Important Dates

• Monday, January 19 - Holiday, School Closed
• Thursday, January 22 - Curriculum Night - Literacy Focus - 5:00 to 6:30pm
• Wednesday, February 4 - Norwich School Board Meeting, 6:30pm
• Monday, February 16 - Holiday, School Closed
• Monday, February 23 through Friday, February 27 - February Break, No School

Message From the Principal

Winter Concerts & School Budget Update

I would like to begin by sharing my appreciation for our recent winter concerts. Although we needed to delay them this year, it was a true joy to gather as a school community and enjoy some holiday cheer—especially after the holidays had passed. These moments of coming together are always special, and this year’s concerts were no exception.

The 3–6 concert was a particular highlight for me, especially the sixth-grade performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The students were engaging, confident, and performed with impressive expertise. It was a wonderful example of their hard work and growth.

It was also exciting to see such a strong turnout from our families. We filled all 350 chairs, with many additional family members seated on benches and standing. That level of participation speaks volumes about the commitment our community has to our students and to Marion Cross School. Thank you for showing up so enthusiastically. A quick reminder as we settle back into routines: winter concerts often come right before a long break—but this year, we have already had that vacation!  We appreciate your support in helping students return ready to learn and re-engage.

Turning now to a school budget update: last evening, the School Board voted on a proposed budget that will move forward to a Town Meeting Day vote. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our School Board, along with Superintendent Robin Steiner and Business Manager Teresa Taylor, for the many hours of careful, thoughtful work that went into this process. Building a school budget is complex, and their commitment to supporting both our students and the community is deeply valued.

As part of this proposal, the Board prioritized and reinstated two important investments that directly support student learning and the school environment. These include retaining $18,000 for site improvements and funding a 0.8 FTE Technology position to support teaching, learning, and digital citizenship across the school.

Like many schools across Vermont, Marion Cross School continues to navigate a challenging funding landscape. While the proposed budget reflects some reductions from our current year, it was developed with great care and a clear focus on preserving a strong, supportive educational program for students. Our commitment to high-quality instruction, student support, and a positive school experience remains unchanged.

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support of Marion Cross School. It is a privilege to work alongside such a caring and engaged community.

Have a restful weekend! 
Shawn

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Student Services Update

Only a couple of weeks left to turn in your application for Pre-K 

Applications for Pre-K at the Marion Cross School for the 2026-27 school year are open and will remain open until February 2nd 2026. 

Families that should apply:

1.  Any family that has a Pre-K student minimum age of 3 by September 30th 2025.  Note - students must be three to attend MCS pre-K. 

2.  Families who enroll are expected to attend our full day program (following the Marion Cross School Calendar).  

The application takes less than five minutes to complete. 

There is also more information about the program on our website.

If you would like a hard copy of the application or if you have any other questions, please contact Greg Bagnato 649-1703 extension 5112 or gregbagnato@hanovernorwichschools.org. 

Have a great weekend, 
Greg

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School News and Information

Kids Heart Challenge!

Greetings MCS Families,

We’re excited to share that our school is participating in this year’s American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge! Together, our students and staff will focus on caring for their hearts and minds, supporting kids with special hearts, and learning the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. 

Here’s How You Can Help

1. Register: www.heart.org/schools  or download the free “AHA Schools” app.
2. Complete Finn’s Mission: Watch the 2-minute Hands-Only CPR video featuring cardiac arrest survivor, Damar Hamlin, and watch a music video on the warning signs of a stroke (F.A.S.T.).
3. Share with Family & Friends: Send messages via social media, text messages and/or email.

Students that complete Finn’s Mission will be entered to win 2 tickets to next year’s Super Bowl!

• Our school will be entered to win a $10,000 gym upgrade if 18 or more students complete Finn’s Mission
• When you sign up for the Kids Heart Challenge, you’ll unlock our NFL Family Challenge—an exciting way to get fit and stay healthy by working out with NFL players, cheerleaders, and mascots!

Thanks,
Mr. Petrone

Winter Wellness: When to Keep Your Child Home

With colds, flu, and respiratory illnesses on the rise, we want to ensure our classrooms stay as healthy as possible. Please keep the following school policies in mind:

• Fever Policy: Children must stay home and be fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
• Coughs & Malaise: If your child has a persistent cough or is feeling "run down" and exhausted, they should remain home. Students need enough energy to comfortably participate in the daily classroom routine.
• When to See a Doctor: If your child has had a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing for 2–3 days, please bring them to their medical provider for an evaluation.

Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our school community healthy.

Nurse Jane

Hanover High School Youth Hockey Night!

Come cheer on the HHS Boys Varsity Bears as they take down the Windham Jaguars!

January 31 - puck drops @ 5:20 at Campion Rink, and ALL GAMES are always FREE!

Enjoy snacks, games, prizes and a great hockey atmosphere!

Wear your HHS colors (cardinal/white/black) and get ready to roar... GO BEARS!

Please do not park in Accessible and Adjacent Striped Spaces 

Those striped no-parking areas are for wheelchair ramps and lifts deployed from vansthat provide enough space to maneuver a mobility aid into a car. While it may be tempting to make a quick stop, this prohibits people who need that space from using it. On the Church Street side (corner of the building, first space), parking in the diagonal lines blocks safe access to the parking space - you must go through either the garden bed or the gravel, both of which are tricky for wheels, canes, low vision, etc. Thanks for being mindful!

Literacy Night

This year’s theme, “The Science of Reading/Reading About Science,” brings together engaging Science of Reading activities and exciting science exploration for the whole family. Pizza will be available for families from 5:00-5:30 pm, and families can enjoy literacy-based games, reading and writing activities, crafts, hands-on science learning, a book giveaway, and more. The event is co-sponsored by the Dartmouth Department of English and Creative Writing and the PTO. We hope you’ll join us for this fun and educational evening! We need volunteers to help set up and distribute pizza between 4:30-5:30 pm.