CUSHING CHRONICLES

December
Sat, 7 - Breakfast with Santa & Craft Fair @ KMHS
Mon, 9 - Holiday Spirit Day: Holiday Hair Don’t Care
Tues, 10 - Holiday Spirit Day: Rudolph Red
Wed, 11 - Holiday Spirit Day: Festive is Always in Style
Thurs, 12 - Holiday Spirit Day: Feelin’ Frosty
Thurs, 12 - FIELD TRIP: 2nd Grade - Domes
Thurs, 12 - 1st & 2nd Grade Winter Concert, 5:00
Fri, 13 - Holiday Spirit Day: 100% THAT Grinch
Mon, 16 - Holiday Spirit Day: Sweater Weather
Tues, 17 - Holiday Spirit Day: Long Winter Naps
Wed, 18 - Holiday Spirit Day: Smooth as Velvet, Mad About Plaid
Thurs, 19 - Holiday Spirit Day: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Fri, 20 - Holiday Spirit Day: Sparkly and Bright
Fri, 20 - FIELD TRIP: 1st Grade - Milwaukee Zoo
Mon, 23 - WINTER BREAK BEGINS

January
Thurs, 2 - Classes Resume
Mon, 20 - NO SCHOOL

Hi Cushing Families,

As part of our ongoing district focus on life skills, we wanted to share an update on Cushing’s work and next steps. Over the last three months, you may recall that our focus has been on planning and organization—helping students learn to prioritize tasks, create routines, and set themselves up for success.

This month, we’re shifting our focus to task initiation, which we’ll connect to our Habit of Mind, persistence. We’ve shared that task initiation is all about taking the first step in completing a task, even when it feels challenging or overwhelming. Persistence ties into this as students learn to stick with tasks until they are completed.

Here are a few ways we’re supporting building persistence and task-initiation skills at school:

• Modeling in the Classroom: We’re helping students break larger assignments into smaller, manageable steps and encouraging them to begin with a "quick win" to build confidence.

• Growth Mindset Activities: Through morning meetings and discussions in our Student Services time, we’re emphasizing the importance of effort and persistence when things get tough.

• Real-World Connections: Students are participating in activities like organizing materials for classroom work, beginning group tasks, and staying focused through completion.

You can support task initiation at home by helping your child identify small steps they can take to begin homework, chores, or personal goals. Recognize their hard work when they show persistence, even if the task doesn’t go perfectly the first time.

Mrs. Rach

Star Slip Winners!

Cushing Tour Guides

Meet Your Cushing 5th Grade Tour Guides! These STAR students stepped up, applied for the job, and completed their training today. They’ll represent Cushing Elementary in this important leadership role, welcoming new prospective families as they explore our school. We are so proud of their leadership and enthusiasm! 

Holiday Spirit Days!

Monday, December 9 - Holiday Hair, Don’t Care
Antlers, Santa Hats, Elf ears…the possibilities are endless

Tuesday, December 10 - Rudolph Red
Wear as much red as you can

Wednesday, December 11 - Festive is Alway in Style
Get fancy and dress in your most festive holiday look

Thursday, December 12 - Feelin’ Frosty
Wear as much white or your winter hat & scarf

Friday, December 13 - 100% THAT Grinch
Wear as much green as you can and rock the Grinch look

Monday, December 16 - Sweater Weather
Wear your craziest holiday sweater/shirt

Tuesday, December 17 - Long Winter Naps
Wear your holiday PJs to school today

Wednesday, December 18 - Smooth as Velvet, Mad About Plaid
Wear your winter velvet, favorite plaid, or flannel

Thursday, December 19 - Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
Wear your festive socks

Friday, December 20 - Sparkly & Bright
Deck yourself out in all things Sparkly & Bright

Cold Weather & Recess
We’ve had a lot of families ask if they should still send snow gear to school during VERY COLD weather.  The quick answer to that is YES.  Here are the reasons:

1. When the Feels Like temperature is 0 and above, we will be going outside for recess.  When the Feels Like is below 0, outdoor recess will be reduced or we will shift to indoor recess.  It may not feel like 0 at lunch-recess, but it might for 2nd recess.  We all know how important fresh air is for our students…even if it’s just for 5 minutes.
   

2. Buses can and do breakdown.  Not that breakdowns happen often, but with cold temps - you just never know.
   

3. We don’t plan Fire/Evacuation Drills on freezing days. However, if we need to leave the building for an extended period of time, having snow gear will help.
   

4. It’s good to stick with the habit of bringing your snow bag to school every day. We all know how easy it is to get out of a habit when we miss a day or two.  
   

5. Yes, the snow bags can be heavy.  View them as a little workout. 

Winter Gear Rules
All Grades: Please make sure all outdoor clothing is labeled with your child(ren)'s name. Lots of students have black snow pants. :)  Bringing hats, mittens, and gloves every day is a good idea, too.

Snow Gear MUST go home every day.  We need to keep the hallways clear for our evening cleaning crew. Plus, wet snow gear doesn’t dry well at Cushing (it can get smelly, too). 

5K-3rd Grade: Snow Pants AND boots must be worn to play in the snow.  If a student forgets their snow gear, they will stay on the blacktop for recess. This can cause lots of tears, so please remind your student to bring their snow gear to school every day once the snow starts falling.

4th & 5th Grade:  Boots are required, Snow Pants are optional for recess.

Lost & Found
We have a lot of Lost items waiting to be Found.  If your student is missing something, there’s a real good chance it’s our Lost & Found.  The next time you’re at Cushing, swing by to see if anything belongs to your family. Parents seem to have the magic touch with finding lost items.

**Anything left by the time we head out on Winter Break will be donated.

Friday February 7th, 2025: Cushing Winter Family Event

There will be games, prizes, food vendors and the popular Classroom Basket Raffle!

*If you are interested in volunteering or supporting this committee please reach out to: AnnMarie Kreitzer, (414) 721-6756, amibis@hotmail.com.

HELP SUPPORT CUSHING WITHOUT SPENDING ANY EXTRA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

We are always looking for volunteers to make all of our fun events successful. Email volunteercushing@gmail.com to get on our volunteer list!  

Meetings take place in the Cushing Activity Center. Please email ptocushing@gmail.com to be added to the meeting invite or agenda.

Friday, Jan. 10 @ 9:30am
Friday, Feb. 7 @ 9:30am
Friday, March 7 @ 9:30am

Buy Tickets: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/mainstreetsonganddance/7665

Weight Training Grades 5-8
Weight training for grades 5-8 will take place M,W,F from 3:45-5:15 at the high school weight room with high school coaching staff members.  The session will run 12/2-5/16 on school days.  Join us when you can!  Sign up today at https://kmsd.revtrak.net/rwcommunityeducation/

Softball Players Needed
Kettle Moraine's U8 team is still looking for a few players to round out the 2025 U8 roster. If your daughter is looking for a softball home, please register below and our player development coordinator will reach out.

If you have questions please feel free to reach out to kmfastpitch1@gmail.com.

KM Lacrosse Registration 2025 Season
Lacrosse registration is now live for both indoor skills sessions and spring season. To register please use the following links.

Indoor: Youth girls indoor:  or  Youth boys indoor:
Spring Registration: Spring Registration

KM Wrestling Club
Registration is open for the new season of the KM Wrestling Club for grades K-8  Sign up today at https://www.kettlemorainewrestlingclub.com/

Events/opportunities listed on our Community Flyers page are not endorsed by the Kettle Moraine School District. They have been approved for electronic sharing. Visit https://www.kmsd.edu/page/km-community  to see the full list of current flyers.