Cumberland Family News
October 25th, 2026
Fun Run Success!
Thank you, thank you! Your support resulted in the Fun Run raising approximately $42,000. Wednesday was a perfect day and as we have come to expect, Christine, Emily and Arden had the event perfectly organized, including the high school helpers. These funds help the PTO continue the programming they provide and this year will also support teachers' special requests. We are grateful that your support means we can do only one major fundraiser a year to keep things running smoothly.
Wednesday's Halloween Costumes and Parade:
As a reminder, student Halloween costumes at school must:
- Allow students to participate in classroom learning (be able to sit down and also to use the bathroom independently)
- Have no face coverings
- Be G rated - no blood or guts
- Include no toy weapons
Inflatables and costumes that are too large or cumbersome to sit down in are not allowed. Students are not allowed to add elements 'just for the parade.' Please help your child wear only costumes that meet these criteria. It is upsetting to students if they arrive at school and are told that they have to remove a costume. The parade is across the back playground at 11:00. Student dismissal is at 11:30.
Parent/Guardian Teacher conferences are Wednesday 4-8:00 (with time adjustments to accommodate Game 5 of the World Series) and Thursday 11:00 - 7:00. Online sign ups are closed so please email the teacher directly if you did not sign up yet. The teacher will be able to tell you available slots. Also, the teacher should send you a link for all virtual conferences. Email the teacher Tuesday morning if you have not received the link.
More Notes:
- Tuesday, November 3rd, is Election Day. You are encouraged to go to the polls to vote.
- Sunday, November 1st is the end of Daylight Savings time. Turn clocks back one hour.
- Many students are being diagnosed with Influenza A. For all illnesses, students must be fever free for 24 hours without medication before they can return to school. Please be diligent about this to reduce the possibility of spread. Thanks.
Reminder, there is no school for students Thursday or Friday, and let's go Brewers!
Warm regards,
Jayne Heffron and Chamari Moore
Upcoming Dates
October 22nd-28th: Fall Book Fair (hours and links for volunteering are below)
October 28th:11:00- Halloween Parade (on the playground, weather permitting)
October 28th: No School for 4K
October 28th: 11:30 Early Release 5K-5th grade, Conferences 4:00-8:00
October 29th: 11:00-7:00 Conferences
October 29th-30th: No School for students
November 11th-22nd: PTO Stone Creek Coffee Fundraiser
November 12th: Picture Retakes
FALL BOOK FAIR
Help Run or Shop the Book Fair
Friday 10/23 - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday 10/26 - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 10/27 - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 10/28 - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM & 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Help Pack Up the Book Fair
(Super easy -- just putting books in boxes, closing our big book cases, and taking down tables -- the more the merrier!)
Wednesday, October 28th - 8:00 - 9:00 PM
As in the past, 5K through 5th grade students will visit the book fair during the day with their classroom. Students in 4K are welcome to stop by the book fair before or after their school day to shop with a parent/guardian.
The Scholastic eWallet is back and a wonderful tool to make book fair shopping and payments easier for your student, if you choose not to send them with cash. Use the link on our book fair webpage to create an “eWallet” for your child. Please create a separate account for each child in your family and identify his/her homeroom teacher. TIP: Please consider adding an extra $1 to cover the sales tax. Visit our school’s book fair website to create your eWallet!
Elegant Farmer Pie Sale
Don’t miss out on your holiday favorites! Order by Tuesday, 11/3 to snag your ready-to-bake pies, cider-baked hams, and fruit bread duo from the Elegant Farmer — a delicious treat that truly tastes better than homemade!
Order Deadline: Monday, 11/3
Pick-Up: Thursday, 11/19 on the Cumberland blacktop
https://cumberlandpto.membershiptoolkit.com/orderelegantfarmer
Stone Creek Coffee Sale
Monday, November 2 – Friday, November 20
Hey Cumberland families! Want to get a jump start on your holiday shopping or stock up on warm beverages for winter? You are in luck as the Stone Creek Coffee fundraiser is back by popular demand!
We are excited to announce Black Sheep has been added to the product line up! Black Sheep balances rich chocolate sweetness with vibrant fruit notes. In addition to the other amazing Stone Creek Coffee blends (see below), and the “Cougar Blend”in our own custom bag (which features the Green DragonRoast), we are also pleased to offer gift cards. Stock up today!
We anticipate orders to arrive about 2 weeks after the close of the fundraiser and available by mid-December. Pick up will be in the main vestibule at Cumberland. Email notifications will be sent when your orders are ready; they will be individually packaged bags by family.
Order through the PTO Website.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Wishing you and your families a happy holiday season!
Products available for purchase include:
SCHOOL PICTURE RETAKES
Individual Student Picture Retakes will be taken on Thursday, November 12th.
Hot Cocoa Social
Join us after school on the playground on Friday, November 13th for a cup of hot cocoa!
HOBBY LOBBY is on display!
Kids are enjoying the hobby lobby displays. If you have any questions or any changes are needed, please contact PTO.hobbylobby@gmail.com.
Composting Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for volunteers to help with composting during lunch from 11:05 AM–1:05 PM. Opportunities are available daily. Sign up for one day or many!
The time commitment is small, and kids tend to love the surprise of seeing their adult midday. Little siblings are welcome to tag along with their adult.
Sign up here for October–November:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DAAA82BAAFAC07-65561495-daily
School Grounds Volunteers Needed!
Calling all green thumbs, nature lovers, and anyone else not afraid to get their hands dirty! The PTO School Grounds Committee is looking for volunteers to help in a variety of ways. If you are a gardener or love working outside, help is needed with seasonal care for the flower beds around Cumberland. If you are interested in planning events to involve more community members and kids in caring for the gardens, learning about gardens and the animals they support, such as pollinators, or sharing other ideas for beautifying the Cumberland Elementary School grounds, please contact Susan Ellsworth at sells1345@gmail.com for more information.
Volunteer Opportunities: Want to volunteer at Cumberland? Find current opportunities in Membership Toolkit under the “Volunteer Opportunities” tab. https://cumberlandpto.membershiptoolkit.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 https://cumberlandpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
On Tuesday, November 3, our community will vote on a $90 million facilities referendum for the Whitefish Bay School District.
The proposed referendum was directly shaped by feedback and input we received from the community over the summer following the unsuccessful referendum in April, in which
a $135.6 million ballot measure finished roughly 300 votes short of passing.
More than 2,100 people made their voices heard through the communitywide survey. Specifically, about 86% of respondents said the prior referendum’s total cost and potential tax impact were too high.
The Board of Education ultimately responded with the new $90 million referendum proposal. If approved, the funds will pay for a series of targeted capital improvement projects, including a multi-year plan to rebuild and renovate the century-old Middle School.
📺WATCH: Middle School renovation time-lapse video
Also planned with the referendum funds are critical updates at the High School campus, including the replacement of failing HVAC systems and upgrades to the fire sprinkler and alarm systems.
Fire protection and alarm system updates will also be realized at Cumberland and Richards if the referendum receives support from at least 50% of voters.
Please visit our referendum website at www.wfbreferendum.org to learn more. This online resource features project details, answers to FAQs, a property tax calculator, and voting information.
➤ Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for updates
JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 2!
Our final referendum information session will be held on Monday, November 2, at Middle School Gym beginning at 6 p.m. This event will feature a presentation by district leaders, a building tour, and a question-and-answer session.
FAQ OF THE WEEK
Question: What is the district’s credit rating, how does it compare statewide, and what impact does this have on future funding?
Answer: The Whitefish Bay School District has one of the highest credit ratings in the state: Aa1 from Moody’s. This rating places Whitefish Bay among the top public school districts in Wisconsin. Currently, only three public school districts have a higher credit rating than Whitefish Bay, with a Moody’s rating of Aaa.
For the district to obtain the highest credit rating, the community would need much more development of commercial and industrial properties.
The difference in interest rate that an organization could receive between an Aaa credit rating and an Aa1 rating is minimal. With a strong rating of Aa1 from Moody’s, the Whitefish Bay School District would be in an ideal position to secure a competitive interest rate if a capital referendum was approved by the community.
Public school districts in Wisconsin will receive a credit rating from one of two agencies: Moody’s or S&P Global. Each agency has its own scale and the factors that determine a rating include resident income, property values, enrollment trends, available fund balance, net cash ratio, the state funding system, long-term liabilities ratio, and fixed-costs ratio.
Have a question of your own? Please use our submission form to share it with district administrators.
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.
October 7th, School Board Takeways
Up Coming School Board Meeting: Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00pm, at Whitefish Bay High School Library Media Center. Click here to view the 2026-2027 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.
Shared Fields and Facilities
Please read an important letter from WFB Activities Director Randee Drew about protecting the shared fields and facilities our families love and use every day. Open access leads to heavy wear and tear, and avoidable damage diverts vital resources away from our student-athletes. By taking a few moments to review this message and talk with your children, you can help us keep our school grounds safe, pristine, and fully accessible without resorting to locked gates.
WFB Public Education Foundation’s 2026 Annual Fall Pledge Drive
The WFB Public Education Foundation’s 2026 Annual Fall Pledge Drive kicked off on October 10th! The Foundation supports the Whitefish Bay Schools by funding innovative educational projects, educator grants and student scholarships. The Foundation also provides long term financial support.
Your generosity helps ensure continued academic, artistic and athletic excellence in Whitefish Bay.
The pledge drive takes place October 10 – December 31. Show your support by donating at www.educatethebay.com TODAY!
