Dear Morse School Parents and Caregivers,
It was wonderful to see so many families connecting with one another and celebrating our students’ accomplishments during our Wednesday morning’s open house! Our diversity and our sense of community are some of our school’s greatest strengths, and I am so happy that we were able to come together for this special event.
This was the first time that we have held this type of event during the school day. At next week’s School Council meeting (virtual on Thursday 12/15 from 6:30-7:30 PM), I am hoping to hear feedback from Morse families about what you thought of the event and what we could do to make future similar events even better. You are also welcome to share your thoughts and suggestions by completing this brief feedback form.
5th Grade Community Service
Our 5th graders have been making a difference in our school through their weekly community service clubs. From making our school look more beautiful to teaching Junior Kindergartners how to code to helping Ms. Pennell reshelve library books, our 5th graders are stepping up and demonstrating themselves to be great role models! (Pictured here, the awesome 5th grade landscaping crew!)
FMS Movie Night & Winter Clothing Exchange
The community spirit continues with two special December events sponsored by the Friends of the Morse School. All Morse School families are invited to this evening’s Family Movie Night (TONIGHT from 6-8 PM in the Morse School Auditorium). Admission is free and snacks will be available for purchase! At this evening’s event, the Friends of Morse School will also kick off this year’s Winter Clothing Exchange. All families are welcome to donate gently used clothing that your children have outgrown, and pick out some clothing for your own children. More information about Family Movie Nights and the Winter Clothing Exchange can be found on the FMS website.
Dedicated Space for Independent Prayer at the Morse School
The Morse School proudly welcomes children and families from a diverse range of national, cultural, and religious backgrounds. To be more inclusive and responsive to the needs of our families, we have created a space at the Morse School where any student whose faith background involves daily prayer may independently exercise this right. If you would like to know more about how your child might access our dedicated prayer space, please reach out to our Family Liaison Amy Diaz at 617-349-6679.
A Friendly Reminder about 3 Important School Policies
Family Vacations & Sabbaticals
As we approach the winter break, I want to remind you that parents and caregivers are strongly advised not to plan family vacations during school time. Days missed for family vacations will be considered unexcused absences. However, we understand that life circumstances may pull a family away from Cambridge for an extended period of time. For a leave of absence that exceeds 10 school days, a sabbatical leave can be requested. This leave of absence may result from a family crisis or emergency, a family’s need to spend a semester abroad, a short-term work assignment, educational opportunities elsewhere, etc. Please click here for more information, or contact School Clerk Elaine Delaney at 617-349-6575.
Toys, Collectables & Electronics
Toys, collectables (stuffed animals, action figures, dolls, etc.), trading cards, Pokémon cards, etc. are not allowed in school unless they have been brought with teacher permission. Cell phones and smart watches belonging to students must be kept in backpacks and turned off during regular school hours. We reserve the right to confiscate toys, collectibles, and electronics if they are not properly stored during the school day. The first time an item is taken, it will be returned to the student at the end of the day. The second time, a parent or guardian will be expected to come into school to retrieve it. All valuables and electronics brought to school are at the owner’s risk. The Morse School cannot assume responsibility for toys, devices, or other personal items that are lost, misplaced, damaged, or stolen.
Coming Prepared for Outdoor Recess
Children at all grade levels will participate in at least 20 minutes of outdoor recess each day whenever possible, including during the winter months. Although we will consider factors such as wind chill and precipitation when making day-to-day determinations, it is likely that your child will have outdoor recess every day unless the “real feel” temperature falls below 20℉ (-7℃). For this reason, it is very important that you send your child to school dressed appropriately for the weather (e.g. rain-resistant clothing on drizzly days, warm outer outer layer on cooler days, gloves/mittens and a hat on cold days, etc.). We reserve the right to keep individual children indoors for recess if they do not have appropriate clothing for the weather. If you are in need of weather-related clothing, please contact our Family Liaison Amy Diaz at 617-349-6679.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we work together to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all of our students. I wish you all the best for a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Chad