A Memorial Day Monument dedication in White River Junction - includes a video, An informative MCS Newsletter and a puzzle once again plus a save the date for the Norwich Citizen of the The Year event.
In case you missed them and also so you don't miss them
Good evening Norwich and Upper Valley residents and readers
Check out the video of the very well attended Memorial Day Monument dedication recently held in WRJ Vermont and also take a moment to tackle a puzzle and read a newsletter and a save the date announcement.
This video is compliments of Junction Arts and Media (JAM)
The event agenda
See the video to capture the ceremony as it happened
(Retired) US ArmyColonel Gary De Gasta gives the Key note speech
Vietnam Era veteran USMC Captain (Retired) Rusty Sachs speaking to the audience
US Army Colonel retired Brian E. Bettis talks about military service for veterans during the 1975- 2025 era.
And these are the names of the sponsors and donations of Good and Services and Expertise
And these are the names of the veterans who served
The citizen of the year award will be presented at the first summer concert on the green on May 31, 2026 4:00- 7:00 PM and the award will be presented at 6:00 PM
CONCERT ON THE GREEN
From: Susan Pitiger
First summer concert is on Sunday, May 31, 4:00-7:00 PM on the Norwich
Green!
Balloons! Burgers and dogs from the Lions! Bands, bands, bands from
Tuck’s Rock Dojo! Bring your chairs, your drinks, your smiles and join the
fun.
6:00 PM - Honor the Citizen of the Year, Nick Krembs!
Be a part of a terrific award ceremony for a fantastic Norwich volunteer.
Sue Pitiger, for the Norwich Women’s Club
Here is the newsletter:
Important Dates
Wednesday, June 10 - Field Day
Thursday, June 11 - Sixth Grade Celebration, 5:00pm
Tuesday, June 16 - Last day of school, 12:00pm dismissal
Marion Cross School Website Calendar SAU 70 All School/District Website Calendar
Message From The Principal
It is hard to believe that we are entering the final weeks of the school year! June is always one of the most exciting times at Marion Cross School. While there is certainly plenty of anticipation about summer vacation, there is also a tremendous amount of learning, celebration, and community-building packed into these final days.
Across the school, students are participating in end-of-year field trips that bring classroom learning to life and create lasting memories with classmates and teachers. Classrooms are buzzing with special projects, writing celebrations, performances, outdoor learning experiences, and unique traditions that make this season so special. We have also enjoyed several wonderful REPs that have highlighted student talents, accomplishments, and the strong sense of community that makes MCS such a special place.
Students are also wrapping up end-of-year assessments. These assessments provide valuable information about student growth and help us celebrate the incredible progress that has taken place over the course of the year. We are proud of the hard work, perseverance, and learning that our students have demonstrated.
As exciting as summer vacation is, there is also something magical about these final weeks together. The hallways are filled with laughter, classrooms are busy with meaningful activities, and there is a sense of accomplishment as students reflect on all they have learned and experienced this year.
Thank you to families, staff, and students for making Marion Cross School such a vibrant and joyful place to learn. We look forward to making the most of every remaining day together before we send our students off for a well-deserved summer break. We still have Field Day, Sixth Grade Celebration, Farewell REP, and so much more to accomplish before the year ends!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Shawn
Student Services Update
As we head into the final stretch of the school year, it’s a great time to keep home routines steady and supportive.
Regular sleep, healthy meals, time for homework, and scheduled downtime are essential and can help students feel their best during these busy and exciting last weeks.
The end of the year can bring lots of big feelings, especially with all the special school events and the mix of excitement and goodbyes. Adding a few fun closure activities can help, like writing a note to a teacher or classmates, making a summer friendship plan, or sharing a favorite memory from the year. These simple moments can help students celebrate all they’ve accomplished and head into summer feeling connected and proud.
Have a great weekend,
Greg
School News and Information
Graphic Novelist Dan Abdo to Visit MCS!
Mark your calendars! On Monday, June 1, acclaimed author and illustrator Dan Abdo is visiting Marion Cross School. Dan is the co-creator of the hit graphic novel series Blue, Barry & Pancakes and Barb the Last Berzerker. He will host interactive, creative workshops with all students in grades K–6.This special event is fully funded by the generous support of the MCS PTO. Families can pre-order copies of Dan’s books for personalization through The Norwich Bookstore.
Celebrate a Record-Breaking Year in the Library!
What a wonderful year of reading! Thanks to our amazing students, we achieved record-breaking checkouts this year. Now, the time has come for our beloved library books to find their way back to the MCS library shelves.
Key Dates & Summer Reading
June 8, All Library Books Due: Return all books by this date to keep your student in good standing.
Summer Checkouts: Students in good standing may continue borrowing physical books for the summer.
Sora Digital Library: Access the Sora collection of ebooks and audiobooks all summer long. Students can log into Sora from anywhere in the world!
Lost or Damaged Books
Replacement Fees: Cash or checks are accepted for lost or damaged items.
Check Payee: Make checks payable to Norwich School District.
Check Date: Date all checks for July 1 to align with fiscal year constraints.
Thank you for helping us get our books back so young MCS readers can keep enjoying them!
4 Easy Steps to Log into Sora
Download: Add the Sora app to your personal device.
Find School: Log in to the Vermont Schools Shared Digital Collection.
Select School: Choose Marion Cross School from the list.
Sign In: Enter your child’s login credentials:
Username: First and last name (all one word, all lowercase).
Password: School-issued 4-letter, 4-number password (example: read1234).
Note: Please contact your child’s current teacher if you need to retrieve this password.
Field Day - Wednesday, June 10th
Please mark your calendars for this exciting end-of-year tradition. Our school community will gather on the green for some fun in the sun. This year there will be a variety of wet and dry fitness activities, karaoke, face painting, and bubbles, sprinkled with some alternative spaces for kids to cool down and connect. We will begin our day with a cross country trail run for students in grades 3-6 and conclude our festivities with a 6th grade vs. teachers kickball game. This day would not be possible without volunteer support. If you would like to lend a hand, please check here for volunteer information. I hope to see you there!
Best,
Mr. Petrone
Interested in Demo’s Newsletter?
Courtesy Community Interest Posts
22 Church Street
Norwich, Vermont
802-649-1703
And the puzzle this week is White River Junction as it appeared in August 1915.
White River Junction, August 1915
A summer panorama of the junction, with a hotel that had ten years left.
May 29
Jigsaw for May 30, 2026: White River Junction, August 1915
The full panorama, looking north from the south-facing hillside above town:
Original Photo for saving or zooming
(Library of Congress, no known restrictions on publication)
Note the brick building with twin towers, slightly left of center. That’s the Junction House. It was renamed the Hotel Coolidge in 1924 and burned three months later. The Hotel Coolidge we know now is its 1925 replacement.
At the far left of the panorama, the cleared hillside drops down to where I91 now crosses over the White River. (For more on that view: West Lebanon and White River Junction and Part 2.)
I had it colorized; some people will prefer it. The white line down the middle is where the rotating lens passed itself mid-arc. (More on that strange camera here.)
This is the first of a small project. Between 1912 and 1917 a Brooklyn photographer named Henry Barreuther made at least eighteen of these of Vermont towns, plus a Connecticut and Massachusetts handful. The Library of Congress has kept them all, and we’ll be working through them this summer.
Next week, a follow-up on the strange camera itself.
Cameron Cross
for the
Norwich Historical Society
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