Neil Cummins Weekly, Week of January 19, 2025

January 20 No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 

January 22 NC School Tour for Prospective Parents 8:30am A1

January 22 LCMSD Board Meeting 6:00pm Hall Library

January 24 All School Assembly - READATHON - 8:15am NC Gym
January 24 Variety Show Sign Ups Close 
January 25 Garden Work Day see more info below 
January 28 Screenagers Viewing 6:30pm  The Lark Theater - RSVP Here 

January 29 READATHON DAY!

As we reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are inspired by his courage, vision, and commitment to equality. His dream of justice, peace, and inclusion reminds us of the power of embracing diversity and treating everyone with dignity and respect.

At Neil Cummins Elementary, we honor Dr. King’s values by encouraging our students to be courageous, empathetic, and inclusive. His work toward equality challenges us to continue building a school community where every student, family, and staff member feels welcomed, valued, and safe.

Let us celebrate our differences, learn from one another, and take action to create a world that reflects Dr. King’s vision—a world filled with peace, equity, and love.

Sincerely,

Kyle Shaw

Neil Cummins Principal

Readathon

We are at 68% of our fundraising goal of $80,000. Class standings as of 1/18:

• Students have enjoyed mystery readers, book character costumes, special guests and prizes!

• Ms. Peterson’s kindergarten class and Ms. Swisher’s second grade class was our week one winner

• THE ENTIRE SCHOOL is our week 2 winner! Donuts for all!

• Week three starts tomorrow. Highest participation by grade level wins EXTRA recess and EXTRA library time with a special mystery reader!

What's on the line?

• This PTO fundraising is crucial and JUST for Neil Cummins. This money funds vital programs and resources such as specific grade-level curriculum and student enrichment programs (Worldly-Wise, Writing Without Tears, and Alan Scofield’s dance program), campus improvements, upgraded P.E. and playground equipment, parent education, Hawks Garden and related ecology curriculum.

Parent education: Reading related happenings for parents

1. Join us in a community read of: An Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. 

2. PTO is hosting a screening of the documentary Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age on Jan. 28th  6:30-7:30 p.m at the Lark Theater. This FREE parent-only event features a talk after the screening from producer Lisa Tabb. You must register to attend. Please RSVP here.

Board Updates On January 22 the Board will meet at 6:00 in the Hall Library. The Facilities Master Plan and 2024: A Year in Review, will be discussed. The Board will also vote on the budget adoption calendar, sanctuary district resolution, school accountability report cards, and the LCAP mid-year update. The meeting will be live streamed via Zoom (link; passcode - lcmsd). Please know, public comments will only be taken by in person attendees; public comments via Zoom will not be available. We hope to see you there. All agendas can be found here.

Variety Show Sign Ups are open for students in 2nd-5th and will close on Friday January 24. Sign up by Friday, we do not allow any late participants. 

Hawks’ Garden Updates

 Garden Work Party! Saturday January 25 10:00am

Join us for the first garden work party of the school year to refresh and beautify our school’s outdoor classroom! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just enjoy getting your hands a little dirty, help us with planting, weeding and sprucing up the space—there’s something for everyone. See you Saturday, January 25 from 10:00am-12:00pm.

You can find all of our happenings on our updated website!

Recess Enrichment Schedule  This week’s schedule includes parent-led, teacher-led and student-led recess enrichment activities. Please remind your students of this schedule. Students will eat lunch first and then can report to these activities.

Monday 

Field Games with Coach Arroyo on the grass (K-5) 

Tuesday 

Yoga with parent and Metta Yoga Teacher Sarah Walter in the Music Room (K-5) 

Zentangle with Ms. Dorota C5 (3-5) 

Thursday 

Flag Football with parent Angela Movafaghi on the grass (K-2) 

Doodle Art with parent Jen Moss in the Hawk Haven (3-5) 

Comic Book Club and Rubik’s Cube Club, led by 5th grade students in E3 and E4 (3-5

Parent Ed Events Coming Up 4 fantastic January events on social media, body image, screen use and AI safety are coming up - register for them on our Parent Ed Events Page here.

HALL Middle School Spiritwear Calling all future Hall Cougars! We are thrilled to announce our revamped Hall Middle School spiritwear, now available for order. This is a great way for your child to proudly represent their school as they move on to the next chapter in their academic journey. These items have been selling like hot cakes to the current Hall students, so get in on the swag and start repping your school spirit now! These also make great birthday or graduation gifts! Not a 5th grader? No problem! No reason why you can’t rep your future school either! Turnaround time for orders is typically a delivery the Friday after you place the order, assuming we have your item in stock. If we need to special order, turnaround time will be about two weeks.

How to Order:  Orders can be placed online through our school spirit wear store or directly through Catharine Tolson:

• Hall Spiritwear Store.   Note: must clearly write in the comments/notes section that this is a Neil Cummins order. 

• Alternatively, you can email Catharine Tolson (catharine.tolson@gmail.com) your order and pay via PayPal (@HallMSPTA).  Catharine will contact you directly for delivery to the NC office typically on the Friday after the order is placed, assuming inventory is available.  

Ongoing discount codes for Neil Cummins PTO givebacks and discounts