Stephen Foster Elementary Charter School

10/16/2026

Twice a month after school, a group of our 3rd–5th graders hops on a bus and heads to SECURA Insurance for one of their favorite afternoons on the calendar!

Through our mentoring program led by Big Brothers Big Sisters of NE Wisconsin Foster Falcons are paired with a SECURA employee. Together they’re trading stories over a get-to-know-you game, coloring side by side, plotting Battleship strategy, and laughing through round after round of Headbanz. Every visit is a chance to build a real friendship, learn something new, and have a whole lot of fun along the way.

Mentoring is just one scoop of our partnership with SECURA. Their team also tutors students at Foster, supports our school supply drive, and helps make the holidays brighter for our families. 🍦

Thank you to our SECURA mentors and Big Brothers Big Sisters for showing our Falcons what it looks like to lead by investing in community. 💛

10/15/2026

Last night our kindergarten families helped us cut the ribbon on Foster’s new Curiosity Classroom, and our youngest Falcons wasted no time. They rolled balls down ramps, built with tubes, and drew at the easels. 🎉

This space is all about kids leading their own learning by following a question, testing an idea, and trying again. Starting next week, every class K–5 will have regular time in Room 113, and we can’t wait to see what they discover.

Thank you to our partners at Building for Kids, and to the Appleton Education Foundation’s Big Idea Grant, SECURA Insurance, and the Mielke Family Foundation for making it possible. A huge thank-you as well to our Foster staff, board, and facilities team, who put so much work into bringing this room to life. 💙

Curious what it’s like to learn at Foster? Charter applications open December 1, including for our new free, full-day 4K. Sign up to be notified: https://forms.gle/VD4ykMxaxN6wNJb5A

10/13/2026

While you are here at Foster for conferences, don't forget to stop in the LMC to check out the Book Fair! It is also open outside of conference hours this week!

October 12-16
(Daily 7:45-8:15 AM)
Monday/Wednesday/Friday - 3:30-4:00 PM
Tuesday/Thursday - 3:30-7:30 PM

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/stephenfosterelementarycs

10/12/2026

On Friday, our mentors and mentees teamed up for their first project of the year, and it was all about the power of YET! 💪

Our younger Falcons thought of something they can't do… yet. Ride a bike, roller skate, knit. Their older buddies wrote each goal down while our younger friends drew pictures of themselves doing it, then the mentors cut out "thinking" photos and pieced every card together.

The best part was watching our big kids cheer on their buddies and remind them that "not yet" just means "still learning." These cards will soon be on display as a reminder that every one of us is growing. 🦅

10/09/2026

Today, Foster Students welcomed the musicians of Mariachi San José, led by Dr. Torres-Ramos, along with the 8th grade choir and orchestra students from Vel Phillips Middle School in Oshkosh under the direction of Dr. Nguyen and Ms. Carloni. Foster's fourth and fifth graders collaborated with these musicians to explore this wonderful genre of music for Hispanic Heritage Month and performed for our school. What a wonderful opportunity to explore music, culture, and community!!🎤 🎺🎻

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

From empty room to Curiosity Classroom! 🔍💡

This week we turned Room 113 into a space where kids have room to wonder, the freedom to try, and the chance to learn by doing. We worked alongside our partners at Building for Kids Children's Museum, with plenty of “help” from Freddy. Foster is one of the first two schools outside Chicago to bring this Chicago Children’s Museum–inspired program into a school.

Starting October 21, every class from kindergarten through fifth grade gets weekly time here to build, test, imagine, and decide for themselves what to explore next. At Foster, students lead their own learning, and now they have a whole room made for it.

Current families, come see it in person at conferences on October 13 and 15.

Thinking about Foster for your child? We’d love to show you around: https://forms.gle/2VGFFVRanqFzKYgZ6 💙💛

What would you have built in here as a kid? Tell us below!

10/08/2026

Freddy is hard at work today! 🛠️ Our new Curiosity Classroom is coming together in Room 113, and Freddy has been "helping" every step of the way. (We hear his drilling skills are still a work in progress.)

This space is designed for child-directed play, where students choose what to explore, build, and create. When kids lead their own play, they practice the same things we teach every day at Foster: being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and working together.

Fun fact: a University of Cambridge review of nearly 40 studies found that young children learn early math and shape concepts better through play they help direct than through traditional instruction — and they got better at switching between tasks, a core executive function skill. There wasn't a single outcome where play came out behind.

Every class, kindergarten through fifth grade, will have time in Room 113 each week starting October 21. Families, you'll get to walk through the space during conferences on October 13 and 15.

Stay tuned. The full build time lapse drops tomorrow! 🎥

10/08/2026

Caught leading — and it came with a book!

When a Foster staff member notices a Falcon showing leadership: helping without being asked, including someone, or sticking with something hard, that student earns a token for our book vending machine. They choose the book themselves.

Leadership is something we teach, notice, and celebrate here. 💙