Dear members of the Morse School community,

Few organizations pay as much attention to managing germs than elementary schools, where we routinely focus on teaching our children to wash their hands and cough and sneeze into their elbows. However, the ongoing Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak has led us to review and enhance our hygiene practices and collaborate more closely with district and city partners to ensure that we are taking every possible step to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. Here are some of the things that we are doing at the Morse School:

• We are closely following CPS COVID-19 Preparedness Guidelines, including requiring any child returning from overseas travel to one of the four countries of concern (China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea) to self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of how the child feels. 
• Our custodial team is using a special disinfectant on all door knobs, fixtures, and surfaces in classrooms and common spaces, including bathrooms and the Nurse’s Office. I have asked Dan, Neph, and Roberto to reorganize their daily routines to prioritize the careful completion of these tasks each day.
• We are keeping our bathroom soap dispensers and our cafeteria hand sanitizer dispenser well-stocked so that children are able to properly and thoroughly clean their hands throughout the day. We have also asked each JK-5 classroom to show this handwashing video to their students and take time to answer their questions.

Obviously, this is an evolving situation. Nurse Susan is in daily communication with the CPS Head of Nursing and the Cambridge Department of Public Health, and is closely monitoring guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). You can expect updated information and guidance as it becomes available. In the meantime, Nurse Susan is a good point of contact if you have additional questions about Covid-19.

Morse Community Events this Evening!
If you are looking for a chance to connect with other Morse School families this evening, please consider attending one of the following events taking place tonight:

• The Cambridge Public Schools will be hosting a drop-in “Dinner with CPS” event this evening from 5:30 - 8PM in the Community Room at 808 Memorial Drive. Please join me, Ms. Headley, and other CPS representatives for a light dinner and conversation about your children’s experiences at the Morse School. Dinner will be provided, with vegetarian/meat-free options for adults and children. All are welcome!
• The Friends of Morse will be hosting this month’s Family Movie Night in the Auditorium. Pizza, drinks, and snacks will go on sale at 6PM. The movie starts at 6:30PMm. Please remember that children MUST be accompanied by an adult during the entire event.

Finally, many thanks to the Morse School students who participated in our 2020 Black History Month Creative Challenge! Student projects are now on display in the Main Lobby, as well as outside of our 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms. In all, over 100 students participated in the February challenge! As a special prize, each student who submitted an entry will receive a Cambridge Black Trailblazers bookmark! The 2nd grade students from Mr. Rick’s classroom will also receive prizes for last week’s outstanding Let Freedom Ring performance in the Auditorium. Next time you visit the school, please take a moment to read some of the powerful Black History Month messages still on display throughout our school! (Clockwise in photo from top left: Student Creative Challenge projects on display in Main Lobby, Black Lives Matter display outside of Ms. DeWitte’s 4th grade classroom, African-American authors display near the Library, and an Martin Luther King, Jr. display outside of Ms. Sterling’s JK-1 classroom.)

My very best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Chad Leith
Principal

2020 Family Survey Available Online

Many of you filled out the Cambridge Public School Family Survey last year to help us learn more about your experiences with the Cambridge Public Schools. Thank you! The Family Survey for 2020 is now available in over 10 languages. We invite you to please fill it out at your earliest convenience. Your feedback will contribute to our ongoing efforts to learn, improve, and support better outcomes for all students. 

Fill out the survey online and find more information >>

Happy National Nutrition Month!

Did you know that students who eat breakfast may see increases in their concentration and test scores? Students who regularly eat breakfast also have fewer behavioral issues in the classroom and fewer tardy days. Cambridge schools offer FREE complete breakfast (i.e., a hot meal, fruit and milk) to all students. Maybe it’s time your family gave it a try? Find school menus here >>

School Breakfast Week & World Food Taste Party

Food & Nutrition Services invites you to join us in celebrating National School Breakfast Week March 2nd - 6th, with an Out of This Country theme. Our theme coincides with World Language Week, in which kitchens will be featuring cultural dishes from around the world at lunch. 

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