Cumberland Family News
October 19th, 2026
For Obvious Reasons!!
There are many opportunities to gather in the upcoming weeks including tomorrow's PTO meeting and Wednesday's Fun Run. See the calendar and PTO section below for other opportunities.
Planning forward, remember that next week Wednesday, October 29th, 5K-5th grade students are welcome to wear school appropriate Halloween costumes (no inflatables, face covering masks, toy weapons or blood/gore) and the parade is at 11:00 on the playground. Students are dismissed at 11:30, following the regular dismissal routine. Conferences are October 28th and 29th. Please reach out to your child's teacher directly next Monday, October 27th, if you have not yet received a link for an online conference.
A note in planning for a virtual conference: Please be sure that students are not where they can see or hear the adult conversation. Experience tells us that students sometimes misinterpret a comment or conversation from a conference, and we do not want any unintended messages to be received by students.
Warm regards,
Jayne Heffron and Chamari Moore
Upcoming Dates
October 10th-22nd: Online Cougarwear sale
October 20th: PTO Meeting - Dr. Foeckler in attendance for a Referendum Update
October 21st: Re-scheduled Fun Run
October 22nd-28th: Fall Book Fair
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
This year the student council is planning a monthly spirit day on the third Tuesday of every month!
On Tuesday October 20th it is Sports Day! (3rd, 4th and 5th have a field trip to the Symphony so they will want to change into sports gear after the trip.)
Students are invited to:
Wear favorite sports jersey (professional sports or their own)
Wear a sports uniform (If dance/gymnastics/swim suit–wear with pants!)
Wear a sports hat!
No props, equipment or helmets please!
SEL Information gathering:
As part of our District Focus Plan, we are committed to “supporting the individual needs of the whole child in a safe, caring, and inclusive learning environment.” In October, we will complete two assessments to help us better understand and support our students at Cumberland.
Belongingness Survey
During the week of October 19, students in 5K through 5th grade will be invited to complete a brief, three-question survey about their feelings of belonging, connection, and engagement with peers and adults at Cumberland.
The results will help us identify opportunities to strengthen students’ social and emotional well-being and determine where additional support may be helpful. If a student’s responses indicate a need for support, a staff member will follow up with the student.
Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA)
Following the Belongingness Survey, school staff will complete the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) for students in 5K through 5th grade. This assessment helps us better understand students’ social and emotional strengths and identify ways to support their continued growth. You can find additional information HERE.
We will use the insights from both assessments to inform our classroom practices and schoolwide planning. Our goal is to ensure every student feels connected, supported, and ready to learn and grow at Cumberland..
JOIN US for the October PTO Meeting!
We invite all Cumberland families to join us for our October PTO meeting Tuesday, October 20th at 7pm in the great room.
As we approach the November referendum, Dr. Foeckler will be joining us to provide an informational update on the upcoming referendum. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from Dr. Foeckler, learn more about the referendum, and have your questions answered.
Whether you regularly attend PTO meetings or have never joined us before, ALL Cumberland parents and guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend!
COUGARWEAR SALE!
Stock up to show of your Cougar Pride! Online sales begin October 10th and run through the 22nd. Check out the options and pick your favorites:
IMPORTANT! To be included in our group pick up order, please select “Pick up at primary branch” at checkout. Shipping is also available if preferred. Contact Beth at bethhalloran23@gmail.com with any questions.
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!
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.
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/
Some community members have asked why the district is showing such urgency in addressing the facility challenges included in the November referendum.
The previous referendum in April fell short by about 300 votes of the 50% majority required to pass. Since that outcome, the School Board and administration worked swiftly to identify alternative solutions because the needs in our schools are not going away and costs continue to rise.
The district is at an important planning juncture. While the remaining debt from the 2009 facilities referendum was paid off in June, the urgency for continued investment is driven by the physical condition and reliability of our buildings.
Many core systems—including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical—have reached the end of their expected service life at the Middle School and High School. Fire sprinklers and alarm systems at the High School and elementary schools need updating. And at more than a century old, the Middle School requires significant investment to meet today’s accessibility, educational, and safety standards.
By addressing these challenges now, we can take a proactive and targeted approach to construction rather than reacting to costly emergency repairs that disrupt learning. Once complete, the projects would ensure Whitefish Bay Schools continue to reflect the community’s high expectations and mission to be an exceptional place to learn.
ONE INFO SESSION REMAINING! 📣
If you have not attended a facilities referendum information session, there’s one event left before election day.
The gathering will be on Monday, November 2, at 6:00 p.m. in the WFB Middle School Gym. Attendees will hear from district administrators and staff, tour the school, and take part in a Q&A session.
You can view a recording of an earlier session online, along with the presentation slides used at the event.
FAQ OF THE WEEK
Question: Why hasn’t the school district saved money to pay for the referendum projects?
Answer: The Whitefish Bay School District, like all other public school districts in Wisconsin, works within revenue limits that restrict how much money it can collect each year through state aid and the tax levy.
Within these revenue limits, a school district must balance expenses for staff compensation, employee benefits, utilities, insurance, building maintenance, and other services. Unfortunately, no specific state funding source exists for capital improvements, so school districts must manage these building costs within their regular operating budgets.
With state funding lagging behind inflation for the past 15 years, by the time districts can address rising day-to-day operational costs, little funding remains for larger capital items. This is why districts must pursue capital referenda.
Have a question of your own? Please use our submission form to share it with district administrators.
STAY UP TO DATE
Information and updates about the facilities referendum are available at www.wfbreferendum.org and on the district’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
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!
