Thursday letter from Ms. Heffron and Ms. Salomon: January 5, 2023
Welcome to the New Year! It was an unexpected winter break with so many canceled flights, altered family gatherings and trips, and sub-zero wind chills keeping us inside for several days. Taken altogether, these unexpected events make our first three days back at Cumberland look quite calm and routine.
Getting back into the swing of school after a break can be challenging. If your child/ren need a booster to make school-day mornings go smoothly, these ideas may help:
1. Keep to a schedule: When possible, have a set time for dinner, bath/shower, books and bedtime.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these sleep amounts:
- Ages 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps)
- Age 6-12 years: 9-12 hours
2. Prepare clothing and pack the backpack in the evening.
3. Use a consistent morning routine. It can be helpful to avoid tv, video games or streaming shows in the morning. Children frequently have difficulty walking away from shows or games.
4. Arrive at school in time for children to enter assigned grade level doors.
Two reminders:
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The school-day for 5K-5th starts at 7:50, and students who arrive after 7:51 are tardy. If your 1st-5th grade child/ren enter through the front door after 7:51, s/he is marked tardy.
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Recess: We go out to recess every day unless it is raining or below zero wind chill. Please help your child dress to be warm and dry for the 25-minute lunch recesses. Students are welcome to keep extra clothing in their backpacks.
Buddy classrooms are a regular part of our Caring School Community structures, and we see many benefits from their gatherings. Students of all ages are excited to see their buddies in the hall or on the playground, and the connections formed between students of different ages strengthens our overall school community and student’s sense of belonging. The following photos are a tiny sampling.
Please see three District communications following this letter. The first regards DESSA, a social emotional screening and assessment tool. The next two are repeats from earlier in the year about our culture of safety and communication expectations.
 
 
We hope the new year brings good health to all.
Warm regards, Jayne Heffron and Rebecca Salomon
A few repeat District-based reminders:
A Culture of Safety - Positive Peer Relationships - The staff in the School District of Whitefish Bay is committed to ensure all students are safe. We also know our Parents/guardians desire the same. As we mentor our students and partner with parents/guardians it is essential that you let school officials know if there are peer relationships within the school setting which require support or intervention. We work with students to develop problem-solving and conflict resolution skills but there are times in which students need additional support or intervention.
The District recently updated Policy 411.1 Student Harassment and Bullying Policy as well as the related Exhibit 411.1 Reporting of Bullying or Harassment Form. Our goal is for all of our students to feel and be safe, and we have a clear process to address these matters.
Also be aware that each school's website has information and a process in which students, parents/guardians or any school community member can report alleged student bullying or harassment. You will find it under the school's Students and Family Resources Tab - Potential Bullying Incident Report Form.
Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school.
Communications:
Healthy and positive school communities engage in respectful and productive communications. Through these communications, our goal is to partner with families in order to support all learners. Our teacher and support staff member work day is spent working directly with students and/or planning learning activities. Our elementary teachers plan instruction and review assessment information for six subject areas in addition to tending to the physical, social, and emotional needs of students. Responding in real time to phone messages or emails limits the capacity to fully engage in this primary work. To best support students and families, we will target a 24 – 48 hour work day response to communications from parents/guardians. For matters of public safety or emergencies please contact the Police Department. For all other matters that require immediate attention, please contact the school office directly. Thank you!
DESSA Universal Screening Tool: Please click here for more information regarding the Whitefish Bay School District’s implementation of a new SEL universal screening process.
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