1.27.23

February

Wed, 1 - FIELD TRIP: 4th Grade - MPM, 9:30-2:00

Thurs, 2 - KM Middle School Open House, 5:30-7:00

Fri, 3 - Be Kind Day

Fri, 3 - FIELD TRIP: 5th Grade - Waukesha Historical Museum, 9-12:15

Fri, 3 - Cushing Family Movie Night

Mon, 6 - Kids Heart Challenge Week Begins

Mon, 6 - KM Middle School Open House, 5:30-7:00

Wed, 8 - FIELD TRIP: 2nd Grade - The Domes, 8:45-12:15

Fri, 10 - Cushing Winter Event: Let's Glow, Cushing Stars!, 5:30-8:00

Tues, 14 - Valentine’s Day: Wear Red, Pink & White

Thurs, 16 - FIELD TRIP: 1st Grade - Retzer, 8:45-11:15

Thurs, 16 - Parent/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-7:00

Fri, 17 - NO SCHOOL, Parent/Teacher Conferences, 8-12

Mon, 20 - NO SCHOOL

Last week we updated families on our progress towards our academic excellence goal; this week I’d like to take some time to provide a brief, mid-year update around our communication and community relations goal work.  

Our goal focuses on strengthening the school/home connection through varying forms of connections and feedback points throughout the year.  Feedback can be related to student actions, like behavior.  Feedback can also be related to information, for example, how a learner performed on a project.  We also know that feedback can come from different sources, for example: a teacher, a peer or even through self-reflection.  In any case, feedback gives us information about a student’s performance or understanding in a particular area.  



In an attempt to provide additional feedback points to families, this year we’ve added mid-year progress updates to our school-wide communication efforts.  We had over 60 parents respond to our survey that was shared over two weeks ago; below is a summary of that survey:

• Over 95% of people who responded agreed (69.8%) or strongly agreed (27%) to the statement: I found the Winter learner progress update to be informative.
• Half of the respondents found the timing of the progress updates appropriate.  20% of parents preferred to receive the progress updates at fall conferences while another 20% of participants felt as though they had enough information provided to them through current structures like conferences and report cards. 
• 97% of respondents prefer to receive feedback about their chid(ren) academics, behaviors and social interactions. 
• The top three preferred methods of sharing feedback were:
• via email (87%)
• hard / paper copies (63%)
• Seesaw posts (20%)
• Finally, over 98% of respondents either agreed (16%) or strongly agreed (83%) that they feel comfortable reaching out to staff about their child(ren)

We will continue our work around this area throughout the year and welcome additional parent insight around these efforts.  You can anticipate an opportunity to schedule a conference with teachers in February, we are also planning a spring Celebration of Learning as well as sharing another mid-year update in the spring. 

Mrs. Rach’s Maternity Leave

Mrs. Rach’s last day at Cushing was Thursday, January 26th and she will be on leave for the duration of this school year. While she will be checking email intermittently, Ms. Natasha Hanson will be serving as the interim principal while she’s on leave. As previously mentioned, Ms. Hanson is a certified administrator who currently holds leadership roles in the district as the Summer School Principal and K-12 Director of Learning for Art; for those families with older children, you might also remember Ms. Hanson as a former Cushing art teacher. You can reach her at extension 1001 here at Cushing or via email at: [email protected].

Rach Family Meal Train

Meal prep, cooking, and newborns don't really go together. Fortunately for Mrs. Rach and her family, Food is our Love Language. To help the Rach family as they navigate their new crew and day-to-day life, we have put together a Meal Train and will be delivering food on Wednesdays through the rest of the school year. Meals, snacks, and gift cards can be dropped off at Cushing Elementary.

Click HERE for the Meal Train. Thanks for your help. We all know it takes a village. :)

Be Kind Day - February 3rd

Cushing staff are big fans of Jordyn’s Summer Shirt Project. In honor of Jordyn’s birthday, we’re going to wear our “Be Kind” shirts on February 3rd. If you have some sort of a “Kind” shirt, wear it!

Last Day of School - Update

The last day of school is Friday, June 9th. An older version of the District Calendar previously listed June 7th as the last day. It is still a half day, 12:35 dismissal. Sorry for the confusion!

Save the Date – Kids Heart Challenge is Almost Here!

Our students are getting ready to soar with the Heart Hero Dragons as they work to BE THE TORCH in the fight against heart disease and stroke! 

We will be kicking off our Kids Heart Challenge: Jan 30th – Feb 3rd during PE Classes. 

Be sure to wear Red or your favorite Kids Heart Challenge shirt!

ALL students who REGISTER will earn a wristband to wear proudly as a reminder to be healthy and be the torch. They will also be helping their classroom teacher earn AMAZON gift cards! 

To get started:

1. Click HERE or visit your app store and download the Kids Heart Challenge App 
2. Register and earn your FREE torch wristband
3. Complete Finn’s Mission and help the AHA achieve their goal of 1.8 million families learning Hands only CPR.
4. Have fun!

Thank you for your support of this service- learning experience. Together, we are igniting a life-saving torch and changing lives!

Faces of Cushing

Meet Ms. Wilson, one of our Special Ed Teachers!

Design Lab - Items Needed

Cushing Design Lab is in need of the following items:

• Small & Medium Boxes (Kleenex, Cereal)
• Small Plastic Containers
• Masking Tape
• Playing Cards (full decks)
• Material pieces/Felt for hand-sewing projects

If anyone is able to donate supplies, it is always appreciated.

Star Slip Winners!

Southern Lakes Anthology

Southern Lakes Anthology judging took place yesterday. Mrs. Drolshagen would like to send her gratitude to all of the students who submitted work to be judged and all of the teachers who supported the process.



Two Cushing students will have their work published in the anthology and receive a free copy of the book in May.

Congratulations to Emerson S and Oliver K! Emerson's artwork will be published and Oliver will have his illustrated writing included in the book. We are very proud of you!

Winter Reading Program at the Delafield Library

Middle School Open House: February 2 OR February 6

Screenagers and Next Chapter Docuseries - Sign Up for Online Screening

Sign up for an ONLINE Screening of these two films

Open to parents of ALL Kettle Moraine students and any interested staff or community members. Stream one or both movies from your own home!

Stream movies anytime between February 6th - February 19th

Panel Discussion February 21st from 6:30-7:30 in KMHS auditorium.

Click here for more information

RSVP to this EventCombo and the movie links will be emailed

(Open to the first 300 families that sign up)

Screenagersmovie.com

Sponsored by the Kettle Moraine School District Student Services Team

TWO WEEKS until our Winter Dance - Let’s Glow Cushing Stars 

 

Save the Date: Friday, February 10th -- 5:30 - 8:00pm

Join us for a Glow Dance, Games, Give-aways, delicious food from local vendors, and the always popular classroom basket raffle.

ONE WEEK LEFT TO FILL THE CLASSROOM BASKETS: Check out the list and consider donating an item to fill your classroom basket. Baskets will be raffled at the carnival. Click here to view the basket themes. Items will be collected in the classroom; all items must be brought to school by Friday February 3rd!

All students will receive 5 raffle tickets for the Classroom Basket Raffle, given out the week of February 6th.  Additional tickets can be purchased in advance or the night of the event.  Your learner brought home a flier with information on advanced Basket Raffle sales.  Please tear off the bottom of the flier with order and payment, send back to school by Friday February 3rd.  Advanced tickets will be distributed on Monday February 6th.  

All proceeds from the Basket Raffle go to supporting our learners and teachers!

Cushing Family Movie Night - Friday, February 3

Box Tops

Earn Bonus Box Tops for your school on top of your receipt earnings with APP offers and more. Many popular foods are in the “APP Offer,” Offers are updated all the time, so check back often and earn Box Top Funds for Cushing.

If you need the app please click below and download today.

Google  APPLE Store

Upcoming PTO Meeting Dates

If you would like to join a meeting please email [email protected]

February 3, 2023

March 3, 2023

April 14, 2023

May 12, 2023

June 2, 2023

Check out the PTO’s website. You can also find us on Facebook.

KM Community Education provides recreational and educational opportunities for families. Please be sure to visit the website often for updates and new programs. For program information and registration forms, visit www.kmsd.edu/communityed.

American Sign Language 1A

Introduces American Sign Language (ASL) to students with no previous experience with ASL. Emphasizes the expressive and receptive conversational skills of ASL used by the Deaf community. Students will learn strategies on how to introduce themselves, colors, and numbers 0 - 15. Includes introduction to American Deaf culture.  All ages welcome, students under 16 must be accompanied by a parent throughout the entire class time.  Classes are held on Thursdays beginning 2/2/23 at KM High School. Find more information online or to register at www.kmsd.edu/communityed

Fastpitch Softball

Interested in Fastpitch Softball?  Did your daughter play T-Ball and is looking for more? Kettle Moraine Laser Fastpitch club is looking for additional players to complete their U8 team (born after December 31st 2013).  If interested, please contact the community Education Office at 262-968-6273 x4641 for more information. Winter/indoor practices just started and the season runs April-August. 

Dance Team Clinic

Meet and mingle with the dance team! Experience what it’s like to attend a practice, work on a routine and perform for a Varsity Basketball game! This year boys and girls are welcome - we’ll be teaching you a hip hop routine!

Open to grades K5-8th grade. The older your grade, the harder your routine - come ready to be challenged! Please meet at Wales Elementary Gym for Clinic dates, February 7th and 9th. The Performance will be at the High School gym on February 10th. 

Clinic dates:

February 7th: 3rd-8th grade 4-5:30p

February 9th: K5-2nd grade and 3rd-8th grade 4-5:30p

(Older students have 2 clinic dates to attend)

Performance on February 10th

Game starts at 7p but please arrive at 6:45p! We’ll have bleachers for you to sit on to watch the first half of the game.

Cost: $35

Register online at https://www.classmunity.com/kmsd/

Live Virtual Spanish Classes offered for Youth and Adults

There are many opportunities for youth and adult in virtual Spanish classes this winter session.  We encourage you to visit our website at https://kmsd.revtrak.net/rwcommunityeducation/

Youth classes are held on Wednesdays and will provide an opportunity to learn music and school related vocabulary along with useful conversational Spanish.  Our adult programs are held various days of the week at the beginner and intermediate level.