Cumberland Family News

Dear Families,

It can be difficult to find the balance between students attending school regularly, which is so important to academic and social emotional success, and staying home when sick. We are currently seeing a significant number of student absences, as is not uncommon at this time of the year. Colds, strep, unidentified respiratory conditions and who knows what else are all circulating, as you may be experiencing in your own home! In general, students have to be fever free for 24 hours, without medication, before they can return to school. Below are some further details, taken from the Cumberland Health room website to help you decide when to keep children out of school. Feel free to contact the Health room if you have questions.

Main points to remember are:

• FEVER: A child may have a fever in the evening, then be without a fever the next morning. If sent to school, the fever may return later in the school day. The Whitefish Bay School District's policy states to exclude a child from school with a temperature of 100.4 or greater. Please keep your child home until fever-free for 24 hours without the help of fever-reducing medication.

• VOMIT: The 24 hour rule also pertains to students who vomit due to illness.

• COMMUNICABLE DISEASES: Students are excluded from school with communicable diseases including: Pertussis, Hand Foot and Mouth. This is not an all-inclusive list. Contact the health room with questions.

• PERSISTENT COUGH, COUGHING SPELLS, VOMITING, EXHAUSTION, DIARRHEA: These are all reasons to keep a child home. If these signs and symptoms (S&S) continue, medical evaluation is appropriate.

• SORE THROAT: Irritation of the throat can be caused by persistent coughing, post-nasal drainage (drainage down the back of the throat from sinus and nasal passages due to a cold, allergies, or sinus infections), or throat infections such as Streptococcus bacteria (Strep Throat). Some children are more susceptible to Strep infections and develop a beefy-red throat, fever, swollen glands in the neck, nausea, and headache. Others may have a Strep infection and show mild or no S&S. Strep infections can lead to other infections such as Rheumatic Fever that can seriously damage major organs. Medical evaluation is important to rule out Strep infections.

Looking forward, we hope everyone is healthy enough to attend PTO's Cultural Celebration, January 30th!

Reminders:

• Fun Lunch is this Wednesday, January 15th
• No school for students the next two Mondays

Kind regards,

Jayne Heffron and Rebecca Salomon

January 15- Fun Lunch

January 20 - No School 4k-5th grade

January 24- Early dismissal at 11:30 for 5k- 5th grade. No School for 4k

January 27 - No School 4k-5th grade

4-Year Old Kindergarten (4K) Enrollment Open for the 2025-2026 School Year

4K Online Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open. Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process. We look forward to welcoming new students and families next Fall. Please contact the Cumberland office at 414-963-3943 with any questions.

Reminder!! Fun Lunch- Wednesday January 15th!

We need Volunteers for Lunch Composting! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered this year! We are looking for volunteers for December and January! Please sign up using the link:

Composting-sign-up

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

• Sign-up to host a table by December 18 (see item #1 below)
• Sign-up to help out at the event (see item #2 below)
• Add the event to your calendar and prepare for an immersive experience (see item #3 below)
• Don't plan to host a table? We still want to showcase, photograph and celebrate your culture. On event day, get dressed in your cultural garment and/or accessory. Garments of our heritage, even if we wear them on special occasions only or never :-), can still serve as a visual reminder of our culture. (see item #4 below).

1. HOST A TABLE: Sign-up to host a table and teach us about your family's culture and traditions. Your role as a table host is to engage students in an activity that teaches them about a tradition or custom that is practiced or observed in your culture. The activity or activities must be school-appropriate. The length of your table is approximately 6 feet. Table hosts may provide commercially pre-packaged snacks only at the event. The packaging must include the list of ingredients. Complete our sign-up form no later than January 20th.

2. VOLUNTEER TO HELP: We need volunteers to help with overseeing pizza service, distributing passports to all kids at the door of the event, etc. Hours are between 4:30 - 6:30pm. Send Deidre Beadle an email at deidrebeadle@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer.

3. BRING YOUR CHILD TO THE EVENT: Save the date: 1/30/25 @ 5pm - 6:30pm - Immerse yourselves in all the unique ways that families at Cumberland celebrate their cultures. There will be approximately 17 cultures represented from the US and other countries. It will be dinner time, so pizza will be available.

4. SELECT A GARMENT OR AN ACCESSORY WITH YOUR CHILD THAT REPRESENTS YOUR CULTURE AND HAVE THEM WEAR IT TO SCHOOL AND/OR THE EVENT: Select a school-appropriate garment or accessory that your little cougar can wear to school on Thursday, January 30 to celebrate your family’s culture. We are inviting ALL families and staff to do so, whether your familial heritage is from the US - Northeast, South, Midwest, Pacific Northwest or another country. This is optional of course.

EVENT COMMITTEE + CONTACT INFORMATION

Deidre Beadle deidrebeadle@gmail.com

Christiana Mooney mooneychristiana@gmail.com

Ruta Puistomaa ruta.puistomaa@gmail.com

LIKE, Follow, and Update your Family Information!

 Be sure to LIKE our Facebook page- Cumberland PTO

 Please visit the PTO website for all PTO updates at www.cumberlandpto.com

Student Attendance FAQ

The linked document includes answers to frequently asked questions related to student attendance, excused and unexcused absences, make-up work, and more. Please carefully review the linked information. 2024-25 Student Attendance FAQ

School Board Meeting Takeaways: Curious about what is discussed at School Board Meetings? Linked below, you'll find key takeaways from the most recent School Board Meeting. Additional information can be found on the Board of Education website.

Jan 8 Board Meeting Takeaways

Next School Board Meeting: Wednesday, January 29 at 7:00pm, at Whitefish Bay High School Auditorium. Click here to view the 2024-2025 School Board Meeting dates.

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 located under featured tab/documents
• Agendas located under featured or meeting tabs

Join Us: Facilities Focus Groups

Our district is working to develop a plan to ensure our facilities are best suited to meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Based on feedback from our community and our district’s goals, we’re focused on developing ideas around collaborative spaces and modernized learning environments. We invite you and your family to share their thoughts with us through the opportunities outlined below:

Student Focus Groups

Your student’s perspective is essential as we plan improvements to support your academic, social, and future goals. We want to hear your student’s ideas on how updates to classrooms, common areas, and other school facilities could enhance their experience at their school.

Please let us know if you would like your child (grades 3 - 12) to participate in a focus group by clicking here to add their name and your agreement to allow them to participate in the group during the week of February 24-28. The focus group will include 5-7 students and be about 15-20 minutes long with a facilitator and notetaker. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Jamie Foeckler, jamie.foeckler@wfbschools.com, 414-963-3901.

Community Member Focus Groups

We are excited to invite you to participate in a focus group as we develop a plan to ensure our facilities best meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Your insights are invaluable as we evaluate the condition of our school buildings, evolving educational practices, projected enrollment trends, and other factors to shape recommendations for repairs and updates to facilities to the school board and administration.

The focus group will occur during the week of February 24-28 and will last approximately 15-20 minutes, facilitated by a leader/notetaker. If you would like to participate, please click here to confirm your participation. For any questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Jamie Foeckler, jamie.foeckler@wfbschools.com, 414-963-3901.

Thank you for your support in improving our schools!

"The Whitefish Bay High School Orchestras present their annual Music for Munchkins Concert on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

In addition to a musical performance, the event will feature fun crafts and a string instrument "petting zoo" from 12:30 to 1:15 pm during which children of all ages will have the chance to touch and play the various string instruments, generously provided by Brass Bell Music Store.

The musical performance, Stringman: Into the Stringverse, will begin at 1:30 pm. Fifth grade orchestra students from Richards and Cumberland will make a guest appearance during the performance.

Music for Munchkins will be held in the Whitefish Bay High School Auditorium, 1200 E. Fairmount Avenue, Whitefish Bay. Enter through Door 11 of the Music Wing. Admission is free.

Come join the fun and the adventures of Stringman Multiverse!”

The WFB Recreation Department is offering Afterschool Spanish beginning in February.

For more information and sign up details click on flyer below.

Website: https://www.wfbschools.com/schools/cumberland/
Location: 4780 North Marlborough Drive, Whitefish Bay, WI, USA
Phone: 414-963-3943
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WFBSchools/