Dear Students, Staff, and Families:
2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year
The Cumberland School Department proudly announces Rosanna Santana has been named Cumberland’s 2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Santana has been a teacher at B.F. Norton for more than 10 years, touching the lives of hundreds of students. She has spent the last 4 years as the Multilingual Learners (MLL) Specialist. Rosanna inspires her school community to be their best selves. Check out the district website for more details. Congratulations to Mrs. Santana!
Planning some Summer Fun, Look No Further Than Your Backyard
The Cumberland Public Library Children’s Room has released its Summer Reading Program information. Flyers will be going home with Grades K-5 students in the coming weeks.
The Office of Children, Youth, and Learning, OCYL, also has some great summer time offerings for students of all ages. Some Steam programs are being offered free of charge this summer, thanks to a generous grant in partnership with the Cumberland School Department, RIDE, and LEARN365 RI. Rising 7th- 9th graders may be interested in participating in the Leadership Academy. OCYL is also accepting applications for High School student volunteers looking to complete service hours this summer.
Looking for a free evening activity? Join the Parks & Recreation Department for a fun-filled food truck season at Diamond Hill Park. Food Truck Nights: Thursday, May 22nd – 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 26th – 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Thursday, July 17th – 5:00 – 8:00 PM & Thursday, August 28th – 5:00 – 8:00 PM. Enjoy live bands and a diverse selection of over a dozen food trucks.
Garvin’s Walk to School Day
Thank you to Michelle Carter, Garvin School Principal, for inviting me to Walk to School Day on Wednesday. Everyone was happy that the rain held out this year. Seeing such enthusiasm from students, staff, and volunteers was great. Walk to School Day aims to encourage and promote walking or biking to school as a healthy and sustainable way to commute.
We are wrapping up Teacher Appreciation Week here in the district. I hope all of our educators feel how appreciated they truly are. Our team is creating a positive and supportive learning environment, fostering a love of learning, and helping students reach their full potential. Thank you for all your hard work!
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools