Message from Principal Chad Leith

Dear Morse School Families and Caregivers,

Yesterday afternoon we welcomed our new Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten families at our Kindergarten Open House. It was a great opportunity to highlight some of the things that make the Morse School special and to introduce our fabulous JK/K teachers and paraprofessionals to our incoming children and caregivers. Many thanks to current parents and staff who helped greet our new families and make them feel welcome and excited about the coming school year!

Speaking of the coming school year, I am pleased to announce that next year’s Kindergarten staff will include Stephanie Williams, who will be joining Kristin Allison's classroom (B6) as a Kindergarten paraprofessional. Ms. Williams has been with the Morse School since 2016 and has served in multiple roles. She has establish strong connections with our students and families, and we are very excited that she will continue to contribute her talents to the Morse School over the coming years.

I am also excited to share that Phil Fousek will be joining the Morse community full-time next fall as our Physical Education teacher. Many of you have already gotten to know Mr. Fousek this year as our Health teacher, as well as the K-1 Physical Education teacher. Mr. Fousek also brought a lot of positive energy and organizational leadership to our Morse Marathon and helped to welcome our new families to the school at yesterday’s Kindergarten Open House. Before coming to Morse, Mr. Fousek taught P.E. at the Cambridgeport School for thirteen years. He is also the varsity boys soccer coach at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School.

One final transition to announce is the return of long-time Morse School senior custodian Dan Wright. In announcing these changes, I'd also like to acknowledge the contributions of those who will not be continuing in these roles. Theresa O'Connor, who was a beloved P.E. teacher at the Morse School for many years, will be taking a position elsewhere in the district. Grace Rechisky, who has been a wonderful part of our children's kindergarten experience, will be retiring. Acting senior custodian Greg Bilikas, who did a great job in Dan's absence, will be working at a different school in Cambridge. On behalf of the Morse School community, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. O’Connor, Ms. Rechisky and Mr. Bilikas for their contributions to our school.

Morse Spring Fun Fair!
Our Spring Fun Fair will take place this Sunday, May 19th from 11:00-3:00. All members of the Morse School community - as well as children and families who do not attend the Morse - are invited to join us on Sunday for fun games, prizes, face painting, bouncy houses and even a dunk tank! We are hoping for good weather and a great turnout! Suggested donation for children is $5.00. If you are able to volunteer for part of the time, please reach out to Friends of Morse officers Shannon Finley ([email protected]) or Joanne Jang ([email protected]). For more information, please see the Fun Fair flyer >> 

2019-2020 Class Lists
Over the coming weeks, our teachers and teams will be working together to develop class lists for the coming school year. The Morse School is a small school with only two general education classrooms at each grade level. Our goal is to create balanced classrooms that will foster each child’s positive social and academic growth, while also providing each child with a sense of belonging at the Morse School. Our placement decisions will be informed by the individual strengths and needs of each child, as well as our observations of the classroom dynamics that permit each child to do her or his best learning. Although we will not be sending a parent information sheet home this year, I invite you to reach out to me directly by June 1st if there is compelling information that you believe should be considered along with other placement factors. Otherwise, please know that we will approach this process with a great deal of care and will make decisions with each child’s best interest in mind.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Fun Fair on Sunday!

Sincerely,

Chad Leith
Principal


Take the Cambridge Health Survey!
What are your family’s top health, environmental, and social justice concerns? Your views matter to the Cambridge Public Health Department! Please take the 10-minute Cambridge Health Survey. The survey is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish. Your input is anonymous.

In Our Community and District

2nd Annual Cambridge Community Iftar
May 22 | 7PM
Cambridge City Hall, 795 Mass Ave.
Councillor Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor Marc McGovern, and the Cambridge Employee Diversity Committee invite you to the 2nd Annual Cambridge Community Iftar in celebration of the month of Ramadan. The Iftar is the daily sunset meal to break the day’s fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and one observed as holy by those of Muslim faith worldwide. Ramadan began this year on May 5th and will end on the evening of June 4th, 2019.
Flyer >>
Details >>

Annual Media Fair
After School Student Produced Media
May 22 | 5PM
Media Arts Studio, 454 Broadway
Details >>

2nd Annual Reader Prom
June 15 | 7:30PM | Dilboy VFW, Davis Square
The Porter Square Books Foundation, who brought George O’Connor and Jerry Craft to speak to the students of the Cambridge Schools this year, is hosting their 2nd Annual Reader Prom. All the proceeds will go to the Foundation and will help us bring more events and books to the students of Cambridge. Dress up in your finest prom fashion and bring a copy of your favorite book as your date to donate to a local nonprofit. (It’s the only prom where you’re supposed to dump your date right away!) There will be free snacks and soft drinks, a cash bar, music, dancing, “after-prom” style games and activities, and, of course, “chaperones.” You’ll also be able to get a formal prom picture with your “date” from and a bookish corsage. 
Tickets and more information >>

Recycling & Composting
Here are some handy reminders!
Learn more >>

Pinkalicious and Peterrific!
WGBH is looking for kids for short video segments for the PBS television series Pinkalicious and Peterrific, an animated show about creativity. WGBH needs kids aged 7 to 9 who are interested in participating in activities relating to music, theater, dance, and the visual arts. 
A try-out is being held at WGBH on Saturday June 1, 2019.More information about the try-out >>

CPS Summer Math & ELA Programs
Hear all about our summer programs for students entering grades 6-8!
Details >>

Free Markets
Check out any one of these FREE Markets that are held throughout the City of Cambridge. All you need is a grocery bag! View the flyer >>

Cambridge Affordable Housing Information Sessions
Learn about the eligibility requirements and application process for the following programs Cambridge Rental and Homeownership Programs: Inclusionary Housing Rental Program for studios, 1BR, 2BR, & 3BR units throughout Cambridge, Homeowner Resale Pool, First-Time Homebuyer Workshop, Downpayment Assistance, and HomeBridge. Open to all. No RSVP Necessary. Learn more >>

Immigration Legal Screening Clinics
3rd Wednesday each month, 5:15-7:15PM
Free consultations with an immigration attorney for Massachusetts immigrants and their families
Community Legal Services & Counseling Center (CLSACC)
90 Third St., Cambridge
617.349.4396; [email protected]