Cumberland Family News
September 9 2024
Friday morning dawned perfectly for the first full day of all student attendance at Cumberland and the entire day flowed smoothly with hardly a snag in sight. Our first lunch and recesses came and went. Students were smiling throughout the day and it was a surprise when 3:00 arrived so quickly.
As is typical, we had a 5K-5th grade all school assembly in late afternoon on Friday. For the first time since 2019, we held the gathering inside because the lake breeze made it nippy on the playground. Imagine, if you will, 550ish students standing to recite the pledge, being led by two 3rd graders, then sitting down and getting quiet within fewer than five seconds. Cumberland students are simply amazing. We complimented the students on their Cougar pride behaviors that were visible - helping new students acclimate, showing flexibility in the lunch room, and remembering public area expectations. An additional theme was the importance of words and how they can be used to inflict hurt or to build someone up.
The gathering closed in hopes for a fantastic year, with the expectation of making new friends, and under the umbrella of much new learning and growth in the upcoming months of school. Thanks for sharing such ready learners with us!
We also look forward to seeing you at Thursday’s Orientation. Individual grade level times are in the announcement section below. Also included in the announcement and news section is a communication about the World Language program.
Parent/Guardian Orientation will be held In Person on September 12th for 5K-5th grade. This adult only event is an opportunity for family adults to meet the teacher and learn about grade level curriculum, expectations, and procedures. We hope to see you there. Schedule below.
- 5:30-6:05- 1st grade and 4th Grade
- 6:10- 6:45- 2nd and 5th grade
- 6:50-7:25- 5k and 3rd grade
Band and Orchestra Registration: (Repeat communication from May):
Band (5th grade) and Orchestra (4th & 5th grade) classes are open for the 2024-25 school year. If your child is interested in participating, please see all of the information linked below.
This year's school portraits have been scheduled on the following dates:
- Class group and 5th grade photos: Friday, 9/13
- Individual student photos: Thursday, 9/26
- Retake day for individual photos: Thursday, 11/7
September
- 13th PTO Popsicle Social at 3:00 on the playground
- 24th 4k/5k Parent Guardian Coffee Social 7:55 a.m
October:
11th - No School
30th - EARLY DISMISSAL, 11:30am
31st- No School
The WFB School District has adopted a new language lab resource called Mango for grades
2-5. More information can be found in this link: Mango Family Information
Whitefish Bay Football Game Expectations: LINK
- Deadline to order FUN LUNCH is this Friday, September 13th: The cost to purchase Fun Lunch is $60.00 per student for the year. If you haven’t ordered your student Fun Lunch and would like to, please place your order on the PTO website at https://cumberlandpto.membershiptoolkit.com/Open_Forms. First Fun lunch is October 2nd.
- Due to liability purposes, Cumberland cannot offer a student Fun Lunch without parental consent. If you want your child to have Fun Lunch beginning October 2nd, please either purchase Fun Lunch on the PTO website or contact our principal Jayne Heffron at jayne.heffron@wfbschools.com about a scholarship opportunity.
- Back to School Popsicle Social! On Friday, September 13th at 3 pm, come to the back blacktop after school on Friday, September 13th, for a FREE popsicle to celebrate the first week of school.
- PTO Meeting! Join us for the first PTO meeting of the 24/25 school year on September 17th in the Great Room at 7:00 pm, all are welcome!
- Touch a Truck/Safety Fair! Together with North Shore Fire Department and the Whitefish Bay Police Department, students will be able to touch rescue vehicles, learn about safety, view demonstrations, and more! There will also be a first aid kit making station (while supplies last) generously donated by Molitor Properties! This event will take place on the back black top on September 18th at 3pm.
- K4 and K5 Kinder Coffee for Parents/Guardians! Join us on September 24th after AM and PM drop off in front of the K4 and K5 doors for a complimentary cup of coffee provided by the PTO and take the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new friends! Younger siblings are welcome!
- The PTO is excited for a new school year. If you haven't already, we invite you to create an account in Membership Toolkit (MTK). Your MTK Account is free, and all Cumberland families need a Membership Toolkit Account. Go to https://cumberlandpto.membershiptoolkit.com/home. Once there, please update your child(s) teacher assignment so you can receive communication from the PTO and your child’s room parent(s).
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
· *UPDATE your information and add your child(s) teacher to your account to be sure to receive information about Cumberland and your child(s) classroom.
o ** If you don’t have a membership toolkit account, please create a FREE account. Go to: 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, September 18 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.
New Immunization Requirements
The Department of Health Services has updated immunization requirements for school-aged children. These requirements for school-age children will go into effect at the beginning of the 2024–2025 school year. If your family is interested in signing a waiver, please contact your healthcare provider or the district nurse.
Changes include:
- Meningococcal (MenACWY-containing) vaccine has been added as a requirement for students entering seventh grade, and a booster dose for eligible students entering 12th grade.
- If a child has had chickenpox, a parent report of chickenpox disease is no longer acceptable for exemption from the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine requirement. Children must have a diagnosis of chickenpox from a qualified health care provider (M.D., D.O., N.P., or P.A.) to be exempt from this requirement, however existing exemption options still apply.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services website includes additional information. We encourage you to contact your healthcare provider if you have specific questions, or to schedule an appointment for a vaccine.
Reminder: Enhanced Technology Safety
To enhance the culture of safety in our schools and in our greater community, the District continues to partner with Lightspeed Alert to improve upon our online monitoring system of student devices for specific safety indicators. See the following link for more information - LINK
The WFB Music Parents Association (MPA) now represents 4th and 5th grade strings and band parents at both Cumberland and Richards! The MPA is the district's 2nd largest parent organization and has been in operation since the 1950s. We provide resources for our awesome music directors and music students. We are always looking for volunteers. The easiest way to help is to join MPA here.
Our fall open meeting is on September 23rd at 7pm in the high school band room. Please join us! Questions? Contact Gretchen Seamons at wfbmpa@gmail.com for more information!
Whitefish Bay Schools' Orchestras invites you to join us for our largest annual fundraiser, Portraits in the Park, supporting Whitefish Bay Schools' Orchestras!
- See flyer for details. Link is embedded in the flyer.
- Quick link to schedule a sitting, click here.
- Reach out to wfbobpresident@gmail.com with questions.