MCS Cross Words June 6, 2020

Message From the Principal

Friday’s send off parade was just what we all needed to finish this bizarre school year off on a positive note! I will retain the picture above, compliments of Demo, to remember four firsts - my first time in a blow up cow costume, first time wearing a mask to saying goodbye, first socially distanced send off during a pandemic, and first end of the school year as principal of MCS. Send Off Parade Banner

As the year closes I would like to offer my sincere appreciation and thanks for the kindness shown to me by the Norwich community. I could not be happier with my move from Barnet School to Marion Cross School. Throughout this school year I have found MCS students to be thoughtful, hard working, energetic, and eager learners. Families are strong advocates for their children, but in respectful and reasonable ways. Staff have been eager to share the MCS way with me and help me understand the culture of our school. Finally, the community has shown a true appreciation for education and a willingness to support a high quality program. I look forward to many more MCS years to come!

Farewell...and Welcome!

We are saying goodbye to several wonderful staff members who are either moving, retiring, or moving on to other places. This link to the PTO Newsletter, which you might want to subscribe to, has a lovely write up about each retiring staff member. In short, we want to wish Lisa Holley, Stephanie Andrus, John Minelli, Jonathan Fenton, and Melissa Smith well in the next phase of their lives. Each added his or her own unique talents and has held a special place in the hearts of a multitude of MCS students.

We welcome four new teachers to our staff. Welcome to Ross McGee (3rd grade), Patrick Gordon (1st grade special education), Kelley Grace (6th grade math and science), and Molly Gentine (2nd grade). I would like to thank the many people who contributed to the hiring committees that selected these outstanding educators. You will learn more about them in a future edition of the Cross Words.

Continued Communication

That brings me to my last topic - future Cross Words. Typically, I would call this the final Cross Words until near the start of the school year. We all know that this has been anything but a typical close of the school year. I have decided to do periodic summer editions of Cross Words as updates about the fall come my way. At this point, it is anyone’s guess how school will begin next fall. No matter what the scenario for coming back to school may be, it seems that families will need to know as soon as possible to make the necessary plans.

Report Cards/Class Placement

Teachers are completing report cards on Monday and Tuesday. Joy plans to send home finished report cards later in the week. You will notice that report cards will not have grades, but only comments. Because the ability to participate in remote instruction varied greatly, we decided to focus on comments rather than grades. Also in the report card envelope will be a letter sharing your child’s class placement. Many of you shared insights about your child that made class placement much easier for us. Preferences for children who work well with your child and a few parents made requests for certain teachers. In all instances, the team took your requests seriously and used the information to assist in determining placement. In some cases, we considered the requests but other factors came into play that made it not possible to honor these wishes. Please know that forming classes is tricky business and teams feel confident that students are in placements that will allow them optimal learning. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s placement please reach out to your current year teacher who can talk more about the decision. The final document that will be in sixth grade envelopes is their certificate stating successful completion of the MCS program - congratulations 6th graders!

Wishing you well,

Shawn

School News and Information

Read Up on Demo’s Newsletter! His latest article about the MCS send off event has a few great videos that kids might love!

Over the course of Remote Learning in English Language Arts, 6th graders immersed themselves in Spoken Word Poetry. Spoken Word poetry is… raw, honest, and from the heart. It is a way to raise your voice about something you feel passionately about, something you believe in. It is a way to express yourself, to call for action, to celebrate, to fight, to love, to take a stand, to show support, to voice concern or discontent, to share your heart, and to speak your mind. Here is a selection of student publications. Enjoy!

6th Grade Spoken Word Poetry

What Do I Do With My Band Instrument?

Please do one of the following three things with your band instrument:

1.) I'm planning on playing next year as a 6th grader at MCS or a 7th grader at RMS. GREAT! Keep the instrument, keep playing, and bring it back in the fall. Practice as much as you can, and see how far into your book you can make it. If you get stuck, please email me travisramsey@hanovernorwichschools.org and I will help you! If you are planning on borrowing a school instrument in 7th grade, which you can definitely do, please email me to let me know.

2.) I'm borrowing a school instrument and not planning on playing in Norwich next year. Someone else will be using that instrument next year, but I need to send it to Ellis Music for a thorough cleaning at their repair shop. Please leave the instrument in the vestibule as soon as possible, and please email me to let me know it's there. Thank you for playing!

3.)I'm renting an instrument from Ellis and not planning on playing in Norwich next year. Please follow the link below and complete the instrument return form from Ellis. Then, please leave the instrument in the vestibule as soon as possible. Lastly -- and most importantly, please email me to let me know it's there. Thank you for playing!

https://www.ellismusic.com/t-rentalreturn.aspx

It is very important that you let me know when you have returned an instrument to the school. I work with the custodial staff to make sure these instruments are brought into the locked building for safe-keeping, and I also coordinate with Ellis Music to make sure they know what to take. If I don't know your horn is there, Ellis Music might not know to pick it up, or they might arrive and not be able to get to it. Thank you!

How to Return MCS Library Books

There’s a cart in the vestibule on the right side as you enter where you can place your library books.
This cart is only for library books. There is a different location for class books.
Please practice appropriate social distancing and wait outside to return your books if someone else is in the vestibule.
The vestibule is open from 7:00am until 6:00 pm

Please return all library books by June 8th.

Contact Joy Blongewicz if you have questions.

Thank you very much!

The Procedure for Returning Class Books

In the vestibule on the left side, there is a bin for each grade level.
Place your books in the appropriate bin.
Please practice appropriate social distancing and wait outside to return your books if someone else is in the vestibule.

NOTE: The vestibule is open from 7:00am until 6:00 pm

JUGGLING!

Anyone want to learn a new way to perform over the summer? Mr. Bill wrote and suggested that once we are done juggling remote learning, we could juggle … well, we could juggle anything we want! Follow the link to learn how!

Mr. Bill Teaches Juggling

Spring is here! The Vegetable and Flower gardens need volunteers!

ISO Individuals and family volunteers to water, plan and weeding on weekly shifts.

Parent leadership is wanted to take on flower/ perennial garden organizing/ work.

Please sign up via this google doc or contact traceyhayeswarren@gmail.com.

Lindsay Putnam and Molly Riodan will provide support for the Vegetable garden.

MaryAnn Hollbrook (from the Norwich Women's Club, Triangle Garden) will provide support in flower identification and care.

Hello Families,

Thanks to all who drove through the “Summer Send Off” on Friday. It is always so great to see so many students, even if it is from six feet away. I know there is a lot going on in our world right now, so I hope this summer gives your family a chance to connect and comfort each other by spending time as a family and doing things you love.

Some of you were asking for resources on how to foster healthy relationships, build resilience and engage your children in difficult conversations, so I have listed some helpful resources below on a few key topics.

Thanks for all you do to raise compassionate, inclusive and curious children.

Enjoy your summer,

Katie and Stella

Relationships:

75 Ways for kids to connect and Contribute

Reconnecting through conflict

Resilience:

Coping with change

Lynn Lyons podcast

Resilience in uncertain times

Bias and Difficult Conversations:

What to say when the news is scary

Sesame Street Town Hall focusing on racism (Saturday, June 6th at 10am)

Talking to kids about race

Critical Conversations

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The weather has been amazing and it has been wonderful to see people enjoying the outdoors. During this time, it is important to remember social distancing, hand hygiene, cough and sneeze hygiene, and wearing masks. I have included some helpful references below.

Be safe and healthy,

Nurse Pam

Information about social distancing

What you should know about coronavirus to protect yourself and others

Preventing the spread of COVID 19 when you are sick

How to protect yourself and others

How to safely wear and take of cloth face coverings

Stop the spread of germs

Stay Home when you are sick