The Navigator - November 2022

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

The beginning of the school year brings the largest stretch of (relatively) uninterrupted school days of the year. Add the fact that students and staff are still fresh and enthusiastic about the year after our summer vacation can result in a busy and fruitful September and October at Morse. The first two months of this school year have felt especially beneficial as we return the focus of our work to teaching, learning, and social development after three school years of interruptions due to the pandemic.

With eight weeks of the school year behind us, teachers and students are making much better progress than they were at any point in the last school year. Although we continue to recover from ongoing learning loss, the hard work that was put into regaining the social and emotional capacity for learning, as well as the structure that is needed for students to learn seems to be paying off. The expected focus on academics seems to have returned. This is not to say that we do not still have an elevated level of student needs this year, especially in terms of mental health; however, we have seen improvements in students’ wellbeing over the past calendar year. Increased social work services, additional programming, and the daily work of our faculty and staff are significant factors in this progress.

For the first time since moving to the new building, we were able to hold a full spirit week, complete with a pep rally and spirit dance. The school was ready for this and we had stiff competition between classes (and faculty) with the daily theme days, float decoration, and pep rally events. The week culminated with a full day of athletic events and a spirit dance on Saturday night. These events were well-attended and really fun!

If you have not seen the recent article about last year’s Morse AP students’ progress, you may want to check it out here. I am particularly proud of the progress with our AP Capstone program. In our first year of full implementation, Morse had the highest number of students pass the AP Seminar exam in the state of Maine. In fact, 20 of the 49 Maine students to earn a passing score in AP Seminar last year were Morse students. Four of our current seniors have already earned an AP Capstone designation. This is a program that we started in 2019 and has grown into a wonderful opportunity to add to our AP and early college offerings for our academically-motivated students.

Morse’s new Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) program is starting to take shape; students are working with our ELO Teacher/Coordinator to establish internships in areas of their interest in our communities. Students have started internships in a wide range of fields, including physical therapy, veterinary offices, automobile shops and dealerships, hair salons, cabinet makers, museums, child care facilities and many more places of employment. We are excited to have been chosen by Governor Mill’s office as an ELO program to showcase when she visited Morse and Bath Tech in October. If you missed the news coverage of the visit, you can view it here online.

Another new program that is off to a great start this year is our Credit Pathways Program (CPP). The students and staff have been working hard to create a program that is relative to the needs of each individual student, allowing them to find a pathway to graduation, while also finding a healthy and productive post-secondary plan. CPP students have already engaged in significant field work, including trips to a community college, land trusts, state parks, aquaculture farms, and the Kieve Leadership School. Read more about the first six weeks of work in the first edition of the CPP Newsletter.

I really do think that there is something for everyone at Morse and there is no better example of that then the breadth and activity of our clubs:

Parents and guardians should have received an email from each of their teachers explaining how to sign up for parent-teacher conferences on November 21st and 22nd. That email should have been sent at 2:15 pm on 11/3. If you did not receive the email, please check your spam folder and reach out to the school.

The 93rd annual MOHIBA is just around the corner! The theme is Top Gun and the show will be November 18th & 19th in the Montgomery Theater… I hope to see a full house on both nights!

The holiday season will soon be upon us. Although this time of the year brings joy to so many, it can also be challenging for some students. Please feel free to reach out to the school if your student is experiencing any increased stress.

Sincerely,

Eric Varney

evarney@rsu1.org

NEWS FROM THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

Hello from the Athletic Department at Morse High School!

We have had a very successful fall season thus far. The Maine Principals’ Association playoff structure returned to pre-Covid qualifying standards this year. With that, all of our “turf teams” (football, boys and girls soccer, and field hockey) earned postseason berths, with Morse field hockey having advanced beyond their preliminary game at Gray-New Gloucester (football has not yet played their game as of submission of this article). Morse cross country saw its boys team qualify for the state championship for the first time since the Covid-shortened 2020 campaign and will run in the state championship for the first time since 2008. Zoe Avery qualified as an individual from the girls’ team. Morse golf saw program growth this year after collecting 4 wins on the season. All-in-all there is a lot to be proud of this season and a lot to build on as we look forward to seasons to come.

We are pleased to announce the formation of the Morse Athletics Council, which was created this fall. This is a group of student-athletes who strive to promote Morse Athletics in a positive manner throughout the community. Details are coming together, but the group is committed to volunteering for upcoming events within the community over the next several months.

With the fall season nearing its end, we have been gearing up for the winter season. Registration opened this past week for the winter season. Please click here to register for basketball, swimming, cheering, wrestling, indoor track and field, or ice hockey. Our unified basketball season is slated to start in early January. We will kick off our winter season with a Winter Sports Info Night on November 15th at 6:45 at Morse.

Please visit our athletics website here to find forms, athletic training information, schedules, relevant links, and more. You can also sign up for notifications regarding schedule changes.

As always, please visit Morse Shipbuilders Athletics on social media. This is a quick and easy way to get updates regarding Morse Athletics.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShipbuildersAD/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morseshipbuilders/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShipbuildersAD

I encourage all of our students to try something new, whether it be sport, club, or another school-affiliated extracurricular activity. As a Morse Shipbuilder, it is clear that the pride and tradition of this school are without parallel. I encourage all students to come out and become part of a proud tradition that is the Morse High Shipbuilders!

GO SHIPBUILDERS!

Nate Priest

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Boys Soccer

Big win against Oceanside on Senior Night!

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Field Hockey

The girls win their first playoff game against GNG!

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Cross Country

The boys team finished as the KVAC runner up!

UNIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS

NEW FROM THE MORSE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY

READ. THINK. CARE. ACT.

How Do Diverse Voices Foster Inclusion and Build Strong, Vibrant Communities?

Morse High School Library is hosting the Maine Humanities Council Discussion Project. Join us for a series of discussions grounded in compelling readings that invite reflection on the topic of inclusion and building a strong community. Our facilitator will guide the discussions. All books are provided, and there is no charge to participate. Participants keep the books. This program is available to students, staff, and community members. The discussion will be richer with you there! To sign-up, contact Dawn Lee, dlee@rsu1.org.

Plastic Bottle Caps and Lids Needed

The Morse High School Library is collecting plastic bottle caps and lids (food and home products) for a student and community collaborative mural project. We need your help. Please save your washed caps and lids for this Spring upcycle art initiative. Caps and lids can be dropped off at the Library. Every cap and lid counts! Thank you!

Yarn Needed for Community Service Project

Fiber Freaks, our school’s fiber arts club, is making scarves for a winter community outreach project. We are asking for bulky and chunky yarn donations. All donations can be dropped off at the Morse High School Library. Thank you for your help!

MORSE HIGH SCHOOL FOOD PANTRY

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Serving students for 15 years, the Morse High School Food Pantry is located in the Library.

We are in need of canned goods and snack foods (individually packaged). If you would like to donate to the Morse High School Food Pantry, the following is a list of suggested food items:

Applesauce
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables
Pretzels
Nutri-Grain® Bars
Granola Bars
Peanut Butter Crackers
Goldfish®
Cheez-Its®
Animal Crackers

Questions? Please contact Dawn Lee (dlee@rsu1.org) or Brenda Fagan (bfagan@rsu1.org), Morse High School Library, 443-8250, extension 1080. Thank you!

NEWS FROM THE STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Visit us online: http://bit.ly/MHSstudentservices

Freshman Check-In Meetings: The school counselors will be presenting a psycho-educational unit focused on Executive Skills needed for secondary school success and mental health awareness and resources: Stress Management. Counselors will meet individually with freshman students throughout the second quarter.

Junior Post-Secondary College Planning Presentation: Morse Student Services is hosting a Junior Post-Secondary College Planning Presentation on Monday, November 21st from 5:30-6:30pm in Montgomery Theater. The Student Services Team invites students and parents to this presentation on how to begin preparing for college exploration and application and will include guest presenters. More information will be provided next month.

FAFSA: Seniors are encouraged to complete the 2023-2023 FAFSA online now at www.fafsa.gov. Students who complete their forms now increase their chances of accessing grant, scholarship, and need-based financial aid at 2-year and 4-year colleges as well as certification and training programs. Please share your student’s EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) found on the first page of the Student Aid Report (SAR) with your student’s school counselor when it is available. A student’s EFC may qualify them to apply for additional scholarships. If you have questions about the FAFSA or about filing procedures, please contact Student Services at 443-8250. For help filing, you can access information through FAME (Finance Authority of Maine) at 1-800-228-3734 or online at https://www.famemaine.com/

RaiseMe: RaiseMe is a recommended site to encourage college readiness in students through the offer of micro scholarships. As early as 9th grade, students can begin tracking their school and community engagement as well as explore ways to increase their chance for micro scholarships making it easier to plan financially for school. RaiseMe has proven to be a great tool to motivate students. As an example: • Get an A in a course ($100 - $1,000) • Get a B in a course ($50-$600) • Participate in a school club or sport ($25 - $250) Maintaining an accurate RaiseMe account throughout high school helps students track the things they are involved with which will make completing job, college and scholarship applications easier when the time comes. Parents can make a companion account and be connected to their children’s RaiseMe accounts. FMI: https://www.raise.me/parents

A MESSAGE FROM THE ELO/INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

My name is Mr. Stinchcomb and I’m the new ELO (Extended Learning Opportunities)/Internship

Coordinator at Morse HS. My primary goal for this program is to support student learning

beyond the classroom in a meaningful career exploration experience. Through this experience

students can gain 0.5 credit per semester and obtain career ready/professional skills to better

prepare them for the workforce. All Seniors and Juniors at Morse HS are eligible for this

program.

Currently, we have 10 Morse HS students placed in ELO/Career Exploration Experiences,

throughout the community. If you are interested in participating in a Career Exploration

Opportunity to see if your current career interest may be the right fit for you, or you not sure

what you would like to do after HS, please reach out to me: sstinchcomb@rsu1.org or 443-8250.

Also for more ELO Program information, please click here.

Mr. Stinchcomb

ELO Coordinator

MORSE HIGH SCHOOL BAZAAR

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Morse High School presents the 93rd annual MoHiBa!

Top Gun: MoHiBa

Friday, November 18th at 7:00pm

Saturday, November 19th at 7:00pm

Montgomery Theater, Morse High School

Tickets at the door: $10 adults, $5 students

Cash or check accepted

Come join us for an evening of fun. As tradition has it - student groups present skits, music and dance acts. The evening is hosted by student emcees. We can't wait to see you in the audience!

826 ENRICHMENT FUND

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Do you have an interest or passion for an extracurricular or supplemental program that is outside of our regular school funding? Could you use some fiscal support in pursuing that passion? Several Morse Alumni continue to support the 826 Enrichment Fund and it is now open for applications. Students are invited to apply until November 18! CLICK HERE TO APPLY

A MESSAGE FROM THE BHSAA

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Greetings Morse students, families, and staff,

Did you know that the Alumni Room has memorabilia dating back to 1891? Yearbooks back to 1919? Class banners as far back as the 1930's? The original music and the copyright to the Blue and the White, we have that too.

Every class is assigned a binder and we fill them with items like class lists, photos, programs, newspaper articles and reunion publications. Items that do not fit in a protective sleeve in the notebooks are filed in special archival file boxes and oversize items such as sweaters, plaques, and posters are stored in large flat boxes.

We provide a "Memory Tote" to the senior class advisors to collect memorabilia throughout senior year. Seniors, parents and staff are encouraged to save items that mark special events like Senior Reception, Sports award nights, MoHiBa, etc. Ideally two copies, a copy for the Alumni Room archives and a copy for the class to use in their downtown window displays and for their reunions.

We are constantly working to sort, organize and catalog the items that are donated to the collection. With your help we can preserve the past while looking to the future.

Our collection policy and a form for donations can be found on our website bathalumni.org

If the door is open please stop in for a walk down memory lane.

NEWS FROM THE PATTEN FREE LIBRARY

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Teen Library Council

November 4 @ 4 pm

Let your voice be heard and help shape the future of Teen programming as we plan Library events, make friends, and enjoy our beautiful Teen Space. Grades 8-12. Meets the first Friday of every month, except in October when we will meet on the 2nd Friday. Have questions or need more info? Email Hannah. https://www.patten.lib.me.us/event/teen-library-council-2/all/

Masked Ball

November 18 @ 3-5 pm

Wear your finest gothic, steampunk, or otherwise spooky attire and join us for an afternoon of games, music, fancy drinks, and more. Wear a mask or decorate one at the event. Costumes strongly encouraged.

Dungeons & Dragons

Every other Friday @ 3-5 pm

Ever wanted to be an Elven Ranger or go on an adventure in the Forgotten Realms? Whether you saw it on Stranger Things or found weird, multi-sided dice in a box in your parents’ basement, join us as we embark on a quest of epic proportions!
Use our supplies or bring your own. Snacks provided. Meets every 2nd and 4th Friday at 3 p.m. in the Teen Space beginning September 23.
Open to grades 6-12 and registration is required.

2022 Annual Writing Contest

1st prize and 2nd prizes will be named in each category:

Grades 7-9: Short Fiction, Non-Fiction
Grades 10-12: Short Fiction, Non-Fiction
Adults: Short Fiction, Non-Fiction

Entries will be judged by a panel of library staff, trustees, local teachers, and Teen Library Council members. First ($100) and second prize ($50) gift certificates will be awarded in each category. Winners will be honored at a reception in January 2023; winning entries will be published on the Library website. The Writing Contest is made possible with support from the Friends of the Patten Free Library.

Entries accepted September 9 through December 3, 2022.

For a complete list of guidelines and to submit visit https://www.patten.lib.me.us/2022-annual-writing-contest/