Greetings from Chad Leith
Dear Members of the Morse School Community,
Yesterday, we marked another milestone in our school year as an additional group of students made the transition from remote to in-person learning. As of today, approximately 75% of Morse School students are learning in-person. This expansion has been made possible by the incredible efforts of our teachers, staff members, specialists, and custodians. At every stage of this challenging year we have sought to provide a safe in-person learning environment, while also continuing to offer a robust online schooling option for Morse families who have chosen to remain remote. We are fortunate to have a talented and collaborative team of educators who have allowed us to allow all Morse School children to enjoy positive learning experiences, regardless of whether they are learning from their homes or from their in-person classrooms.
In case you missed it, the Morse School was featured yesterday in a couple of news reports about the statewide April 5th expansion, including WCVB (Channel 5) and WBZ (Channel 4), who featured us on both their 12PM and 5PM broadcasts.
The April 5th expansion of in-person learning also coincides with an important shift in our weekly schedule. Beginning this week, all learners will have a full day of live schooling every day (Monday through Friday). Although our Wednesdays will no longer be fully remote, Ms. Headley and I will continue to broadcast our Morse Live Stream community meeting on Wednesday mornings from 8:30-8:45.
Morse Marathon POSTPONED to May 5th
We are pushing the date for this year’s Morse Marathon back until Wednesday, May 5th, to ensure that we have heard from all of our remote families about their safety concerns and transportation needs, and have a chance to develop a fun alternative plan for involving those who cannot participate in person. We will share additional information about this special Morse community event in a separate email. However, I wanted to highlight the fact that Morse Marathon is not only an event to promote fitness and community, but also a fundraising event for our school. Money raised through the Marathon directly benefits your children by helping to pay for field trips, learning materials, and enrichment activities. Please consider sponsoring your student runner! You can donate by completing a pledge sheet for your child, or by making an online contribution through the Friends of Morse website.
April Materials Pick-Up
This month’s materials pick-up for our remote learners will take place this week. Please plan to come by the Morse School building between 7:30AM-3PM to pick up your child’s learning materials and library books for the remaining weeks of February. Please remember that these materials are provided so that your child can participate actively in the learning experiences that our teachers have designed. It is therefore very important that you stop by next week to pick them up. If you are unable to stop by during the hours noted above, please reach out to our Family Liaison Denise Sullivan.
Morse School Council Meeting this Thursday
The next meeting of the Morse School Council will take place this Thursday April 8th from 6-7:30PM. At this month’s meeting, we will review student responses to the 2021 Student Survey (which was administered in March to all students in Grades 2-5). If you are interested in participating, please register here. A link will be sent to you 30 minutes prior to the meeting.
To help our families keep track of these and other events during the busy month of April, our Family Liaison Ms. Sullivan has prepared a Morse April 2021 Calendar. Hard copies will be sent home in backpacks or included with this month’s remote materials pickup.
As always, we are grateful for the partnership and collaboration we enjoy with our parents and families. My very best wishes for a great start to your week!
Sincerely,
Principal Chad Leith
April is School Library Month!
School Library Month is a time to celebrate the essential role that school librarians and strong school library programs, including our wonderful Cambridge Public Schools Library Team, play in transforming learning. Visit the American Association of School Librarians' website to learn more and view author and illustrator videos about the importance of school libraries and reading. #EveryoneBelongs@YourSchoolLibrary #AASLslm
Water Bottle Classroom Initiative for 1st & 3rd Graders!
The Cambridge Healthy Smiles program is launching its annual Water Bottle Classroom Initiative this month. Students in Grades 1 and 3 received a personal water bottle to use at school to promote oral health. The Charles Bullock Fund, which supports the oral health needs of school aged children in Cambridge, provides these reusable water bottles.
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