I just finished walking my dog this evening – shivering in the freezing cold. Okay, 52 degrees may not be freezing cold, but for this Northern California gal born and raised, it was cold enough to make me think about how thankful I am that I can walk my dog along a familiar street, wrapped up in a puffy vest, knowing that in a few minutes I’d return to my cozy, warm home.

I do not take these things for granted.

I can’t help but think of the many folks and families who are in compromised circumstances for myriad reasons as we enter into this winter season - those who do not have homes or are alone or facing seen or unseen battles; I cannot help but think about how fortunate we are to be a part of this Cumberland community, one that lives and breathes the mission of developing students to be globally aware learners who are compassionate problem solvers and leaders.

I see this mission being lived out year-round all over campus, not only during the “holiday season.” I see it in the warm smiles from students, family members and staff. I see it in the variety of fundraisers conducted by our Student Council and our PTA. I see it in our students who engage in authentic, real world problem solving through Project Based Learning activities that culminate in philanthropic actions. I see it in staff members who build and model positive, supportive relationships with students and

families. I see it in the gestures of students, staff and community members who take the extra time to write a card of thanks or a note wishing someone who is ill or injured a speedy recovery.

I do not take these things for granted.

We are some of the most fortunate people on this planet…made even more special by being a part of this wonderful community. I am honored and humbled to be assuming the role of Interim Principal of Cumberland Elementary. I get to work alongside the most talented, dedicated and supportive staff. I get to partner with the most amazing and devoted parent community and PTA. I get to serve the most creative, bright and compassionate students.

I do not take this for granted. Happy (almost!) New Year to ALL!!

Sincerely,

Laurie Carlson

Cumberland Connection

Principal Note, Calendar

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Cool Cougar 2

Recess Rock Stars, Playworks

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Student Council, Library 4

Wildmind Assembly

Butterfly News 5

Closed Campus,

Driving Safely 6

Lost and Found, School

Site Council 7

Parent Education, Drop

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Communicating

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824 Cumberland Ave . Main Line: 408-522-8255

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DECEMBER 2018

CALENDAR

Dec 7: Wear your Holiday Colors

Dec 14: Family Fun Night, Movie Night

Dec 24 - Jan 4 Holiday Recess

Jan 8th: TLD 12:45pm dismissal

Jan 21 NO SCHOOL, MLK day

Jan 28: NO SCHOOL, staff dev

WHAT’S INSIDE:

Cumberland Cool Cougars: This month, we recognized the following students at our Cool Cougar Assembly on Friday, November 30th and Friday, December 7th. The students below have been either chosen by their teacher or by their peers. They exemplify the Cougar Code and have served as role model for character traits we are nurturing. Highlighted traits are aligned with our Project Cornerstone texts and themes. Kindergarten: Have you Filled a Bucket Today by Carol McCloud. The book uses the image of a bucket to represent our need to be filled with positive, caring words every day. The lesson discusses cold pricklies, which are negative comments, and bucket dippers, whose negative behavior

removes warm fuzzies from other people’s buckets and makes them feel sad. Students will learn about how to cover their buckets to shield themselves from cold pricklies. Grades 1-5: Say Something by Peggy Moss. This is the story of a girl who witnesses bully behaviors, acts as a bystander and learns an important lesson about standing up for others.

In the lesson, students discuss how the role of the bystander gives away personal power and fails to use opportunities to promote a caring school. UPstanders promote the positive values we want to see more of in our community: honesty, courage, integrity, personal power, responsibility, caring, empathy, sensitivity, friendship skills, and positive peer influence by safely influencing others to do the right thing.

KINDERGARTEN 1ST GRADE 2ND GRADE

Maya M., Vadish K., Emma T., Jackson L.,

Rylan S., Maya Q.Mai P., Nathan B., Vianne L., Seby S., Kareena D.,

Emily H.Emma B., Wyatt C., Ella C.Letitia C., Dakari J.,

Benjamin S.

Annabella C., Stella C., Quinn O.Ian W. Kennedy M.,

Roland W., Sophie D., Peyton K., Desi T-F., Alaina J., Kinsley D.,

Leo F.Lia D., Sanchit S., Guy O., Colin C., Eynav L.,

Sanjeev G.

Nelson F., Sushant B., Ronisa T., Emry B., Maya S., Kyle Y.L., Olivia L., Noa C.,

Joaquin P., Efe B., Victoria M., Aavai T.,

Aanvi V., Omri B., Gaby A., Nolan C., Jacob J., Yali T.

3RD GRADE 4TH GRADE 5TH GRADE

Addie C., Lucas G., Sonia R. Arianna V., Angelina Z., Sofia E., Audrey T, Kate F,

Parantap S, Sean R Lenora R., Jacob E., Caitlin L., Noam-Tamar K., Nikhil

V., Riya D., Arianna V., Sophia E., Angelina Z.

Olivia E, Ofir G, Param R., Zara Q, Leo S., Srimanasvini

Y., Aasha K., Claire C., Alona P., Lana W.,

Eleanor F., Maggie N., Ariel R., Angelina I, Nanao

H, Ryunosuke M, Jiho K

Nina C., Michael I., Melissa D., Suleyman Y.,

Kat G., Tristan W., Noga L., Jack S., Tony E.,

Emmalyn F., Boon C., Sonali W., Audrey F.,

Jessa Y., Andy E., Kieran P., Maddox L.

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RECESS ROCK STARS: Recess Rock Stars are students

who show respect, responsibility and a positive attitude at recess-time. They are team players who work well with others, follow the rules, and put their best foot forward no matter the game. Recess Rock Stars are given a certificate at our Cool Cougar assemblies as well as a spot on the Playworks bulletin wall. They are selected by Coach David and the Junior Coaches.

This month’s Recess Rock Stars are:

Kindergarten: Jonathon S.

1st Grade: Amit O.

2nd Grade: Evan C.

3rd Grade: Cason D.

4th Grade: Rainer B-F.

5th Grade: Brenden B.

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PLAYWORKS - For more than 20 years, Playworks has been leading the way for safe and healthy play at elementary schools every day. Playworks helps schools and districts start with recess to see gains throughout the school day. Reclaim class time, get kids active, build social skills, and increase school safety with

our evidence-based approach. Our site coordinator is Annie Cockerill. Annie has been with Playworks for four years and with Cumberland for two. She graduated from San Jose State with a degree in communications and loves to talk to new people as much as possible. She is a social butterfly who looks forward to meeting new people and learning as much as she can from all walks of life. Annie has worked with kids since she was

15 and is grateful to have found an organization that bases its practices on inclusion, respect, and opportunity. Here at Cumberland, she has done amazing things with our students and staff. We have been really excited for her to join our team at Cumberland. She meets with every classroom twice a month.

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STUDENT LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON: Student Council President, Liron Livnat, and Vice President, Victoria Kuhn, attended the district's Leadership luncheon. Two Student Council members from each school in our district made a presentation detailing what Student Council was doing at their school. The kids were treated to lunch and took a group photo with Dr. Picard. It was a great learning experience from writing a speech to presenting in front of a large group, not to mention, hearing what the other Student Council groups are leading at their schools.

TOY DRIVE: The Sunnyvale Community Services Toy Drive was a huge success. Thank you for all of your donations. There were approximately 200 toys donated to help the families in Sunnyvale who are struggling during the holidays. It was great to see Student Council and Girl Scouts come together for

this worthy cause.

HOLIDAY COLORS TO SCHOOL On Fri, Dec 7th, come to school dressed in your favorite holiday colors. Whether you wear Green and Red, Blue and White, Earth Tones, etc, show your holiday spirit on this day.

SPIRIT WEEK IN FEBRUARY Student Council has decided to celebrate our school spirit during one week in February and one day each month! Stay tuned for more information. Go CUMBERLAND!

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This month the 3rd grade Library Club members are busy learning three letter placement alphabetical order of the picture books. It may seem easy but when they are finding the correct alphabet spot on the shelf along with 2,000 others books, the task can be a bit overwhelming. The members work in teams and we make it rather fun, like a treasure hunt, locate the correct spot for the book. They have learned; the shelves are in alphabetical order by the authors last

name. There is a "call" label on the picture books which have an E for picture book and three letters for the authors last name.

FUN FACTS: Since school opened for the 2018-2019 school year, we have checked out 10,224 books to students. Cumberland library is home to16,156 books!

TOP BOOKS READ:

Winter of the Ice Wizard, Magic Tree House by Mary Osborne

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Head in the Clouds by Abby Hanlon

MILLIONAIRES: We have 28 millionaires and nine two time millionaires. The Millionaire Club continues to grow and it is wonderful to see the students become independent readers and find the joy of reading!

Student Council Officers:

President: Liron Livnat

Vice President: Victoria Kuhn

Secretary: Lila Tsao

Treasurer: Ofer Livnat

The WILDMIND SCIENCE LEARNING came to visit Cumberland on Tuesday, November 20th. The students were introduced to CALIFORNIA WILD ANIMALS.

These intriguing animals will spark your students’ curiosity and increase their

knowledge of California’s wonderful natural history as they gain insights into the secret lives of the intelligent and ecologically important animals that live around us. Our Teachers: Fox-Great Horned Owl, Porcupine, Opossum, Red Tailed Hawk.

Wildmind educational programs will bring science and environmental literacy alive in your school. Your students will learn to think like scientists, appreciate our connectivity with animals, the environment and each other, while having fun learning science! Their School Assembly Programs

are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The students begin to discover a fascinating living world around them and learn important life science concepts. Our wild animals enter your students’ minds through their hearts, to teach them the fundamentals of science, the environment and how to become responsible stewards as young adults.

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Kindergarten had a wonderful presentation from Natural Bridges Monarch Preserve this month! A park ranger came to visit, and she taught us all about monarch butterflies. We learned about the monarch butterfly life cycle, and some children got to dress up as a caterpillar, a chrysalis, and a butterfly. We also learned about the monarch

butterflies’ migration routes. We all took turns “flying” around the room, pretending that we were the butterflies migrating from place to place. After we experienced raising monarch butterflies from eggs in our own classrooms this fall, the kindergarteners were very

excited to learn more about monarch butterflies during the presentation. We would like to say a special thank you to Natural Bridges for coming out to visit us at Cumberland!

LOST AND FOUND IS OVERFLOWING…..

If your child is missing a jacket, sweater or some other item please check the lost and found.

All unclaimed items will be donated at the end of December

Cumberland School Site Council: Every school in the Sunnyvale School District has a School Site Council (SSC) that provides a Leadership role in the school community regarding curriculum, school performance goals, and disbursement of School Improvement (SIP), and other funding received from Sunnyvale School District.

As an example, in 2005, the Cumberland SSC approved the purchase of computers in the 4th and 5th grade classrooms with SIP funds, Math Score, and teacher training in differentiated instruction. In 2012, the SSC began the standardization of monthly classroom to parent communications and implemented staff development guidelines that teachers must follow to take advantage of the PTA staff development grant.

SSC consists of parents and Cumberland staff members who meet monthly at Cumberland, and represent Cumberland at the District School Site Council meetings four times per year. Site Council members serve a two-year term, and are elected per the By-Laws at the end of each school year.

SSC meetings are open to all parents of Cumberland. They will be held in the library conference room. If you have a topic that you'd like to bring to a meeting, feel free to email the SSC Chair (cumberland.ssc@gmail.com) in advance.

Ed Code requires that every school establish a School Site Council to:

Develop, review, and approve the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)

Align content of the plan with school goals for improving student achievement

Align resources to improve academic performance

Review proposed expenditures

Additionally, Cumberland's School Site Council:

-Reviews and communicates the School Safety Plan

-Establishes criteria for the Staff Development PTA grant application.

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEMBERS

Laurie Carlson: Assistant Principal

Melissa Bennett: Staff-Lower Grade

Kristina Wang: Staff, Upper Grade

Cynthia Spinella: Staff, Classified

Shelli Zuccato: Parent

Haidee Lim: Parent

Naama Neuman: Parent,PTA

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GATES ON CAMPUS

For regular dismissal days: Gates will open at 2:20pm.

For 12:45pm dismissal on Fridays and Teacher Learning

Days: Gates will open at 12:45pm.

12:45PM DISMISSAL DAYS:

Gates will open at 12:45pm on Fridays and Teacher Learning Days.

On Fridays, for the 12:45pm dismissal, all Kinder-3rd grade students and families must

leave campus when dismissed at 12:45pm. 4th and 5th grades are still in session.

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PLEASE HELP - SAFE DRIVING AROUND CAMPUS The safety of all children at Cumberland relies on our own awareness during busy traffic times.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP DRIVING ROUTE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE MAP: The City of Sunnyvale has provided a safe route for cars to follow at drop off and pick up. This will help the flow of traffic in the mornings and after-noons.

STAFF/CDC PARKING LOT -The larger parking lot is for staff parking only.

DO NOT enter this parking lot to park or to drop off or pick up students.

Walkers and bikers must stay on sidewalks.

LOADING ZONE - The yellow curbs are for passenger drop-off or pick-up only.

Municipal code - 10.36.040 - “Yellow” means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers provided that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three minutes.

No parking is allowed. Violators will be ticketed.

Please pull all the way forward so traffic does not back up into the street.

RED CURBS: means no stopping and no parking zones at all hrs—violators may be ticketed.

BUS ZONE : The bus zone has been painted red and is not available for use as a loading zone. Violators will be ticketed.

U– TURNS: U-turns are prohibited around a school. Violators

will be ticketed

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A PROJECT OR MY LUNCH? If you decide to bring your child’s forgotten

homework, lunch, equipment, etc to the front

office, classrooms will not be called during

instructional time.

Please leave it on the drop off counter in the

front office and email your child(ren)’s teachers

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WAYS TO RECEIVE SCHOOL

AND PTA COMMUNICATION

SCHOOL DISTRICT SITE: sesd.org

SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.sesd.org/cumberland

PTA WEBSITE: cumberlandpta.org

YAHOO GROUP: join the Cumberland

Community Yahoo Group, send an email to:

cumberlandcommunity-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

PTA E-FLYER: Cumberland Connection—

TinyURL.com/cumberlandPTAnews

KINDER GOOGLE GROUP: to join the Kinder Google Group, please

send an email to newfamily@cumberlandpta.org

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S LGBTQ+ Awareness & Tolerance

Presented by Diana Hernandez, Outlet Education Coordinator Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Time: 6:00 p.m- 8:00 p.m. Location: Cherry Chase Elementary Multi room Social Emotional Learning: Introduction to Developmental Assets Presented by Ziem Nguyen Neubert, Director of School Partnerships, YMCA/Project Cornerstone Date: Monday, April 29, 2019 Time: 6:00 p.m-8:00 p.m. Location: Sunnyvale School District Board room

Date: Monday, May 13, 2019 Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m . Location: Fairwood Elementary Multi room