Message From the Principal
This is the time of year where planning for the coming school year intensifies. Much preparation, organization, and prioritization is involved in allowing our school to function well. This month the staff and I have begun to talk about the master schedule for the next school year. This process begins with sharing of priority areas. For example, a schedule created with a focus on providing ample time for early literacy instruction looks much different than one designed to have multiple opportunities to engage in a special area class (art, music, French, etc.). Most any focus can be argued to be a priority and essential to student learning. In order to not become overwhelmed, it is important to identify only 3 or 4 major focus areas and build the schedule to optimize these points. In later issues of the Cross Words I will share our agreed upon focus areas. If, from your perspective as a parent/community member, you have a suggested priority area feel free to email me I will include it on our list for consideration.
Also of excitement this week was the adoption of the 2020-2021 budget by the Norwich School Board on Thursday evening. This budget is another way we are planning now for the coming school year. Among many other items, this proposed budget allows for the addition of two classroom teachers to reduce the class sizes next year in grades three and four. It also included the addition of one special educator who will work in a co-teaching capacity. If you would like to review the proposed budget, please visit BoardDocs (please be sure to select Norwich School District). From there, you can view the budget documents presented at the January 16 Budget Hearing and Adoption meeting.
And amidst all the planning and preparation for the coming school year we need to take the time to enjoy this year and all that it has to offer. Thank you Jenny Barba for sharing this beautiful photo of a well-loved town green. The reward for all the planning and organization that goes into having a successful school is realized by the joy and happiness that students show as they learn and play.
Have a restful weekend,
Shawn
Important Dates
- January 20: Holiday, Schools and SAU closed
- January 24: Skating Party hosted by PTO and Norwich Rec, 3:30-4:30 on the Green
- January 30: “Counting on Grace”, 4th Grade play 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- February 13: Band and Orchestra Concert - 6:30 pm
- March 20: BINGO Night hosted by the PTO
- April 25: Big Hoot Variety Show - Time TBD
School News and Information
Interested in Demo’s newsletter?
From Demo himself: “I love writing about people and events in Norwich, because everyone has a story to tell, and some do not wish to tell it, however those that choose to know that I will be caring and respectful to always tell it like it is/was without any pressure.
The contacts that I have made throughout my career in several communities have made it very easy for me to interact with people. If you want About Norwich to know more about what you're doing in your community please reach out! I also like to keep the community informed as to all the things that are going on in and around our lovely town.”
PTO Sponsored Author Event was Excellent!
Author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka was at MCS January 13th at which time he gave three presentations for students in 4th - 6th grade. All three presentations were very interesting and kept the students and adults fully engaged. Jarrett is the creator of the popular Lunch Lady series as well as the Jedi Academy series, the Platypus Police series and his stand alone memoir for young adults called Hey, Kiddo.
Students learned some tricks to drawing expressions and word bubbles. The 6th grade students learned the story behind his first TED talk and what his childhood was like. The 4th grade students watched Jarrett up close as he drew and discussed many techniques to illustrating panels and using speech bubbles.
A hearty thank you to the PTO for sponsoring this event!
Interested in joining the MCS team? We currently have two positions available!
Educational Assistant (two positions available): to provide academic, behavioral, social, and general support in classrooms. This position is until the end of the 2019-20 school year only. Position starts immediately, open until filled.
All positions require cover letter, résumé, and three names with phone numbers for a reference check. More information is available at the SAU website: www.sau70.org or at www.schoolpring.com. PLEASE NOTE: All applicants must apply through SchoolSpring.
Concert Announcement! If you have a child who plays in the school orchestra, 5th grade band, or the 6th grade band, jazz band, or wind ensemble, please mark your calendars! Our Instrumental Concert will be on Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 pm.
Please join the K-12 Counselors in continuing the conversation Lynn Lyons introduced during her speaking engagement last April. www.lynnlonsnh.com
Dresden School District Parent Book Group
Discussion of: Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents by Reid Wilson, PHD and Lynn Lyons, LICSW
- Thursday January 30th
- 6:30pm - 7:30pm
- Richmond Middle School Library
This practical, step-by-step guide teaches families how to support children and teens in overcoming anxiety and avoidance.
Focus on 1/16 will include discussion on Chapters 1-7. Local therapist Seoka Salstrom will be available to coach parents on implementing anxiety-reducing strategies.
The Norwich School Board Needs You!
Petitions Due January 27th
Three of the five Norwich School Board seats are up for election this year. The seats Tom Candon and Jim Mackall currently hold have three-year terms. The seat Lauren Rhim currently holds is for a two-year term. The three-year seats have voting rights on the Norwich, Dresden, and SAU boards. The two-year seat has voting rights on the Norwich and SAU boards, but not on the Dresden board, but is expected to fully participate on all boards. All members are expected to attend all regular meetings of all three boards (Norwich, Dresden, and SAU) and be members of committees on each of the three boards. One incumbent has said he will seek reelection (Tom Candon). Two have decided not to run (Jim Mackall and Lauren Rhim).
Petitions to run are available from Norwich Town Clerk, Bonnie Monday. A minimum of 30 signatures of registered Norwich voters are required by January 27th.
If you’d like more information on what it’s like to be a School Board member, feel free to contact one of the board’s current members (contact information is available HERE, or the SAU office at 603.643.6050. You can also view a video on the Vermont School Board Association website.
Happy New Year to everyone. Here is some information about lice and what to look for when checking your child at home.
What to look for and how to look:
- Natural light is the best light to check hair. You may use a bright light if necessary and a magnifier.
- You are looking for adult lice and their eggs (called nits). You’re more likely to see nits than adults because nits are firmly attached to the hair and do not move.
- As you look through the hair, look closely at the hair behind the ears and around the nape of the neck. These are likely places to find lice and nits.
If the person has adult lice or nits, you will see the following:
- Adult lice: These look like one or more light-brown objects that resemble sesame seeds, often moving quickly. You can find these on the scalp or the hair.
- Nits (Eggs): These are yellow, brown, or tan objects that look like tiny seeds and appear to be cemented to individual hairs close to the scalp. Sometimes dandruff and hair product are mistaken for nits, nits will not brush off easily.
If you find lice/nits PLEASE LET THE SCHOOL NURSE KNOW. Do not be afraid. Lice is not an illness or infection.
Treatments:
- There are many treatment options available: over the counter treatments, prescription treatment, and natural treatments.
- You may consult your physician for help in choosing a treatment. Nurse Pam is available to help with treatment recommendations as well.
- There are also professional lice treatment centers in some parts of NH and VT.
Regardless of what treatment you chose to use, combing and manual removal of live lice and nits is the most effective part of any head lice treatment regimen.
There are no over-the-counter or prescription treatments that are 100% effective against head lice and nits.
Following the treatment, your child’s hair should be checked daily for nits for at least a week after the last nit has been seen. This is a very important step because the nits are eggs that can hatch into more lice and then they lay more eggs. This can take a lot of time but it is a necessary step. If you have any questions about what the nits look like, please do not hesitate to contact the health office.
A metal fine -toothed lice comb should be used for combing. Conditioner on hair while combing helps to loosen the nits on the hair. Apply conditioner to hair and comb with lice comb section by section. It is helpful to use hair clips or pins to make sections. The first comb-through could take a couple of hours depending on how much hair your child has.
Some recommendations show that using essential oil overnight on the hair can help kill the nits. If you choose to use oil, it should be applied for 7 days after the last nit is seen.
Wash hair with essential oil shampoo every day and make sure all the overnight oil is removed.
Then rinse the hair again and dry hair so you may check for lice/nits. If you still see nits then manually remove them. Use your fingernails to grab nit and pull off hair shaft.
Clean lice comb in boiling water. Make sure all hair is removed from the comb before boiling.
Drying bedding and pajamas on high heat for one hour everyday for at least 4 days, can help with treatment.
If you can, throw all old brushes and combs away as well as hair ties. If that is not possible, remove all hair from the hair supplies and boil them in very hot water or wash in dishwasher. You'll need to check your child's hair daily for lice. Lice are so small they are easy to overlook. If you miss just a few tiny lice or eggs, the lice cycle will start over again. Most of the time, parents believe their child was re-infested, but in fact, all the lice/nits were never eliminated with the first attempt.
Please talk to your children about these steps to help prevent the spread of head lice.
- Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp). Lice do not jump or fly.
- Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes. Store hats and scarves in coat sleeves.
- Do not share combs, brushes, or towels.
Classroom checks are discouraged by the Board of Education. They have been found not to be effective in the prevention of the spread of lice and can cause embarrassment to the child affected. Parental checks have been found to be more effective. Please check your child weekly for any signs of lice/nits. As always, please do not hesitate to contact the health office at 802-649-1703 x 206 or pamhausler@marioncross.org.
Thanks very much
Nurse Pam
