Your Sunday puzzle is ready to solve and MCS newsletter to keep you in the know
Enjoy this snowy day
Good morning Norwich,
A puzzle on Main Street, how puzzling is that, a team of horses , a sled and gasoline pumps all make it very interesting to solve. Brought to you by Sarah Rooker and the Norwich Historical Society.
Here is the link: https://norwichhistory.org/main-street-corner/
And here is information from Sarah on the discover Norwich 2025 series
https://norwichhistory.org/discover-norwich-2025/
February 13: Main Street, Then and Now
Then and now photos are always so much fun. Norwich Historical Society has
so many old photos that it was hard to choose for this slide show. Take a
trip down Main Street and see how much has actually stayed the same. Hear
the story of how the village area evolved from a log cabin to the beautiful
houses we see today. The shadows of history are still on the buildings
today and you will be amazed at the stories the walls could tell if they
could speak.
This talk is part of Norwich Historical Society's popular Discover Norwich
Zoom series exploring Norwich’s landscape, history, and culture on Thursday
nights in February at 6:30 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for the Norwich
Historical Society and we invite you to make a donation when registering
(but donations are optional). Here’s the link to the program page:
https://norwichhistory.org/discover-norwich-2025/
--
Sarah Rooker, Director
Norwich Historical Society
277 Main Street / P.O. Box 1680
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-0124
www.norwichhistory.org
Your latest edition of the Marion Cross School Newsletter is here;
Important Dates
Monday, February 17 through Friday, February 21 - February Break, No School
Tuesday, March 4 - Voting Day
Friday, March 7, 6:00-8:00pm - BINGO Night, hosted by the PTO
Monday, March 10 - Teacher In-Service, No School
Friday, March 14 - Family Conferences, No School
Marion Cross School Website Calendar SAU 70 All School/District Website Calendar
Message From The Principal
MCS Environmental Club Shines at Composting in Schools Webinar
Yesterday’s snow day opened up time in my schedule to be able to participate and support our MCS students and teachers during the Composting in Schools: Climate and Food Systems Work Group Presentation Webinar, sponsored by the Main Food Convergence Project. This event brought together experts and local school leaders to discuss sustainable practices around food, land, and climate issues. We are so proud of our student panelists, Theo Lorenzo, Juliette Gemignani, and their mentor, Ms. Chrissy Morley, for participating in this important conversation.
Theo, Juliette, and Ms. Chrissy were among the panelists who shared their experiences, successes, and challenges in implementing sustainable food systems. They highlighted our school’s efforts to reduce food waste, including the creation of the Environmental Club, the food waste audit conducted by the club, and the establishment of our very own Compost Palace. Their dedication to sustainability and the environment has been instrumental in making MCS a leader in these efforts.
Theo reflected on the positive changes they’ve seen since starting the Environmental Club, sharing, “Our biggest success, in my opinion, is forming the environmental club at school. Everything has improved so much - quality of food, ability to compost - since we started.”
Juliette added, “We have met with the Climate Committee from HHS, and we are working to establish more communication with other schools to share what we have done.” She is driven by a sense of responsibility and motivation, saying, “I am inspired to be one person taking the initiative, otherwise, it is not going to work.”
Ms. Chrissy also offered an inspiring perspective, noting, “You have to love our earth to be inspired to help save it.”
Our students’ passion and commitment to preserving our planet are truly inspiring. We were also inspired by Ryan Parker from Food Corps, who shared practical strategies such as creating share tables, partnering with local farmers, and reducing the number of meals that go to waste and the many other panelists who share their stories. For more ideas and resources, you can visit Food Corps at foodcorps.org.
A huge thank you to Theo, Juliette, and Ms. Chrissy for representing MCS so well and for leading the charge in making our school a model for environmental stewardship!
Student Services Update
Happy Friday.
This past Wednesday there was a PTO sponsored Coffee Talk. We shared the framework of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
We also explained how we are incorporating Restorative Practices into this framework such as having students make our common area (hallway, assembly, recess, bathroom, and cafeteria) agreements.
Finally, we shared that it is possible to incorporate some of these ideas “at home” as well.
Please find information in the presentation link (PTO Coffee Talk)
Have a great weekend,
Greg
Counselor's Corner
Welcome to another exciting week in Class Counsel with Ms. Keel! We’ve been busy learning important lessons about safety and respect, and I’m thrilled to share our progress with you. Let’s dive into what we’ve been up to and what’s coming next.
Last week
In Miss Shannon’s Pre-Kindergarten class, we began exploring the Zones of Regulation, focusing on the Blue and Green Zones. Our preschoolers identified feelings associated with each zone and discussed strategies to help them feel better. In Kindergarten and First Grade, our young learners discovered a crucial rule about touching. They learned that only certain adults can touch private parts, and only for health reasons. We identified private body parts and discussed who might need to help keep them healthy. In Second and Third Grades, students reviewed the Touching Rule and applied it to a story about staying safe. Fourth Graders wrapped up their Safety unit, reflecting on all the vital lessons learned over the past two months. In Fifth Grade, students are nearing the end of their Safety unit, revisiting the Private Body Parts Touching Rule and applying it to a story about keeping someone safe. Finally, our Sixth Graders explored ways to stay safe in the face of cyberbullying.
Next week
Looking ahead, Kindergarten and First Grade will apply the Touching Rule to various scenarios and discuss how to use the Three Ways to Stay Safe in different situations. Fourth Grade will enjoy a six-week break! In Fifth Grade, we will review all the essential rules from our Safety unit and apply them to a story about staying safe. Sixth Grade will delve into the role of bystanders in bullying—can they help or make the situation worse?
Things to remember
As we continue our journey, please remind your children about the importance of speaking up if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Encourage them to practice the Three Ways to Stay Safe in their daily lives. Together, we can create a supportive environment for our students!
Until next time!
Thank you for your continued support and engagement in your child’s learning journey. Let’s keep the conversations going at home about safety and respect. I can’t wait to share more updates with you next week! Have a fantastic week ahead!
Ms. Keel
School News and Information
Jazz Band Visit!
Hi all, please consider yourself invited to our school next Tuesday morning (2/11) at 8:30. The HHS Jazz Band will be playing for the MCS kids to hear. As a special treat, our 6th grade band members will be playing a Duke Ellington song with them! It’ll be an amazing performance – it’s also a really great chance for our MCS kids to see what playing an instrument can sound like several years down the road.
Mr. Ramsey
Theater Program Enrollment Information: Use the enrollment form below to register your child(ren). We will begin after school rehearsals the week of 2/7, and morning sessions the first week of March. One enrollment form per child, please.
Theater program enrollment form
Theater program information packet
Contact Diana Cathcart with any questions.
PTO Bulletin Board
Thank you to Erin Butler, Jacey Cobb, Laura Essaid, Jenny Fry, and nurse Jane for helping to distribute the hot cocoa at the all school celebration! We heard lots of giggles and fun stories being told as we delivered hot cocoa to all the students in the school. A well-deserved celebration! Thank you!
Winter/spring grant cycle now open! Are you filled with fresh energy and ideas for 2025? We’d love to help make your ideas happen! Our winter grant cycle is now open. We welcome grants from all in the MCS community. Grants will be considered on a rolling basis until March 21 or until funds are exhausted. Questions can be sent to marioncrosspto@gmail.com
Cafeteria Committee: Join the Cafeteria Committee to support the Soup and Sandwich Day initiative!
Upcoming Dates and Volunteer Opportunities:
Friday February 14th: Valentine’s Day Staff Appreciation Breakfast provided by 4th-6th grade families, in the MCS Multi. Sign up to bring in something yummy here!
Friday March 7th: PTO Meeting, 8:15 AM
Friday March 7th: Bingo Night, 6-8 pm
Friday March 21: Winter Grant cycle closes
March 28: Mudstomp! Time TBD
Courtesy Community Interest Posts
22 Church Street
Norwich, Vermont
802-649-1703
