on perseverance—reminding students that when something doesn’t work, it isn’t failure. It’s simply discovering a way that doesn’t work! The key is to keep trying, improve your ideas, and never give up.

To top it all off, students had the opportunity to record their voices on a wax cylinder using the phonograph and hear it play back.

It was a wonderful experience that brought history, science, and innovation to life. 🎶🔬