Important Dates

• Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29 - Holiday, School Closed
• Wednesday, December 4 – 6:00pm– Norwich School Board meeting and budget presentation
• Sunday, December 8 - Gift Making Festival hosted by the PTO
• Wednesday, December 11- 5:00 - 6:00 - K-2 Holiday Concert
• Thursday, December 12 - 6:00 - 7:00 - Grade 3-6 Holiday Concert
• Monday, December 24 through Friday, January 3 – December Break, No School

Message from our Principal

A Season of Gratitude

As the principal of Marion Cross School, I am incredibly thankful for the many aspects of our school community that make it such a special place for both students and staff.  Every day, we are supported by dedicated educators, involved parents, and engaged students who work together to create a positive, nurturing environment. Here are the top five things I’m especially grateful for:

A Supportive, Close-Knit School Community – Marion Cross thrives because of the strong partnership between teachers, parents, and staff. Together, we create a nurturing and welcoming environment where every student feels supported and valued.

Incredible Students Who Shine – Our students are truly inspiring.  They bring curiosity, enthusiasm, and creativity to everything they do, whether it’s in the classroom, on the sports field, or in extracurricular activities.  Their hard work and growth make me proud every day.

A Team of Passionate Educators – I’m thankful for the amazing teachers and staff at MCS who are committed to the academic and personal success of each student.  Their passion, creativity, and dedication to our students make all the difference in shaping a positive learning experience.

Engaged Parents and Families – Our school’s success wouldn’t be possible without the active involvement of our families.  From volunteering in classrooms to supporting school events, Marion Cross parents play a vital role in making our school a place where every child can thrive.

A Beautiful, Inspiring Setting and Outdoor Opportunities – We are fortunate to be located in such a picturesque town, surrounded by the natural beauty of Norwich.  Not only do we benefit from being near the Norwich Town Forest, which provides wonderful outdoor learning opportunities, but we also have just completed a vibrant playground project. The new playground, which has been made possible through the efforts of our dedicated community, will provide a safe and exciting place for students to play, explore, and grow, further enhancing their physical and social development.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reminded of how much we have to be thankful for here at Marion Cross School.  We are fortunate to be part of such a supportive and caring community—teachers, families, and students alike—who work together to create a nurturing environment for all. I am grateful for the hard work, kindness, and collaboration that make this school a special place, and I look forward to all that we will continue to accomplish together. Wishing everyone a joyful and restful Thanksgiving!

Help Fill the Sand Pit with Fun!

As part of the exciting updates to the MCS playground, we are thrilled to introduce a brand new sand pit for the kids to enjoy. To make the sand pit even more fun and interactive, we’re seeking donations of new or gently used toys that will spark creativity and teamwork among our students. Here’s a list of items that the kids have specifically requested to help make the sand pit the ultimate play zone:

• Sturdy Tonka dump trucks
• Excavators
• Tonka bulldozers
• Cement trucks
• Red T-Rex toys
• Buckets
• Sturdy spade shovels
• Sand toys (molds for shaping and flipping)
• Sand sifters in various colors (red, blue, green, orange, yellow)
• Plastic animals (to hide and discover in the sand)
• 2 large plastic storage boxes with lids (for organizing and storing the toys)

If you have any of these items that are no longer being used at home, or if you’d like to contribute new ones, we would be so grateful for your donation! These toys will help encourage imaginative play, teamwork, and hands-on learning, and will make the new sand pit an even more exciting place for our kids to explore.

Please drop off your donations at the MCS office or contact us to arrange a convenient time for pickup. Thank you for your support in making the MCS playground a wonderful place for all our students!

Shawn

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Student Services Update

The Good Behavior Game is a fun way to encourage students to behave.  This past week we played it during lunch.  In this game, each grade is a team, and each team works together to follow our cafeteria agreements.

After doing this game for three days, it was clear that our students can and will follow the agreements most of the time.

School-Wide Agreements Kitchen/Cafeteria

	Students Agree To:
Work to be safe	Hold your tray with both hands. Use walking feet only. Stay in one spot while eating.
Inspire kindeness	Invite others to sit with you. Use kind words and have nice conversations. Please be quiet and calm.
Show Respect	Thank the kitchen staff. Don’t yuck other people’s yums. Clean up your food, tray, utensils, and any garbage.
Embrace Responsibility	Eat and enjoy your food (don’t play with your food). Only take the food you will eat. Compost carefully.

Congratulations to the third and fourth graders, who won the game!  Today, those students were rewarded by having tablecloths and battery powered candles at their lunch tables. They also had Marion Cross staff take their pizza orders and deliver them to each child.

It was truly a fun way to recognize good behavior.

Have a great weekend,
Greg

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