Cumberland Family News
March 10, 2025
Friday Shout Outs: 5th grade readers with 5K cheerers
Students who arrive after 7:51 when the grade level doors are locked come through the front school doors in the morning. I greet these students and record them as being tardy. Our usual number is in the 7-9 range. This morning, I was still writing names on a second sheet of paper, with more than 25 students being tardy. Knowing that Daylight Savings time started yesterday, we draw a direct line to the challenges of getting out of bed at what our bodies tell us is an hour too early. If memory serves me well, though, by the end of the week we will all be embracing the extra daylight hours after school, especially as spring sports get underway! Then, the challenge is to get kiddos into bed at an early enough hour to be well rested for school.
Speaking of challenges, do you wonder where those expensive Owala water bottles you got for your children disappear to? Cumberland holds the answer, for at least some, as we regularly accumulate bottles in our lost and found. You may want to consider writing your child’s last name on the bottom of the bottle, facilitating its return to the owner.
Class Placement 2025-26: We will soon begin creating tentative class groupings for next year. Classroom groupings are created with the input of multiple Cumberland staff members and adjusted throughout the summer as enrollments change. All student placements are carefully considered whether you submit this form or not and it is important to note that teachers do not select the students who are in their classes. You are invited to provide us with information that you feel will be helpful in the class placement process for your child for the 2025-26 school year, using this form. The form will be available online through April 1, 2025. Requests for specific teachers are not honored.
Spring Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences: Spring conferences, March 20th, are optional, and can be requested by the teacher or parent/guardian. Families who the teacher is requesting to meet with will receive an email by mid day today, and can schedule starting today at 3:00 PM. The scheduling window for everyone else is March 7th-17th. Further details are below.
Kind regards,
Jayne Heffron and Rebecca Salomon
Upcoming Events
March 18: PTO meeting 7pm-8pm
March 20- 21: No School
March 24th-28th: Spring Break- No School
Wisconsin Forward Exam: Students in grades 3-5 will be participating in the Wisconsin Forward Exam testing in April. More detailed information can be found in this brochure. All testing will take place in the morning. Your help in not making morning appointments on these dates is much appreciated!
In addition, please ensure that fifth graders come to school with their fully charged Chromebook.
Third Grade: April 1-2 and April 8-11
- Fourth Grade: April 1-2, 4 and April 8-11
- Fifth Grade: April 1-2 and April 8-15
Spring Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences:
Spring conferences are held on an as-needed basis. They can be scheduled by either family or teacher request. Conferences will be held for grades 4K through 5th grade on Thursday, March 20:
12:30–4:00pm In-Person
5:00–8:00pm Virtual
Teachers may recommend a conference if they see a change in achievement based on student progress indicators, behavior, or work habits. Conference scheduling will be done using your Family Access Account by March 6th if a conference is teacher recommended.
Families may also wish to schedule a conference to discuss any new concerns or to receive updates on student progress toward previously established concerns or goals even if they have not received a recommendation from their child’s teacher. This conference signup window is March 7-17.
Spring conferences: March 20
Teachers prepare extensively for conferences, and March 20 is the date allocated for Spring conferences when teachers are not teaching. Teachers are not allowed to schedule conferences outside of this window. If your child’s teacher has any concerns and you are not able to attend on March 20 (in person or virtually), the teacher will send an email with a summary.
Two-household parents/guardians sometimes request separate conferences. This is problematic as the dialogue, discussion, and conclusions in each conference may vary. Therefore, parents/ guardians are asked to attend one conference together and to sign up accordingly. Thank you ahead of time for cooperating with this structure.
2025-2026 School Year Enrollment
2025-2026 School Year NEW Student Enrollment: 4K - 5th Grade new student enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open.
Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process.
Currently Enrolled Students: Current students are not required to re-enroll. Families of current students will complete Online Registration in August prior to the upcoming school year.
Students Not Returning: If for any reason, your child(ren) will not be returning to Cumberland next year, please contact our office at 414-963-3943 or by email at: john.levek@wfbschools.com
Enrollment Questions? Contact the Cumberland's Office at 414-963-3943.
March PTO Meeting: Are you interested in helping with a PTO event or just curious to
see what the PTO is all about?! Please come join us on Tuesday, March 18 th at 7 pm in
the Great Room.
Join the PTO Team: We are looking for a 2025-2026 deposit treasurer. This is a two-
year position. First year as a deposit treasurer and then you transition to the treasurer
the second year. Please email cumberlandschoolpto@gmail.com with any questions!
Staff Appreciation Week: Calling all volunteers! We need your help in creating and
executing the most exceptional Staff Appreciation Week! Please email
mooney.christiana@gmail.com with interest!
Cumberland Yearbook: The deadline to order yearbooks is Wednesday, April 16.
Make sure to double check your account on Membership Toolkit and view your receipts
to make sure you ordered. Every year there are many parents who believe they ordered
but did not. We don’t want anyone who desires a yearbook to go without. For questions
regarding yearbook issues, please reach out to Jillian
Cooper: jillian.gs.cooper@gmail.com or 816.589.1143.
Cumberland's Admirals Night Out! Join your Cumberland friends at the UWM
Panther Arena to see the Milwaukee Admirals take on the Rockford Ice Hogs on March
16th at 3pm. Please use this link https://fevo-
enterprise.com/event/Cumberlandelementary4 to purchase your tickets! Hope to see
you there!
Lunch Composting: Volunteers Needed! We are looking for volunteers to help with
composting during lunch from 11-1:05pm. Opportunities available daily. Signup for one
day, or many! The time commitment is small, and kids tend to love the surprise of
seeing their adult mid-day :-)
Signup Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DAAA82BAAFAC07-54358685-daily
Cumberland Online School Store is OPEN! The Cumberland Elementary School
online store has been launched! Orders are due by Monday, March 10 th .
The direct link for the store is: https://bsg.chipply.com/cumberlandspring/
Friday Spirit Days: A reminder to wear your Cumberland Cougar spirit wear on Fridays
to show your school spirit! Let’s go Cumby Cougars!
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.
Next School Board Meeting: Wednesday, March 12 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.
Whitefish Bay MPA Summer Music Grant – Apply Now!
The Whitefish Bay Music Parents Association (MPA) is excited to support our young musicians through our Summer Music Grant Program!
Who’s Eligible?
Students entering grades 6-12 next year
Must participate in orchestra, band, and/or choir at school
Parents/guardians must be current MPA members
What’s Covered?
A $100 Summer Grant (or the cost of the activity if less)
Can be used for a summer music clinic, class, or camp (not private lessons)
We encourage all students to keep the music going this summer with camps and clinics!
Apply now and take advantage of this amazing opportunity!
From the Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation:
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Run the Bay is the foundation's primary annual event to fund innovation in the WFB public schools.
The 5k run/walk and kids' races will be held on Saturday, May 3rd at Klode Park!
New this year: $25 discount for WFB public school teachers!
Back by popular demand... raffle prizes! Every race participant receives an entry into the raffle prize of their choice.
You can register for the run HERE! Dates to note: early bird pricing ends 4/6, and t-shirt deadline is 4/21.
Visit us on Facebook for more information on the run along with the other Bay Day activities. Interested in sponsorship opportunities, raffle donation, or volunteer positions? Please email the race organizers.
