Cushing Elementary Celebration of Learning

 You Are Important!

The Cushing school community has a lot to celebrate! We delivered our “Celebration of Learning” presentation to the Scituate School Committee on Monday evening, January 30th.  Special thanks to Mrs. Alex Nash (first grade teacher), Mrs. Christine Olivieri (library paraprofessional) and Ms. Jackie Abdallah (kindergarten teacher) for presenting with Mr. Williams, Cushing Elementary Principal. Below are the two pillars that drive our decisions and keep us grounded in making sure every student is able to reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally.

Pillar 1: Culture of Collaboration and Personalization

Goal:  By June 2023, the Cushing Community will meet the diverse needs of all students (socially, emotionally, and academically) and staff by focusing on creating a safe and welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and included as equal members of the learning community.   

Pillar 2: Culture of Excellence

Goal:  By June 2023, the Cushing Community will actively cultivate a culture of equity and excellence by creating and sustaining curriculum and instructional practices that lead to high-quality learning for each and every student.  We will build the capacity of our educators and students to meet challenges and opportunities of learning and teaching in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Our DEI Director, Mr. Adams, posing for a picture at the Cushing Elementary “This Is Our House” rally in September 

How does Cushing Celebrate Student Learning?

We celebrate student learning many ways, including (but not limited to):

• PBIS Monthly Community Meetings
• “George the Chair” for Academic Excellence
• Kindergarten 100th Day Celebration
• PTO Sponsored Enrichment Assemblies
• ST Math “JiJis”
• Student Clubs at Cushing (Crafting/Crochet, Homework, Clay and Lego)

Our second graders “traveled” to Africa…in the Cushing cafeteria

How does Cushing celebrate academic achievement?

• Lexia Superstars
• ST Math
• WIN Block Achievement

Academic Achievement is the current level of a student’s learning.  We have two online programs that adjust to meet the needs of each individual student.  Lexia is a program that all K-2 students use to build literacy skills.  And ST math is a new online math program that teaches foundational concepts visually then connects the ideas to symbols and language.  Each program adjusts so that students have their own personalized journey to achieve mastery.  In Lexia when a student completes a level they are awarded a certificate.  In ST math the three classes that log the most number of minutes are given the ST Math mascot JiJi to keep in their class for the month.

Mrs. Coughlin’s second graders celebrate ST Math with their earned Ji Ji! 

How does Cushing celebrate personal growth?

• PBIS Community Meetings
• Kindness Compliment Wall
• George The Chair

We hold our Cat Community meetings every month, acknowledging and celebrating our Cat Houses (Jaguars, Lions, Cougars and Tigers).  We also celebrated each Cushing student in September with our “Kindness Compliment Wall” in our main lobby, and every Friday a new class is awarded a week with “George,” our loyal Cushing chair and mascot! 

The Cushing compliment and kindness wall in our main lobby.

Dr. Stacey Sweeney leading a community meeting with our Cushing Cats

How does Cushing celebrate staff?

• Teacher Appreciation Week/Back To School
• Cushing Staff Rock Star Parking Spot
• Friday Kudos Poems

Our partners in education, the Cushing PTO, host many wonderful events throughout the year for our teachers and staff members, and on Fridays Mr. Williams announces which staff member will be the “Cushing Rock Star” for the week, with a prime parking spot and a written poem! 

Our “Rock Star” bulletin board  welcoming visitors to our main lobby 

How does Cushing celebrate students?

Our Cushing LIT Team (Love, Inclusion and Trust) meets every Wednesday morning, under the guidance and direction of Mr. Jamele Adams! Thank you to Mrs. Kamdar, Mrs. Mullin and Mrs. Olivieri for their leadership with our LIT Team! Cushing chorus members also sing during concert performances, and we all get excited for our “Back to School Ice Cream Social” and “Kindergarten Play Date” every summer! 

The Cushing LIT team in action

Cushing students perform at the December concert 

The Annual “Sing A Long,” under the direction of Peter Mundt

Our “Welcome Back To Cushing Ice Cream Social”

Kindergarten play date event at Cushing

What is Cushing looking forward to?

• All Students Meeting or Exceeding Benchmarks (Academic WIN Blocks)
• Ongoing Community Outreach and Family Engagement! 

Cushing Elementary Veterans Day Luncheon (November)