Student Supports

Greg Bagnato

Associate Principal

In our community, we will:

Work to be safe
Inspire Kindness
Show Respect
Embrace Responsibility

Student Support Services at Marion Cross School provides individualized and small group support services for students who need them. Services available include, but not limited to, speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and academic and behavior intervention. Plans are designed by the Education Support Team (EST) and are tailored to a student's specific and individual needs.

In addition to classroom teachers, Marion Cross School employs learning specialists, reading and math interventionists, speech and language teachers, a physical therapist and a nurse. We also have access to a psychologist and occupational therapist, as needed. All special education staff work with classroom teachers and related services providers in order to provide the most appropriate education for each student.

Marion Cross School employs a full-time, certified School Counselor, Alisha Keel, who works with students to help them develop academically, personally, and socially.

Parents with questions about support services for their child should consult their child’s classroom teacher.

Who's Wise Words

What is PBIS?

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach to teaching and supporting positive behaviors and meeting the needs of ALL students.

This school-wide approach focuses on building a safe and positive environment in which all students can learn and belong. The foundation of PBIS at Marion Cross School is the four building-wide expectations or “Who’s Wise Words.”

In our community, we will:

Work to be safe
Inspire Kindness
Show Respect
Embrace Responsibility

In addition to our behavioral expectations, PBIS has four additional components:

Behavior Matrix
Direct Teaching of Expectations
Positive Pellets
Office Referral Forms

Behavior Matrix

Teaching Expectations

Positive Pellets

Acknowledging and reinforcing positive behavior are two of the best ways to encourage appropriate behavior. At MCS, each student or group of students will earn Positive Pellets throughout the day for meeting behavioral expectations. When classroom owl bins are full, students will enjoy various celebrations, such as bringing a stuffy to school, enjoying a treat, going out for extra recess, and many others. Once the tank near the front office is filled by the whole school, we celebrate together as an MCS community.

Behavior Form

Even with clear expectations and positive reinforcement, sometimes children can engage in behaviors inconsistent with our school-wide expectations. To address these inconsistencies, a Behavior Form is used. Behaviors inconsistent with our school-wide expectations are divided into major and minor issues.

When a child repeatedly receives minors or majors, parents/guardians, teachers, support staff, and the principal will communicate to find positive ways to help the child succeed.

What can you do to reinforce positive behavior at home?

Review Who’s Wise Words with your child.
Make it a routine to ask your child each day about interesting things that happened in school.
Ensure a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast.
Provide a quiet time and space for your child to complete homework nightly.
Keep in touch with your child’s teacher.
Encourage your child to use appropriate language and tone.
Be a visible part of your child’s school day. Attend meetings and other school activities as your schedule allows.

English Learner

English Learner (EL) Program Information

English Learners/Multilingual Learners: At the Marion Cross School, we believe that all students learn in a school community that values its multicultural and multilingual student body; and, we encourage students to maintain and even strengthen their primary language(s) while learning English. Our EL program thus provides extra support for students who either speak another language or grew up in a household where English was not the only language spoken. Our goal is to provide instructional support to ensure that ELs gain the linguistic, social and academic skills they need to succeed in mainstream classrooms and to meet challenging state academic standards.

Parent/guardian completion of the Home Language Survey during the SAU 70 Enrollment process (for all students entering the Marion Cross School for the first time) helps our team identify those who may be entitled to language and academic support services. The EL teacher may then conduct screening to assess level of English language proficiency for academic purposes.

Under Federal law, the EL teacher must identify all enrolled students who are ELs and notify all parents of ELs of the services available to their child within 30 days of the start of the school year (with an additional two weeks allowed for students enrolling mid-year.) If your child is recommended for EL services, parents have the right to decline these services; however, a student is still designated as an EL and they may not opt out of federally mandated testing, which happens each spring.

If your child receives EL services, we will meet weekly with your child's teacher to discuss needs and progress, and we will provide you with trimester progress reports. The services we provide vary according to need. At the Marion Cross School, all EL support is primarily push-in, meaning the EL specialist works in the classroom with the student/s primary teacher. We will work with your child's teachers to design the best program for your child, modifying our goals and instructional strategies during the year to respond to your child's changing needs.

Please reach out to our EL teacher at Marion Cross School if you have any questions or would like more information.

Karen Vanderveen

ELL Teacher

Title I

Program Description

The Norwich Title I Program helps qualifying students with literacy, writing, and mathematics that will parlay into helping them access all parts of study. Students are chosen by using standardized test scores, grades, and teacher/parent referrals.

Families whose students have been identified as eligible will be contacted to participate in the program. Families will be invited to an annual meeting during the Curriculum Nights to get acquainted with the goals of the Title I Program. Resources for parents will be given out at that time and the ability to meet with the Title I tutor.

Marion Cross Title I Parent Involvement Policy

Parental Right to Know Letter
Norwich School Board Title I Policy

Homeless children and youth are automatically eligible for Title I services. The VT AOE site has several helpful sites. Vermont Agency of Education: homeless resource, Title I resource.