Cumberland Thursday Folder
February 29, 2024
Dear Cumberland Families,
As I tell my now grown children that I am a better parent when I am not actually parenting, I wonder if I was a better Grandparent before I was one. Seeing my peers rush in to help grandchildren, or to look like a pack horse when picking up children from school carrying multiple children’s backpacks and coats which the children were completely capable of doing themselves just a few minutes earlier, it was easy for me to be judgemental about everything those grandparents were doing for the grandchildren. Now, having a 15 month old grandchild myself, I understand differently what it is like to want to help or support a child, and my inclinations are different than they were when I had my own young children. This contrast makes it perfect timing for my reading about ‘productive struggle.’
Barbara Blackburn, author and educator says: “Productive struggle is what I call the "sweet spot" in between scaffolding and support. Rather than immediately helping students at the first sign of trouble, we should allow them to work through struggles independently before we offer assistance. That may sound counterintuitive, since many of us assume that helping students learn means protecting them from negative feelings of frustration. But for students to become independent learners, they must learn to persist in the face of challenge.”
There are many connections between the importance of allowing productive struggle in my personal and my professional lives. At Cumberland, we are constantly on the lookout for that sweet spot, allowing students the opportunity right at the edge of their current learning and not stepping in too quickly. This applies in everything from the most basic skills, such as putting on boots, to the much more complex problem solving of working through peer conflicts or developing deep understandings of writing an Argumentative piece with a claim, counter claim, reason and evidence.
In my personal life, it means allowing Frances to repeatedly try to climb up onto the furniture or apple box, even with the attendant slipping back down and sometimes even a squeal of frustration. I hear the noise of frustration, too, when I step in to try to make it ‘easier’ by helping, which turns out to be helping too much, taking away the challenge and the opportunity to develop new capabilities.
I suggest that for all of us who are raising or working with children, the hardest part may be standing on the sidelines as a child struggles, perhaps even showing frustration, and to allow them this opportunity to productively struggle. As Blackburn said, …”allow them to work through struggles independently before we offer assistance.” When we do not allow this opportunity, we are taking away the child’s opportunity to develop new muscles, new learning and new skills. Let’s allow the opportunity for productive struggle, even when it means we step back instead of forward!
Happy Leap Year Day.
Warm regards,
Jayne Heffron and Rebecca Salomon
Upcoming Events
MARCH
4th -15th Student Council Book Drive: Literacy Services of Milwaukee
5th - You Can Do It! Building Children's Independence & Efficacy for Success, details below
6th - FUN Lunch
12th - K5 Music Concert, 5:30pm and 1st Grade Concert 6:30pm
21st - Optional Spring Conferences, 12:00 - 4:00pm - In-person and 5:00 - 8:00 pm - Virtual
Thursday, 3/21 thru Monday, 4/1 - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
You Can Do It! Building Children's Independence & Self Efficacy for Success, Tues, Mar 5, 6-7pm in the Library MakerSpace:
Please join us for a parenting session presented by Dr. Nathanael Schwarz of the North Shore Center. Dr. Schwarz will present tips and ideas for building routines and procedures, helping children with appropriately leveled challenges and using Zone of Regulation at home. This one hour session will include time for a Q & A. We hope to see you there!
Planning for the 2024-25 School Year is Already Underway:
Accurate student numbers are important for sectioning and staffing decisions. Please contact John, John.levek@wfbschools.com or Barb, barb.fleming@wfbschools.com in the office if your child/children will not be returning to Cumberland next year.
NEW Student Enrollment: 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.
March and April Lunch Composting:
Please consider signing up for one (or more) daily composting lunch spots! Grandparents and other
adult family members are always welcome, too! While there are two spots available, if we can try to
fill up only one per time to spread out volunteers, it would be appreciated. We cannot do this
program without you! We have made it this far, and it would be awesome to be able to compost the
entire year! Thank you! Sign up to compost here:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080B4FA5AA2CA1FE3-lunch1
Milwaukee Admirals Ticket Offer:
Join all of your Cumberland School friends and family at Panther Arena (510 W Kilbourn Avenue,
Milwaukee, 53202) for a fun-filled afternoon of Admirals hockey! The game is on Sunday, March
3rd at 3 pm. Tickets cost $10 and $3 of each ticket sale goes to Children’s Wisconsin. Order your
tickets at: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Cumberlandelementary The order deadline is March
3rd at 1 pm.
Cumberland Spirit Night at Kawa:
Take a night off from cooking dinner and head to Kawa Japanese Restaurant (325 W Sliver Spring).
Dine in or take out on Tuesday, March 5 th from 4- 9 pm. If you mention Cumberland Spirt Night,
Kawa will donate 10% to the PTO!
Staff Appreciation Week:
If you ever wanted an opportunity to make a difference and show our teachers and school staff just
how much they’re appreciated, that opportunity is here! Please consider volunteering for Staff
Appreciation Week! Email Christiana Mooney (mooney.christiana@gmail.com) if you would like to
be part of this year’s committee.
Join us for our March PTO meeting:
We would love for you to join us at the next PTO meeting on Tuesday, March 5 th at 7 pm in the
Great Room.
Fun Lunch:
A reminder that Fun Lunch is coming up on Wednesday, March 6 th .
Here
Spring Cumberland Cougar Wear Sale:
Mark your calendars! The Spring Cougar Spirit Wear Sale runs March 1-18. Pick up will be mid-
April. Be sure to grab T-shirts, sweatshirts, and some of the new updated tie-dyed options we have!
If you have any questions, let Sam Cruz know (sam417@gmail.com).
Visit Our PTO Website:
Check out our revamped PTO website for everything you'll need to know about upcoming PTO
events, volunteering, fundraising opportunities, and more!
Like us on Facebook and Instagram, too! @CumberlandPTO
Friday Spirit Wear Days:
A reminder to wear your Cumberland Cougar wear on Fridays to show off your school spirit! Let’s
go Cumby Cougars!
Student Supervision in School Buildings After School Hours
Dear Whitefish Bay School District Community,
To ensure safety and proper supervision, it is imperative that all students who are in the building beyond regular school hours are participating in school-sponsored activities or events. Only students actively participating in a school-sponsored activity or event before or after school hours are allowed to be in the building.
Any students who are not actively participating in a school-sponsored activity or event will be required to leave the building. This is not intended to discourage student participation in activities and events in any way; this is to ensure safety and appropriate supervision in the buildings. Should you have any inquiries or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your student’s principal.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in prioritizing a safe environment for all students.
School Board Meeting Information: Next Wednesday, March 13th
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.
Bay Gives Back: Dress Campaign, March 4th - 8th
Bay Gives Back will be hosting a dress drive in partnership with Dress Campaign, Inc at Whitefish Bay High School the first week of March 4th - 8th. The purpose of Dress Campaign is to provide lightly worn formal dresses and repurpose them for girls who might not otherwise have the opportunity to choose a new dance dress, at no cost, and have their own for their special night. The Dress Campaign, Inc. was founded by a current high school student, Bella Smith, at Brookfield Academy and we are excited to join in to help this great cause.
The goal of this drive is to collect lightly worn homecoming, prom, and winter formal dance dresses this spring in order to repurpose and redistribute them to high school students all across the state of Wisconsin.
Collection Times in the High School Rotunda:
March 4th - 8th (During Lunch: 12:00-12:45pm)
March 5th - 7th (After School: 3:45PM - 5:00pm)
Thank you,
Bay Gives Back Leadership Team
WFBHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Event: Whitefish Bay High School's FBLA is coordinating a concert in support of the March of Dimes. Click the link below to purchase tickets or donate to this event.