The Navigator - April 2023

Have you driven past the McMann Field Complex in the past two weeks? If so, you will know that spring has sprung at Morse High School, as the fields are full of spring athletes even before we see the first buds on the trees. April vacation is underway, giving students and staff a well-deserved break before making the final big push of the school year. It is hard to believe that we have just over eight weeks of instruction left in the school year. This is a busy and exciting time of the year, especially for the Class of 2023.

The buzz and excitement of success is still present in the wake of a hugely successful spring musical a week ago. Sarah Coleman and Sandy Foreman lead their wildly-talented cast and crew in The Addams Family Musical, which was a production to remember. I think it is safe to say that the students’ commitment and hard work did pay off. This production also took a considerable amount or resources, including: 1800 linear feet lumber, 14 sheets of plywood, 35 lbs of screws, 10 gallons of paint, 36 hours of set construction & painting, 6 containers of clown white foundation, 3 bald caps, 142 costume pieces including 27 pairs of shoes, 83 props & furniture pieces, 307 pages of music, 10 wireless body mics, 140 batteries, 165 light sound and projector cues, a cast and crew of 39 and more than 125 hours of scheduled rehearsal for 2 performances for 1200 audience members. I could not be more proud of the cast and crew of this production; and am so curious as to what they will perform next year!

Last week’s STEM City event was also fantastic and so well attended. Although billed as a target audience of grade 8 and below, it really was fun for all ages. Several Morse classes and clubs held tables to demonstrate their learning, including: The Science of Cooking class, Vertebrate Zoology class, Forensic Science class, Robotics Independent Study, Morse’s Bee Club, AP Seminar, and more. A special thanks goes out to Monica Wright and Karen DeSilva for organizing this event. I am hopeful that this will be the spark that continues this as an annual event at Morse. We'd love your feedback before thinking about a future STEM City event. Please take a few moments to share your ideas on this anonymous survey: STEM City Feedback form

Morse hosted our annual RSU 1 Jazz night this past Wednesday night. Morse and BMS students put on a wonderful night with performances from both jazz bands, both choral groups, as well as the Morse Rock Ensemble and Musical Theater group. Once again, these groups brought down the house and it was fantastic to have live music in the Montgomery Theater. The Morse music groups are continuing to prepare for our spring concert in May and a special Rock Ensemble concert in the Library Park.

Morse Esports and Unified both had another successful season between the winter and spring athletic seasons. Esports finished their spring regular season ranked 5th in the state.

As mentioned at the opening, spring athletics are underway, with the first couple of weeks of practice and pre-season play behind us. Regular season play begins in earnest over the vacation week. Although it is difficult to judge a season based on the pre-season, we have already seen some promising games: Girls lacrosse is 8-2 this preseason, while baseball went 4-0, and softball is undefeated as of this report. Go Shipbuilders!

Did you hear that we have opened a School Based Health Center at Morse? The new health center is a partnership with Lincoln Health and allows us to provide expanded healthcare services through an on-site Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). These services may include:

• Treatment of acute, chronic, and injury-related health conditions

• Well-child checks

• Immunizations

• Behavioral health treatment

• Reproductive health

• Oral health

More information, including how to sign up, is in subsequent pages of this edition of The Navigator.

The Morse faculty continue to work through our accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). This month we completed and submitted our school growth plan that we are using to address the priority areas of growth, which were identified in our self-study and during last year’s collaborative conference with the visiting team. We will be using this growth plan over the next year and will showcase our accomplishments at the decennial visit next spring.

We are still working on Morse’s Vision of a Graduate, which remains in draft form at this time. We are currently collecting feedback from Morse families. If you have not yet offered your feedback please feel free to use this link.

While students and staff are making progress through our current curriculum, the student services and administrative teams have begun to build next year’s schedule. This process started a couple of months ago with teacher recommendations, student requests, new course proposals, 8th grade parent meetings, and current student meetings with school counselors. Now that we know what students would like to take, we work to make a master schedule that will accommodate the greatest number of requests, while abiding by other parameters. This process will continue until June.

Morse AP students will begin taking their exams during the month of May. AP teachers report that students are making good progress in their preparation for these exams. The AP Capstone students have already begun their presentations and culminating activities for the year. May is a busy and stressful month for AP students, but most of the hard work is behind them and it is almost time to show their skills and knowledge on their exams.

The Class of 2023 continues to finalize their post-secondary plans and meet with their school counselors for their senior meetings. The Morse Class of 2023 is a fantastic group of individuals. We are sad to see them go, but excited to see what they will accomplish in the next chapter of their lives. There are many details around graduation and all that leads-up to this important milestone; please read more details and important dates in the pages of this edition of The Navigator. If you are a parent of a senior, please make sure to encourage them to complete the senior plan by May 3. Morse is absolutely blessed with significant support from our alumni and other Morse friends and we are fortunate to award significant scholarship money annually to our graduating seniors. The senior plan form is very important in our scholarship award process.

Are you wondering when the current school year ends? In short, the last day of the school year will be Thursday, June 22nd, which will be a half day for students. The final exam schedule begins on Friday, June 16th and can be viewed here.

The next several weeks will be busy and exciting for Morse students. It is very important that students (and parents/guardians) continue to monitor their grades through the spring; sometimes students’ motivation starts to wane and they need our support to finish on a high note.

I hope you enjoy this edition of The Navigator,

Eric Varney

evarney@rsu1.org

The Morse High School faculty and staff join Principal Eric Varney in recognizing the academic achievement of the following seniors:

Valedictorian Natalie Emmerson resides in Woolwich with her parents Dean and Carrie Emmerson. Natalie is an AP Scholar with Distinction and has received the Maine Seal of Biliteracy in French, an AP Capstone Certificate, a Phi-Beta-Kappa Certificate of Recognition, a Harvard Book Award, a Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, and was selected to be a member of the 2023 US Senate Youth Program. Natalie is a National Honor Society and School Community Liaison Council member, a Student School Board Representative, a minority leader for Dirigo State, sits on the Feminist Action Board, and is the co-founder of the Women’s Empowerment Club. She has also had the opportunity to participate at the Cohen Leadership Institute, the MYAN Youth Leadership Conference, the Patten Free Teen Library Council, the Youth Policy Leadership Forum, International Club, Math Team, and Chess Club. Natalie was on the swimming, cross county and soccer teams and has received numerous KVAC All-Academic Awards. She has volunteered her time with the Long Reach Swim Club and climbing wall at the Bath Area YMCA, Bates Swim Camp, Maine Coast Rowing, Maine People’s Alliance, and the Set for Success event. She is employed by the Bath Area YMCA and the Bobcat Swim Camp. In her free time she likes to read, watch TV, follow European club soccer, and hang out with her friends. Natalie will study history or anthropology and minor in government at Bowdoin College in the fall. Her hopes and dreams for the future include equality and a career in public service. She would love to live and work in Washington, D.C.

Salutatorian Haley Jackson resides in Bath with her parents Jamie and P.J. Jackson. Haley is a member of the National Honor Society and Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute. She has received a number of awards including the Yale Book Award, the United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, and a Certificate of Merit for 4 years of excellence in science and mathematics. Haley has participated in softball and unified and intramural volleyball. She has volunteered her time at the Set for Success event, the Fuel Up to Play annual breakfast, as a softball instructor, and worked diligently to raise thousands of dollars for the Greenhouse Project to benefit the cafeteria and Bath community. Haley is employed by the Gap Factory. In her free time, she likes to go to the batting cages, shop, and hang out with her boyfriend, friends and family. Haley plans to study business or finance in college and work towards her real estate license. Her hopes and dreams for the future include continuing to grow in her faith as a Christian, maintain a successful career, and eventually build a loving family.

First Honor Essayist Sophia Kovacs resides in Bath with her parents Lawrence Kovacs and Krista Van Vleet. Sophia is an AP Scholar and the President of the National Honor Society. She received the Maine Youth Environmental Leaders Scholarship and the Dartmouth Book Award. Sophia has participated in the Interact Club and is Editor in Chief of the yearbook. She has volunteered her time with KELT, the Patten Free Library, and the Bath Rotary. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, hiking, going to the beach, reading, and playing bass. Sophia will attend Middlebury College starting in the spring semester of the 2023-24 academic year. During her gap semester, she plans to work, travel and volunteer. Her hopes and dreams for the future include continuing to play music and learning how to throw on a pottery wheel.

Second Honor Essayist Zoë Brush resides in Georgetown with her parents Courtney Culley and Sam Brush. Zoë is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society. She has received a number of awards including an AP Seminar and Research Certificate, the Williams College Book Award, the University of Vermont Citizen Scholar Book Award, the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, the 2022 Morse Poetry Out Loud Champion, and 1st place in nonfiction in the Patten Free Library 2022 Annual Writing Contest. While at MHS, Zoë has participated in the Chess Club, the Outdoor Club, MoHiBa, theater productions, the Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership Program, and the Patten Free Teen Library Council. She has volunteered her time as a junior counselor at RYLA. In her free time she likes to play the guitar, sing, spend time by the ocean, and go on adventures with her friends. Zoë plans to attend a 4-year liberal arts college. Her hopes and dreams for the future include leading a joyful and creative life and doing her best to positively impact the lives of others.

Third Honor Essayist Jane Ouellette resides in Woolwich with her parents David and Esme Ouellette. Jane is an AP Scholar with Honor and a member of the National Honor Society. She has received the Smith Book Award and the Rural & Small Town Recognition Award. While at MHS, Jane has participated in the Student Community Liaison Council, Mixed Choir, and the Patten Free Teen Library Council. She has volunteered her time as a junior counselor at Chop Point Kids Camp and the Morse Library. In her free time she enjoys reading and being a plant mom. Jane plans to attend Smith College. Her hopes and dreams for the future include studying abroad in France and seeing red pandas in the wild.

Ruth Hart resides in Arrowsic with her parents Erin and David Hart. Ruth has received high honors, admission to the National Honors Society, a nomination for the Presidential Scholars Award, and recognition for a perfect composite ACT score. While at MHS, Ruth has participated in the International Club. She has volunteered her time by bird banding and hawk-watching. In her free time she enjoys writing, reading, birdwatching, hiking, and traveling. Ruth will attend the University of Maine. She is interested in biology, environmental science, genetics, and aerodynamics. Her hopes and dreams for the future include traveling the world, flying a plane, practicing falconry, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and living for at least some time in Hawaii and Arizona.

Dalton Johnstone resides in Bath with his parent Sally Johnstone. Dalton is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society. Dalton has been recognized as an Indoor Track KVAC All-Academic athlete, received the Coaches Award for Esports, received the Frederick Douglass Book Award, and an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. While at MHS, Dalton has participated in esports, track, Eagle Scouts, choir and band, and the theater and drama programs. He recently built a yellow tulip garden for his Eagle Scout project. Dalton is employed by Slovenski Camps. In his free time he enjoys playing video games, snowboarding, and reading Manga. Dalton will major in biomedical engineering at the University of Maine. His hopes and dreams for the figure include making a long lasting impact on the medical field, and helping as many people as possible. Additionally, he’d like to own a Porsche someday.

Riley Dunn resides in Bath with his parents Roo Dunn and Kate Carpenter. Riley is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society. He is a recognized as a National Merit Finalist, a Presidential Scholar Candidate, and a Rensselaer Medalist, and received an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. While at MHS, Riley has participated in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, and the Math Team. In his free time he enjoys running, reading, and hanging out with friends. Riley plans to attend college and study physics and aerospace engineering. His hopes and dreams for the future include pursuing a higher degree in physics and/or aerospace and going to work somewhere in the space industry.

Gavin Baillargeon resides in Woolwich with his parents Stephanie and Chris Baillargeon. Gavin is a member of the National Honor Society and has received a number of awards including the St. Michael's Book Award, Outstanding Achievements in Honors Chemistry, Financial Math and Vertebrate Zoology, and the Distance Learner Award. While at MHS, Gavin has participated in baseball and basketball and was named a KVAC All-Academic athlete for both sports. He has volunteered his time with the Bath Youth Baseball organization and the Edge Academy. In his free time he enjoys playing baseball and weightlifting. Gavin will be attending the University of Maine to study wildlife ecology and play baseball. His hopes and dreams for the future include playing baseball at the highest level possible and becoming a wildlife biologist.

Tristan Beveridge resides in Arrowsic with his parents Richard and Kathryn Beveridge. Tristan is a member of the National Honor Society and has received a number of awards including the College of the Atlantic Book Award, Outstanding Achievement in Honors English 9 & 10, PE, PE3, Earth Systems, Marine Biology, the Distance Learner Award, and the Maine Top Scholar Award from The University of Maine. While at MHS, Tristan has participated in soccer, swimming, and lacrosse. He has volunteered his time with the Bubblecuffer Ski Program and helped with the swimming and track Special Olympics. Tristan is employed by the Robinhood Marina. In his free time he enjoys fishing, skiing, windsurfing, boating, playing lacrosse, snorkeling, scuba diving, golfing, sailing, hanging with friends and family, and listening to music and birds. Tristan will be attending the University of Maine and studying biology or chemistry. His hopes and dreams for the future include finding a career in science that makes him happy and allows him to help his community and the environment.

Class of 2023,

Graduation is rapidly approaching. We have already started the process of planning for this event that marks a significant milestone in your life. The following paragraphs contain some important information to help you plan for graduation. We are so excited to celebrate with you all at McMann Field on Sunday, June 11 at 2:00 PM.

Seniors, please check your email often as more information (and reminders) will be coming your way. We also have a website full of information. Please reach out to Mrs. Gallice (dgallice@rsu1.org) with any questions about graduation.

Commencement Speakers

If you are interested in auditioning to speak at graduation, please email Mrs. Gallice (dgallice@rsu1.org) by Friday, May 5th by 2:15 PM. Auditions will happen after school on May 10th starting at 2:15 PM. At that point, you will be sharing your speech before the committee. While the speech does not have to be 100% polished and ready to go, it should be complete. Also, try not to worry about the performance part of the audition as the committee is mostly looking for content; the message of your speech. More details about the auditions available to those wishing to try out.

Marching Partners

As per Morse High School tradition, students will be able to choose their marching partners for graduation. Please fill out this form to choose your marching partner. Students who either do not have a preference or do not fill out this form by Friday, May 5, will have a marching partner assigned to them.

Caps and Gowns

The cost for each senior is $30 (cash or check payable to Morse High School) and the payment should be given to Mrs. Leeman-Hook. The deadline to pay for your cap and gown is Wednesday, June 7th. Caps and gowns will be distributed on Wednesday, June 7th. Once seniors receive their cap & gown, it is theirs to keep. Parents - please assist your senior with getting the payment to us by the deadline. If you are unable to pay the full $30, please have a private conversation with Mrs. Gallice and we will find a way to take care of the bill. Business casual dress is required under your gowns at graduation.

The last school day for seniors is Friday, June 9th. Academics cease on Tuesday, June 6th. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 7-9th, seniors have mandatory marching practice. More information about marching practice will follow but seniors are expected to be there. We will gather at McMann Field to practice the outside ceremony. Graduation will take place on Sunday, June 11 at 2:00 PM.

Graduate Parade

On the first day of marching practice, after the initial run-through is complete, we will be busing the seniors to their elementary and middle schools to visit. This is a fun tradition that we have done over the past few years and is a wonderful way to reflect on the growth our seniors have made and also impact and inspire our young students. Both students and faculty have reported this to be a big highlight of the graduation season. Mrs. Trundy will be organizing this process. Any parents that would like to volunteer as chaperones should reach out directly to ltrundy@rsu1.org. We will make specific plans for any students that joined us after completing elementary school in a different location.

I know this is a lot of information; please put these dates on your family calendars and feel free to reach out to Mrs. Leeman-Hook (lleemanhook@rsu1.org) or Mrs. Gallice (dgallice@rsu1.org) with any questions.

These last weeks of the school year will be gone in a flash. Seniors, make sure you are keeping up with both your classes so we can have a full graduation. We want to see each and everyone of you marching across the stage. We want to have the best celebration possible for these wonderful students.

Take care and enjoy these final weeks,

Devon Gallice

dgallice@rsu1.org

Happy spring from the Athletic Department at Morse High School!

Before we look too far ahead, let’s take a look back at how our winter season fared in what was a successful winter campaign.

• Our boys swim team won the KVAC Class B Championship and the girls finished 2nd. The boys were 4th at the Class B state championship and the girls were 5th. Andrew Leighton won the Class B state championship in the 100 yard backstroke.

• Indoor track and field had multiple podium finishes at the state championship this year. They were highlighted by Sarah Ouellette’s state championship in the pole vault and Shealyn Brochu’s 2nd place finish in the 400 meter run. Shealyn went on to represent Morse at the New England Championship in Boston, where she competed in the 600 meter event.

• We had two runner-up finishers at the girls wrestling state championship.

With that, we are looking forward to a promising spring season. Practices started on March 27th and we are looking forward to countable competition beginning during April vacation. Come out and support the Shipbuilders this spring. All schedules can be found at the Morse Athletics website.

Also, be sure to follow our social media accounts to stay as up-to-date as possible:

Facebook: Morse Shipbuilders Athletics

Instagram: Shipbuilders AD

Twitter: @ShipbuildersAD

Athletics is an extension of the classroom. It is a privilege to participate on a high school sports team. At Morse, we strive to provide the best possible interscholastic athletic experience to student-athletes that we possibly can. Student-athletes who have the privilege of participating on a team learn different skills than what they would in the classroom.

Please feel free to stop by the Athletic Department office or catch up with me at any of our events throughout the remainder of winter and this spring.

GO SHIPBUILDERS!

Nate Priest

npriest@rsu1.org

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

Class of 2023: There are many scholarship opportunities in the spring! Seniors are encouraged to continue to apply for local and national scholarships if they plan to attend post-secondary education next fall (2 yr-4 yr college or certification program). Scholarship applications can be found online at https://bit.ly/826scholar or in the Student Services Office in the Scholarship Applications binder.

Final Senior Plan Form: All Seniors are asked to complete a short survey that outlines their plans for next year (college, work, military, travel, etc.). This form will be used by the Student Service office to update the School Profile. For those going on to further education after high school, the information on this form will also be used by the Morse faculty to determine scholarship awards. All seniors are asked to complete this form: bit.ly/FSPF23 by Wednesday, May 3rd. To be considered for all scholarships, students are also asked to share a copy of the Financial aid award letter for the college they plan to attend and a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA to the Student Services Office by May 8th. If they need help getting these documents see Mrs. Rouillard-Hill or their School Counselor. Students selected to receive a scholarship will be invited by letter to attend the Scholarship Awards Evening.

2023-2024 Schedules: Students completed course registration with their School Counselor in March. They will receive a copy of their 2023-2024 schedule in May. Add/drop for students will begin once schedules are released and continue until the end of the school year. An additional add/drop period will take place in the fall.

Class of 2024: The Finance Authority of Maine is hosting a FAFSA and financial aid process seminar on April 25 from 6-7pm at Morse High School. You can access their resources at FAME: Affording Higher Education

Class of 2025: Have you ever felt stumped when asked, “What do you want to do after high school?” Sophomore year can be a great time to complete an interest inventory that may help you explore your interests and possible future careers. Here are some sites we recommend.

• https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip to complete a career interest inventory.

• https://www.claimyourfuture.com/ Explore careers & their money earning potential

• https://collegeboard.roadtripnation.com A quick & interactive career clusters tool

• https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test to take a personality test.

Class of 2026: Are you looking to get a summer job and in need of a worker’s permit? Contact Kim Burgess at kburgess@rsu1.org or 443-6601 at the Superintendent’s Office. She will provide you with the form you’ll need to complete with your family. The form will ask for the details of the job you have been offered and then sent to the state to apply for your worker’s permit.

Additional Health Services are available at Morse High School through a partnership with RSU 1 and LincolnHealth.

RSU 1 has partnered with LincolnHealth to begin offering expanded school-based health services at Morse. These services may include:

• Treatment of acute, chronic, and injury-related health conditions

• Well-child checks

• Immunizations

• Behavioral health treatment

• Reproductive health

• Oral health

Services are provided by an onsite Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) employed through LincolnHealth. Services are provided in an effort to improve access to health care for youth and staff in schools in a safe, supportive, and confidential way. All major insurances and MaineCare are accepted and sliding fee scales and other payment support are available. Students and staff do not need to be regular patients of LincolnHealth/Maine Health to be seen at the Morse School-Based Health Center. LincolnHealth will work with your primary care office for referrals as needed.

You will need to be registered with LincolnHealth to be seen at Morse School-Based Health Center. You can register online by clicking here. If you have questions about the new services you can contact LincolnHealth School staff by email at LincolnHealthSchoolClinics@mainehealth.org or by calling 207-633-1934. You may also reach out to Tasha in the Morse Health Center by emailing nsuttmeier@rsu1.org or by calling 207-443-8250 option 2.

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 on April 10, from 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm, in Library Classroom 109, for the fourth discussion in this year’s series. (Note date change.) The featured book is Living Nations, Living Words: An Anthology of First Peoples Poetry, edited by Joy Harjo, the first Indigenous poet to serve as U.S. Poet Laureate.

The Discussion Project is grounded in compelling readings that invite reflection on the topic of inclusion and building a strong community. Hilary Eslinger, our discussion facilitator, will guide the discussion.

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.

The Morse High School Library is collecting plastic bottle caps and lids (food and home products) for a student and community collaborative mural project. This art project is sponsored by our Unified Literacy class.

We need your help. Please save your washed caps and lids for this upcycle art initiative. Caps and lids can be dropped off at the Morse Library. Every cap and lid counts! Thank you!

The Second Annual Unified Literacy Poetry and Art Gala will be held May 11, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Morse High School. Students’ work will be exhibited in the Library, Student Commons, and Conference Room 103 (Fishbowl). Photography, sculpture, fabric art, acrylic and tempera paintings, and a variety of poetry pieces will be on display. All are welcome!

All Are Welcome!

The Diseased Ship: A Cautionary Tale About Our Nation’s Twin Plaques That Went Untold for Two Centuries

Maine Speaks Presentation

Sponsored by Morse High School Library and Maine Humanities Council

Join us in this student initiative to invite Meadow Dibble, PhD., founder and director of Atlantic Black Box, project lead for Place Justice Project, and visiting scholar at Brown University’s Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, for an engaging presentation. Dr. Dibble will be sharing the dramatic story of a prominent Yankee sea captain, a tragedy on the high seas, a viral outbreak, a major political cover up, and a conspiracy of silence that has lasted two centuries surrounding New England’s involvement in the slave trade. In this interactive presentation, attendees will consider the ways in which our region’s repressed history of slavery relates to our current national conversation about race, privilege, identity, and access to the “American Dream.”

Date: April 25 (Tuesday)

Time: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Location: Morse High School Library, Classroom 109

Registration: Registration Form

Buy your yearbook NOW!

Only 30 copies left to purchase.

CLICK HERE TO BUY!

Junior, Alexis Kiffer's print won a Silver Medal in Printmaking: Observing the Birds at the 2023 National Scholastic Awards for Art and Writing! Fantastic job, Alexis!

Brandon Murray has been working in education for fifteen years and has been working at Morse High School for the last five years in the Special Education department. He attended college at Endicott College.

Mr. Murray loves all sports and enjoys eating food. As a family, the Murrays are very active. They enjoy going to Church. They also enjoy helping their community. They also enjoy traveling. They stay within the United States. Mr. Murray says he is a “steak and potato guy”. As a family, they enjoy a good bbq. Their favorite pastime is enjoying their children and all of the activities that they participate in.

When asked what he loves about teaching, this was Mr. Murray’s response. “I enjoy working with teens on all levels. Seeing a smile or hearing a good laugh makes the day.”

Brian Stanton has been working in education for 31 years and has been working at Morse High School for the last 29 years in the English department. He attended college at the University of Maine.

Mr. Stanton is married to a fellow superior educator, Johnna Stanton, who also teaches in the English department at Morse High School. They have two wonderful children: Paden and Sidonia.

When asked what he loves about teaching, this was Mr. Stanton’s response. “I enjoy having shared experiences with kids. They always surprise me and make me laugh.”

Wondering what CPP has been up to? Check out their March/April Newsletter!

Class of 2023,

We are so proud of your hard work and dedication to Morse and the local community. On May 18th from 5:00-6:00 PM in the Culinary Cafe we will kick off the end of your year events with the 70th annual Senior Tea. Here is a link to RSVP.

Alumni Weekend June 9, 10, 11

Check out the store window displays downtown decorated by the classes celebrating their 5 year reunions and the senior class is also invited to participate.

Friday, June 9th

Early Friday morning the Morse band will kick off the "Blue and White Golf Classic" hosted by the 50-year Class of 1973, at the Bath Country Club. Seniors awarded Morse High School Scholarships will also be recognized during the opening ceremony.

Saturday, June 10th

We encourage everyone to register for the Shipbuilder Sprint at 8:30 AM. The event is open to anyone young and old, walking or running. All proceeds go to the BHSAA to assist with banquet costs.

The Alumni Room will be open from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM to visit our collection of Morse Memorabilia. We will be offering guided tours and this is a great opportunity to bring your extended family to show off the new school. The Alumni store will be open to purchase BHSAA merchandise.

Saturday night we will be hosting the 132nd Annual Alumni Banquet and you are invited to be our honored guests. The Banquet will be held in the Morse High School Gymnasium. The banquet starts at 5:00 PM, and we ask seniors to arrive by 4:30 PM. You will be escorted as a group into the gym to take your place as our newest members. The evening will be one you will never forget - a "must do" Senior year event! We look forward to introducing you to our eldest alumnus in attendance, the classes whose years end in 3's and 8's will celebrate their reunions and officially welcome you into the Association. We will have tickets available at the Senior Tea and they will be available in the office after the 18th. Parents wishing to attend the banquet can purchase banquet tickets at the tea or on line. Deadline to purchase tickets is June 1st.

The weekend will be full of events for all Morse graduates and guests from near and far. For a complete schedule and FMI, check out our website bathalumni.org or find us on Facebook - Bath High School Alumni Association.

Attention Shipbuilder Underclassmen,

The Bath High School Alumni Association is preparing for its 132nd Alumni Weekend June 9th thru June 11th. This is a great volunteer opportunity, as well as a chance to learn about the Alumni Association. We need help at 2:15 p.m. on Friday afternoon, June 9th, to transform the gymnasium into a banquet hall. Work includes setting up the tables and chairs, then putting on the tablecloths and setting the tables for our 500+ guests. Generally, with many hands, this work goes very quickly.

On Saturday, June 10th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,the Association will host an Open House at Morse. Alumni will return to walk the halls, check out the Alumni Room, and buy memorabilia. We need student tour guides who walk the halls every day to take alumni and visitors through the halls of Morse. For most alumni this will be their first opportunity to see the new school.

The 132th Annual Alumni Banquet will be held at Morse High School Gymnasium, starting at 5:00 p.m. Alumni start arriving around 3:30 p.m. We need student escorts to take them to the classrooms where they will meet for the promenade of classes to the banquet. We also need servers during the Banquet. After serving, you will be treated to a meal in the cafeteria, and then we will need your help with clean-up. From the eldest alumnus in attendance to welcoming your comrades, the Class of 2023, you will see what Morse PRIDE and tradition is all about!

Please consider volunteering. You can sign up with Mrs. Trundy in Student Servicest, Mrs. Riggs or Mrs. Leeman-Hook in the Main Office, or email us at morsalumni@gmail.com.

CALLING ALL MORSE ALUMNI!

The BHSAA/Morse High School Alumni Association needs your help. We are seeking new members to the "working" Alumni committee. This year we are also looking for a Vice President and Secretary.

Our numbers have decreased in recent years and we need participation from people like you who want to keep the tradition alive. Volunteer opportunities for the Senior Tea in May, Alumni Social, Open House, Banquet set up Friday and Banquet execution from serving to clean-up Saturday. We meet four to five times a year and now offer a virtual option for the meetings.

Please consider joining us for our next meeting May 10th in person or virtually. Watch the website for a link to join. FMI email morsealumni@gmail.com

On April 28, the Patten Free Library will host its first every Spelling Bee- for adults! Teams of 2-5 people ages 16 and over will compete to determine the best spellers in the area, and Spelling Bee enthusiasts are invited to come and watch.

“We felt a Spelling Bee made perfect sense as a Library fundraiser,” says Development Director Samantha Ricker, “Not only does it help us promote literacy, but we are hoping it will bring our community together again after 4 long years of not being able to gather and celebrate the Library and its services.”

To purchase tickets or register a team visit https://www.patten.lib.me.us/event/spelling-bee/. This fundraising event will also include a cash bar, munchies, a raffle for over a dozen baskets of goodies, and more. Spelling Bee winners will get a prize and the street cred of being the PFL Spelling Bee Champions! The event takes place Friday, April 28 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Event tickets are $25 per person, and the entry cost is $100 per team.

Please call 443-8250 (option 1) to speak with the Attendance Secretary, Heidi Levasseur. You may also send an email to hlevasseur@rsu1.org.

April 17-21: School Vacation Week

April 29: Spring Fling Dance

May 17: Spring Music Concert

May 24: Mainsail Assembly

May 24: Academic Awards Night

June 4: Rock Band Concert

June 8: Scholarship Night

June 11: Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony

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