March 25, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
During last night’s school committee meeting, I provided some information regarding the proposed changes to the student attendance areas at Cumberland Hill and the middle schools as well as information on proposed changes for elementary school start times for next year given our school construction and Garvin School moving up to the high school campus. Also listed below are proposed time changes and a school construction timeline:
Student Attendance Areas
With the completion of school renovations at our elementaries, there will be a need to modify our existing elementary school boundaries. The goal in doing so is to better balance the school populations at our schools. Cumberland Hill, our school first in line for renovation, will have some increased capacity next year. The map below and street lists illustrate the proposed new attendance boundary for Cumberland Hill. In total, the new boundary map increases the student population by approximately 35-40 students. Our school committee will continue discussions on the Cumberland Hill proposed boundary change and look to vote on this by the end of April.
Proposed Cumberland Hill Boundary Map
Proposed Cumberland Hill Street Changes
With regard to our middle schools, we have two conversations, (1) an immediate issue of overcrowding at NCMS and (2) our long term plans for student numbers at both middle schools. Currently NCMS has a student population of 626 and McCourt has a population of 422. Going into next year, we are looking to reduce the incoming grade 6 class by 25-30 students in order to operate NCMS at current staffing levels. Making no modification to the existing attendance areas would trigger the need to hire an additional teacher at NCMS, when we have the capacity to add students at McCourt. To date, we have modeled different areas to consider, however, no decisions have been made. Last night, two members of the school committee were tapped to sit with administration to drill down further and come back to the full school committee in our upcoming meetings. Below is a map illustrating the current middle school boundary areas.
Current Middle School Boundary Map
Elementary Start Times
Given the move of Garvin elementary to the high school campus in 22-23, the district will need to transport students further from the regular boundary area. In order to accomplish this and avoid the cost of adding three buses (approximately $270,000), the District will need to adjust start times to achieve a budget neutral transportation plan. Below are the proposed times for our elementary schools for the 22-23 school year. Our school committee will take up this topic at our upcoming meetings.
Proposed school start times 2023
School Construction Timeline
With the voter approval of the school construction bond in 2018, several construction projects will be undertaken over the next several years. This year, Cumberland Hill has been the focus. Work is slated to be completed this summer with students back in the newly renovated elementary school in the fall of 2021. This summer 3 projects will kick off with Garvin undergoing a major renovation, Ashton seeing the construction of a new wing and Community seeing the construction of a new cafeteria. Work in the years to come will see a renovation at Ashton and Community, and a renovation to BF Norton. The chart below is an illustration of the timeline of the elementary school’s construction.
School construction timeline
Lastly, renovation work is also slated at our two middle schools with a focus on school security (front door areas) at both middle schools as well as upgrades to the middle school science areas. Timelines on this work is TBD and will be based on the pace and scope of the elementary projects already in place.
2022-2023 School Calendar
The 2022-2023 School Calendar was approved by the school committee during its meeting last night.
You can access the calendar here. It will also be posted on the Cumberland School District website.
Free/Reduced Lunch Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allowing school meal programs across the country to continue serving healthy meals through June 30, 2022. The program continues to provide safe, healthy meals free of charge to children as the pandemic continues to threaten the food and nutrition security of our most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this free of charge meal program for all students will no longer be available at the end of this school year.
Families will need to complete an application for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program.
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Free/Reduced Lunch Program – Families are encouraged to complete and submit applications to your child’s school to verify eligibility. Please contact your child’s school if a form is needed.
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The application is also available electronically. Click here to apply online.
We ask for your help now. By applying for the free/reduced lunch program … Read More...
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March 4, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
I am happy to say that today, March 4th at 5:01 p.m., mask wearing will be optional for all individuals entering school buildings. It is hard to believe that it was almost two years ago (March 13, 2020) that schools, many businesses and most of the State had to be closed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. We have all gone through very difficult and trying times from this pandemic, whether it be physically, mentally, financially or the loss of a loved one, this virus has touched each and everyone of us in some way.
Beginning Monday, March 7th, masks will also be optional for students riding the school bus. Students will continue to sit in their assigned seats. Windows will be opened to keep the air circulating when the weather permits.
The Central Office Administrators, Building Administrators, faculty and staff have worked very hard to make each student’s educational experience the best it can be. I am very grateful for their continued dedication and support.
Please remember, it is recommended that any individual who is immunocompromised should continue to wear a mask. Also, please be respectful to each other regarding an individual’s decision on whether or not to wear a mask.
If your child is experiencing or develops symptoms of illness please keep him/her home and have him/her tested. Visit Portal RI to find a testing site and make an appointment. You can also call 844-857-1814 to schedule an appointment.
Additionally, mask requirements may be required on an individual basis when individuals are allowed to return to school early after testing positive for COVID-19. Individual circumstances should be discussed with your building principal and school nurse.
All of the decisions regarding the easing of restrictions and masking have been made based upon the recent drop in COVID cases in RI and locally Cumberland. If information and guidance from State Agencies change, we will review and consider what, if any, action is necessary.
The Positive Covid-19 Cases in the Schools spreadsheet is provided for your review. It is also available on the District’s website under Quick Links.
2022-2023 Kindergarten / 1st Grade Registration
The online student registration portal is now open for all kindergarten, first grade and any new students entering the Cumberland School Department for the 2022-2023 school year.
Additional information can be found here – 2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration
Spring is just a couple of weeks away. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to enjoying the outdoors and many of the upcoming school events and activities.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools… Read More...
February 18, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
The Cumberland School Committee held its regular meeting last night, one of the items on the agenda was to discuss and/or vote on wearing masks in schools after the statewide mandate is lifted on March 4th. My recommendation to the committee was that mask wearing would no longer be required in our schools and that students and staff may choose to wear or not wear a mask. In a 6-0 vote by committee members, it was decided that mask wearing will be optional for all individuals entering school buildings as of Friday, March 4, 2022 at 5:01 p.m. It is recommended that any individual that is immunocompromised should continue to wear a mask.
I am hopeful that we are now coming to the end of this pandemic and want to give our students an opportunity to participate in more of the normal school day experiences. Therefore, I have informed our building administrators that schools will be allowed to plan for regular school day scheduling, as well as after school social events and activities (i.e., school dances/proms and fundraising events). We will keep all air-infiltration systems in place at all school buildings.
It is expected that everyone will be respectful to each other regarding an individual’s decision on whether or not to wear a mask.
As stated during the meeting, per Federal regulations, masks must still be worn while riding on the school bus. All current protocols will remain the same. Additionally, mask requirements may be required on an individual basis when individuals are allowed to return to school early after testing positive for COVID-19. Individual circumstances should be discussed with your building principal and school nurse.
All of the decisions regarding the easing of restrictions and masking have been made based upon the recent drop in COVID cases in RI and locally Cumberland. If information and guidance from State Agencies change, we will review and consider what, if any, action is necessary.
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Community Cases per 100k
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Week Ending 1/8/22
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Week Ending 1/15/22
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Week Ending 1/22/22
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Week Ending 1/29/22
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Week Ending 2/5/22
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Week Ending 2/12/22
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Cumberland
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3,082
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2,750
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1,662
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975
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493
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251
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As always, if your child is experiencing or develops symptoms of illness please keep him/her home and have him/her tested. Visit Portal RI to find a testing site and make an appointment. You can also call 844-857-1814 to schedule an appointment.
2022-2023 Kindergarten / 1st Grade Registration
The online student registration portal is now open for all kindergarten, first grade and any new students entering the Cumberland School Department for the 2022-2023 school year.
Additional information can be found here – 2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration
Vaccination Clinics
The next Cumberland vaccination clinic for age groups 5-11 and 12+ is scheduled for
Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Cumberland Public Library. You will need to register separately for each age group.
Vaccination Clinics for children and adults – RI Vaccination Clinic Sign-Up
Cumberland Public Library on Saturday, 02/19/2022
1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland RI, 02864
Vaccinations offered: Pfizer-BioNTech Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine (5-11 Year Old)
Vaccinations offered: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (12+)
Age groups served: 12+
Age groups served: 5-11
The Positive Covid-19 Cases in the Schools spreadsheet is provided for your review. It is also available on the District’s website under Quick Links.
Next week is winter recess. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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February 11, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
As you are aware, Governor McKee has announced that the statewide mandate for wearing masks in schools will end on Friday, March 4, 2022. This will now leave each school district to decide on whether or not to continue with wearing masks while in school.
While this news is encouraging, with the anticipation that the pandemic is going in the right direction, we still must be diligent in maintaining the health and safety of our school community. Over the past five weeks we have seen the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in Cumberland drop dramatically.
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Week ending 1/8/22
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Week ending 1/15/22
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Week ending 1/22/22
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Week ending 1/29/22
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Week ending 2/5/22
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3,082 / 100,000
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2,750 / 100,000
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1,662 / 100,000
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975 / 100,000
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493 / 100,000
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As you know, this data metric is looked at closely when determining whether safety restrictions can be lifted. As of yesterday, the Rhode Island rate had dropped even further. The topic of masking will be on the school committee agenda for discussion at the Thursday, February 17, 2022 meeting.
Positive Covid-19 Cases
The Positive Covid-19 Cases in the Schools spreadsheet is provided for your review. It is also available on the District’s website under Quick Links.
Free Covid-19 Test Kits
Free Covid-19 Test Kits will be distributed to town residents on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the Cumberland High School back parking lot. The drive-thru distribution will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The Mayor’s Office has collaborated with the Cumberland EMS and CERT Team volunteers to host this event. Kits will be given out on a first come, first served basis.
Vaccination Clinics
The next Cumberland vaccination clinic for age groups 5-11 and 12+ is scheduled for
Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Cumberland Public Library. You will need to register separately for each age group.
Vaccination Clinics for children and adults – RI Vaccination Clinic Sign-Up
Cumberland Public Library on Saturday, 02/19/2022
1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland RI, 02864
Vaccinations offered: Pfizer-BioNTech Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine (5-11 Year Old)
Vaccinations offered: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (12+)
Age groups served: 12+
Age groups served: 5-11
Covid-19 Testing in the Schools – Voluntary
Our school district will continue to offer voluntary weekly COVID-19 testing to help schools stay safer against the risk of COVID-19. If your student has recently tested positive for COVID-19 they do not need to participate in the weekly testing for 90 days. Once your child has had a positive Covid-19 test result their Concentric account will be deactivated. After the 90 days you can sign your child back up with the link below or by contacting the Covid Department at nancy.gamache@cumberlandschools.org.
Please remember this is entirely voluntary and no students will be tested unless you opt in and the student is registered by a parent or guardian.
To opt into the program, please visit the following site with the access code for your school:
https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent
School: BF Norton – ACCESS CODE: BFNORTON
School: Ashton – ACCESS CODE: ASHTONELEM
School: Community – ACCESS CODE: 352X09
School: Garvin – ACCESS CODE: GARVINELEM
School: Cumberland HIll – ACCESS CODE: CUMBHILLELEM
School: North Cumberland Middle – ACCESS CODE: NORTHCUMBERLANDMIDDLE
School: McCourt Middle – ACCESS CODE: MCCOURTMIDDLE
School: CUMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL: CUMBHS
As always, if your child develops symptoms of illness please keep him/her home. If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 please keep him/her home and have him/her tested.
Visit Portal RI to find a testing site and make an appointment. You can also call 844-857-1814 to schedule an appointment.
I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy these warmer weather days.
I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the upcoming winter recess February 21 – 25.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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Tomorrow will be a Distance Learning Day. All after school activities are canceled.
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