Dear Morse School Community,
This week our 3rd-5th graders wrapped up the Spring 2025 MCAS. We are proud of how hard they worked to demonstrate their grade level ELA, Math and Science standards. In addition, our third graders had a field trip to the Museum of
Science and our CPP got to experience West African dance!
Haitian Folkloric Dance Residency
In honor of Haitian Heritage Month, our school and FMS are hosting a Haitian Folkloric Dance Residency with dance organization Jean Appolon Expressions from May 19th to May 23rd, with a sneak peak yesterday for our CPP students. The
goals for this residency are to uplift Haitian culture, instill love for dance and movement, and examine themes of liberation, healing and resiliency. The week will start with a dance performance by the professional dance company
followed by Q&A, and it will end with workshops that teach traditional Haitian folkloric dance. We thank the support of Mass Cultural Council for this special event
for our students.
Morse Spring Fair 2025
Please
join us on Sunday for this fun filled event hosted by Friends of the Morse School. This is a community event with no entry fee. Enjoy the games, activities, food, raffle and silent auction. I heard there is even a dunk tank!
School Council Elections
This weekend, voting will begin at the Spring Fair. We have three caregivers who are running for election for the two open seats on the Morse School Council. Please see their bios below.:
The following parents are candidates to serve as representatives on the Morse School Council:
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 Jim Rissling (Current CPP Parent)
I'm interested in joining the School Council. Our daughter will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall and this would be a great opportunity to learn more about Morse School and kindle relationships and grow into the community.
Morse is our neighborhood school and since our children have been in the Morse Preschool, our ties within the neighborhood, which has been our home for 22 years, have increased tremendously.
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 Jesika Clerge (Current Kindergarten Parent)
My name is Jess Clerge, and I’m a lifelong resident of Cambridge and a proud parent of a kindergartner. Since our child began in Pre-K, Morse has been a second home to our family—a place that uplifts, nurtures,
and celebrates each child’s unique strengths. We experience a true sense of belonging here! Currently, I serve as the Board Chair of the Cambridge Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). SEPAC plays a vital
role in ensuring that the voices of families navigating special education are heard, valued, respected, and engaged in decisions that affect their children. I am also proud to serve as a Board Member of English at Large (EAL),
a nonprofit dedicated to empowering adult immigrants through English language education. This support is deeply personal to me. As a first-generation Haitian American and fluent Haitian-Creole speaker, I know how transformative
language, advocacy, and culturally responsive support can be for families working to build better lives. I look forward to working together to ensure every child in Cambridge is seen, supported, and set up to thrive.
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 Maria Cecilia Saberi (Kindergarten Parent)
My name is Maria Cecilia Saberi and my son's name is Aydin and he loves Morse elementary. I work as a Senior Lab Operations Manager for the Director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard where I oversee operations,
compliance, budgets and help make key decisions as to best allocate funds. I was also a Board Member for the Longwood Medical Area Child Care Center for 2 years. I believe I can contribute to the school council and be a representative
for the parents and advocate for student needs, their development as well as support for the Principal and staff.
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The Morse School Council is a diverse representative team of staff members, community members and caregivers who serve in an advisory capacity to improve the school. They play an important role in adopting educational goals and identifying
needs to support students in relation to the goals. They review and support the School Improvement Plan and contribute ideas to school based topics as they arise. The Friends of Morse will manage the election process and families can vote between May 18th - 30th. You can vote in person at the school or virtually using this link.
District and School Culture Survey
The District and School Culture Survey (formerly known as the District and School Climate Survey) is open! The survey provides an opportunity for you, along with staff and Morse students (grades 3-5), to tell us how we are doing.
The survey asks for your feedback on school culture, feelings of belonging, as well as other topic areas related to our school and district’s vision and core values. Your feedback will be used to inform decisions about school improvement efforts. The survey is anonymous and you will be able to take the online survey from May 5th to May 30th. Last year, we had almost 100% participation and we are looking to hear from all of you!
Planning Ahead for SY 25-26
As we plan for SY 25-26 class rosters, we ask for your input in three ways:
1. If you are a parent of a fifth grader and your child will not be attending PAUS, please complete this form
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2. If you are a K-4th grade parent and your child will not be returning to the Morse next year, please complete this form
3. If your child will be returning to the Morse and you would like to share any information about your child that you believe would help us in placing your child in a classroom community that would best support them, please complete this form. This form is due TODAY.
Upcoming Events
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5/18 | FMS Spring Fair
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5/18 - 5/30 - Morse School Council Elections
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5/26 | Memorial Day - NO School
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5/27 - 5/31 | Morse School Art Show at Gallery 263
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5/29 | Morse Variety Show | 6PM
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Stay up to date with our Morse Events Calendar
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Samantha Headley