Volume 20, Issue 1
August 2016
Message from the Principal:
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year. It is early August and we are prepared to
welcome your students back to school. Every classroom has had a thorough cleaning, the floors are waxed, supplies have been ordered, and we are fully staffed.
We have some new staff members to welcome and others have changed roles:
Social Studies- Bob Jordan is now the Technology Integrator for the district.
Stephen Foster has been hired to replace Bob. Charlie Main retired and Carrie
Emmerson has been hired to replace him.
English- Louise LaMarque-Main retired and Ashley Begin-Smith has been hired to
replace her.
Special Education- Jackie Anderson resigned and Sarah Barnett has been hired to
replace her. Lise Lunser retired and Rachel Manzo has been hired to replace her.
Liz Bodkin also resigned.
In addition to teaching the Engineering classes at BRCTC, Ruthanne Harrison has
been hired as our S.T.E.A.M. Coordinator.
The planning process for a new school will continue throughout the year. The site
selection process has been difficult and has taken much longer than originally
thought. I believe the Board, DOE, and Town are very close to a decision. Once
that is made, the planning process will really take off. I strongly encourage you to
attend any public forums related to this project.
As in years past, we will continue to use Infinite Campus and School Messenger as
a way to communicate important information with home. It is vital for us to have
the most up-to-date and accurate contact information (phone and e-mail). Please
contact Lynn Dysart at 443-8250 ext. 1234 to update your information.
I am looking forward to a happy, healthy, and productive year where I will get to
witness many students excelling in academics, arts, athletics, and their vocational
programs. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying the tail end of this beautiful
summer weather.
Go Shipbuilders!
John B. Pinkerton
Principal
Morse High School
[email protected]
NEW FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
We are excited to welcome back current students and are pleased to extend a special welcome to the Class of 2020! We look forward to a busy and productive year with your students.
A great way for families to monitor their student’s progress, grades, and attendance at
Morse this year is through Infinite Campus (IC). We encourage families to check IC together regularly. To create a parent account, contact Lynn Rouillard-Hill at 443-8250
x1109.
Here are a few events to be mindful of as we kick off this school year:
Add/Drop: Students will have the opportunity to change courses in their schedule with
their School Counselor until September 14. After that date, students will be required to
complete Add/Drop forms with teacher, parent, and administrator signatures in order to
change a course.
Morse Code Day: MHS will be hosting the first annual Morse Code Day on September
23. The purpose of this day is to address the health and social/self-awareness of all students
and to celebrate Morse students and their potential to Think, Care, and Act as members of
the school and of the community. Students will receive a keynote address from motivational speaker Ed Gerety, have the opportunity to participate in workshops of their choosing
throughout the day, and will participate in a Spirit Week pep rally at the conclusion of the
event.
Senior Parent Night: We welcome all seniors and their parents/guardians to join us in the
Montgomery Theater at 6pm on September 29 for Senior Parent Night. A representative
from a local college or university will be present to discuss the college admission process,
and the Guidance Department will be on hand to answer questions as you and your student
begin the college application process.
ASVAB: Students interested in taking the ASVAB at Morse on September 29 should sign
up in Guidance no later than September 21.
College Fairs: USM will be hosting a College Fair on their campus on September 27 and
Brunswick High School will be hosting their annual fair on September 28. Students should
see their School Counselor for details about each event.
October 1st: The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) & the CSS Profile
become available for Class of 2017 families to file for financial aid for education after high
school. www.fafsa.ed.gov & https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile
October 19:
•All freshmen will participate in a college campus visit. More information and a permission
slip will be provided to students through their Freshmen English classes.
•All juniors and those sophomores who signed up take the PSAT at Morse. More information on test day procedures and a study guide will be given to students through their
Advisories.
•Seniors are invited to use this day as a post-secondary planning day. A representative from
SMCC will be at Morse conducting on-the-spot admissions decisions. Other options for
that day might include participating in a college campus visit, participating in a job shadow, or working on a college application.
ACT: Students have the opportunity to take the ACT at Morse on October 22. Students
interested in taking this test can sign up online at www.act.org, or see Mrs. Trundy for
more information.
October 25: In partnership with FAME, Morse will host a FAFSA completion lab to help
families complete the FAFSA. The event will take place at 6pm at Morse.
DRIVER EDUCATION SIGN UP
Driver Ed. sign-up will be on Thursday, September 8th at 6:45 AM in Mrs. Dysart's office.
The cost of Driver's Ed. is $450.00 which must be paid in full at the time of registration
(check or money order made payable to RSU1). No cash will be accepted. The class will
begin on Monday, September 19th. Please contact Mrs. Dysart for more info.
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 1
September 2
September 8
September 14
September 14
September 19—23
September 23
September 29
October 7
October 10
October 19
October 19
October 19
October 25
October 27
October 28
October 29
November 4
November 8
November 11
November 18 & 19
November 21 & 22
November 21 & 22
November 23—25
December 1
December 5,6,7
December 15
December 15
December 22
December 23—Jan. 2
January 16
January 17—20
January 20
January 27
School For Grades K-9 Students Only
School for Students K-12
Open House at Morse 5:30—6:30 PM
School Picture Day
End of Add/Drop Period
School Spirit Week
Morse Code Day
Senior College Information Night 6:00 PM
No School—Professional Development Day
No School—Columbus Day
Post Secondary Day—Grade 12
PSAT (In School) - Grades 10 & 11
College Visits—Grade 9
FAFSA Completion Lab 6:00 PM
Fall Show—A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Fall Show—A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Fall Show—A Midsummer Night’s Dream
End of First Quarter
No School—Professional Development Day
No School—Veteran’s Day
MOHIBA
Parent Teacher Conference for Grades K-12
Dismissal at 11:00 AM Grades K-12
Thanksgiving Recess
JMG I & I Ceremony 6:00 PM
Dental Clinic
PSAT Pizza Night—Grades 10 & 11 Families
Winter Concert 7:00P.M.
Alumni Day
Winter Holiday Vacation
No School—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Mid Term Exams
End of Second Quarter
Endo of Add/Drop for Semester 2
MOHIBA: REQUEST FOR MEMORABILIA
Do you have MOHIBA memorabilia hiding in your attic? Do you have a favorite
MOHIBA memory you would be willing to share? If so, we can use your help!
We are looking for the following:
photographs, snapshots, candids
programs (listing acts, participants, directors, and emcees)
Skit scripts (class and team skits)
video footage
participants’ personal recollections
participants willing to be interviewed by students
In the fall, the Class of 2020 will be conducting research on the history and lasting legacy of MOHIBA. Displays, exhibitions, and a published book will highlight and showcase our students’ investigation and work.
To get ready for this project, the Morse High School Library is collecting anything and
everything MOHIBA. All memorabilia will be scanned and returned to contributors. We
appreciate your help with this exciting project!
Contacts for this project are:
Dawn Lee, Librarian; email: [email protected]
Johnna Stanton, 9th Grade English Teacher; email: [email protected]
Kristel Coen, 9th Grade English Teacher; email: [email protected]
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MORSE DRIFTER 2016
Last May, seven Morse students and two teachers assembled and deployed a surface
drifter, a simple device that floats with the shallow water currents in the ocean and captures location data with a satellite transmitter. Teachers Julie Larosa and Danielle Young
attended a Spring training workshop at the Maine Fisherman’s Forum in Rockland, in
which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) trained educators
on the history, building, and uses of surface drifters. The students, who volunteered their
time after school, put together the aluminum frame, cut and decorated four canvas
“sails,” and attached a small buoy and satellite transmitter. The completed drifter was
then deployed offshore by lobstermen James Carroll and Nick Hawke on the F/V Illusion
out of Boothbay.
The purpose of the NOAA Drifter program is to add another observation tool to help
“grasp the complexities of global ocean currents, and, in turn, the many systems that they
influence.” Information gathered from drifters, including the one made at Morse, will
assist scientists in gaining a better understanding of ocean circulation patterns. This can
be useful in real time matters, such as predicting where a toxic algal bloom or oil spill
will drift. The information can also contribute to better computer modeling of weather
patterns. To see Morse High School’s drifter (and many others) on the map, visit
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/drifter/drift_noaamd_2016_1.html.
Drifter build students Eli Goodrich, Alex Gates, Echo Griggs, Raz Baltazar, Emma
Gould, Cade Shurz, and James Coyne, with teachers Danielle Young and Julie Larosa
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT WALKER
Greetings from the Athletic Department of Morse High School. The fall sports
season begins in earnest on Monday August 15th with pre-season practices and
tryouts. Please remember to check out the Morse Athletics blog. It contains a
wealth of information including schedules, forms, addresses for our opponents,
and daily schedule changes when needed. That address is:
http://mhsathletics.blogs.rsu1.org/.
With a great spring in the rearview mirror, we have a fantastic fall in store. For
those interested in joining Shipbuilders Committed, please see Mr. Bingham or
Mr. Walker at any point during the beginning of the year.
Let me close by saying that we have a great number of opportunities for students
to participate in athletics here at Morse. We offer some non-cut sports, sports
with multi-level participation, and we offer sports with teachers of the game. If
there is a student who has an interest, please come out and be a part of the great
athletic tradition that is the Morse High Shipbuilders.
Please feel free to stop by the Athletic Department office or catch up with me at
any of our events throughout the fall. GO SHIPBUILDERS!
Yours in athletics,
Scott Walker
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MORSE HIGH SCHOOL FOOD PANTRY
The free and reduced lunch program provides our students with nutritious lunches while school is in session. However, we know that our students experience
further need. To help fill the gaps when meals are not available, such as weekends, school vacations, and after school, Morse High School has a food pantry
available for students.
Food items, provided by donations, are stocked for after-school snacks and evening and weekend meals.
The food pantry is located in the library and opened 7:30 am-3:00pm (Mon.,
Tues., Thurs., Fri.) and 8:30 am-3:00pm (Wed.).
If you would like to donate to the school’s food pantry, please contact Dawn Lee
([email protected]) or Brenda Fagan ([email protected]), Morse High School Library, 443-8250 extension 1018.
BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH CHECKLIST
GRADE 9 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HOLLY FEENEY
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! My name is Holly Feeney and I am the
Freshman Assistant Principal at Morse. I spend half of my day at Morse and the other
half at Bath Middle School.
IMMUNIZATION -Please provide an up to date shot record to the school nurse. Free
flu shots will be offered this fall at school. There will be a free flu clinic at Bath Middle School on November 8th for all community members including students, parents
and guardians.
The beginning of your freshman year is a few short weeks away! I would like to pass
on a few tips and point out a few differences between BMS/WCS and Morse to start
making the transition to high school a smooth one.
WELL CHILD CHECK UP – Return physical exam forms to the school nurse for Pre K, K,
grade 6 and grade 9 students.
1. Morse sends most of their communication home through the mail, starting with this
first edition of The Navigator. This is a quarterly newsletter that is mailed home to all
families. The Navigator usually includes a number of important dates, including Open
House, Parent Conference dates, sports information, first day of school information,
etc. Report cards are also mailed home instead of being sent home with students.
DENTAL CHECK UP – If you do not have a regular dentist, Tooth Protectors will be
providing dental hygiene services at Morse High School, Monday, November 9th,
Tuesday, November 10th and Thursday, November 12th . Details will be sent home
the first day of school with your child. Please contact the school nurse for more details.
2. Attendance is handled differently at Morse. You will not receive a call in the
morning asking why you child is not in school. You will be expected to call Lynn
Dysart, Attendance Secretary, within two days of your child's absence, or send in a
note, for an absence to be considered "excused". If your child is arriving late to
school, you should either escort them in, call ahead of time, or send in a note when
they arrive. Students with "unexcused" absences from classes are only awarded 60%
of the credit that they would have received if they were present or excused from
school. Morse does utilize the auto-dialer from Infinite Campus and you will receive
an automated message if your child has any unexcused absences during the day. Since
attendance is taken each period throughout the day, you will be informed of the number of periods your child was marked absent during the day.
3. Many students have mentioned that they are overwhelmed by the size of the school
and are nervous about getting lost. Before I started working at Morse a few years ago,
I kept having dreams that the school resembled Hogwarts with staircases that moved
all over! The best way to ease some of your child's anxiety will be to help them become more familiar with the building. I will be available during the last few weeks in
August before school starts. This is a great time to come in for a tour! Please feel free
to email me ([email protected]) to set up a tour; I would be delighted to meet with
your child and help them become more familiar with the building!
4. Take time to familiarize yourself with Infinite Campus. You can access this online
or through their app. This will help you and your child keep track of their assignments, progress, grades, and attendance on a regular basis. Students can also access
their schedules on Infinite Campus.
I am looking forward to seeing the new freshman in September! Please let me know if
there is anything I can do to help this transition be a smooth one!
EMERGENCY CONTACTS – Make sure the school has current emergency numbers
including contact information for parents, physicians, etc.
HEALTH CONDITIONS – Ensure the school nurse has up-to-date information about
any physical impairments or medical conditions your child may have, including asthma, allergies, diabetes or any condition that requires your child to be on medication
or a special diet. It is helpful to have this information for the health plan to be in
place before school starts. (see health questionnaire first week of school and online)
BACK PACK BASICS - The back pack should fit properly and not be too heavy for him/
her to carry. It should not be heavier than 10-15% of the child's weight.
NUTRITION– Begin your day with a healthy breakfast. It is good fuel for your body
and brain.
SLEEP – Ease back into sleep with a gradual 5-10 minute earlier bedtime each night
two weeks before school starts.
REDUCE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ANXIETY–Talk about the first day, choose a special
outfit, pack lunch & back pack with the necessary supplies the night before school
starts.
Please contact the school nurse at ext. 1102 if there have been changes during the
summer to an existing health problem or to medications. Medication will only be
dispensed to your child with written permission from you and your doctor. Medication must be in the original container. No medication will be administered that arrives in a plastic bag or envelope. You can download the school Medication Authorization Form at www.rsu1.org Departments tab and Health Services. The
physical exam form, asthma & allergy forms are also located here. For everyone’s
safety, please check with the nurse or front office before sending any medication to
school.
2016—2017 Daily Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Days A B C D
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Advisory
7:40 – 8:34
8:39 – 9:33
9:38 – 10:32
10:37 – 10:44
periods 1
periods 2
periods 3
Homeroom
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
As a result of the “No Child Left Behind Act” (01/08/02) signed by President Bush,
Section 9528 of that Act requires secondary schools to provide student information
(names, addresses, telephone numbers) to the military . The military has indicated their
focus will be Juniors and Seniors. It is very important to note, however, that the Act has
a student/parent clause which gives the student and/or parent the right NOT to have his/
her name released. To prevent the release of information, you MUST inform us by filling out the form below. If you do NOT inform us otherwise, we will be required by
federal law to disclose your child’s information as noted above to military recruiters.
PARENT/GUARDIAN REQUEST
(No Child Left Behind Act – Release of Student Information)
I am the parent or legal guardian of: (List all students whom this request will cover.)
Block 4
Block 5
Block 6
10:49 – 12:07
12:12 – 1:06
1:11 – 2:05
periods
periods
periods
5
6
7
8
5
6
7
8
5
6
7
8
Lunches
1st 10:44 - 11:09
2nd 11:13 - 11:38
3rd 11:42 – 12:07
PLEASE PRINT
1. ______________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________
Class 11:12 – 12:07
Class 10:49 - 11:13 + 11:41 – 12:07
Class 10:49 – 11:42
who is/are a student/students at Morse High School. Please do not release my child’s
name, address or telephone number to the following without my prior written consent.
(Please initial one or both.)
_______________
Late-Start Wednesday
Days A B
Parent/legal guardian signature:
C
D
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
7:25 - 8:30
8:40 – 9:26
9:31 – 10:15
10:20 – 11:04
Meetings
periods 1
periods 2
periods 3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Block 4
Block 5
Block 6
11:09 – 12:27
12:32 – 1:16
1:21 – 2:05
periods
periods
periods
8
5
6
7
8
5
6
7
8
5
6
7
military recruiters
Lunches
1st 11:04 – 11:29 Class 11:32 – 12:27
2nd 11:33 - 11:58 Class 11:07 - 11:32 + 12:02 – 12:27
3rd 12:02 - 12:27 Class 11:09 – 12:02
______________________________________________
Parent/legal guardian name (please print):
______________________________________________
Date: _____________________ (This request must be renewed each school year.)
Please return this form to Morse High School, Office of the Principal, by Friday,
October 7, 2016.