PTO Programs 2023 - 2024
Communications
MCS Directory - Jessica Eakin
The school directory is created by the PTO every fall and contains class and family contact information. The directory is provided as a thank-you to dues-paying members, and is available in print and online forms.
Membership dues collected by purchasing the directory provide the majority of funding for all of the programs listed below, including the fall and spring grant program. Thank you for your support!
Access to both the printed and online directory is available for payment of membership dues of $35 or more ($20 for staff). Access to either the printed or online version is available for $30 ($15 for staff). Additional printed directories are available for $10.
PTO News - Liz Gemignani
A monthly newsletter for the school community. It provides valuable information regarding upcoming school and community events, interviews with MCS staff and local businesses, and recaps of recent events.
PTO Website
Provides up-to-date information on PTO meeting dates and times, programs, and activities. You can also access a full-year calendar overview of PTO events and find out who chairs each event. In addition, we post photos from school activities, and information from the SAU and school boards relevant to MCS families.
PTO Class Reps
A representative from each class serves as an ongoing communication liaison between the classroom teacher and class parents. The classroom reps also help organize parent participation in Fall Feasts, Valentine’s Day Breakfast, and Pie Day.
The school directory is created by the PTO every fall and contains class and family contact information. The directory is provided as a thank-you to dues-paying members, and is available in print and online forms.
Membership dues collected by purchasing the directory provide the majority of funding for all of the programs listed below, including the fall and spring grant program. Thank you for your support!
Access to both the printed and online directory is available for payment of membership dues of $35 or more ($20 for staff). Access to either the printed or online version is available for $30 ($15 for staff). Additional printed directories are available for $10.
PTO News - Liz Gemignani
A monthly newsletter for the school community. It provides valuable information regarding upcoming school and community events, interviews with MCS staff and local businesses, and recaps of recent events.
PTO Website
Provides up-to-date information on PTO meeting dates and times, programs, and activities. You can also access a full-year calendar overview of PTO events and find out who chairs each event. In addition, we post photos from school activities, and information from the SAU and school boards relevant to MCS families.
PTO Class Reps
A representative from each class serves as an ongoing communication liaison between the classroom teacher and class parents. The classroom reps also help organize parent participation in Fall Feasts, Valentine’s Day Breakfast, and Pie Day.
Family Support Programs
Welcome Back to School Breakfast
Held on the first day of school just after the morning bell rings, parents and caregivers are invited to socialize and connect while enjoying coffee and breakfast treats.
Back to School Night
An opportunity for parents in all grades to learn more about the school, hear from the principal and other staff members, and meet the PTO officers.
Supplemental Food Project - Melanie Michel
Volunteers stock MCS with healthy food for children who have forgotten their lunches or snacks or are still hungry after eating the food they’ve been provided. This is NOT the federally funded program that provides breakfasts/lunches for families meeting certain financial requirements.
MCS Lost & Found - Melanie Michel
Organizes items left unattended at MCS and places them on the lost & found bins and racks. Coordinates donation of unclaimed items to local family service organizations.
Held on the first day of school just after the morning bell rings, parents and caregivers are invited to socialize and connect while enjoying coffee and breakfast treats.
Back to School Night
An opportunity for parents in all grades to learn more about the school, hear from the principal and other staff members, and meet the PTO officers.
Supplemental Food Project - Melanie Michel
Volunteers stock MCS with healthy food for children who have forgotten their lunches or snacks or are still hungry after eating the food they’ve been provided. This is NOT the federally funded program that provides breakfasts/lunches for families meeting certain financial requirements.
MCS Lost & Found - Melanie Michel
Organizes items left unattended at MCS and places them on the lost & found bins and racks. Coordinates donation of unclaimed items to local family service organizations.
Social Activities & School Spirit
Tea Towels - Ashley Clapp and Caitlin Eastman
A long-standing and cherished MCS tradition. Each fall, every student draws and self-portrait, and all of these artworks are silk-screened onto cotton tea (dish) towels featuring the MCS logo and the school year. Tea towels are wonderful mementos and perfect holiday gifts.
Bike to School Days - Molly Riordan
Main Street is closed to traffic and children enjoy a guided bike-to-school from Huntley Meadow (older students) or the Norwich Public Library (younger students). Held once in the fall and once in the spring.
Book Buzz -
Kids are the experts as they present their favorite books. Students in grades 4-6 review books they recommend for preschool and elementary aged children. Books can be ordered from the Norwich Bookstore at the end of the event, and 20% of the proceeds go to the MCS PTO.
Family Skating Party -
A fun-filled afternoon of ice skating and hot chocolate for the entire community. Presented in partnership with the Norwich Recreation Department.
Gift Making Festival -
Kids and families come together to get creative and make homemade gifts to give during the holiday season.
Bingo Night -
A joyful night with simple prizes and tons of fun.
Mud Stomp - Melanie Michel
A rousing contradance (similar to square dancing) for the whole family led by a professional caller. Held during mud season, hence the name.
Big Hoot Variety Show -
A magical springtime talent night featuring MCS students from all grades.
MCS SpiritWear Online Store - Lucy Rojansky
Your opportunity to shop online for a variety of activewear and other useful items to show your MCS spirit and support the PTO.
A long-standing and cherished MCS tradition. Each fall, every student draws and self-portrait, and all of these artworks are silk-screened onto cotton tea (dish) towels featuring the MCS logo and the school year. Tea towels are wonderful mementos and perfect holiday gifts.
Bike to School Days - Molly Riordan
Main Street is closed to traffic and children enjoy a guided bike-to-school from Huntley Meadow (older students) or the Norwich Public Library (younger students). Held once in the fall and once in the spring.
Book Buzz -
Kids are the experts as they present their favorite books. Students in grades 4-6 review books they recommend for preschool and elementary aged children. Books can be ordered from the Norwich Bookstore at the end of the event, and 20% of the proceeds go to the MCS PTO.
Family Skating Party -
A fun-filled afternoon of ice skating and hot chocolate for the entire community. Presented in partnership with the Norwich Recreation Department.
Gift Making Festival -
Kids and families come together to get creative and make homemade gifts to give during the holiday season.
Bingo Night -
A joyful night with simple prizes and tons of fun.
Mud Stomp - Melanie Michel
A rousing contradance (similar to square dancing) for the whole family led by a professional caller. Held during mud season, hence the name.
Big Hoot Variety Show -
A magical springtime talent night featuring MCS students from all grades.
MCS SpiritWear Online Store - Lucy Rojansky
Your opportunity to shop online for a variety of activewear and other useful items to show your MCS spirit and support the PTO.
Educational Enrichment
Celebration Books - Kari Cramer and Shauna Harris
Librarian-recommended books are purchased for the MCS Library by parents and caregivers in honor of students and teachers. Since the program’s inception in March 1994, over 1200 books have been added to the collection. To download the information letter and order form, please click on the links below.
Celebration Books 2023-2024 Parent Letter
Celebration Books Order Form
Visiting Author Program - Jillian Van Ells
Provides funds for authors to come to MCS to share their work and meet with students.
Visiting Artists & Musicians - Caitlin Eastman and Travis Ramsey
Provides funds for local artists and illustrators to share their work and their talents in-person with MCS students.
Staff & School Support
PTO Grants and Finance Committee- Rebecca Reed, Molly Riordan, Erin Butler, Leah Fosco, Christina Aquila, and Emma Cottage
Every fall and spring, the PTO accepts grant requests from teachers and staff, parents and caregivers for the purpose of MCS student enrichment. The Finance Committee reviews and allocates funds for these requests. Following are the grant amounts for the previous five years, starting with the 2020-2021 school year ending with the 2016-2017 year: $7,408, $3,972, $2,640, $10,510, $6,794.
Fall Feast
Each fall, a delicious pot-luck lunch is provided for the entire staff at MCS in appreciation of all their work and dedication. The Fall Feast is supported by K-3 parent volunteers.
Valentine’s Day Breakfast
Each Valentine’s Day, a breakfast pot-luck feast is provided for the entire staff at MCS in appreciation of all their work and dedication. The Valentine’s Day Breakfast is supported by grade 4-6 parent volunteers.
Pie Day — Corin Benedict
Pie Day is held in May to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Day. Dozens of parent volunteers bake pies, and a pie is given to each staff member of MCS.
Community Outreach
Food Drives Emily Bradley, Megan Minn, Cherie Gardiner
Held throughout the school year to benefit various non-profit organizations in the Upper Valley.
Vegetable Garden
Maintenance and management of the vegetable garden at school. The harvest is shared at Harvest Day in the fall and Salad Day in the spring.
Halloween Candy Drive - Stephanie Hamilton
Halloween candy is collected from Norwich families and distributed to families living in the village area where 500+ children come trick-or-treating on Halloween.
Norwich Public Library Display
A rotating collection of MCS student artwork is displayed in the front entrance of the Norwich Public Library.
Fundraising Programs
Membership Dues
As communicated above, membership dues collected by purchasing the directory provide the majority of funding for all of the programs listed below, including the fall and spring grant program. Thank you for your support!
Box Tops for Education
The Box Tops program is now online and there is no need for clipping. Simply set up an account on the app and scan your receipt each time you go to the supermarket. Funds are used for student enrichment materials and programs.
Local Business Partners - Jenny Barba
The Local Business Partners program seeks businesses in the community looking to make a connection with and support MCS and MCS families. Local businesses make a contribution in support of PTO programs, and in return the PTO educates the MCS community about these businesses through various channels including the PTO website and PTO newsletter.
Every fall and spring, the PTO accepts grant requests from teachers and staff, parents and caregivers for the purpose of MCS student enrichment. The Finance Committee reviews and allocates funds for these requests. Following are the grant amounts for the previous five years, starting with the 2020-2021 school year ending with the 2016-2017 year: $7,408, $3,972, $2,640, $10,510, $6,794.
Fall Feast
Each fall, a delicious pot-luck lunch is provided for the entire staff at MCS in appreciation of all their work and dedication. The Fall Feast is supported by K-3 parent volunteers.
Valentine’s Day Breakfast
Each Valentine’s Day, a breakfast pot-luck feast is provided for the entire staff at MCS in appreciation of all their work and dedication. The Valentine’s Day Breakfast is supported by grade 4-6 parent volunteers.
Pie Day — Corin Benedict
Pie Day is held in May to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Day. Dozens of parent volunteers bake pies, and a pie is given to each staff member of MCS.
Community Outreach
Food Drives Emily Bradley, Megan Minn, Cherie Gardiner
Held throughout the school year to benefit various non-profit organizations in the Upper Valley.
Vegetable Garden
Maintenance and management of the vegetable garden at school. The harvest is shared at Harvest Day in the fall and Salad Day in the spring.
Halloween Candy Drive - Stephanie Hamilton
Halloween candy is collected from Norwich families and distributed to families living in the village area where 500+ children come trick-or-treating on Halloween.
Norwich Public Library Display
A rotating collection of MCS student artwork is displayed in the front entrance of the Norwich Public Library.
Fundraising Programs
Membership Dues
As communicated above, membership dues collected by purchasing the directory provide the majority of funding for all of the programs listed below, including the fall and spring grant program. Thank you for your support!
Box Tops for Education
The Box Tops program is now online and there is no need for clipping. Simply set up an account on the app and scan your receipt each time you go to the supermarket. Funds are used for student enrichment materials and programs.
Local Business Partners - Jenny Barba
The Local Business Partners program seeks businesses in the community looking to make a connection with and support MCS and MCS families. Local businesses make a contribution in support of PTO programs, and in return the PTO educates the MCS community about these businesses through various channels including the PTO website and PTO newsletter.
