January 21, 2026
AC PTO is collecting Food Fair receipts and Best Choice UPC labels until January 27. Food Fair receipts need to be from September, 2025 to the present. If they are older, they cannot be submitted. Please send them with students or place them in a plastic bag or envelope and drop them off in the Elementary School Office, St. Clair County State Bank with Janet Payton or Little Apples Learning Center by Friday, January 27. This on-going fundraiser raises a substantial amount of money for PTO to use for the children's classroom trips and teacher requests for supplies.
A student-focused trip to England and France is being coordinated by Mrs. Deel, the College & Career Advisor at Appleton City High School. This eight-day trip will depart in late May 2027, and all area students in 6 - 12th grades are invited, as are their families. This life-changing experience will help students build confidence, independence, and a global perspective. A one-time informational meeting is being held in the ACHS Commons at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, to share everything families need to know. RSVP for the meeting at this website: rsvp.eftours.com/arxzgpv A meeting link is also on the school's Facebook page. If you're unable to attend the meeting but want information about the trip, fill out the RSVP form, and details will be emailed to you. Why attend the meeting? You will learn how to save $200 with early enrollment, get first access to limited spots and learn about what the students see and do, academic opportunities, trip cost and more. The trip is not sponsored by the school and is coordinated through EF Tours, a trusted travel partner that has over 60 years of experience helping students explore the world safely and affordably. Students must have completed 7th grade by May 2027 to attend this trip without a parent/guardian. Younger students may only travel with a parent/guardian in attendance. Family discounts are available.
St. Mary’s School (Montrose) will have a spaghetti dinner Saturday January 31 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. in the school basement. The dinner is a free will donation. Please come with family and friends and enjoy a delicious dinner of spaghetti with sauce, breadsticks, salad, dessert and tea or lemonade while supporting St. Mary’s School. There will also be a silent auction with classroom crafts and other items.
Parents As Teachers will be joining Story Hour at the AC Public Library on Monday, February 9 from 11:00-12:00. They will read a story, do a craft and eat snacks.
Appleton City Optimist Baseball sign-ups are now open and will remain active until February 6. Teeball, Midgets Boys, Machine Pitch, Pee Wee Boys/Girls, Junior Boys and Junior Girls registration is available online at https://active.leagueone.com/OLR/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=16112 Please be sure to sign your child up before the deadline.
The Golden Apples will meet Thursday, January 22 at Farmhouse Kitchen's banquet room at 5:00 p.m. This week’s menu is tacos. Please bring sides and desserts to go with tacos. They'll play Bingo after the meal, so wear your lucky bingo shirt and come and win a round of bingo. There will be at least one winner every game.
The Appleton City High School Scholarship Foundation will award thirteen $3,500 Scholarships to ACHS 2026 graduates for any type of educational training, vocational and college. Forms are available from the College Advisor, Ashley Deel. The deadline is March 4 at 9:00 a.m. Please be sure to complete all questions.
Grace Christian Academy will have their 6th annual hog roast dinner with silent and live auctions fundraiser 4:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14 in the Lowry City Civic Center, 4th & Cleveland in Lowry City. The hog roast dinner for $10 includes meat, sides, dessert and drink. Children 4-12 years eat for $6, 3 and under are free. Carry out is available. Silent auction from 4:00 – 6:30 and live auction starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the school or at the door.
Ellett Memorial Hospital Appleton City offers outpatient specialist services for January and February, 2026. Call 660-476-2111 for appointments. Jan 21– Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Friday, Jan 23- Dermatology-Dylan Timmerman, P.A., Tuesday, Jan 27 - Rheumatology-Dr. John, Wednesday Jan 28 –Orthopedics-Dr. Gray, Wednesday Jan 28– Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, Thursday, Jan 28 – Neurology- Dr.- Shoaib, Wednesday, Feb 4 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Thursday, Feb 5 – OB/GYN – Dr. Kallberg, Friday, Feb 6 – Dermatology- Dylan Timmerman, PA, Friday, Feb 13 – Orthopedic-Dr. Gray, Wednesday, Feb 18 – Upper GI, Colonoscopy-Dr. Namin, Thursday, Feb 19 – Podiatry – Dr. Pace, Friday, Feb 20 – Orthopedics-Laura Noble, FNP, Tuesday, Feb 24 - Rheumatology-Dr. John, Wednesday, Feb 25 – Orthopedic- Dr. Gray, Wednesday, Feb 25 – Ophthalmology, Dr. Soni, Thursday, Feb 26– Neurology- Dr.- Shoaib
“The Little Apple” was started by the A. C. Economic Development as way of informing residents of news and events sponsored by area businesses and organizations. Items of a clearly personal nature, such as birthdays, anniversaries, awards (not group sponsored), personal sales and the like are not accepted for publication. Items may be edited for accuracy, grammar or space restrictions. Please email articles for “The Little Apple” to dcp81@embarqmail.com by Tuesday evenings or bring them to Dr. Payton’s office to be included in that week’s edition. To receive "The Little Apple" free by e-mail, or to be removed from the email list, send your e-mail address to dcp81@embarqmail.com If you have changed your email address, please send the current address, so the list can be updated.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jan 21 Informational meeting 6:00 p.m. at ACHS Commons Area about student-focused trip to England and France
Jan 27 Deadline to turn in best choice labels and Food Fair receipts for Appleton City PTO
Jan 31 St. Mary’s School (Montrose) spaghetti dinner from 5:00-9:00 p.m. in the school basement
