Community Murals, MCS and a puzzle in case you missed it.
fun and informative
Hello Norwich,
I am sharing with you some items of interest perhaps from the Norwich Historical Society, and MCS school newsletter.
This posting appeared in today’s list serv posting. If you open the link you will see several topics worth checking out.
New Community Mural
From: Sarah Rooker <sarah@norwichhistory.org>
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:05:23 -0400
Have you seen the new community mural? We certainly have a lot of thank
yous to do.
First, thanks to all of you who painted such beautiful images of Norwich's
natural world. Wow, they are amazing.
And thanks to Marion Cross teachers, Chrissy Morley and Caitlin Eastman,
who engaged every K - 6 student in combining art and scientific drawing.
There is a student mural inside Marion Cross using cardboard circles, while
5th and 6th grade paintings are out on the community mural. It was
wonderful to be able to foster a community service project right at the
beginning of the year.
Tracy Smith, former Marion Cross art teacher, designed the mural with the
gorgeous landscape background. We had a team who worked for hours and hours
priming the boards, cutting out the circles, gluing the circles on the
boards, and then polyurethaning it all: Wendy Thompson, Beth Perry, Carla
Vincent, Cheri Mather, and Nancy Cressman. Tom Griggs, Jim Masland, and
Emily Myers put their muscles to the concrete and got it on the wall. What
a great team.
Thanks to Norwich Community Collaborative for giving us SIX MONTHS of space
at the Norwich Grange Hall. What a big deal that was.
This project came about when an email arrived from the Conservation
Commission asking us when the Commission had been formed. After some
research, we realized it was 50 years ago --the first local conservation
commission in Vermont! This was something to celebrate and thus the new
mural theme came about. Thanks to the Conservation Commission for funding
the project and leading walks last spring. And, thanks for all you do to
conserve Norwich's natural spaces and habitats!
The Historical Society's mission is to cultivate a vibrant sense of place
and community through discovering, preserving, and sharing the history of
Norwich. Collaborating on projects like this is what we most like to do!
Sarah
--
Sarah Rooker, Director
Norwich Historical Society
277 Main Street / P.O. Box 1680
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-0124
www.norwichhistory.org
The new mural is up at the Dan and Whit’s wall of fame!
And the new newsletter is here for you to read
Important Dates
Friday, October 25 - Conferences - No School for Students
Monday, November 11 - Holiday, School Closed
Sunday, October 13 - PTO Spirit Wear ordering closes
Thursday, November 14 - 5:30 - 6:30 - Math Night
Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29 - Holiday, School Closed
Sunday, December 8 - Gift Making Festival hosted by the PTO
Wednesday, December 11- 5:00 - 6:00 - K-2 Holiday Concert
Thursday, December 12 - 6:00 - 7:00 - Grade 3-6 Holiday Concert
Marion Cross School Website Calendar SAU 70 All School/District Website Calendar
Message From The Principal
How to Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences
Family-teacher conferences are right around the corner. We have set aside Friday, October 25th as the day that teachers will do the bulk of conferences. This is a special time when you and your child’s teacher come together to talk about how your child is doing in school. Here’s how you can make these meetings as helpful as possible!
Before the Conference
Look at Your Child’s Work: Take a few moments to review your child’s homework, tests, and any notes from the teacher. This will give you a clearer picture of how they’re progressing.
Think About Your Goals: What do you want to learn during the meeting? Are you curious about how they’re doing socially or academically? Having a few goals in mind can help guide the conversation.
Prepare Questions: Here are some questions you might consider asking:
How is my child doing in class?
What are their strengths that I can celebrate at home?
Are there any areas where they might need extra help?
How do they interact with their classmates?
What can I do to support their learning at home?
During the Conference
Be Positive: Approach the meeting with a friendly and open attitude. Remember, everyone wants the best for your child!
Listen Carefully: Take in what the teacher shares. Their insights can really help you understand your child better.
Share Your Thoughts: Don’t hesitate to talk about what you’ve noticed at home. Your perspective is important!
After the Conference
Make a Plan Together: Work with the teacher to set some goals for your child. This might include ways to build on their strengths or tackle any challenges.
Stay in Touch: Keep the communication going! Regular check-ins with the teacher can help you stay updated on your child’s progress.
Talk with Your Child: After the meeting, share what you learned with your child. Encourage them and discuss ways they can continue to grow.
Family-teacher conferences are a wonderful opportunity to team up for your child’s success. By preparing ahead of time and engaging in meaningful conversations, you can help create a supportive environment where your child can thrive!
Enjoy the beautiful weekend,
Shawn
Student Services Update
Hello MCS Families,
Student support systems at Marion Cross School are important for helping all students do their best in school. These systems make sure every child has the chance to learn and grow.
Key Parts of our Support Systems
Early Help
We look at i-Ready, DIBELS, classwork, and historical achievement to find students who might need extra help. This way, teachers can give support early so students can feel confident and improve.
There are three levels of help for students:
Level 1: Great teaching for everyone.
Level 2: Extra help for some students who need it.
Level 3: Special help for students with big challenges.
Personalized Learning
Teachers use different ways to teach so that every student can learn in a way that works best for them. This includes working in groups and changing lessons to fit different needs.
Classroom Support
Teachers use restorative approaches and keep an eye on how students are doing in order to create a friendly classroom where everyone feels welcome.
Working Together
Good support systems happen when teachers work together, talk about student progress, and involve parents in their child’s learning. Every week, we have grade level meetings to look at data and student achievement to identify needs of students. These meetings are called Education Support Team (ESTs) meetings.
Benefits of Support Systems
We believe that when we have strong support systems, students can:
Do better in school
Feel more excited about learning
Close gaps in learning
Build a strong base for future success
I really hope you are able to use next week’s family/teacher conferences to discuss the best support systems for your student(s).
Have a great weekend,
Greg
Counselor's Corner
Hello MCS Community!
Welcome to another week of Class Counsel with Ms. Keel! We’ve had a fantastic week filled with learning, growth, and important life lessons. Let’s dive into what we’ve been up to and what’s coming next!
Last week
In Kindergarten, we continued our journey with the Incredible Flexible You series, focusing on The Group Plan and Thinking with Your Eyes. They are becoming experts at understanding group dynamics and using their eyes to think about what others might be feeling or thinking about.
First Graders tackled the important topic of stopping bullies by reporting to a caring, trusted adult. They are learning the power of seeking help and standing up for themselves and others.
Second Graders took a stand against bullying by learning how to refuse and stand up to bullies. They are becoming more confident in their ability to assert themselves in difficult situations.
In Third Grade, we began the engaging Weird! Dare! Tough! book series, which offers perspectives from a victim, a bully, and a bystander. This week, we focused on using an assertive voice to refuse bullying.
Fourth Graders wrapped up their bullying prevention unit with a deep dive into Cyberbullying. They learned about the dangers of online bullying and how to protect themselves and others in the digital world.
Fifth Graders also focused on cyberbullying, learning strategies to stop it and stay safe online. They are becoming digital citizens who understand the importance of kindness and respect in all interactions.
In Sixth Grade, we shifted gears to focus on breaking down goals. Our students are learning how to set achievable goals and create plans to reach them.
Next week
Kindergarteners will explore the concept of Body in the Group, learning how to be physically present and engaged in group activities.
First Graders will continue their anti-bullying education by learning how to refuse bullying. They will practice standing up for themselves and others in a respectful and assertive manner.
Second Graders will start learning about the role of bystanders in bullying situations and how they can help stop bullies. They will discover the power of speaking up and supporting their peers.
Third Graders will continue with the Weird! Dare! Tough! series, focusing on the perspective of a bystander. They will learn how to be proactive and supportive in bullying situations.
Fourth Graders will take a short break until December, when we will start back up with Personal Safety. This will give them time to reflect on what they’ve learned and prepare for new topics.
Fifth Graders will be wrapping up their bullying prevention unit, solidifying their understanding and preparing to apply their knowledge in real-life situations.
Sixth Graders will continue working on setting progress for their goals, learning how to track their achievements and stay motivated.
Things to remember
Encourage your child to talk about what they’ve learned about bullying and cyberbullying. Open communication at home reinforces their learning.
Remind your child about the importance of setting and working towards goals. Celebrate their progress, no matter how small!
For Fourth Grade parents, please note that we will resume our sessions in December with a focus on Personal Safety.
Until Next Time!
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education. Together, we are building a community of confident, kind, and resilient students. Have a wonderful week ahead!
Warm regards, Ms. Keel
School News and Information
Hello from Math World,
We are about 1 month away from the 2nd Annual MCS Family Math Night! This year, Family Math Night will be held on November 14, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm in our gymnasium. This is an opportunity for MCS families (all ages are welcome, whether they are older or younger than pre-K to 6th grade) to come together, learn various math games that reinforce concepts being taught at school and a chance to chat with MCS administrators, teachers and math interventionists.
Similar to last year, we will be providing pizza and drinks for all attendees, so plan on coming, having some pizza with your family and playing math games!
This year, we are proud to be partnering with the MCS PTO as well as the Dartmouth College Department of Mathematics! We have some exciting ideas for utilizing their expertise.
I am extremely excited for this event, and hope to see many MCS families in attendance.
Mr. McGee
Thank you to the PTO for organizing a great Coffee Chat lastTuesday. I enjoyed talking with parents about the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment that was given to students in grades K-3 and how the data we gathered will be used by teachers to support each child’s reading progress. We also discussed how parents can support developing readers at home.
Decodable books (books where the majority of words can be phonetically “decoded”) help beginning readers practice applying their phonics skills. You can read decodable books for free online at the following websites:
In addition to reading books, literacy games are a great way to build foundational reading skills at home! Games allow for parent-child connection and less pressure to “perform” than reading a book. They can be especially good for extra practice during after school or evening times, when students may be tired from all their hard work at school. Marion Cross students enjoy playing the following:
Splash and Splash Jr (choose the game corresponding to the literacy skill your child is working on - if you’re not sure, ask your child’s teacher!)
Rhyming books can help young children build their phonological awareness, the awareness of and ability to work with sounds in spoken language. Phonological awareness provides an essential foundation for working with sounds in written language and ultimately reading. Below are some great rhyming stories. You can find many more at the library!
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Dog on a Frog? by Kes Gray
Dino-Football by Lisa Wheeler (multiple books in this series)
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw (multiple books in this series)
Little Red Rhyming Hood by Sue Fliess
Senorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer
Rhyme Crime by Jon Burgerman
Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (multiple books in this series)
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker (multiple books in this series)
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker (multiple books in this series)
If you have any questions about your child’s reading development or the DIBELS assessment, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or to me.
Happy reading!
Ms. Hampton
More books? Yes, please:
Did you know that your child can access 40,000+ ebooks, narrated ebooks, and audiobooks from anywhere with an internet connection? MCS is piloting a subscription to epic! books that provides all of our students 24/7 access to this simultaneous use collection of books. Epic! offers a robust collection of books at a wide variety of reading levels. With everything from National Geographic ebooks to Wings of Fire and I Survived audiobooks, there are many great options for a wide range of interests and reading levels. Titles can also be downloaded for off-line access. To access epic! from home follow these simple steps:
Download the free epic! app from the Google or Apple store or go to the epic! website to launch your next reading adventure.
Select students and enter a class code. If your child does not have a class code through their homeroom teacher, simply use the library code, rzs4040, and select guest.
Read!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance with setting up your device for epic! access.
Happy reading, Jillian Van Ells, MCS Librarian
Strings Teacher Wanted!
We are hoping to find a teacher to offer some Strings lessons to MCS kids! If you know of a violin (viola, cello…) instructor, would you please invite them to apply for the position at https://sau70.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=568
PTO Bulletin Board
Thank you to Lucy Hampton, Shawn Gonyaw, and everyone who came to the last PTO Coffee Talk.
Thank you to all who donated apples, cider, or their afternoon to help, and a very BIG thank you to Diana Cathcart, who brought in her own cider press, prepped apples, and ran the press!
Thank you to everyone who participated in Walk & Bike to School Day on Wednesday, and special thanks to Molly Riordan, all our volunteers, NPD, and NFD for helping to keep everyone safe and organized!
Halloween Candy Collection
It's that wonderfully spooky time of year again! The PTO will be collecting bags of candy until October 30th for in-town homes that host over 500 trick-or-treaters on Halloween night! Collection boxes will be at Dan & Whits, Norwich Nursery School, Norwich Public Library, and the MCS Office.
Courtesy Community Interest Posts
22 Church Street
Norwich, Vermont
802-649-1703
And finally the puzzle if you still have time to do it what with all that reading that hopefully you just did.
https://norwichhistory.org/
21. Jigsaw Puzzle Westboro 10/20/2024
From: Cameron Cross <cross.cameron@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2024 23:00:00 -0400
Here's this week's puzzle: https://jigex.com/NCW6Y
"The West Lebanon rail yard was the western terminus of the Northern
Railroad. It was initially equipped with a 130’ completely circular stone
roundhouse with a stone cupola and stone machine shop. During the Boston &
Maine’s operation, the stone roundhouse was removed and replaced by a new,
brick building in 1890. About 1929 the B & M erected a third roundhouse
which was later expanded and then partially removed as needs changed. At
its peak in the early 20th century the yard also included a machine shop,
sand house, heating plant, freight houses, section house, bunk house,
tenements, garage, fan room, shanty and storehouse."
(From:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53a3b0e7e4b0356e962ad8f4/t/5e5d71a639872f0808e67caa/1583182256831/NHDHR_Survey_Northern_Railroad.pdf
)
Original postcard
<https://norwichhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Westboro-postcard.png>
Historic Photo of the Westboro Yard
<https://norwichhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Westboro.jpg>
A similar view from Google Earth
<https://norwichhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/Westboro-from-Google-Earth.png>
Daniel Webster's Speech at the ribbon cutting
<https://books.google.com/books?id=xyU8AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA414#v=onepage&q&f=false>
Wikipedia article on the Northern Railroad
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Railroad_(New_Hampshire)#cite_note-23>
Cameron Cross
for the
Norwich Historical Society <
