Cushing Elementary
September
Fri, 29 - Homecoming Week: KM/Cushing Spirit Day
October
Mon, 2 - NO SCHOOL
Wed, 4 - Decathlon @ St. John’s
Thurs, 5 - Decathlon Rain Date
Tues, 10 - Picture Retake Day
Tues, 10 - FIELD TRIP: 5K - Green Meadows
Wed, 11 - FIELD TRIP: 4th Grade - Old World Wisconsin
Fri, 13 - Fire Prevention Day
Mon, 16 - Navigating Digital Safety @ KMHS
Tues, 31 - Fall Spirit Day
Happy Friday, Cushing Families!
As mentioned in last week’s Cushing Chronicles, we'll be sharing updates around our 2023-24 school goals and action plans. I am happy to share our school's citizenship and personal development goal for the upcoming year which focuses on nurturing a respectful school community. To measure our progress, we aim for an increase in favorable responses on the School Perceptions Survey taken by students, parents, and staff in the spring. Some of our key action steps for our communication goal include:
Expand the use of Galaxy and Star Slips:
Connect Galaxy Slips with monthly Habits of Mind and school counseling lessons to emphasize expected behaviors.
Hold student-let monthly assemblies to teach upcoming Habits of Mind.
Align Habits of Mind with School Counseling Lessons:
Connect the monthly Habits of Mind with school counseling lessons to create a cohesive approach to behavior expectations and character development.
Foster a sense of shared responsibility and respect among K-5 students
Create a common, district-wide K-5 behavior and discipline grid housed in the KMSD Elementary Handbook.
Teachers and students co-create respect agreements relating to classroom conduct.
Engage in monthly buddy class activities (described in more detail below)
We look forward to collaborating with you throughout the school year as we work to foster a welcoming and inclusive community.
Star Slip Winners!
Buddy Classes at Cushing
Did you know that we have buddy classes at Cushing? A buddy class is a pairing of two classes from different grade levels, one class being from an older grade and the other from a younger grade. Our buddy classes engage in monthly activities designed to achieve several objectives:
Mentorship and Positive Social Interaction: Older students serve as mentors or role models for their younger peers helping to break down barriers and create a sense of unity within the school community.
Communication Skills: Students in buddy classes learn effective communication skills as they interact with peers from different age groups.
Teamwork and Cooperation: Students work together to achieve common goals, which helps them develop these important skills.
Community Building: Buddy classes contribute to a strong sense of community within the school. Students from different grades come together, forming bonds that can extend beyond the buddy class activities.
We are planning a school-wide buddy activity for October involving painting rocks. We are reaching out to kindly ask for donations from our Amazon Wishlist to support this upcoming buddy class activity.
Fall Spirit Day - Tuesday, October 31
Wear Black & Orange or dress up as your favorite character from a book. For the safety of our students, masks and/or pretend weapons are not allowed.
Cushing Family Advisory Council
The mission of Cushing’s Family Advisory Council is to provide input and feedback around relevant issues at Cushing in order to foster a highly supportive, engaging, and inclusive school community for all students, families, and staff. It serves as a bridge for communication and collaboration between families and the school.
In addition to our returning members, we are seeking a few new members as we enter year two. As a member, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with other parents, school staff, and administrators, providing valuable input on important matters. Meeting times and cadence will depend on the availability of the team. If you are interested in being a part of our FAC, please complete THIS FORM by Friday, September 29th, 2023.
Picture Retakes - October 10
Empire Photography will be here in the morning on Tuesday, October 10th for picture retakes. If your learner is making a funny face and you want a re-do or if your learner did not get their picture taken at Great Start Conferences, fill out THIS FORM.
Cushing Family Directory
The PTO Family Directory is now available to Cushing families. When you log into your Parent Portal, you will find the link to access the directory under the Announcements tab.
A password is required to open the Directory. Password: cushing2324
Please note, the Parent Directory is only available on the desktop version of the Parent Portal. It is not available through the app.
Decathlon Volunteers Needed
We only have a few spots left to fill! Please sign up to volunteer if you're able.
October 4, 2023. Rain Date: October 5.
Decathlon K-5: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA5A62EAAFE3-decathlon1
4K Decathlon: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA5A62EAAFE3-cushing1
We are so so close to reaching our fundraising goal! We currently stand at $19,580!! Cushing families, way to go!!!
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far to our ONE, big fundraiser! Please help us reach $20,000 and beyond, so that we can support learning, social events, and other programs throughout the school year.
Healing Hearts is a trusted, local, free, source of grief support for children, and families who grieve loss due to death, divorce, addiction, incarceration, deportation, or military deployment. Fall sessions of Healing Hearts will be starting soon! There are three locations and times this fall. Pick one or more that work for you!
Oconomowoc | Good Shepherd United Methodist Church | 6-week session | starts Thursday, September 21
Waukesha | First United Methodist Church | 12-week session | starts Monday, September 25
Menomonee Falls | Good Shepherd Catholic Church | 6-week session | starts Thursday, November 9
Children will find care, support, and healing through age-based peer support groups while parents/guardians participate in a peer support group specifically for them.
Please use this link to register for a group or call 262-751-0874 for more info. Share this with someone you know who may benefit from it!
We also rent space and are happy to facilitate your events, courses, or activities.
After School Spanish
The road to Spanish language learning begins with this all new and exciting 16-week Spanish adventure! Students will learn practical conversation skills as well as vocabulary related to the home, community, health, sports and pastimes-all in Spanish! Join us Thursdays after school at Cushing. For details and registration visit https://kmsd.revtrak.net/rwcommunityeducation/
Adult Virtual Spanish
KM Community Education is proud to partner with Futura Language Professionals to bring you a multiple of options for virtual Spanish language classes. From beginner to advanced there are opportunities for you to build conversational Spanish skills through interactive and practice and exercise. For course details and registration please visit https://kmsd.revtrak.net/rwcommunityeducation/
LYBA Basketball
Registration is open for the 23-24 Youth Recreational basketball season. All students in grades 1-8 are welcome. Season begins in December and concludes in February. Grades 3-8 will practice one night per week with Saturday morning games and will be followed by a season ending tournament.
Grades 1-2 will meet on Saturday mornings for 90 minutes with practice and game play. Our emphasis will be on knowledge and execution of basketball skills, rules, sportsmanship, fair play and attitude. Eight foot baskets will be used. Sign up today at https://kmsd.revtrak.net/rwcommunityeducation/