Dear Morse School Parents & Caregivers,

It is hard to believe but there are only three weeks left in the school year! This month we are celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month by acknowledging family differences, honoring the experiences of LGBTQ+ activists and leaders, and placing the movement for LGBTQ+ rights within the context of our efforts to foster a safe and welcoming environment for all children, families, and staff members. This morning on our Wednesday Live Stream, we featured interviews with Morse School teachers who shared their stories of overcoming anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and Ms. Headley and I spoke about the importance of ensuring that all members of our Morse School community feel like they belong, regardless of their gender identity or who they love. The Cambridge Public Schools has provided educators with LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum resources, and on Saturday June 12th at 1:30 PM the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission and Mayor Siddiqui will be hosting an LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration Family Show & Concert at Starlight Square. Please click here for more information.

May Event Recap
Thanks to the many children, families, and staff members who took part in our special May community events. On Thursday, May 20th students participated in the Morse Marathon, an annual event organized by parents and teachers, which is aimed at promoting fitness and community. Despite having COVID safety protocols in place, the Spring 2021 Morse Marathon was a huge success! Staff and students from every grade level - Junior Kindergarten through Grade 5 - participated in the event. Some children ran or walked for over 20 laps on our quarter-mile "marathon" course and we together surpassed our goal of 1,891 laps (to honor the Morse School's founding in 1891). Many thanks to P.E. teacher Phil Fousek and our parent and staff volunteers for organizing this year’s event and making sure that everyone stayed safe and had fun. Click here to see this year’s Morse Marathon slideshow!

On Friday, May 21st, Ms. Kerr led our first-ever virtual Morse Family Paint Night! Over 115 kids and grownups learned to paint an ice cream sundae in the style of great American painter, Wayne Thiebaud. Thanks to generous funding from our district’s Title 1 program and the Friends of Morse, the event was free for all!

School Council Meeting – June 3rd
The next meeting of the Morse School Council will take place tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 3rd, from 6:00-7:30PM. This will be the last scheduled meeting of the school year, and I hope to gather input on what we want things to look like when we return in September. We have learned a lot through the pandemic, and we will share reflections on things we learned this year that we might want to carry over into 2021-2022. All members of the Morse School community are welcome to attend. To register for tomorrow’s meeting, please click here. You will receive a zoom link tomorrow afternoon. To learn more about the Morse School Council, please visit the School Council page on our school website.

Please be sure to keep your eye out for our Family Liaison Denise Sullivan’s Friday FYI with additional information about happenings in our school and community. Thank you for your partnership and support as we work to end the school year on a strong and positive note!

Sincerely,
Principal Chad Leith

Food & Nutrition Services Survey

If you could be the boss of your school kitchen, what changes would you like to see? This is your opportunity to be the Head Chef, and share your opinion on how to make school dining better! Your feedback is very important to the Food & Nutrition Services Department, so please take a few minutes and let us know your thoughts.

Take survey >>

Chromebooks

All Chromebooks and chargers will need to be returned to the school prior to the last day of school. Please look for more information in the coming weeks.

Juneteenth

Cambridge Families of Color Coalition Celebrates Juneteenth 
June 19th | Starlight Square 
CELEBRATING BLACK JOY! 

On June 19th Cambridge Families of Color Coalition will be celebrating Juneteenth, through the arts, at Starlight Square in Central Sq. We will have live performances, puppetry, musical theatre, and more! We will center JOY on this day, lifting up the legacy of Black art making. The Cambridge Families of Color Coalition (CFCC) is calling in the entire city to celebrate Juneenth together in joyous community. Schedule to come via Eventbrite.

See flyer >>

Healthy Snack of the Week

Cucumber Cups! Cut a cucumber into 2-inch segments (leave skin on), scoop out most of cucumber (leaving a small amount as a bottom to each "cup"), and fill the hole with tuna salad.

In Our District & Community