Marion Cross School 2021-2022 Handbook

The Marion Cross School Day

 

Schedule 

7:40 AM	Before school supervision of playground
8:05 AM	Students enter school and go to classrooms
8:10 AM	School day begins
3:10PM/2:10PM	Dismissal (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday/Wednesday)

*All doors of the school are locked.  If your child(ren) arrives at school after 8:10, they are tardy and must report to the main office before going to class.​

Attendance

Students are expected to be in their homerooms by 8:10 when attendance is taken. Failure to appear by 8:10 means that a student is tardy and must check in at the office before going to their classroom.

If your child is absent from school, or you know they will be tardy, please call Joy in the school office. Her number is (802) 649-1703.  Her office has voicemail. Messages can be left during non-operating hours or when the line is busy. Unless a definite length of absence has been determined by a physician and has been communicated to our Main Office, parents are expected to call the office every morning during the course of their child’s illness. If no call is received, and the student has not arrived at school, our receptionist or our school nurse will attempt to reach the parent at home or work. If students need to be absent for other reasons for more than 2 consecutive days, please call or email the Main Office with dates and details.

Parents are asked to try to schedule doctor, dentist, orthodontist, and other appointments at times outside of school hours.  When circumstances require absence from school for these appointments, parents must send a written note to the office for the student’s file.

Family trips and vacations

The School publishes a calendar for the year well in advance. It is also in this handbook. Families are asked to consult this calendar before scheduling family trips and vacations. If a student misses classes when school is in session for family trips and vacations, they are expected to make up any work that they have missed.  Unfortunately, teachers will not be able to prepare packets or work for during the missed days.  At the elementary level, so much of what is taught requires students to be present.

Morning Arrival

Outside supervision begins at 7:40 AM.  Please do not drop your child off at school before that time.  Also, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately, especially in cold weather.  In rainy, snowy, or extremely cold weather, morning care will take place in the gymnasium and Library. 

If you plan to park and enter the school building, please park on the Church Street side of the school in the visitor parking. If these spaces are taken, please park at the town hall or in the Main Street parking spaces. All other parking spaces around the school building are for the exclusive use of the staff.  Please do not park in any of these spaces or in the handicapped parking unless you have this designation on your car. It is very stressful for faculty or disabled visitors when they arrive at school to find their assigned spaces occupied by a visitor.  

When arriving at school in the morning, please drop students off on the Church Street side of the building.  Please pull up as far as possible. Please do not use the Episcopal Church parking lots or the Congregational Church driveway for morning drop off or afternoon pick up.  Also, please do not enter the school driveway on the Episcopal Church side of the school during bus drop-off and pick-up time. 

Once children are dropped off at school in the morning, they may not leave school grounds to go to Dan and Whit’s, a friend’s house, or any other off-grounds location.

If your child will be absent or will be arriving late, please call the school office before 8:10 AM. The school number is 649-1703. If you know the night before that your child will be absent, you may leave a message on the school answering machine after hours. Please state the reason for your child’s absence.  Please do not send your child to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours.

 

School Cancellation or Emergency Closing

If weather conditions are unusually severe, buses will not run and school will be closed.  When school is delayed or cancelled, you will receive a computerized phone alert.  The District operates an automatic call and email system (school messenger) that will notify parents on days when there are school cancellations and delays. This automatic call/email will normally be initiated by 6:00 a.m., or shortly thereafter. If you are not receiving these calls (emails), or if you would like to receive them at a different phone number (email address), or you would like NOT to receive those phone calls (emails), please contact your school’s secretary.

You may also check the WMUR or WCAX website or local radio stations for cancellations.

Once the school day has begun, school will remain open all day, even if a storm intensifies. There are no early dismissals. 

 

Delayed Opening 

The Superintendent of Schools may decide whether or not to open school after 8:15 AM. The time scheduled for delayed openings will be 10:00 AM. Bus routes will run 2 hours later than their normal times. The same before-school care will be available at 9:30 AM. Please do not drop your child off at school prior to 9:30 AM. 

A delay may turn into a cancellation.  Please check before sending children to school.

 

Lunch and Snack

Lunch takes place in the classroom and is supervised by teachers or ed assistants in the classrooms.  Students may order lunch through the order form on the school website https://marioncross.schoollunchchoice.com or bring their lunch. In either case, students should bring a snack to school each day.  Please do not send any candy, soda, or food in glass containers. Milk is available for purchase in advance. Some teachers have chosen to have a refrigerator or microwave in their classroom, but this is not guaranteed by the school.  Since you cannot assume that these will be available to your child, you will need to plan your child’s lunch and snack accordingly.

Free lunches are provided for families who meet federal guidelines. Please contact Greg Bagnato, Coordinator of Student Services for more information. 

 

Recess

Recess is a very important part of the daily program at Marion Cross School.  Because it provides children with the opportunity for socialization, fresh air, and exercise, all children are required to take part. Children who are not well enough to partake must be kept at home unless they have received special permission from the Principal. 

Please refer to a subsequent page for Playground Rules.

 

Early Sign-out

The Marion Cross School Day ends at 3:10 on all days except Wednesday, when it ends at 2:10.  Please do not remove your child from school before that time unless it is absolutely necessary. If you must, please park in the visitor parking on the Church Street side of the school.  When entering the building, please go directly to the front office. Do not go to your child’s classroom. The school receptionist will call your child’s teacher to have your child sent to the office to meet you. You must then sign your child out so we have a record of the fact that they left school early.   Please avoid coming during the last half hour of the school day to take your child early.  This is a very busy time of the school day.  Students who need to pack up and leave at this time of the day cause a much larger disruption.

 

After-School Dismissal

The safety of our students at dismissal time is of great concern to the faculty in light of the congestion created by buses, carpools, and Norwich traffic. When driving, we ask that you use the Church Street side of the school.  To avoid congestion, each student who is picked up in the afternoon will be assigned a post surrounding the town green.  We ask that families wait at dismissal time to meet their child(ren) at the assigned post. If you plan to get out of your car in order to meet your child on the playground, we ask that you follow the parking guidelines outlined on pages 11 and 12. Students who are not picked up at 3:10 are the responsibility of their parents.

 

Extended Day

The school day ends promptly at 3:10, except on Wednesdays when it ends at 2:10. If students do not ride the bus, parents are required to pick them up or make arrangements for other transportation home. During non­-school hours use of the playground is permitted but no school supervision is onsite.  We do ask that families avoid using the playground directly after school dismisses.  This allows school staff to monitor bus riders and ensure they get on the correct buses.  Please follow the rules of the playground and play at your own risk.

There is also an extended-day program that is run by the Norwich Child Care Center.  If you are interested in taking advantage of this program, please call 802-649-1403.

 

After-school activities

After-school activities are offered by the Norwich Recreation Council during fall, 

winter, and spring. These programs are open to children on a sign-up basis.  Information about programs is distributed at the school and is available at the Recreation Office in Tracy Hall. 

 

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Transportation

All Norwich students who live more then two miles from school are eligible to ride the school bus.  Norwich students who are enrolled in the Dresden District grades 7 and 12 are eligible for round-trip transportation from Marion Cross School to Hanover.

Walkers and Riders

Children may be required to walk up to one-and-one-half miles to a school bus stop.  Students who live fewer than two miles from the elementary school can be transported at their parents’ request if, in the opinion of the Superintendent of Schools, the walking route is hazardous.

There are racks in the front of the building for children who wish to ride their bicycles to school. They may ride them only to and from school at appropriate hours. They may not ride their bicycles during the school day.

Bus Transportation

Bus Riders. Norwich, Hanover and Dresden schools share buses, and schedules are coordinated. Bus routes and schedules are published on the SAU website (www.sau70.org/departments/transportation) in late August. For additional information about schedules, call the SAU Business Administrator (603-643-­6050).

The school bus may arrive at your stop as much as five minutes early. Children should be at the stop at least five minutes before the scheduled time. The school is to be notified by the bus company if a bus will be more than 15 minutes behind schedule and/or if a bus stop is missed. If there will be a delay of more than 30 minutes, parents will be notified through the SAU’s automated system.

Parents may not accompany children on the school bus. A parent may wish to drive to school in the morning to briefly meet a young child taking the bus for the first time. If so, please do not follow directly behind the bus, and please park in the parking lot before meeting the child.

Bus riders will be expected to ride their regular bus and get off at the regular stop. Changes from normal expectations can be very confusing to children and a challenge to our already complex dismissal and bus ­loading system.
Parents must provide a signed note if:

Bus drivers may by-­pass roads when they are unsafe. Parents in areas so affected should make alternate plans for both morning and afternoon runs.

School Bus Rider Responsibilities

For requested changes in service, please refer to the website mentioned above and utilize the forms available on that page.

• Riders and drivers will treat others with courtesy and respect at all times.
• The use of profanity, vulgar, obscene, or abusive language will not be tolerated.
• Fighting, shoving, or bullying others on the bus, or while waiting for the bus, will not be tolerated.
• Throwing anything on the bus is prohibited.
• Talking should be carried on in conversational tones.
• Smoking, or other use of tobacco, is prohibited on the bus at all times.
• Students must comply immediately with any request or suggestion from the driver pertaining to safe pupil transportation.
• Defacement of or destruction to the bus will not be tolerated. Any vandalism of the bus or bus seats
• Aisles are to be left free of books, lunch boxes, coats, and other objects at all times. Students should sit in their seats, and not put their arms, legs, etc., into the aisles, except when inadequate space makes this impossible.
• Students must remain seated at all times when the bus is moving; arms and heads must be inside at all times. All of the contracted buses are equipped with seat belts for use by students.  Although seat belt use on buses is not presently required by NH, VT, or federal mandate, many agree the best practice is to fasten the seat belts while the bus is in motion.
• Students may be required to walk up to one and one half miles to a bus stop, or two miles to school.
• Students must be ready to board the bus at least five minutes prior to its scheduled stop. In order to keep all of the students on time, drivers are not to wait for pupils who are not present at the they should line up and enter the bus in an orderly fashion when it arrives. Middle and high school students boarding buses in front of the Richmond School in the afternoon should stand behind the white line until the buses have come to a complete stop at the curb.
• Students must board the bus in an orderly and courteous manner, go immediately to a seat, sit down, and secure their personal belongings. The driver may assign seats.
• Students loading and departing from the bus will do so from the front door of the bus. If the road must be crossed, students will wait for the drivers signal. 
• For Norwich students only - when the bus reaches the Marion Cross School in the afternoon, all middle and high school students will fill in the seats from the back of the bus forward, unless a seat has been assigned. The younger children will fill in the front of the bus back.
• Students loading and departing from the bus will do so from the front door of the bus. If the road must be crossed, students will wait for the driver’s signal and then (using caution) will cross at least 10 feet in FRONT of the bus.
• All school rules are in effect on the school bus for transportation to and from school or any school event.

Carry­ Ons

Bulky, unusual, or dangerous equipment may not be carried on the school bus. Sports equipment for use after school must be stored during the day in areas designated by the classroom teacher. Sports equipment for use at recess must be approved by faculty. Animals may not be transported on the school bus, even for special projects such as ''show and tell.'' (Prior permission for animals in school must be received from the classroom teacher and school nurse.)

Problem Solving

Day­ to­ day issues concerning discipline, behavior and unusual daily circumstances such as late or early buses, missed stops, etc., should be referred to the school principal. For disciplinary issues, the principal and coordinator of student services may take action in accordance with the seriousness of the offense, such as assigning seats, or temporary or permanent suspension from the bus.

Crossing Guards

There are crossing guards at the crosswalk on Church Street and by Tracy Hall on Main Street.  We expect all students to obey their instructions.

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Academic Life

Marion Cross School offers an intensive course of study in a supportive environment.  It has been developed to reach students with varied learning styles by balancing traditional approaches with innovative teaching techniques.  Our teachers encourage students to develop their full potential by understanding their strengths and overcoming any limitations.

At Marion Cross School, we believe all students can learn, any subject, any amount.

 

Mission Statement:

The school’s mission statement is the following:

Marion Cross School is a public pre-kindergarten-through-sixth-grade public school that promotes educational excellence and fosters a lifelong love of learning.

Marion Cross School is a nurturing community that empowers all students to realize their intellectual, physical, emotional, creative, and social potential.

Marion Cross School partners with families and the community to develop responsible local and global citizens who can adapt to a changing world.

In order to fulfill this mission, the following policies have been established:

1. Students are expected to be at school each of the 175 days that school is open.  

2. All academic work (in class, at home, on assignments, tests, and examinations) must be done individually by the student except when teachers structure cooperative assignments.

3. We ask that parents plan family vacations and trips during times that school is not in session.  If students go on trips or vacations during times other than those listed for vacation on the school’s calendar, students will be expected to make up the work they missed upon their return.  It may not be possible to repeat field trips or lab activities.  Unfortunately, teachers will not be able to prepare packets or work for during the missed days.  At the elementary level, so much of what is taught requires students to be present.

 

Reports and Conferences

Three times during the school year, parents will receive written reports from teachers regarding their child’s achievement.  Each fall and spring, teachers will also be available for conferences with parents. Conferences will be available in person or using the Zoom platform.  Additional parent/teacher conferences may be requested at any time by parents or teachers.  The following are the dates for this year’s parent/teacher conferences:

Fall Friday, November 5th  

Spring Friday, March 4th

 

Homework

We encourage you to support your child’s learning in the following ways: 

1. Read to and with your children every day.

2. Inquire about homework and support your children’s efforts to complete it.

3. Provide a quiet space for your child to work. 

4. Encourage your child to do homework in the afternoon or early evening and at regularly scheduled times. 

5. Make sure your child takes responsibility for doing his or her own work.

 

Assessment

Three or four times a year, students are assessed internally in math and language arts using Track My Progress. This is an online, adaptive test: each student gets a different set of questions. In the spring of each year, all students in grades 3 – 6 are assessed in language arts and mathematics with SBAC testing. In May of each year, fourth graders are assessed in science.

Letters will be sent home detailing the testing schedule for each grade level.  It is very important that students be present at school during this testing period.

 

Annual Notification of Rights Concerning Access to Student Records

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 USC s1232g) and regulations adopted by the US Department of Education (34 CFR Part 99) provide parents or guardians with the right to inspect and review any material in their child’s cumulative record folder.  Please call the main office if you are interested in seeing your child’s cumulative record.  

The same federal legislation prohibits the school from releasing information, oral or written, about a student to an individual or agency without written consent from the student’s parent or guardian. If access to a student’s records is granted by subpoena or court order, the parents and student must be notified in advance of compliance with the subpoena or court order.

In the event that a student transfers to another school, Marion Cross School will forward official school records including an official transcript to the new school at the request of the parent. This request must be in writing. These records will be mailed directly to the new school’s office.

 

Special Education

The special education program at the Marion Cross School works with classroom teachers to provide individualized direct support services for students who need them according to PL 94-142 and Vermont's Act 230.  A range of services is available including, but not limited to, speech and language services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and academic tutoring. All service plans are designed by the Pupil Services Team, and they are tailored to a student's specific individual needs.

Special education staff members may also assist the regular classroom teachers. Marion Cross School has on its faculty learning specialists, a school counselor, a speech-and-language teacher, reading and math intervention teachers, and a nurse. We also employ service providers who work under the direction of the special education case managers. They include a psychologist, a physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. All special education staff work with classroom teachers to provide the most appropriate education for each student identified as needing special services.  

Parents with questions about support services for their child should consult their child’s classroom teacher and the special education case manager.

 

Guidance

Marion Cross School employs a full-time, certified school counselor who works with students to help them develop academically, personally, and socially.  She also works closely with parents, teachers, and school administrators to provide students with the very best academic and social support.

 

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Student Expectations

Marion Cross is a PBiS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) School

Faculty and Staff work hard to build a positive school climate that motivates children to care about one another and to be contributing responsible members of the school community.  

The community at Marion Cross School’s goal is to create, promote, and maintain a positive, safe, and effective learning environment by establishing behavioral supports and the social culture needed for all students in our school to achieve social, emotional, and academic success. We expect our students to:

Be Kind, 

Be Respectful, 

Be Responsible, 

Be Safe

 

Discipline

Discipline at Marion Cross teaches students to choose responsible behavior because it is the right thing to do.  Building community is an essential first step in creating this culture.

Staff at Marion Cross build community through morning meetings, teaching expectations, positive reinforcement, and celebrations.  Our goal is for students to feel that they are valued and have a strong sense of connection and belonging.

When a student misbehaves our priority is safety.  We will do our best to support them in developing self control and self discipline.  The positive discipline practices we use usually include a conversation with the child and a plan for the student to take responsibility and make amends.  

Some incidents are recorded via our school wide Behavior Observation and Data Form.  These are completed by school staff and help us track “minor” and “major” referrals.  Some minor and every major referral will be communicated to the parents of the child by the teacher, Coordinator of Student Support Services, or School Principal.  

If a student needs a more comprehensive plan to obtain our discipline goals, teachers, parents, and possible (EST) education support team will work together to create the intervention(s) needed to support the student.

 

Norwich School Board and Marion Cross School Policies

The following policies can be found on BoardDocs:

Bullying and Harassment (Policy JICK)

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (Policy JCDAC) 

Administering Medication in School (Policy JLCD)  

Immunizations (Policy JLCB)

 

The following are Marion Cross School Policies:

Dress Code

The following is the Marion Cross School Dress Code:

1. All student dress must be neat, clean, in good repair, and in good taste.

2. Hats may not be worn in the school building.

3. Shoes must be worn at all times.  Bare feet are not allowed.

4. Students may not wear winter boots in the school building during the school day. Please be sure they have an extra pair of shoes at school.

 

Students may be asked to go to the nurse to find clothing from the lost and found that will cover extremely revealing fashions or that will keep a child warm when going outside. If you are in doubt about the suitability of your child’s clothing or appearance on a particular day, please call the school counselor or the school nurse, for guidance.

Elevator

The school elevator is available for use only by the physically disabled, those who are temporarily injured, or adults who have heavy loads. For the safety of all students, no student is permitted to use the elevator without specific permission from the front office. 

Illness at School

Parents will be called when their children are ill and unable to participate in classroom activities. If you receive a call, we ask that you arrange to pick your child up promptly. Please do not leave your child at school even if a call comes at an inconvenient time.

 

Animals

Since the health and safety of our students and employees are a top priority, students wishing to bring an animal into school for a special project or show-and-tell must receive prior permission from the Principal. The animal must be removed from the building once the purpose for its visit has been accomplished. Animals without up-to-date rabies protection are not allowed in school.  Dogs and other animals are not allowed on school property, especially during dismissal and drop off.

 

Safety Drills

Fire and other safety drills are held once a month and are practiced for a variety of situations. Once or twice each year we evacuate the whole school to Tracy Hall. Parents are not notified of these dates.

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Other Important Information for Parents

Change in Residence or Other Personal Information 

Please inform the school of any change in residence, mailing address, email addresses, telephone numbers, or family status.
 

Birthday Celebrations

If your child has a birthday and would like to celebrate by bringing a healthy birthday treat to school, please take into consideration any student allergies and make sure that there is enough to share with everyone.  Also, please coordinate this event with your child’s teacher well in advance of the date. If your child plans to invite friends to an after-school party, please do not distribute invitations at school, even if there is one for each member of the class.
 

Checks to Norwich School District

When making checks out for Marion Cross School milk, field trips, or other school expenses, please make them payable to: Norwich School District, not Marion Cross School.
 

Class Pictures

Individual student and class pictures are taken at school each fall. Parents will be notified of the exact date and time well in advance. These photos will be available for purchase. 

Library Books 

Students are allowed to have two books checked out at any one time, plus any books that relate to classroom assignments.  These books may be checked out for a period of two weeks. If a student has an overdue book, only one more book may be checked out until the overdue book has been returned.  If two books are overdue, no more books may be checked out until the overdue books have been returned. The exception is for books that are needed for classroom assignments.

If a student loses or damages a book, it must be replaced or paid for at the replacement cost. Please take care of this promptly so that your child can continue to check out books.
 

Local Action Plan

Vermont Act 60 requires schools throughout Vermont to write and implement a Local Action Plan.  This plan is designed to improve the performance of all students in the school. It is written by a team of administrators, faculty, parents, community members and members of the school board. 

Lost and Found 

The Lost and Found is located near the elevator across from the library.  Unidentifiable student belongings are placed there. Valuable items are kept in the office.  Students are encouraged to look in either place if they have lost something. At the end of each trimester, unclaimed items will either be given to students or are donated to local non-profit organizations.

To cut down on the amount of items that accumulate in the lost and found, please mark all of your child’s property (including clothing, lunch boxes, back packs, notebooks, and bikes) with his or her name.     

Parent-Teacher Organization 

The Marion Cross PTO was formed in the spring of 1993.  This organization brings teachers and parents together to enrich the education of our students.  It provides meaningful programs and events for parents, students, and teachers, and it engages in special projects that will support the school mission and community spirit.  

All parents and staff are automatically members of the PTO.  The success and vitality of the PTO depends upon the involvement of as many parents and teachers as possible. Meetings are held every other month. The PTO communicates regularly with the school community by means of its monthly newsletter.

If you have any questions please call the school office.  The front-office personnel will put you in contact with our current officers.  

School Board Meetings

School Board Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month in the school library at 6:30p.m.  The community is invited to the open sessions of each meeting. The Dresden School Board meets on the fourth Tuesday in Hanover.  Minutes are posted on the SAU 70 website (www.sau70.org), and videos of meetings are available at the Norwich Public Library.

Student Appearance in Local News 

From time to time, student activities are photographed by news organizations or video taped by the school or local television stations. Students are never individually identified without prior permission from a parent. 

Visits to School by Parents, Friends or Relatives

Parents are welcome to visit their child’s classes by appointment only. Please call ahead to your child’s teacher to make arrangements. If you are interested in sharing something special with a group of children, please let the classroom teacher know. Before visiting any class, all visitors must check in at the main office when entering the school building.

If your child has a friend or relative visiting from out of town, please do not send that person to school with your child.  This can be very disruptive to the school day and very difficult for the teacher to manage.

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How Can Parents Help?

 

General Volunteering:  Classroom, art room, library, field trips, science projects, long-range plan goal groups, etc.

The Marion Cross School has a long tradition of active volunteerism.  If you would like to volunteer in a classroom, help with field trips, or take part in a special activity on a regular basis, please contact your child’s teacher.  Also, each time you enter the school building to volunteer, please sign the Volunteer Notebook in the office.

 

• Become active in the PTO
• Become a substitute teacher
   We always have a great need for more high-quality substitute teachers.
• Give feedback on the school program or student work
• Serve on the school board or school board committees
• Attend events at the school: plays, Curriculum Night, Open House, the Norwich Community Picnic, Mayfest, among many other events.

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Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Who We Are

The Marion Cross PTO was formed in the spring of 1993. This organization brings teachers, parents, and caregivers together to enrich the education of our students. The success and vitality of the PTO depends upon the involvement of as many families and teachers as possible. We consider all MCS parents, caregivers, teachers and staff to be PTO members, and also encourage all to become dues-paying members to help support our programs and grants. 

Co-chairs:   Stephanie Hamilton , Molly Riordan , and Rebecca Reed

Treasurer:  Christina Aquila

Secretary:  Leah Fosco 

PTO Email: marioncrosspto@gmail.com

 

View the MCS PTO homepage here