Dear Students, Staff, and Families:
We’ve officially passed the 100-day mark in the school year, an exciting milestone made possible by the hard work, dedication, and partnership of our students, families, and staff! As a reminder, February vacation begins on Monday with the observance of Presidents’ Day. We hope everyone enjoys a joyful, relaxing, and well-deserved break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, February 23rd.
2026-2027 School Calendar
The School Committee voted last night to approve the 2026-2027 School Calendar. The first day of school for grades 1-9 will be Wednesday, August 26th, and Thursday, August 27th, for all students PreK-12. The first Wednesday will be a full day with early release starting on Wednesday, September 2nd. The committee voted unanimously to keep the full February vacation week. Now that the calendar has been approved, we will work on submitting the 3-day weather waiver to RIDE for the 2026/2027 School Year.
Cumberland High School Polar Plunge Team
This year, Cumberland High School is forming a Polar Plunge team to support both Special Olympics and our Unified Teams. We are hoping that others in the district will join and/or support our team! Unified sports provide an amazing opportunity to bring our students with and without disabilities together to compete in an accepting environment. Our teams participate in daytime games in front of their classmates, who provide a tremendous amount of support. Our athletes are fabulous! The monies earned from this event are used to support Special Olympics, as well as to purchase team gear and to host social events. CHS Unified appreciates your support! To donate or for more information on joining the team, visit the 2026 Polar Plunge. Please reach out to tammy.lemieux@cumberlandschools.org with any questions.
Cumberland Preschool Lottery 2026/2027
We are seeking children, for Fall 2026, ages 3-5, to serve as community partners in our preschool classes. Our preschool classes have both morning and afternoon sessions that follow the Cumberland School Department calendar. Enrollment is open through a lottery to the resident children of Cumberland. The lottery will be closed on March 20, 2026. We will notify you if your child’s name is picked through our lottery by the middle of April 2026. For additional information, contact the Preschool Principal, Rachel Powell, at 401-658-1600, ext. 405. Preschool Lottery Application
Reminder: Kindergarten Registration 2026/2027
The online registration portal for Kindergarten for the 2026/2027school year is open! Children must turn five years old on or before September 1st to be eligible for Kindergarten. For more information, please visit this link, and any questions can be directed to laurie.carr@cumberlandschools.org.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools