Dear Students, Staff, and Families:
I want to begin by saying thank you to everyone who helped get our schools reopened after an unexpected two-day closure due to more than a foot of snow. With totals like this, the challenge quickly becomes finding somewhere for it all to go. I truly commend our facilities staff and town departments for their hard work and dedication in making it happen. Let’s hope the storm predicted for Sunday heads out to sea. We’ve certainly had enough snow for now!
BCI Required for School Volunteers
The second window will be open from Monday, February 2, 2026, to Friday, February 27, 2026, to submit your BCI application. The district requires all volunteers to complete a Background Check before volunteering in our classrooms and schools. Parents/Guardians must complete a Volunteer BCI form each school year. Please complete the form and submit it to the building secretary at your child’s school along with $5.00 (cash or check made out to the Cumberland Police Department) and an ORIGINAL Photo ID. Completed forms will be sent to the police station for approval. The school will notify you once you have been approved to volunteer.
This is the final opportunity of the year to be eligible for field trips, field day, etc., so if you have not done so, please get your applications in to your child’s building secretary.
RIDE Survey Works
The Rhode Island Department of Education has announced the launch of Survey Works 2026. SurveyWorks provides students, families, teachers, and staff with the opportunity to share anonymous feedback and data directly with RIDE. Participation in this survey is important, as the results help inform statewide initiatives and reforms while also providing local leaders with valuable insight into school climate and culture. Please watch for emails from your student’s school with links to complete the survey. The 2026 Survey Works will be open until April 10th.
Miss Cumberland Pageant 2026
The Arnold Mills 4th of July Parade Committee is hosting a Miss Cumberland Pageant on May 16th at Cumberland High School. This year marks 100 years of this iconic parade. The application to participate can be found here, and any questions can be directed to misscumberlandpageant2026@gmail.com. The application deadline is April 18th.
Kindergarten Registration 2026/2027
The online registration portal for the 2026/2027 Kindergarten school year will open on February 11th. Children must turn five years old on or before September 1st to be eligible for Kindergarten. More information is available here, and any questions may be directed to laurie.carr@cumberlandschools.org.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools