See what's new at Marion Cross school-a message from the principal
New teachers, staff and important dates especially if you have elementary school age children
Good morning Norwich,
Here is the new Marion Cross school newsletter with some important information on the start of school etc. There are also a few new teachers/staff this year and there bio/story can be found in this issue.
Important Dates
Tuesday, August 27 - 2:15 - 3:00 MCS Meet and Greet Your Teachers
Tuesday, August 27 - 3:00 - 4:00 Popsicles on the Playground, hosted by the PTO
Wednesday, August 28 - First Day of School
Wednesday, August 28 - 8:05 - 9:05 - Back to School Breakfast, hosted by the PTO
Monday, September 2 - Holiday, School Closed
Thursday, September 12 - 5:00 - 6:45 Back to School Night
Monday, October 14 - Holiday, School Closed
Friday, October 25 - Conferences - No School for Students
Monday, November 11 - Holiday, School Closed
Thursday, November 14 - 5:30 - 6:30 - Math Night
Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29 - Holiday, School Closed
Marion Cross School Website Calendar     SAU 70 All School/District Website Calendar
Message From The Principal
Welcome
I hope that this summer message finds you keeping cool on these hot summer days! I have had an unusual summer with many days spent working from home as the MCS building undergoes some big changes. As summer is a lonely time to work at school, it has been a welcome treat to work from home. My daughter, Sydney, has been working on her summer college courses and the two of us have set up our joint work space in the dining room. I have been savoring the working conversations that would not have happened if I were in my office!
When I have not been working, summer has been filled with tasks around our home. I have enjoyed time spent in our gardens, with the bees in the apiary, and fixing fences with the cattle and horses. I have had some human interaction. We hosted an anniversary celebration for my mom and stepdad and also a graduation reunion for the cohort who completed masters degrees with me and my wife. As August creeps in, it is time to shift more of my focus to the start up of school, which brings me to this note.
Project Updates
Each and every inch of MCS has had some sort of work done to it this summer. At the current time, the ceiling tiles are out in much of the building while pipes are being run for the new heating system. Baseboard is currently being installed in some classrooms and huge cast iron radiators have been removed. The outdoor part of the heating project was completed last week with our propane tank farm installed in the front of the school…you will notice it when you enter the building.
In the next few weeks two of our hallways will have the carpet removed and the floors ground, stained, and polished. We are transitioning our hallways from carpet to polished concrete. It is easier to keep clean, does not hold allergens, and will give us floors that are easier to navigate.   Â
The back playground is starting to take shape. The focus has been excavating the space to make the paths at the correct grades for a playground that is inclusive for all students and visitors. Late this week and into next week the poured in place pathways will be put in, which will drastically change the feel and look of the space. I learned yesterday that the cure time for the pathways is close to two weeks, so we will be roping off the space in hopes to avoid permanent footprints! The plan is to have the majority of the equipment installed prior to school, with a couple of backordered items arriving in mid to late September.
The septic project is complete! Our new system is designed to naturally break down our waste into pool grade water that will be pumped into our leach fields. No longer do we have to worry about unsightly brown sculptures that formed on the winter ice. In addition to the treatment system, we have had a new grease trap installed to make our kitchen fully functioning. When school resumes, we will be able to cook all the food that is served in our food service program. Also in the kitchen a dishwasher and industrial oven have been added, thanks to grant funding that Assistant Superintendent Robin Steiner secured for us.
To date, thanks to the careful planning of Facilities Director Tony Daigle and Business Manager Jamie Teague, we are on track to start school for teachers on August 21st and students on August 28th. Â
New Staff     Â
This year we welcome a talented group of new staff members to MCS. Thankfully, our turnover was much less than in previous years and hiring was minimal for the coming school year. We have a couple of people rejoining the MCS staff. Â
We welcome Molly Gentine as one of our math interventionists. Molly has had a few previous roles at MCS ranging from second grade teacher, tutor, long term substitute and interventionist. We are thrilled to have her return to our school.Â
Gavyn Magistro returns to us in the role of Technology Technician. Gavyn previously worked for MCS in a role that was shared between us and the SAU office. We are delighted to have him in our building taking care of our technology needs.Â
Here are messages from our three new classroom teachers to help you get to know them better.
Hello! I’m Colin McLaughlin and am so excited to be joining the MCS community as a first grade teacher this school year! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself before we have the chance to meet in a few weeks. As an elementary teacher I love bringing subjects to life for my students by creating engaging projects and meaningful educational experiences. I also value the connection between home and school and look forward to forming lasting relationships with students and their families. In addition to being passionate about teaching, I savor spending time outdoors, building and creating things with my hands, and continuously learning about the world around me. This summer I am enjoying spending days around the Upper Valley with my wife and three daughters. You might find us swimming, biking, or eating ice cream by a river. Enjoy the rest of your summer and I can’t wait to meet you soon!
Hello Marion Cross families. My name is Rachael Coleman and I am thrilled to be teaching 3rd grade.  I am a Vermont native who loves all things outdoors including teaching outside! I am a mother of two and love to explore with my kids. Outside of school you can find me camping with my family, paddle boarding, traveling, and cross country skiing. I am thrilled to be joining the Marion Cross community and look forward to meeting students this year!Â
Hello Marion Cross Families! My name is Emma Guthrie (Ms. G.), and I am beyond excited to be starting this new adventure as a second grade teacher! I have lived in the Upper Valley on and off for the last decade and could not be happier to be back in the area after finishing up my program at UVM this past May. As a new teacher, I am so excited to learn from and with all your children as we explore this school year together. What an adventure it will be! I originally went to school for music and am looking forward to incorporating music into my curriculum. I am a big advocate of outdoor education and plan to spend lots of time enjoying and learning about the surrounding environments. I have two cats, Nigel and Mo, who I’m sure will be featured in some way in the classroom, maybe they’ll make a visit one day! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach me at emmaguthrie@hanovernorwichschools.org. I am looking forward to this year!
Hello! I am Hayley Hornak and I am excited to be joining the Marion Cross School as a third grade teacher. This year will be my fifth year teaching with Vermont being the third state I’ve taught in during these five years. Originally from New England, I recently moved back from spending a year in Kentucky. Each place brings the gift of meeting new people with unique stories. What most excites me about this school year is the experience of a new place and getting to learn from and meet new faces! Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, cooking new recipes, and being outside. I look forward to a great year!
An Optional Summer Assignment
This school year we will have all staff and students wear name tags for the first two weeks of school. This will help us to all get to know one another. A large population of our students and staff are returning, but we do have 38 new students and some new staff joining our school. We will provide name tags, but if you would like to purchase a sheet or two of blank name tags and have your child write their name and do some decoration, it might be a good way to get excited about the school year. The name tags will have student first names written dark and large and, if desired, their preferred pronoun. It could be fun to decorate name tags to be different for each of the first 7 days of school. Our hope is that the use of name tags will allow everyone to address one another by our first names and desired pronouns and help get our school year off to a welcoming start!
Happy Summer,
Shawn
Courtesy Community Interest Posts
22 Church Street
Norwich, Vermont
802-649-1703
