Administrator's Corner
Archived Posts
Welcome to the Administrator's Corner. Shawn Gonyaw, Principal of Marion Cross School, and Greg Bagnato, Student Services Coordinator will post their weekly messages here. The intent is to keep you updated on important topics that are happening at school.
These posts can also be found in the weekly Who's Wise Words newsletter, which we highly encourage you to read. We hope you find all this information helpful, informative and fun. We encourage you to reach out to us with questions and comments.
Regards,
Shawn and Greg
Most Recent Post:
Week of January 13 - 17
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