Kaleidoscope Academy

A New Year just tastes better when you start it off with sweet treats.

KA students were greeted by smiling staff members, jamming music, and delicious doughnut holes when they arrived at school for the first day of 2025.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Student Council food drive.

The students and staff collected more than 650 cans of food!

Top donors, pictured with the KA Cardinal, were Mark Dudley, Josie Al Bulushi and Keylee Phalin.

KA served up a fun-filled volleyball competition during the December pep rally.

KA students were digging the game, but

the team of staff members netted the win! It was a spike-tacular event.

The pep band's performance was another high note of the pre-holiday celebration!

Several KA students enjoyed a Saturday afternoon at Skaters Edge to support the upcoming

Unity through Expression Black History Month Celebration at KA on Friday, February 7.

See the Nuts and Bolts section of this newsletter for more details. All are welcome!

Congratulations to Tiffany Wimmer, the KA Technology Education teacher,

for being awarded a $10,000 Project Lead the Way grant!

This money will greatly benefit the KA STEM lab space and Ms. Wimmer's curriculum.

Here is a glimpse of the countless wonderful things happening at

Kaleidoscope Academy each and every day.

Families that are interested in learning more about the school, scheduling a tour, or

enrolling their children for the 2025-2026 school year, should contact the KA office.

Deadlines are quickly approaching!

#middleschoolstrong

Presentations of Learning (POL) provide opportunities for all students to

celebrate, reflect, and share their learning with members of their families and the community.

As a charter school, this is a signature event for KA, and

students are required to participate.

The students' Presentations of Learning projects showcase their hard work.

During the first semester, KA students worked on individual passion projects twice a week in

WIN (What I Need) class.

Students identified passions, narrowed down topics, wrote and researched questions, and

then each student turned one of their passions into a final project.

Students practiced their presentation skills by sharing and celebrating their projects with peers.

To ease the way into the New Year, 6th graders had a “Read-In” during the short week after break. Students brought blankets and pillows and made forts to create cozy reading spaces.

Smiles and snacks were shared while they celebrated being back together!

Groups of Newcomer students worked together during a puzzle competition,

which was part of the Intellectual Wellness Unit.

As a reward for following expectations during the first semester,

7th and 8th grade Intro to Spanish students enjoyed a day in the kitchen, cooking and eating an authentic dish from the Spanish-speaking world!

Gallo pinto is a popular breakfast in Costa Rica, served alongside other foods like fried eggs, cheese, plantains, and more. It may also be eaten for lunch or dinner.

The recipe is provided. ¡Pura vida!

The KA 8th grade scientists explored

Sir Isaac Newton's first law of motion during a recent classroom lab.

Ms. Glenn's Intro to Theater class took to the stage to showcase their final

story theater performances.

The young actors impressed the audience, which included family members and peers.

Actually, the Culinary Around the World students welcomed the owners of

Appleton's Carmella's, an Italian Bistro, to the KA food lab.

The ladies demonstrated how to make cannoli and an antipasto plate.

The presentation included Q&A about Italian heritage, family recipes being passed down through generations, and cooking techniques for traditional Italian cuisine.

The KA students are grateful for the time and knowledge they shared. Molte grazie!

Select middle school band students from KA and other middle schools performed

as an ensemble in the annual middle school honors band event.

Musicians practiced on Friday and Saturday with a guest conductor and performed a concert on Saturday evening. It was an impressive performance, especially because the students put it all together in a matter of hours. Thank you to our guest clinician, Chris Gleason.

Reserve your seat for the KA spring musical production, Monty Python's Spamalot.

The actors are working earnestly to learn their lines, lyrics, and choreography.

Use the QR code to purchase your tickets.

Wrestling and girls basketball are the KA sports for the winter season.

Come to a meet or game to cheer for your favorite Cardinal!

Exercise your body to build your brain! Students can join the new KA Fitness Club!

The before-school workout sessions are held in the impressive KA fitness center.

Weights, cardio, and so much more! See Mr. Keel for a permission slip.

ALL students are invited to eat a delicious BREAKFAST and LUNCH

each day at NO COST to families.

Breakfast is available from 7:20 until 7:50 a.m.

The touchless salad bar offers another healthy option for lunch.

Please take a moment to read about norovirus.

Families that drive their students to school in the morning are encouraged to use extra caution!

Use the drop-off lane in front of the school on Brewster Street. Pull up as far as possible.

Students should exit the vehicles onto the sidewalk rather than the street. Drivers should carefully re-enter the traffic lane. Families that want to sit in the vehicles with their students should park on a nearby street until the bell rings.

7:50 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. The cafeteria doors open at 7:20 a.m.

Boys and Girls Club opens at 6:45 a.m. (before school) and closes at 6 p.m. (after school).

Zero Hour begins at 7 a.m.

Breakfast is served from 7:20 until 7:50 a.m.

Do you have a question, concern, or comment? If so, please feel free to contact one of our campus administrators. We are here for you! Thank you for being part of KA!

Assistant Principal, Jake Larsh - larshjake@aasd.k12.wi.us

Dean, Kim Hoefs - hoefskimberly@aasd.k12.wi.us

SEL Dean, Laura de Arteaga - dearteagalaura@aasd.k12.wi.us

Website: https://ka.aasd.k12.wi.us/
Location: 318 E. Brewster St., Appleton, WI 54913
Phone: 920-852-5430
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaleidoscopecardinals/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleidoscope_academy/