Marion Cross School happenings this week and beyond with some important dates.
Always a lot of learning and even some fun too!
Thought it would be nice to share with my readers as I get many requests to put this out weekly. Thanks to the MCS staff for the fine newsletter that helps keep parents and children informed.
Friday, December 1, 2023
Important Dates
Saturday, December 9 at 1:00pm - PTO Gift Making Festival
Wednesday, December 13 at 5 pm - Winter Concert (Kindergarten through Grade 2)
Thursday, December 14 at 6 pm - Winter Concert (Grades 3 through 6)
Marion Cross School Website Calendar SAU 70 All School/District Website Calendar
Message From The Principal
Report cards will be live and available for you to access at 5:00pm on Friday, December 1st (today). As a child, I LOVED to have my report card come home. My grandparents were of the generation that paid for good grades. Sometimes a stellar report card could result in $50 and being taken out to eat! That was memorable. However, even more memorable was the time that was spent talking with me about my report card and how I felt about my progress in school. It was fun to share the highlights and to strategize about how to turn a C grade into a B or A. My hope is that you are able to take the time to review report cards with your children, celebrate the highlights and brainstorm how to continue to grow in other areas.
Prior to you viewing report cards, we want to clarify grading and our school’s approach to report cards.
Similar to last year, we are using PowerSchool to prepare and publish report cards. Please be aware that all student grades noted on the report card will be based on first-trimester standards.
Grading will be reported using the numbers 1,2,3, and 4.
A grade of “1” demonstrates little evidence of meeting the standard.
A grade of “2” demonstrates that a student is approaching mastery of the standard.
A grade of “3” demonstrates that a student is meeting the expectation of a given standard.
Finally, a grade of “4” demonstrates that a student is consistently performing above grade level work or advanced work.
Additionally, we only grade students in the areas that we have taught. For any content areas that have not been taught to date, you will see NA noted on the report card. NA stands for not assessed. For all Work Habits and Social Skills grading, we will also be using the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
A “4” is given for demonstrates consistently.
A “3” is given for demonstrates frequently.
A “2” is given for demonstrates occasionally.
A “1” is given for demonstrates rarely.
If, after reviewing the report card, you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher(s). We are always happy to talk about students and ways to make school work even better. Also, if you have any celebrations or appreciations, also reach out to your child’s teacher(s).
To login in to your PowerSchool account, please follow this link.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Shawn
Student Services Update
This week we filled our pellet aquarium and celebrated as a whole school by having Fancy Day. Fancy Day was organized by our PBIS Celebration committee members Becky French, Melanie Farwell, Jonathan Dean, and Talari Anderson. They enlisted the assistance of a number of staff and family volunteers to sponsor an amazing event. Not only was everyone invited to dress fancy, but we surprised students by having a fancy lunch. Lunch included tables with tablecloths, fancy flowers, twinkling lights, a special treat…and live music! An awesome time was had by everyone.
Have a great weekend,
Greg
Counselor's Corner In PreK we have completed the Incredible Flexible You series and have started Second Step’s Early Learning curriculum. In Kindergarten through Third we have been exploring feelings and how to regulate our feelings when they get too big in the Zones of Regulation. In Fourth and Fifth grades we’ve spent time learning about perspective taking and how to make genuine compliments and start conversations. In Sixth grade we completed our unit on goal setting and have started on our next unit Recognizing Bullying and Harassment
School News and Information
Morning Drop Off
Please remember, that only quick drops should utilize the Church Street lot. We’ve noticed parents getting out of their vehicles and some leaving their cars in non-parking spaces. This has been causing dangerous situations for other vehicles and some students. There are plenty of spots to park around the Green if you would like to walk your child to the door. Thanks for your cooperation.
Though there continues to be lots going on in LEEEP, I want to use this week’s blurb to focus on gratitude. At MCS, we have so much to be grateful for: an amazing staff, supportive administration and a really kind student body. We also have a phenomenal community of engaged parents, community organizations and citizens willing to share their time, resources and expertise with us. Because we are lucky enough to have this all be our “normal”, day to day, experience it is easy to take these things for granted. But what we have here is truly special. Personally, as both a parent and a teacher, I am grateful for the existence of the LEEEP program, which is very unique in our district and the wider public education system.
My nieces and nephews were visiting over Thanksgiving and I asked them to help me stack firewood in the forest after the Turkey Trot. They were in utter disbelief that students “actually got to” spend time learning outside– around a fire, in the garden and in the forest! The support of the community in doing this work has been incredible and I am so thankful that you value these experiences as much as I do! Specifically, I would like to thank the PTO for their generous grant to provide materials for having fires and cooking on them. I would also like to thank the Friends of Hanover Norwich Schools for the generous provision of materials to make the lab at MCS accessible to students in K-6 grade. We have only just begun to use these resources but they have been truly wonderful so far!
With my sincere thanks,
Chrissy
Below: New fire set up (and my new spirit wear hat:) getting ready for hot cider in Forest K
4th graders exploring light and optics in the lab.
Winter Celebrations Concert News!
We are getting excited about our concerts! Just as a reminder, these are the dates.
K-2: Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 5:00 pm
3-6: Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Students who are performing should arrive 15 minutes before the concert and go to their classrooms to gather with their group. They can bring their coats (etc.) there with them. Families and friends may go to the gym to await the performance. All are free to enter either through the front doors or the gym doors.
NEW! this week…
Several students have asked if they can have a copy of the words to practice at home and the answer is, YES! You may click on the links below to view the lyrics.
Parents' Night Out Fundraiser: Class of 2026
On Dec 9th from 6:00-8:30 pm we'd love to spend time with your K-4th graders at the RW Black Center in Hanover. We're planning on beginning with an open gym and craft time, followed by a winter kid's movie with popcorn and juice boxes. If you have siblings in grades 5 and 6, and think this would be appropriate for them, please let us know.
We are fundraising to make our future senior class events affordable for all our classmates. We are asking for a donation of $30 for one student, $50 for two, and $75 for three. Drop off and pick up anytime within the 6-8:30 window.
Email questions and registration to Corin Benedict at the high school.
corinbenedict@hanovernorwichschools.org
Can you help by becoming a substitute??
Some of you expressed interest in being on the substitute list. There were some questions that came up that are relevant to anyone with interest.
Do I have to apply to be a substitute? Yes, there is an online form that needs to be filled out to get on the substitute list. This link will take you to the online application.
If I am already a volunteer, is the process quicker? Yes, if you have gone through the background check, that speeds up the process.
Do I need to have a formal interview? Yes, typically a 15 minute conversation with the HR department over Zoom is all that is required.
Can I decide which grades and/or teachers I substitute for? Yes, you can select the days you are available and the teachers you substitute for.
What if I need several days advance notice to adjust my schedule in order to substitute? That works just fine for us. Oftentimes, teachers know about appointments or professional development days weeks in advance. Once part of our system, you can be alerted about substitute opportunities that are several days or even weeks in the future.
PTO Bulletin Board
December 5th - Tuesday: Our next PTO meeting will be via Zoom 7-8 pm. We hope you can join us!
December 9th - Saturday: Gift Making Festival, MCS Gym, 1-3 pm
The Gift Making Festival is a lovely MCS tradition where kids can spend the afternoon making handmade items to give as gifts. This year’s festival will feature stations for kids to make handmade ornaments, luminaries, notebooks, hot cocoa mixes, cards and more!
We are still looking for a few more volunteers to help us run this event! If you are available December 9 from 1-3pm and are excited to get crafty with MCS kids, please e-mail Leah Fosco at lcfosco@gmail.com.
Gift Making Bake Sale
The December 9th gift-making festival is nearly upon us, and it's time to sign up to bring an item for the bake-sale table. Bake-sale goods should be single-serving (brownies, muffins, etc) and individually wrapped/bagged if possible.
Items can be dropped off either:
Friday December 8th at 3-3:30pm on the Church Street side of Marion Cross
Saturday December 9th between 12noon-12:30pm at the Marion Cross Gym.
The sign-up sheet is here.
Thanks for your support!
December 13 - Weds: Coffee Talk, MCS, 8:15-9:15 am (suggestions for topics welcome)
December 13 - Weds: Staff Birthday Celebration. Volunteers needed! Thank you!
Courtesy Community Interest Posts
22 Church Street
Norwich, Vermont
802-649-1703
