Cumberland Thursday Folder
April 11, 2024
Sure signs of Spring!
Dear Cumberland Families,
Spring has sprung at Cumberland, and with the sunshine and warmer temperatures, we're seeing more bicycles brightening our schoolyard! It's wonderful to see our students embracing healthy and eco-friendly ways to get to school.
Want to make sure your child has a fun and safe ride? Here are a couple of tips:
- Make sure their bike is in good working order before they head out.
- A properly fitted helmet is key! We encourage everyone to wear one every time they ride.
It's also a great opportunity to chat with your child about safe riding. Things like following the rules of the road, walking their bike at crosswalks, and staying aware of their surroundings can all help them ride safely to and from school.
With more bikes on the racks, we also wanted to send a friendly reminder to have your child bring a lock to secure their bike at the bike racks and reinforce that they should always lock up their bikes. We have already had one bike stolen this year and we want to try to prevent this from happening in all ways possible.
Speaking of safety, with spring comes unpredictable weather. Today, we will be conducting a severe weather drill at the same time as the state-wide tornado drill scheduled for 1:45pm this afternoon. These drills help prepare our students for what to do in case of a tornado, thunderstorm, or other severe weather event when they are at school. Our teachers have reviewed and practiced these drills with students and we are ready for a successful drill.
Have you heard about the PTO sponsored Hunger Task Force food drive from April 17th - 26th? Please read the details below in the PTO section to learn about how to help support this amazing cause!
Warmly,
Jayne Heffron and Rebecca Salomon
Another sign of Spring! Lost and Found will be on display until Friday, April 19th
Upcoming Events
APRIL:
12th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th - Forward Testing, Grades 3, 4, and 5
16th - 4th Grade Orchestra Concert, 6pm, Great Room
19th - Student Council Favorite Color Day
23rd - RI/CU 5th Orchestra Concert, 7pm @ Richards
25th - 5th Grade Band Concert, 7pm @ MS Band Room
30th - Encore Day, Monday Schedule
Smart Watch Use at School:
As we continue to see an increase in technology in elementary classrooms, we want to remind you of the importance of monitoring your child's SMART watch usage, particularly during school hours. Encouraging responsible use of technology at home will reinforce the habits we're promoting in school.
While we permit SMART watches at Cumberland School, it's crucial to ensure they remain in "school mode" to minimize distractions and support a focused learning environment. We've noticed an increased use of SMART watches, particularly with concerns around student group chats and distractions.
We ask that you please do not contact your child via their SMART watch during school hours. If you need to contact your child, please call our main office at 414-963-3943.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Mathematically Speaking for April 2024
We are excited to share our math newsletter, Mathematically Speaking for April 2024. A few words from the WFB Math Coaches Jodi Schmidt (Middle School), Matthew Skinner (Cumberland), Susan Jones (Richards), and MTSS Coach, Beth Sutherland (High School). Our focus this year will look at how does someone help their child at home when the approach to math has changed? Included in the letter are links to short videos that look at early addition and subtraction methods to help our younger students. Middle school and High School videos are coming soon.
Orchestra Concerts This Month: 4th and 5th Grades
Students should bring their instrument and music, and arrive 15-20 minutes prior to their concert time to allow time for tuning. Students can plan to wear something for a special occasion (nothing new needs to be purchased). Please note that the time and locations are different for 4th and 5th Orchestra.
Cumberland 4th Grade Orchestra: Tuesday, April 16th, 6:00pm in the Great Room
Cumberland 5th Grade Orchestra (with Richards 5th): Tuesday, April 23rd, 7pm at Richards, in the Great Hall
Requesting Yarn Donations:
Would you happen to have any yarn around the house you might not be planning to use? If so, whether it is a yarn bundle or yarn scraps, our Art room will put any yarn donation to good use for an upcoming art project. Any donations can be dropped off at the main office. Thank you in advance!
Student Council Spirit Day: Friday, April 19th, Favorite Color Day
Student Council Spirit team has planned, "A Favorite Color Day", on Friday, April 19th where you get to wear your favorite color. Have fun and hope you can participate!
The Spirit Team-
Band Concert, 5th Grade: Thursday, April 25, 7pm @ MS Band Room
Students should arrive around 6:45pm for the 7pm concert. Please enter through the Middle School front door, head straight up the stairs and turn left. Instruments and music needed. Percussionists should bring their bell kits. You do not need to bring music stands.
Also, save the date for Band O Rama, Tuesday, May 7, 7:30pm, HS Field House. All WFB school Bands will perform at this special event.
Is your student NOT returning for the 2024-25 School Year?
Accurate student numbers are important for sectioning and staffing decisions. Please contact John, John.levek@wfbschools.com in the office if your child/children will not be returning to Cumberland next year.
NEW Student Enrollment 2024-25 School Year:
4K - 5th Grade new student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process. It is not necessary for current students to re-enroll. Families of current students will complete online registration in August. Specific registration details will be shared this summer.
Support the Hunger Task Force and the Families it Serves:
From April 17th through April 26th, you can help support the Hunger Task Force’s mission. Cumberland Elementary offers two ways to donate! You can bring in donations (see flier for suggestions) to school at the various drop off boxes located throughout the building or you can donate via our virtual food drive using this link. The virtual food drive offers the chance to “shop” for your favorite food donations, place the items in your cart, and check out to make a difference for someone in your community. Let’s join in donating food to hungry children, families, and seniors throughout Milwaukee. Thank you for your support!
Cumberland Dine-Out at Fitzy’s Café:
Visit Fitzy’s Café at Fitzgerald’s Pharmacy on Sunday, April 28th from 7 am to 4 pm to enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee, or ice cream! Mention Cumberland Elementary, and our PTO receives 10% back from the sale!
Staff Appreciation Week:
Hello, Cumberland Families! Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 6th through May 10th. Our community businesses are always so generous for our staff’s amazing raffle full of great prizes, but we need your help, too! Are you personally inclined to donate a gift card? Do you own a business with something special to donate? If so, please contact Katie Hazell at ktpost16@gmail.com to connect by April 26th. It takes a village to show appreciation!
Yearbook Orders:
Did you forget to order a yearbook? You can confirm your yearbook order by checking your receipts in the PTO Membership Toolkit. If you still need to place an order, please make sure to do so by Monday, April 22nd. After that date, orders will no longer be accepted.
Share Your Classroom Photos:
Do you have classroom photos from your child’s teacher? If you have a photo from your child’s teacher including three or more students, it may be a great addition to the yearbook! Any photos can be text to Jillian Cooper at 816-589-1143 or emailed to jillian.gs.cooper@gmail.com. Please indicate the teacher’s name in the message. Thank you!
Lunch Composting - Thank you:
A huge shout out and thank you to Jamie Ludlow, Shorewest Realtors for generously sponsoring daily composting and fun lunch composting for the entire month of April in honor of Earth month!
Come Dance with The Creator Collaborative Studio:
Are you looking for a way to burn off some of that after school energy? Well, join instructor and Cumberland parent Chris Feiereisen, the Creative Director of Whitefish Bay’s Creator Collaborative Studio to learn dance moves from the hit musical movie Trolls Band Together. Chris will lead the group through exciting choreography to songs like Better Place! The event will take place on Tuesday, May 7th from 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm. Check out more about The Creator Collaborative here: thecreatorcollaborativestudio.com.
PTO Open Committee Positions:
Planning is already underway for next school year, and we need your help! We are in search of volunteers to chair/co-chair the following open committee positions. If you are interested in helping in any way or would like more information about these committee positions, please email the PTO at cumberlandschoolpto@gmail.com.
PTO Committee Chair Openings for the 24-25 School Year:
Movie Night
Touch a Truck Event
Lego Club
Fall and Spring Front Garden Bed Clean-up
Homecoming Tailgate
Composting
Sporting Events (Admirals/Wave/Bucks)
School Board Meeting Information: Wednesday, April 24th
The community is welcome to attend School Board meetings to gain a better understanding of School District business and the role of the School Board. The public is also invited to address the Board during the public comment portion as indicated in Board meetings.
Meeting agendas are posted within BoardDocs two days preceding each meeting.
Thank You from Orchestra Boosters
A big, heartfelt thank you from Orchestra Boosters and the Music Parents Association to the joyful, amazing, spirited audience of Electrify Your Symphony on Saturday night! Wow! We are profoundly grateful for your support of our Elementary, Middle School, and High School string musicians and students in music education. We appreciate you! Thank you for rocking with us!
WFBHS Choir Pops Concert: Tomorrow Night, Friday, April 12th, 7:30 pm
WFBHS Choir POPS concert theme this year is "British Invasion" featuring songs from the Beatles, Adele, Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Coldplay, and more! Tickets can be purchased in advance and information is on the poster.
Young Rembrandts: New Session, New Drawings: Begins Friday, May 3rd
Registration is opened for a new session of Young Rembrandts Art class with a springtime inspired drawings including hummingbirds, motorcycles, boats and the lifecycle of butterflies as well as a challenge drawing of composer, Beethoven. For more details see the flyer below.
Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation's.... Run the Bay: Saturday, May 4th
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Run the Bay is the foundation's main event to fund innovation in the WFB Schools. The run will be held on Saturday, May 4th at Klode Park! You can register for the run HERE! Visit us on Facebook for more information on the run along with the other Bay Day activities. Please email Kara Bzdusek (kmbzdusek@gmail.com) for sponsorship opportunities.