Message from Principal Chad Leith

Dear Morse School Families & Caregivers,

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at last Thursday’s Math & Literacy Carnival! Many thanks to the staff members and parents who volunteered their time to prepare for the event and to those who stepped in to facilitate fun games and activities for our children and families. I look forward to crossing paths with many of you again this week when you come in to meet with your child’s teacher for our second trimester parent conferences!

New Granite Street Parking & Traffic Pattern
MBTA bus route #47 has ended its long-term diversion; as of yesterday, it will travel all the way down Pearl Street and turn left onto Granite Street. The MBTA bus stop at the Morse School’s entrance has shifted to the other side of the raised intersection and the school’s bus zone will be extended into this former bus stop area. Accommodations have also been made to move the handicapped space closer to the main entrance of our building. Illegally-parked cars will make it difficult for the bus to make the turn from Pearl Street onto Granite Street. I respectfully ask that all Morse School parents and guardians follow the new signage and be mindful about the importance of parking in legal parking areas during pick-up and drop-off. Thank you!

Spring 2019 MCAS Dates
The MCAS assessment helps to measure students’ progress towards meeting grade level standards in English language arts, mathematics and science. It is a standardized test used by all public schools in Massachusetts. The results will give us information about teaching and learning at the Morse School and will help us to make sure that all of our students are developing the foundational skills they need to be successful in middle school, high school and college. Only students in grades 3-5 participate. This year, there are two MCAS sessions for English language arts (ELA), two for math, and two for science (5th Grade only). All tests will be administered on computers. The testing dates for students in grades 3-5 are indicated below:

• Grade 3
  English Language Arts: April 25th & 26th
  Mathematics: May 9th & 10th
• Grade 4
  English Language Arts: April 23rd & 24th
  Mathematics: May 13th & 17th
• Grade 5
  English Language Arts: April 29th & 30th
  Mathematics: May 14th & 16th
  Science: May 20th & 21st

We Want to Hear from You!
CPS is pleased to launch our 2019 Family Survey. The purpose of this survey is to learn about the experiences of families in our schools and district. It is important to us that all families feel welcomed, and that all students receive the best possible education.

As a district committed to equity, we use survey results to understand whether students and families from all backgrounds are having positive experiences in our schools. Your answers will be completely anonymous and can not be connected to you.

Take the survey now >>

In Our Community and District

School Committee Meeting
Public Hearing on the Proposed 2019-20 CPS Budget 
Tuesday, March 19 | 6PM 
School Committee Meeting Room at CRLS
The purpose of a Public Hearing is inviting input from the public regarding the budget. All meetings are open to the public. Public comment welcome.

Cambridge Digs DEEP
Thursday, March 21 | 5:30-8PM 
CRLS, 459 Broadway
Join Mayor Marc McGovern and Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui for a city-wide session that aims to support restorative healing through providing race-based affinity spaces for discussing and processing identity and sharing perspectives. In these moderated affinity groups, we will process content from the first two deep sessions.
Details >>

Free Citywide Baseball Clinics
Saturdays, March 23 & 30 | 5:30 - 7:30PM
CRLS Field House
Learn more >>

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 >>

Welcome to CPS! Resource Fair 
Saturday, April 6 | 10AM-12Noon
CRLS, cafeteria 
We hope to see incoming JK/K students and those who are new to the district! 
Learn more >> 

Cambridge Winter Farmers Market
Saturdays through April 6 | 10AM-2PM
Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender Street
Learn more >>
See 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]  

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