Cunningham Connection
Welcome Back!
Dear Cunningham Families,
We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Cunningham this fall! We hope you continue to enjoy the summer and that students return to school re-charged and ready for a great year. Throughout the school year, you can expect a Cunningham Connection newsletter every Monday to learn about school happenings and important updates, and you can expect to hear from your child's classroom teacher prior to the start of the school year. You can also reach out to Cunningham administration at any time (Dr. Redden - jredden@miltonps.org and Mrs. Butler (bbutler@miltonps.org) and we would be happy to help you!
We are sure your child is anxiously awaiting their classroom placement! If you have a student in Kindergarten - 5th grade, you will receive an email tomorrow with your child's teacher! Preschool teacher assignments will be sent later this week!
Last year presented us all with new, unexpected challenges, but it is important to recognize the resilience our community showed. Our Cunningham staff, students, and families are second to none - and we worked together to make the best of a difficult year. At the end of last school year, we shared this amazing video that our very own Mr. Young created, and we encourage you to watch it with your children if you haven't seen it yet. It is a great reminder of the positive environment that our Cunningham School is!
All the Best,
Dr. Jonathan Redden, Principal
617.696.4285 ext. 2012
Cunningham School Hours
Kindergarten - 5th Grade:
- 8:20-2:49 (Arrival begins at 8:05)
Preschool:
Ms. Marissa & Ms. Colleen's Class:
- 8:30-2:30 (Arrival begins at 8:20)
Integrated Preschool Program:
- AM Session - 8:30-11:00 (Arrival begins at 8:20)
- PM Session - 12:10-2:40 (Arrival begins at 11:50)
Supply Lists by Grade Level
Upcoming Events and Information
Whether you are a returning student, an incoming preschooler or kindergartener, or a student moving from another school or town, we have an event to help welcome you!
- New families of students entering grade 1-5 are invited to meet school administrators, tour the school, and see their child's classroom on Tuesday, August 31 at 5:30pm. Families should come to the main entrance.
- Preschool and Kindergarten students will have separate welcome/screening events on September 1st or 2nd. Dates and times will be communicated with you by your child's classroom teacher.
- Parents/Guardians of incoming Kindergarteners are welcome to attend our annual "Boohoo /Yahoo" gathering on the grass in front of the gym following Kindergarten drop off on September 7!
- All Cunningham School students and their families are welcome to attend the annual Welcome Back event held on Tuesday, August 31 at 6:00pm. Please join Principal Redden, Assistant Principal, Mrs. Butler and other staff members on the rear playground of the school. Come see old friends and meet some new ones!
Important Dates
August 29 - COVID Testing at DPW Yard
September 1 - First Day of School (Grades 1-5)
September 3 & 6 - No School
September 7 - First Day of School for PreK and K
October 4 - School Picture Day
October 5 - Cunningham Open House
October 11 - No School - Indigenous People's Day
K-5 Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival
Students in K-5 should arrive at school between 8:05-8:20. Students who arrive in front of Cunningham can now enter the main entrance, the lower doors behind the ramp, or the gym door. All of the doors will be staffed with additional staff available inside to assist students if they need help getting to their classrooms. Students who arrive after 8:20 am will be directed to enter the main entrance so that they can check in with Ms. Cadigan prior to going to class.
Students who are dropped off in the back driveway should enter the cafeteria doors OR the doors at the end of the driveway. When the car line stops, please let students out on the driver's side only. They can walk along the sidewalk to the door of their choice and Cuningham staff will be outside to assist students. If you have a student in grades 3 - 5, entering the back cafeteria doors is quicker for most students. However, they can choose either door. As always, please do not leave your vehicle or pull around cars in the back driveway. Students who walk to school can also use the back doors to enter the building.
We will once again have over 1300 students arriving every morning to Cunningham and Collicot. Please follow all drop off procedures to allow for a efficient and safe morning drop off for all.
Dismissal
Students can be picked up in the back car line for dismissal. They will exit the building at the end of the day and wait until their car is visible, when a staff member will monitor them entering the car. Cars should pull all the way up when engaged in the back car line both at arrival and dismissal.
Bus students will be escorted to buses by staff members and maintaining safe social distance while waiting for the bus to arrive.
If your student is not going in the back pickup line or on the bus, they are considered a "walker". Walkers will exit the building through the gym. There are three gym doorways, and we will arrange for students to leave through the three doors rather than just one to avoid any additional traffic of children waiting to exit the building. Kindergarteners "walkers" will be exiting out the kindergarten door. As mentioned previously, please ensure you are masked and practicing social distancing while waiting for your children.
Preschool Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Arrival
Integrated Preschool arrival will take place in the front circle, beginning at 8:20 (AM session) and 12:00 (PM session). Students in the integrated program will be entering through the gym doors and monitored by staff members in the gym.
Beginning at 8:30, students in Ms. Marissa and Ms. Colleen's program will be escorted into the building through the front doors by staff members.
Dismissal
Integrated preschool dismissal will take place at 11:00 (AM) and 2:30 (PM). Students will be dismissed from the gym doors. Students in Ms. Marissa and Ms. Colleen's preschool class will be dismissed out the front doors of Cunningham at 2:40.
Tardiness, Absence, and Early Dismissal Forms
Nursing Update
Welcome back! Any students, returning or new, requiring medication administration at school, whether scheduled or emergency, must provide appropriate documentation with drop off of medication. Nursing will be available during the following times:
Thursday August 26th from 1-3
Friday August 27th 9-12
Monday 12-3
Tuesday 9-3
Medication MUST:
-Have clear pharmacy label
-Not be expired
-Have parent permission form signed which can be found here.
-Allergy/Asthma action plan must be current, signed by MD and sent when applicable; Examples of these can be found here for Food Allergy/Anaphylaxis and here for Asthma
PLEASE NOTE: Absolutely no medication will be accepted from students. All drop offs should be arranged by parent/ guardian with the nurse. I look forward to having students back in school. Please reach out with any questions or concerns!
Face Covering Policy Update
MPS Face Covering Policy - Ltr from Superintendent Jette 081221.pdf
Family Resources
The Office of the Family Outreach Liaison is open during the summer months. Please reach out to Marti O’Keefe McKenna, Family Outreach Liaison, 617-980-7343 or mmckenna@miltonps.org with any questions you might have about MPS/community summer programs, summer reading, the upcoming school year or if you are in need of a resource. All calls and emails are confidential. All updates on Family Resources – food, heating assistance, health insurance, financial assistance, contacts – can be found at this link.
Helpful Contacts
Mrs. Bernadette Butler, Assistant Principal/Curriculum Coordinator, bbutler@miltonps.org
Ms. Erica Cadigan, Administrative Assistant, ecadigan@miltonps.org
Ms. Kathy LaPierre, K-5 TEAM Chair, klapierre@miltonps.org
Mrs. Jayme Szymczak, Pre-K TEAM Chair, jszymczak@miltonps.org
Mrs. Marti McKenna, Family Outreach Liasion, mmckenna@miltonps.org
Cunningham Phone Number - 617 696 4285 ext. 2012
Do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions!