Administrator's Corner

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.

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