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Our School

Mission

At Foster Elementary Charter School, we empower every student to lead with confidence, compassion, and purpose in a community where all students belong.

Vision

Every student grows as a learner and leader - ready to contribute to their community and beyond.

Message from the Principal

Welcome to Stephen Foster Elementary Charter School!

Foster is a small, diverse, and close-knit elementary school where every child is known and valued. Our mission is to develop the skills and knowledge our students need to become Global Leaders in their communities.

We proudly implement the Leader in Me curriculum, grounded in Stephen Covey’s belief that “Leadership is communicating the worth and potential of people so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.” This framework provides our students with concrete tools and a shared language to recognize their own strengths, take responsibility for their learning, and make a positive impact on others.

Our school develops strong partnerships among students, staff, families, and community members to serve a diverse population of learners in grades K–5. Our academic programming, extracurricular opportunities, staff- and student-sponsored clubs, and community collaborations all align with our charter goal of developing global leaders. The themes of diversity, leadership, civic engagement, kindness, and compassion are central to our mission.

At Foster, we strive to develop global leaders through the following key components of our educational program:

  • Flexible, personalized, high-quality instruction tailored to each learner.

  • Proactive, ongoing assessments to guide instruction and monitor student progress.

  • Student service projects that enrich learning and promote civic engagement.

  • Celebration of diversity, honoring and respecting cultures, values, and beliefs.

  • Strength-based career exploration to help students identify their talents and envision future opportunities.

  • A whole-child approach that includes partnerships with community health organizations, ensuring all children have access to medical and dental care.

Our dedicated staff make a difference in our students’ lives every day by emphasizing each child’s strengths. At Foster, your student will find their passion, build confidence, and be empowered to use their gifts to become a global leader.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions at (920) 852-5470.

Sincerely,

Kelsi Van Fossen

Principal

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Badge designating the school as a Title 1 school

Title I School

Title I aims to ensure that every child, regardless of their economic background, has a fair chance at receiving a quality education and achieving proficiency in state academic standards and assessments.

Learn more about Title I

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Welcome to Foster Elementary

Some of our unique programming is highlighted below:

🌟 Leader in Me – Building Everyday Leaders: Foster is proud to be the only school in the Appleton Area School District implementing the Leader in Me curriculum. This framework, based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, empowers students to recognize their own potential, develop leadership skills, and practice habits that lead to lifelong success.

🌍 Global Leadership Focus: Our students learn the values of diversity, leadership, civic engagement, kindness, and compassion. Through the Global Leadership Awards, students are recognized for embodying these traits. Monthly, local leaders join us for our Global Leader Speaker Series, inspiring students by sharing their own journeys and leadership stories.

🎶 Enhanced Physical Education & Music: With over 720 additional minutes of music and PE each year, our students enjoy a well-rounded experience that nurtures mind, body, and creativity.

🤝 Community-Driven Service: Our Service Club and annual service projects encourage students to make a positive impact. From in-class activities to hands-on community service, civic engagement is a cornerstone of the Foster experience.

📐 Innovative Math Curriculum – Illustrative Mathematics: Our problem-based math curriculum, Illustrative Mathematics (IM), energizes learning by equipping students with critical skills and understandings that last a lifetime through the use of relatable, real-world scenarios, helping students gain both conceptual understanding and procedural fluence and images and situations that reflect a wide range of experiences, allowing students to connect more deeply with the math they’re learning

🌱 Valuable Community Partnerships:

  • Secura Insurance: provides tutoring, mentorship, and generous support.
  • Heckrodt Nature Preserve: engages students in hands-on, nature-based learning through field trips and family events.
  • VPI Inc.: provides inclusive, unified community experiences where students of all abilities learn and grow together.