Morning Arrival
Children should arrive at school to give enough time to get to classes which begin at 8:15 a.m.. Children should dress appropriately for the cold weather as they are not invited into the school until 8:00 a.m. In inclement weather all students may come into the gym when they arrive but not before 7:30 a.m. Outside supervision is provided from 7:30 a.m. until the beginning of school in the morning and at the end of school until 3:15 p.m.Children may not leave the grounds once they arrive in the morning. Children may not go to Dan and Whit's (or other local stores) during school hours.

Attendance
The school tracks student attendance carefully. Attendance reports are sent to the State Department of Education at the end of each academic year. Children are expected to be at school by 8:15 when classes begin. If your child is ill or will not be in school for any other reason, please inform the school before 8:30 a.m. If you know in advance that your child is going to be absent from school, please notify the school in writing before the date he or she is going to be absent. If it is possible to send an early morning note in with a brother or sister please do so. Parents of afternoon kindergarten children should notify the school about absences before 12:00 noon. Students who arrive after 8:30 should report to the office before going to class in order to be counted as present. If a child is truant, the local authorities will be notified.

Residence Change/Personal Information
Please inform the school of any change in residence, mailing address, telephone numbers or change in family situations.

Non-discrimination
It is the policy of the Marion Cross School not to discriminate in educational programs, activities or employment practices on the basis of race, language, sex or handicapping condition under the provisions of Title VI of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975.

Emergency Closing / School Cancellation
The school operates delayed openings. This means that under adverse weather conditions, the superintendent of schools may decide to open school later in the morning. The time scheduled for delayed openings will be 10:15 AM. There will be no supervision for students before this time so DO NOT DROP OFF STUDENTS PRIOR TO THIS TIME. If weather conditions are unusually severe then no buses will run and school will remain closed all day. If school is delayed or cancelled, the following radio stations will be notified by 6:15 a.m. Radio notices are broadcast on the following radio stations beginning no later than 6:15 a.m.

WTSL 92.3FM, WNHV-KXE 95.3FM, Q-106, WMXR 94FM, and WCVR.

If school opens it will remain open all day, even if a storm intensifies during the day.

Personal Property
Each student is provided with a classroom cubby in kindergarten through third grade and usually a hallway locker in grades four through six. There are no locks. Items and clothing should be clearly marked with students' names. There is a lost and found area near the elevator close to the library. If you search through the lost and found please leave it tidy and ready for the next person. Please check this area regularly. The contents are given to local non-profit organizations at the end of each trimester. Items of value are held in the office for safekeeping when they are found. Please contact the front desk for information.

Public Information
From time to time, student activities are photographed by news organizations or video taped by the school or local television stations. Children are never individually identified without prior permission from a parent. Children usually enjoy seeing themselves on television or in the newspaper. However, if you do not want your child/ren pictured in the news, then please notify the school in writing.

Notices Home
Notices of school events and calendar announcements are sent home on Mondays and Fridays. The Principal sends home a regular school update every month. This update gives a variety of information and happenings at the school. It is a good idea to check your child's bag on these days as students often forget to give parents these notifications. Other notices concerning community and extracurricular activities are available in the display cases located between the double doors in the main lobby.

Telephone
Our phone system will be answered by the office personnel on school days between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. At other times a voice mail system will respond. Various options are available via the voice mail system. At the back of the paper handbook you will find a list of staff voice mail numbers. Messages can be left for a specific teacher but teachers cannot be contacted directly by telephone during lesson times.
Children are only allowed to use the phone when a real need arises. Please make arrangements for your child's after-school activities and transportation BEFORE school begins each day.

Elevator
The school elevator may be used by any physically handicapped person, those who are temporarily injured or for the use of heavy loads. No student is permitted to use the elevator unless they have specific permission from a member of the staff.

Food
Children bring their lunch and a snack to school each day. Milk is available for purchase. Although we do have some facilities, children should not expect to heat or cook food at school. We ask that children bring no glass containers, soda pop, or candy to school.

Gum
Gum is not allowed in or around the school buildings.

Parties
If your child has a birthday and would like to bring cake or cupcakes, please make sure there is enough food to share with everyone in your child's classroom. Parents are encouraged to check with their child's teacher regarding timing, the treat, etc. If your child plans to invite friends to an after-school party, we ask that the invitations be handled outside of school.

Photographs
Individual and class pictures are taken each fall. They are available for students to purchase. Notification of exact dates and times will be sent to parents.

Complaints
Parents who have a complaint should initially meet with the staff member involved. Usually things can be resolved at this level. If the situation cannot be resolved then the principal should be contacted next. If the complaint cannot be resolved with the staff member or principal then the superintendent can be contacted.

Back to the top

Parent Handbook - Activities and Special Events

Thursday Rep
Rep is an all-school sharing time, held Thursday afternoons from approximately 2:15 to 3:00. In this informal performance setting, children and adults present instrumental and vocal music, poetry, stories, plays, skits, dance routines, magic tricks, and gymnastic demonstrations. Some performances are organized by adults and grow out of school programs. Much of the shared work is the result of student selection of material, media, and performers, and of student-organized rehearsals. It is a valued time in the life of the school community. Parent attendance is by invitation of a classroom teacher.

Guest Artists
Each year guest artists are welcomed to the school. Those who have enriched the school program for several years are: Odds Bodkin with the Odyssey Project, John Fleagle with May Day, and Janice Allen with Martin Luther King's birthday. Other artists have shared their skills as storytellers, drummers, cartoonists, filmmakers, painters, poets, dancers, and singers. These artists are drawn from the rich resources of the community, the Vermont and New Hampshire Touring Artists Register, and from the school's association with teaching artists around the country.

May Fest
May Fest is an annual celebration of spring, in which each class performs traditional folk songs and dances. Parents, families and community members are welcome. This usually takes place during the third week of May.

Back to the top

Parent Handbook - Expectations

Climate of Respect
We at the Marion Cross School work to build and nourish a climate in which individuals are motivated to care about and feel responsible for the wellbeing of school community. We expect to act in a calm and orderly manner throughout the school day, to speak courteously to others, to be physically safe, and to treat property with respect.

Behavior
We at the Marion Cross School require that everyone be considerate and respectful. We model and promote those behaviors that are most conducive to learning and a positive school climate. We want our students to understand and act in accordance with principles of fairness, tolerance and cooperation, treating others as they themselves expect to be treated. Taking responsibility for one's own actions is a building block for becoming a responsible adult. We expect students to behave responsibly and appropriately in all school settings. Students who do not treat each other, their teachers, or school property with respect will be sent to the principal. If your child is sent to the principal for disciplinary reasons, you may receive a phone call the same day. If a student is sent to the office two times within five school days, an in-school suspension may result. If an in-school suspension is implemented a second time within 10 school days, the student may be suspended from school for up to ten days. A comprehensive explanation of what constitutes appropriate behavior and a detailed outline of playground rules are available at the office. Behavior guidelines are sent home during the first week of school.

Dress Code
Although we do not have a dress code as such, students are expected to dress respectfully and in such a way that it is not distracting to the educational process. Footwear should be worn in the school building at all times. Heavy winter boots should not be worn in school for prolonged periods. Hats should not be worn in school. In cases of doubt about the suitability of a student's particular appearance or attire, the school principal or school counselor may discuss the matter with the student and/or parent.

Back to the top

Parent Handbook - Curriculum

Kindergarten
All children who are five years old on or before September 1st are eligible for kindergarten. There is one morning section and one afternoon section, and each classroom teacher has a full-time assistant/aide. Children are encouraged to be curious, to be careful observers, to focus and be attentive, to accept limits, to follow routines, and to interact positively with peers and adults. In addition to the regular classroom program, kindergarteners work with those from other grades in special projects, shared reading, and activities with partners. Added to the regular classroom program, kindergarteners have a weekly library class, a weekly gym class and work with those specialist teachers.

First Grade
Children in first grade are learning about themselves, each other, and the world. They are also becoming observers of patterns in math and in nature. Reading is taught using group and individual language instruction with familiar poems, songs and repetitive stories, individual reading conferences, and through the children's own writing. Phonological awareness, phonics and the structure of language are integral parts of the program. Enthusiasm and love of literature are fostered and oral language is encouraged.Math concepts are taught using a wide variety of manipulatives, as well as materials that encourage creative problem solving. Teachers focus in on science and social studies throughout the year and integrate with other areas of the curriculum.

Second Grade
Second grade expands on all the basic learning skills taught in first grade. The development of independent learning is encouraged and students engage in more in-depth work, individually and in groups. Speaking, writing, and reading skills are developed through regular reading and spelling instruction, and conferences with teachers and volunteers. Science skills, cultural diversity, and learning about time, money, and fractions are part of the curriculum in second grade. A balance of computational and problem solving skills frame the approach in second grade mathematics.

Third Grade
Third graders consolidate and refine their writing, reasoning, and reading skills and begin to use them for research, problem-solving, logical thinking, and self-expression. Learning cursive writing and multiplication are among the expectations in third grade. Independent reading and writing are expected with an emphasis on using basic skills to do more complicated and sophisticated work.

Fourth Grade
Fourth grade marks a transition from the lower grades to the upper grades. Students begin to have more long-range projects and the homework load increases. Students begin to study French with an emphasis on the oral language. Problem solving is stressed. Students are expected to master the multiplication tables. Fourth graders write some lengthy research reports and there is an increased demand for descriptive language, organization, and clarity. Students are expected to read both for pleasure and for information.

Fifth Grade
The students in grade five develop increased independence and responsibility. Teamwork, leadership, and accountability are stressed as integral facets of their social and academic growth.
Math - The math program focuses on problem solving to develop skills in logical thinking and abstract reasoning. Students gain a conceptual knowledge of mathematical operations through the use of manipulatives. Classroom activities seek a balance between hands-on activities, drill, and practice.
English - The major topics of instruction are literature in the following genres: regional fiction (United States), fantasy (imaginary worlds), ancient literature (The Odyssey), historical fiction (European Middle Ages). Students work on increasing skills in reading, the writing process, word study and vocabulary development, cursive handwriting, speaking and listening. Independent reading is emphasized.
Science - The students utilize a hands-on approach in their science work. They further develop their thinking and process skills through exploring and observing, applying, and communicating their understanding. The science focus is on the following areas: chemistry (density of liquids and heat), rivers and watersheds, land forms, digestion and unhealthy substances.
Social Studies - The social studies program emphasizes an understanding of the past with comparisons to the present. The students increase their knowledge through cooperative group work, independent study, and research. The major areas of study are geography and map skills with a focus on the United States, and history with an emphasis on Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages in Europe.

Sixth Grade
Classes in our sixth grades are departmentalized in these four areas: Math, English, Social Studies and Science.
Math- The sixth grade math program seeks a balance between hands-on activities, drill and practice, conceptual understanding and problem solving. Students are encouraged to make connections within mathematics, to make connections between mathematics and other areas, to be confident in their ability to do math, to become mathematical problem solvers, to communicate mathematically, and to reason mathematically.
English- The goal of the sixth grade English program is to expand students' language development by promoting critical thinking skills, clear and accurate written expression, confident public speaking and an appreciation of literature. We seek to increase students' understanding of their own learning styles so they can capitalize on their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. We also emphasize the concept that we are teaching our students how to learn so that they can become independent learners, capable of enjoying the benefits of life-long learning. As responsible citizens in our complex society, they will need to listen carefully as well as speak clearly, to read for pleasure as well as for information, and to write freely in order to communicate their ideas, observations and experiences.
Social Studies- The goal of the social studies program is to help students understand the past, the present, and the environment in which they live so they may make intelligent decisions for the future. This is accomplished through a variety of activities including group projects, map-making, original research, exhibits, role-playing, guest speakers, and field trips. In sixth grade, the curriculum centers on American History.
Science-The hands-on approach is the method of instruction in science. We want to help our students develop their thinking skills and also be able to work effectively in groups. Our process involves introducing a topic, experimenting to collect data, recording findings in a variety of ways, and bringing closure to a topic through discussion. The curriculum emphasizes the development of skills and is supplemented by the health program which emphasizes social issues. Sixth grade science is a problem solving, hands-on inquiry- based program. It involves cooperative group work and consists of many physical science units. Examples are: pendulums, gases and air, light, simple machines, and electricity.

Art
The art program is designed to provide a variety of opportunities for children to express themselves through the visual arts. Basic art techniques and use of tools are taught. Children are urged to value their own work and to respect the work of others. Art activities and projects are integrated with other areas of study to help stimulate cross-cultural understanding. By creating a warm and supportive atmosphere, the program encourages experimentation with a variety of media and exploration of new ways of looking at the world.

Library
The goals of our work with students during their library sessions is to foster a love for reading and to teach the use of information tools and resources. Kindergarten and first grade classes visit the library once each week to listen to stories and look at books. Students may borrow one book and keep it for one week. Second through sixth grade classes visit the library once or twice every week to develop their literature appreciation skills and research skills as well as to enjoy browsing in the library. Students may also come individually with teacher permission. Second through sixth grade students may borrow two books and keep them for two weeks. Parents may borrow five books and keep them for two weeks. Our library is automated so each borrower has a barcode number. We do not charge overdue fines, however, if a book is lost, the borrower must pay to replace it. In addition to the librarian, parent volunteers staff the library and enable it to be fully operational even when library classes are underway.

The library is open at 8:00 a.m. before the school day begins. Students, parents and their pre-school children are welcome to come to the library and read with or to their children then. The library is open after school until 3:30. Elementary school students may browse, study or check out books. Parents with pre-schoolers may visit the library at that time.

Music
Students are offered a wide selection of music from many cultures, time periods, and styles. An effort is made to connect song literature with classroom units of study. Through singing and creative movement students develop tonal skill and rhythmic awareness. There are opportunities to participate in chorus, dance, drama, and all-school musical celebrations.

Instrumental instruction is offered to students beginning in the second half of the fourth grade. Besides performing in a band, there is regular opportunity for playing solo and in small ensembles. Chorus is offered in grades three through six. Starting in third grade, students learn to play the recorder.

Physical Education
The main objective of the physical education program is to encourage all children to enjoy and participate in physical activities. We offer a wide variety of activities to enable each child to find areas that are suited to his/her individual interests and need for fitness. Physical education teachers provide instruction in well-equipped indoor and outdoor facilities.

French
Children study French in 4th through 6th grades. The goals of the program are twofold: to develop each student's ability to communicate in French through the acquisition of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, and to introduce students to the cultural differences between our society and the societies of the Francophone world. We reach these goals through music, drama, games, and the study of vocabulary and grammar.For students wishing to enhance their classroom work, we have a collection of books and software in French. Our students can look forward to communicating with peers in Francophone countries through letters or e-mail. They will also have the opportunity to participate in exchanges with our sister-city, Joigny, France.

Information Technology
The Marion Cross School is committed to preparing students to use technology critically, effectively and productively. All students have access to computers in the computer lab, library and classrooms. Students in all grades learn how to use computers and other technology tools as they acquire skills in language arts, math, science and social studies. Depending on their grade level, students create presentations, research, investigate, and program in LOGO.

Homework Rationale
We believe that homework is an extension of a child's learning experience. It is designed to increase achievement and serve as a means of supplementing, reinforcing and enriching the daily instructional program.
We also believe that reading is extremely valuable to your child's lifelong learning. This activity may include reading to your child, reading with your child and independent reading by your child.
Homework may be tailored to the specific needs of your child, depending on development levels and capabilities. It should have a purpose which is clear, specific and easily understood by both student and parent.
Homework should be designed to foster independence, responsibility and positive work habits.
Homework may:
Provide the practice of a skill already taught
Encourage real life applications and problem solving
Develop an appreciation for community resources
Be creative and provide a variety of experiences such as:
Personal exploration
Making collections
Viewing educational program
Making models
Conducting research
Reading newspapers/magazines
Writing poetry, stories or essays
Parents are expected to:
Support their child's effort
See that children take responsibility for their own work
Provide satisfactory homework conditions
Provide regular scheduling for appropriate study time
Students will from time to time be introduced to long-term projects. Accommodations will be made in the regular homework program to match these.

Reports and Conferences
Each year, teachers hold a minimum of two conferences with parents, accompanied by a written report. A final report is sent home in June. Additional conferences may be requested at any time by parents or teacher.

Assessment
In addition to the normal course of teacher-developed assessments of student work, formal standardized assessments are administered at the Marion Cross School. The following formal assessments are currently required for students in Grades 2 through 6:

The California Achievement Test (CATs) are administered annually in October to students in third through sixth grades. These tests compare students' performances to national standards and provides the school with information for individual and school - wide curriculum planning. The results may be shared during conferences.

The state-required Vermont Standard exams are administered in grades 2, 4, and 5 as follows:
Grade 2 - Developmental Reading- May
Grade 4 - Language Arts, Mathematics - April, Mathematics Portfolio
Grade 5 –Science- November, Writing Portfolio

Results of all testing, along with other information, are used in writing the School's Local Action Plan and are also discussed at the February Board meeting.

Back to the top

Parent Handbook - Pupil Services

Overview Of Support Services
Special staff members are available to assist the regular classroom teachers. There are three part-time learning specialists, an intervention/integration specialist, a speech and language teacher, two part-time guidance counselors, a Chapter 1 teacher, a part-time psychologist, and a nurse. These people, along with the principal, constitute a group that works together with the classroom teachers to provide the most appropriate education for each student. Parents with questions about special services should first consult the classroom teacher.

Educational Assistants And Interns
All classroom teachers and special education teachers are assisted by educational assistants and/or intern teachers for approximately one half of each day.

Special Education
The special education program at the Marion Cross School provides individualized direct support services for students who need them according to PL 94-142 and Vermont's Act 230. A range of services is available including, but not limited to, Speech and Language Services, Occupational Therapy and academic tutoring. All services are tailored to a student's individual needs, and they are designed by a basic staffing team which includes parents, teacher, learning specialist, and other involved specialists.

Guidance
The Marion Cross School has two part-time certified school guidance counselors. Elementary school counselors serve the needs of all elementary students. Guidance consists of working with all students to help them develop academically, personally, and socially. Counselors work closely with parents, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to provide students with the best possible resources and services for support. The elementary school counselor provides many important services such as consulting, listening, helping parents, referring, reviewing curriculum, teaching, explaining test results, and working on school programs and events. The school counselor works with individuals and small and large groups. You can learn more about our school guidance program by contacting our school counselors directly.

Back to the top

 

Parent Handbook - Health & Safety

Nurse's Office
The school nurse maintains cumulative, confidential health records, performs health screenings, administers first aid and emergency treatment, and is available for consultation and health counseling. These services are provided for all students. It is helpful if parents make note of the following:

Emergency Information Cards
Forms which request health and emergency information are sent home at the beginning of each school year and need to be returned promptly. Emergency cards provide the office with valuable information for contacting parents in the event of an illness or injury. Health Data Forms provide updated information for each child's cumulative health record. The main office or school nurse should be informed of any changes to ensure that the records will always be current.

Immunizations
Students entering school must be in compliance with Vermont Immunization Requirements. Students may be exempted for religious, moral, or medical reasons. Appropriate forms to document compliance or exemption when starting school are available from the school nurse.

Medication Policy
If a student has a condition requiring treatment at school, medications will be administered by the school nurse or someone designated by the principal. Medications will be administered only if brought to school in a container with a prescription label and accompanied by a note from a parent in accordance with the medication procedure on file in the office.

Communicable Conditions
In order to contain the spread of contagious conditions, the follow guidelines reflect the recommendations of the Vermont Department of Health. Children will be excluded from school with:
Chicken pox - until all spots have crusted over.
Conjunctivitis (pink-eye) - until 24 hours after start of antibiotic therapy.
Impetigo - until 24 hours after start of antibiotic therapy.
Pediculosis (head lice) and scabies - until after all lice or mites and their eggs have been destroyed with appropriate treatment and all nits (egg sacs) have been removed.
Streptococcal Infections - until 24 hours after the start of antibiotic therapy.
The complete list of communicable diseases and state recommendations regarding exclusion from school are on file in the school nurse's office.

Illness at School
Parents will be called when a child is not feeling well and is unable to participate in the full program offered at school.

Recess
Recess is an important part of our day here. Children have the opportunity for socialization, fresh air, and exercise. Teachers interact with children while on recess duty or plan lessons and attend team meetings during this time. Since recess is an important part of the program and classrooms are not always supervised during recess, children who are not well enough to go out to recess should be kept at home unless special arrangements are made with the principal, classroom teacher or school nurse.

Other Health Concerns
The Marion Cross School has developed policies and procedures that are in compliance with Department of Education Rule 4200 regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The policies prohibit the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on school property. Procedures have been established for support and referral for incidents or problems arising from the use of these substances as well as for education about substance use and abuse. The complete policies are available in the main office.

Animals
Since the health and safety of our students and employees are a top priority, students wishing to bring an animal into school for a special project or 'show and tell'' must receive prior permission from the class teacher. The animal must be removed from the building when the purpose for its visit has been accomplished. Puppies and other animals without up-to-date rabies protection are not allowed in school.

Fire Drills
Fire drills are held once a month and are practiced in a variety of situations. Once or twice each year we evacuate the whole school to Tracy Hall. Parents are not notified of these dates.

Back to the top

Parent Handbook - Transportation

Walkers And Riders
All Norwich students who live more than two miles from school shall be eligible for transportation to and from the elementary school. (Norwich students who are enrolled in the Dresden District grades 7 and 12 are eligible for round-trip transportation from the Marion Cross School to Hanover.) Children may be required to walk up to one and one-half miles to a school bus stop. Children who live less than two miles from the elementary school will be transported at the parents' request if, in the opinion of the Superintendent of Schools, the children are required to walk over a hazardous route.There are bicycle racks for children who wish to ride their bicycles to school. They may only ride them to and from school at appropriate hours and not during the school day. School bus routes are published in the Valley News during the week before school opens each fall.

Crossing Guards
There are crossing guards at the crosswalks on Church Street and by Tracy Hall on Main Street. Both crossing guards are an integral part of our school community and we expect all our students to act on their instructions in the interest of health and safety.

Traffic and Parking
Please remember that visitor parking is on Church Street, along the Green, and in the turn-around area outside the school office. When using the turn-around, please drive forward as far as possible before dropping off or picking up children. The driveway on the Green and the parking lots behind the school are reserved for buses and staff parking. Please use the driveway for dropping children off in the morning only after buses leave (after 8:00 a.m.) and do not use the driveway to pick up children before the buses leave in the afternoon. Cars are prohibited while the school buses are parked – 3:10 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Bus Schedules
Bus rules will be discussed and sent home at the beginning of the school year along with the Dresden School District Transport Guide. Children riding on a different bus or to a destination other than home must bring a parental note to school giving explicit permission.
Route #N1 - New Boston
First pickup at 7:10 a.m. Rock Ledge Rd.
Route #N2 - Union Village/Goodrich 4 Corners.
First pickup at 7:05 a.m. at the bottom of Bradley Hill.
Route #N3 - Rte. 5 North/Rte 132
First pickup at 7:10 a.m. at Thetford town line.
Route #N4 - Bragg Hill/Beaver Meadow
First stop at 7:15 am at Goddard Road.
Route #N5 -Hawk Pine Hills/Turnpike Road
First pickup at 7:20 a.m. at Hawk Pine Corner at the top of Willey Hill.
Route #N6 – Tigertown/Jericho/Newton Lane
First pickup on Tigertown Road at 7:00 a.m
Please refer to the Dresden District Transport Guide for further details.

Back to the top

Parent Handbook - Parent & Community Information

Educational Rights And Privacy Act
The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 USC s1232g) and regulations adopted by the U.S. Department of Education (34 CFR Part 99) provide parents or guardians with the right to inspect and review any material that is incorporated into their child's cumulative record folders. The same federal legislation prohibits the school from releasing information, oral or written, about a student to an individual or agency without written consent. Even where access to student records is granted by subpoena or court order, the parents and student must be notified in advance of compliance with the subpoena or court order.

Hazing Policy
It is the policy of The Norwich School District that it provide a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment. Hazing has no place in the school and will not be tolerated. The school's Hazing
Policy is available in the school library or the main office.

Parent Teacher Organization
The Marion Cross PTO was formed in the spring of 1993. This organization brings teachers and parents together to enrich the education of the children of the community. Our focus is to provide meaningful programs for parents, students and teachers as well as take on special projects that will improve our school. Meetings are held monthly. The success of the PTO depends on the involvement of as many parents and teachers as possible. We invite all parents to join this vital organization. If you have any questions please call the school office, which will put you in contact with our current officers. The PTO communicates regularly with the school community via a bi-weekly letter.

Visiting
Parents are always welcome to visit their children's classes. Please call ahead so that teachers can arrange to meet with you. If you are interested in sharing something special with a group of children, please let us know. Visitors should check in at the Office when entering the school.

Volunteering
The Marion Cross School has a long tradition of active volunteerism. If you would like to volunteer your time in a classroom, to help with field trips, or to take part in a special activity on a regular basis, please contact the school. Sign the Volunteer Notebook in the office whenever volunteering.

Open Houses
Each homeroom teacher holds an open house for parents in September to explain the program and expectations for the year. In October a second open house for parents and students is held. Additional open houses are scheduled as needed throughout the year.

School Board Meetings
School Board Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month in the Multi-Purpose Room at 7:30 p.m. The community is invited to the open sessions of each meeting. The Dresden School Board meets on the fourth Tuesday in Hanover. Minutes and videos of meetings are available.

Norwich Recreation Council
After-school activities are offered by the Norwich Recreation Council during the fall, winter and spring. These programs are usually for second through sixth graders and are open to children on a sign-up basis. Information about programs is distributed at the school and is available at the Recreation Office in Tracy Hall. Course information and registration forms are sent home with students each season and mailed to town residents.

Ski Program
The Ford Sayre ski program is sponsored by the community and is available to children on weekdays after school. Alpine, cross-country, jumping, and racing are offered at local ski areas.

Local Action Plan
Vermont Act 60 requires schools throughout Vermont to write and implement a Local Action Plan, designed to improve the performance of all students in the school. The plan is developed by a team of administrator, teacher/staff members, parents, community members and school board members. This team reports to the school board on a monthly basis at board meetings.The plan is developed using student performance data obtained from local assessments and state assessments. The plan is approved by the school board. The action plan contains:
Goals and Objectives for improved student learning and well-being
Educational strategies and other initiatives designed to achieve these goals
Success criteria

Milton Frye Nature Trail
Nature trails are located to the south east of the school. They offer varying habitats for study or a quiet walk. The trails are open to the school and to the public, and can be accessed from behind the gray church adjacent to the school or from the school parking lot.

Use of Marion Cross School
The school building is available for use during non-school hours. A building-use schedule is available in the office upon request. To schedule an event, call the main office during school hours.

Recycling Guidelines
The goals of the Marion Cross School recycling program are to promote environmental awareness, to reduce waste, and to provide for the recycling and re-use of goods and materials that would otherwise enter the waste stream. The school's program is coordinated through the town's Solid Waste Committee. At school we are able to recycle white office paper and mixed paper.

Back to the top

About Our School | Calendar | Curriculum | Faculty & Staff | Newsletters | Programs

 

Updated 10/18//02