April 20th, 2023

Thursday letter from Ms. Heffron and Ms. Salomon: April 20, 2023

We loved seeing the culmination of all the hard work and enthusiasm of our fourth and fifth grade orchestra students on Tuesday night. Together with students from Richards, they demonstrated the musical teamwork it takes to make one piece of music sound whole and in tune. In addition to learning how to play in an ensemble, students showcased the skills of playing a string instrument, in how to read music notation, in how to follow a conductor and play in harmony with others. We are very proud of our students and their orchestra teacher, Ms. Annin, for their dedication and wonderful performance.

Last Friday, the Cumberland 4th and 5th graders had the opportunity to walk over to the middle school to join the 6th and 7th graders for a presentation by authors Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, and illustrator Giovanni Rigano. Colfer and Donkin talked about their newest graphic novel, Global, and shared with the students their collaborative process for creating a graphic novel. While the authors talked, the illustrator drew an original piece of artwork on stage, right in front of the audience.

Our Cumberland students also experienced a surprise visit from two of our Whitefish Bay community police officers during Fun Lunch this week.   Officer Barkow and Officer Johnson took the time to introduce themselves and greet students, engage in conversation and answer students’ questions. Students had a lot of fun and learned a lot from the police officers–including that Officer Johnson is a former Cumberland student!  We appreciate their time, service and support to our school and community.  We also want to thank our Cumberland PTO for providing these wonderful experiences for our students! 

                Warm regards, Jayne Heffron and Rebecca Salomon

Cumberland News and Notes:

Roller Skating, Let’s Roll: Skating beginning next Monday, April 24 for Grades K5-5th in Physical Education classes. Fees must be paid prior to skating, if fees are not paid students will not be able to skate and an alternate activity will be provided.  

This in-house skating program fits in well with our curriculum for “Lifetime Fitness”.  All Skaters are required to use the rented skates, skating for two weeks (six times) in PE class.  If your student has a helmet, please remind them to bring it to school on or before April 24 and helmets can be kept at school for the duration of the unit. If a helmet is not available, we will provide one. Skaters are required to wear wrist guards (provided), helmets, and socks while skating.  Let’s Roll! Mr. Morrill and Mr. Peterson.

Spring Sing/Camp Out Day T-shirts: T-shirt orders are due date next Monday, April 24, https://bsg.chipply.com/cumberland  If you need financial assistance for purchasing the t-shirt, please contact Ms. Heffron, jayne.heffron@wfbschools.com

Cumberland Spring Sing: School’s Out for the Summer! Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 31 at 1:15 PM, Cumberland Elementary Playground. Spring Sing Parent Information.  

Planning for 2023-24: We want to have the most accurate enrollment numbers possible for planning. Please call or email the office (414.963.3943 or John.levek@wfbschools.com) if your child[ren] will not be returning to Cumberland in the fall, or if you have an incoming 4-year old who is not yet enrolled. Tell your neighbors to give us a call if they have someone who will be 4 by September 1, 2023.

2023-24 School Year New Student Enrollment: New student enrollment for all grades for the 2023-24 school year is open.  New student online enrollment information can be found in this link.  Current students do not need to re-enroll; families will complete an online registration in August for the upcoming school year. 

Upcoming No School Dates:  School is not in session on the following  dates. Click here to view the 2022-23 School Year calendar.

• No School, Monday, May 29, 2023, All Grades
• Early Release, Friday, June 9, 2023, 11:30am, K5-5th - Last Day of School

PTO Activities:

Spirit Fridays: Cougar Pride – Show off your Cougar Wear Every Friday!

Staff Appreciation Week: The SAW Committee is asking for the following food items so that we can supplement teacher/staff meals throughout the entire week. Please note that drop-off of requested items is Sunday, April 30, 2-4 pm at the Great Room, Door 9. PTO and SAW Committee members will be present at the school during that window to accept requested items.  Please call or text Christiana Mooney with any questions! Thank you for your support! 847-293-6238  www.signupgenius.com/food items

Spring Scholastic Book Fair: Save the Dates, we will be open right after school on Friday, May 5, 3-5:30 pm, and Saturday, May 6, 5-7 pm just before the Outdoor Movie!  Stock up on books for summer reading!  Don't forget to use up any remaining funds from an e-Wallet you may have set up last Fall.  We will be accepting cash, credit, check, Venmo, Apple Pay, and e-Wallets.  Volunteers are needed for  set-up, run the program, and pack-up of the Book Fair.  Are you available? We'd love to have your help!  Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4AACAC2DA3F49-bookfair

COMPOSTING the rest of the School Year: The students are off to an amazing start!  Each lunch we tell the kids we have three goals:

• Eat up your lunch
• Bring home whatever you didn't touch to show your grown up That made your lunch, so they know what's getting eaten or not 
• Compost!!! 

Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who are helping make this happen!

** The kids have done such an amazing job composting at fun lunch this year...so we are going to try to compost for the rest of the school year!!! BUT we need your help! In order for this to happen, we need TWO volunteers for each lunch. Your ONLY job is to help the students compost! You will get more details/directions as it gets closer: you will have small bins with liners to collect compost at each table to help the kids recognize the difference between compostable lunch items and trash. At the end of lunch, you will bring the compost to the large bins in the back by the trash.

We were given the ok that if you do have a younger aged child, they are welcome to come during your volunteer time in the great room during this time. We ask that they come with some things to occupy them and that they don't take you away from the task at hand, thank you! Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you in advance for your time! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4FA5AA2CA1FE3-composting

Next Fun Lunches: 

• Wednesday, May 3: Special Visitors: Police Officers
• Wednesday, May 24: Special Visitors: Firefighters

SAVE THE DATES:

• Cumberland Family Movie Night! Saturday, May 6th on the back field. Fields open at 6 pm and the movie starts at 7 pm. Generously sponsored in part by Jamie Ludlow - Shorewest Realtors
• Yoga on the front lawn! Led by instructor Senta Metz, Thursday, May 11 right after school. All are welcome! (Rain date May 25)
• Lemonade Social! Friday, May 19 right after school on the blacktop out back by the playground.
• Cumberland Spring Clean Up! Saturday, May 20 from 9-12 (rain date May 21) 
• National Donut Day! Friday, June 2nd in the Great room starting at 7 am…come grab a donut and mingle before school. More details to come! Generously sponsored by Molitor Properties

District News and Notifications:

School Board Meeting: Next Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 7:00 pm, at the WFBHS Library Media Center.   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. Meeting Dates and Agendas located under the Featured tab.

Run the Bay: REGISTRATION IS OPEN! From the Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation, the foundation's main event to fund innovation in the WFB Schools will be held on Saturday, May 6th at Klode Park! Register for the run HERE! Visit us on Facebook for more information on the run along with the other Bay Day activities. Please email educatethebay@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Summer Music Camps for Outgoing Grade 5 through Grade 12:  WFB Music Parents Association offers grants to students who attend summer music camps.  Click to see the grant information and camp ideas.  Contact Kristin Noack with questions: knoack88@gmail.com  All applications are due by Friday, May 26, 2023.d camp ideas

WFBHS Grad Grams: Who do you know who is graduating from WFBHS this year? Your sitter? Your neighbor? Your favorite Sendik’s bagger? The kids you coached in soccer? Send them each a Grad Gram Message! The WFBHS Parent Association is taking orders for Grad Grams from April 17–May 29. For $1 each, you can send a quick note that will be bound in a special book for each senior and delivered at graduation practice. Please see the attached to participate in this fun tradition that is a highlight for our WFB seniors.

Recreation Department:

Bike Rodeo: On Saturday, April 22, this collaborative bike rodeo event with the WFB Police, NSHD and WFB Rec and Community Ed, starts at 11:00 am.

Summer 2023 Program Guide: Whitefish Bay School District's Recreation and Community Education Summer 2023 Program Guide, click here, in Whitefish Bay, we provided a wide variety of summer offerings for youth and adults.