The Navigator - March 2025

March 21 & 22: Spring Play, Puffs, 7pm Friday, 2pm & 7pm Saturday

March 27 & 28: Parent/Teacher Conferences - 1/2 day for Students

March 28: Mid-Semester Grades Close

April 9: Jazz Night & Dessert Auction, 6pm

April 15: Alternative School Schedule, see below!

April 21-25: Spring Break - No School

As we move through March, Morse High School is in a bit of a transition. With one sports season wrapping up and another just around the corner as well as two weeks until mid-semester grades close, this is a perfect time to reflect on our achievements thus far in the school year, and make goals for the next three months of school. The month of March is a time that is filled with many opportunities and events, some have passed and many are still to come!

The International Club hosted another excellent International Night on February 14th. Students were able to learn all about the traditions and culture of a variety of countries without leaving Bath. Traditional food, performances, and customs were shared, many by the exchange students who are attending Morse this school year.

We are incredibly proud of our students who showcased their talents during our recent Fine Arts Night. It was a night filled with creativity, passion, and artistry, from choral music, advanced drama class, Rock Ensemble, to visual arts, Fine Arts Night once again proved the importance of nurturing and celebrating the creative spirit at Morse. Speaking of the arts, we have two upcoming events: The spring play Puffs will be held next week; more information is found below. Also, Morse will hold a Band Concert on March 25th and Jazz Night on April 9th. Please come out and support our musicians!

Athletics: Between Seasons

Although most athletics are between seasons, Morse is currently hosting a Volleyball season for students that features mostly intramural play; however, there are some opportunities for interscholastic play. Unified Basketball has already had their senior night; however, they still have a couple of away games left this season!

Winter Athletics were fantastic for Morse. Most notably, the Morse Boys Swimming had an undefeated regular season, a KVAC title and won the second state title in school history. This team is arguably the most dominant boys swim team in Maine High School swimming history, shattering many school and state records. Senior Gaffney McDonough earned performer of the meets in both the KVAC and state meets.

One winter athlete is still competing for Morse, senior Shealyn Brochu earned her position as 3rd in New England in the 1 mile run and will be traveling to the National Competition this weekend. Best of luck to Shealyn!

Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Soon

Looking ahead, we want to remind our Morse families that Parent/Teacher Conferences are March 27th & 28th. This is a valuable opportunity for parents and guardians to connect with teachers, discuss academic progress, and work together with the goal of academic success. We encourage all families to take part in these conferences, whether in person or virtually, to stay involved in their student’s education. If you would like to schedule a parent teacher conference, you will find an email in your inbox from each of your student’s teachers.

Enjoy the early days of spring!

Eric Varney

evarney@rsu1.org

Please call 443-8250 (option 1) to leave a message with the Attendance Secretary. You may also send an email to Ms. Orr at korr@rsu1.org.

Hello Morse families,

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025 we have a different schedule for the day. Please read carefully below as students will be involved in different activities based on their grade level.

9th Graders: All ninth graders will have the opportunity to participate in a college visit on Tuesday April 15th. Students will be visiting Thomas College. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to have an experience of what it may be like to engage in post-secondary learning. Students will leave from Morse and return to school in time for dismissal and to be on the buses. If you have any questions, please reach out to Leslie Trundy (ltrundy@rsu1.org).

10th Graders: All 10th-grade students in the state of Maine will participate in the state-required Maine Education Assessment fall testing for Mathematics & ELA/Literacy. In the 2019-2020 school year, as our community worked to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) recognized the need to provide families, students, teachers, and education leaders with timely and useful information to support student learning. To meet this goal, the Department formed a partnership with NWEA, the creator of MAP Growth assessments. With many teachers across Maine already using NWEA’s MAP Growth assessments to measure student growth, the Maine DOE has worked with NWEA to develop a new, innovative statewide assessment, the Maine Through Year Assessment in Reading and Mathematics. The Maine Through Year Assessment continues to provide scores as a measure of student growth throughout the year and, at the end of the year, provides performance scores based on the state standards. Students in grades 3-8 and second year of high school will participate in the Maine Through Year Assessment. The first administration of the Maine Through Year Assessment will be in May 2023, and then beginning in the fall of 2023.

The Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) includes required assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy for all 10th graders. For the Spring 2023 administration, students will be tested in their math and English classes. All assessments are administered electronically. This is a mandatory test and students who are not present in school on the 15th will have to make up the testing at a later date. Please make sure your student comes to school with a charged Chromebook. The Through Year Testing will not take the entire day. For the last portion of the day, students will participate in a career inventory called the ASVAB. This is a great opportunity for sophomores to get a chance to think more about life after high school and focus on their passions and aspirations. If you have any questions, please reach out to Devon Gallice (dgallice@rsu1.org).

11th Graders: Juniors will participate in mandatory state testing for the New Meridian Science Assessment which aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This test is administered online and required for all juniors. Juniors participating in the Bath Tech program will not have their Bath Tech programming on that day. Please make sure juniors arrive at school on time with a charged Chromebook. This test will not take the entire day. During the last portion of the day, juniors will engage in a mini Morse Code Day. This will allow juniors to participate in activities outside and engage with peers. If you have any questions please contact Leslie Trundy (ltrundy@rsu1.org).

12th Graders: Seniors will have a Senior Service Day. During this day, seniors can attend their Bath Tech program, engage in an act of service for the community or volunteer with Mrs. Trundy to help out with Outdoor Morse Code Day. This is a wonderful day to give back to the greater Bath community. There will be no Morse classes for seniors on this day.

Seniors, graduation is just around the corner! Please read next month’s Navigator for more information about graduation. In the meantime, slow down and try to enjoy your final months at Morse High School. They will fly by!

Devon Gallice

dgallice@rsu1.org

Please be sure that your student is registered at the link HERE. All athletes must have a physical on file from within a year of the season start date. Registrations are due by Monday, March 24th.

Season Start Dates: Below are the start dates for all Spring sports offered at Morse High School. Practice details of each program are still fluid and will be communicated by the coaching staff of each program.

• Baseball and Softball

  • Throwing Progression Workouts: March 24-28th

  • Tryouts: Start March 31st

• Boys and Girls Lacrosse

  • Goalie Workouts: March 24-28th

  • Tryouts: Start March 31st

• Boys and Girls Tennis

  • Practices start March 31st

• Outdoor Track

• Practices start March 31st

Spring Sports Information Meeting: There will be a spring sports information meeting held on Wednesday, March 19th at Morse High School. This event will start at 6:30pm. All athletes and parents/guardians should attend to learn more about the program that their child will participate in. Once you arrive at Morse on March 19th, you will be directed to a room to meet with the coaching staff, learn more about the upcoming season and ask any questions that you might have.

The Big Jab - Sports Radio Show, invited swim coach Spencer Hallowell and a few of the athletes to recap their unbeaten season and their Class B State Championship. They are the first swim team to be on the show. Take a listen to their interview below!

MaineHealth SBHC can complete your annual well child check to participate in the spring sports season - right at school! Click the link to request an appointment MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital School Based Health Center Appointments - Formstack or call the school-based health center at 443-8250 ext. 3.

If you have not enrolled your student already in our services please fill this form out MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital School Based Health Center Enrollment Form - Formstack

Go Shipbuilders!

Andrew Pelletier

apelletier@rsu1.org

​Our student support team has often dreamt of having a therapy dog on site to meet with students and staff. The stars aligned this year when a community member reached out to us in hopes of collaborating. This sweet girl visits us periodically and brings a lot of joy to all of us at Morse!

On March 10 and 11, the Class of 2028 participated in Morse's annual Freshmen Awareness Day event. Students traveled to both Bowdoin College and Hyde School to partake in a number of activities and guest lectures that focused on various aspects of hard work, leadership, overcoming adversity, dedication, and substance use prevention, while at the same time fostering a closer connection among the students in the freshman class. Motivational speaker Ed Gerety, the drug prevention organization Students Empowered to End Dependency (SEED), the Leadership School, and the Chocolate Church all led conversations and activities that supported our freshmen class in an effort to help them achieve our school's "Vision of a Graduate" and empower them to make responsible and positive choices in their lives.

Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic by Matt Cox.

For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs... who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.

Friday, March 21 at 7pm

Saturday, March 22 at 2pm & 7pm

$10/students & $15/adults

Cash or check at the door only

The 2025 Jazz Night and Dessert Auction is coming up on Wednesday, April 9 in Montgomery Theater at Morse High School - auction bidding begins at 6:00 PM and the musical performances at 6:30. Even if you do not have a student performing, we hope you will attend and invite all your friends!

There will be fantastic desserts and goods donated by our beloved local businesses, friends, and neighbors with wonderful performances by the Bath Middle School and Morse High students. Funds raised by the auction and raffle benefit both BMS and MHS Music Departments.

We hope that some of you will consider bringing a special dessert or donate a local good for the auction or help out that evening. Please use the shared SignUpGenius!

For more information contact Carrie McEneaney at morsemusicboosters@gmail.com.

Hands-On Botany students are getting their hands dirty, not with potting soil, but with chocolate. This semester, students had the unique opportunity to take part in an exciting, multi-step process - making chocolate from scratch using real cocoa fruit.

The journey began with dissecting a fresh cocoa pod, revealing the slimy, white pulp that encases the precious cocoa beans. Students removed the beans and set them aside to ferment for a week, a crucial step that develops the complex flavors found in chocolate. After fermentation, the beans were carefully dehydrated and roasted to bring out their rich, chocolatey aroma.

But the process didn’t stop there. Once roasted, students cracked open the beans to harvest the cocoa nibs—the purest form of chocolate. To transform these nibs into something smooth and delicious, the class worked with Chef Dana from the Bath Tech Culinary program, who introduced them to a chocolate melanger. This special machine, equipped with stone grinders, slowly refines the nibs into chocolate liquor, the base for all chocolate products.

“The chocolate tastes so much fruitier and richer than store bought chocolate,” said one student. “I never realized how much time and effort goes into making chocolate. It makes me appreciate it so much more.” From pod-to nib-to smooth, rich chocolate, students gained firsthand knowledge of the intricate process behind one of the world’s favorite treats. The experience not only deepened their understanding of plant science and fermentation, but it also gave them a newfound appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in chocolate-making.

To complete the project, students designed their own custom candy bar wrappers, adding a creative touch to their homemade honey chocolate. With their own beautifully wrapped chocolate bars in hand, these students will never look at a candy bar the same way again.

ONLY 100 YEARBOOKS LEFT!

Two options for ordering a yearbook:

• Online through Jostens
• Cash/Check made payable to Morse High School by visiting Mrs. Barter in the Health Center

Devin Hook, a proud member of Morse High School’s Class of 2007, has built a career rooted in service, perseverance, and community engagement. After graduating, he pursued a degree in Physical Education at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, initially planning to become a teacher. However, his path took an unexpected turn, leading him to join the Bath Police Department in 2015. Reflecting on his time at Morse, Hook acknowledges that the school's emphasis on responsibility and structure helped prepare him for adulthood. He often finds himself returning to the school’s motto, “Think. Care. Act.,” a guiding principle that continues to shape his interactions and decisions in both his personal and professional life.

Throughout his career, Hook has demonstrated the qualities that define Morse High School’s Vision of a Graduate. As a police officer, he listens to and understands others, recognizing the importance of respecting multiple perspectives in his daily work. His ability to navigate challenging situations with kindness and compassion speaks to the values instilled in him during his high school years. He also embodies resilience and a strong work ethic—traits that have helped him adapt to a career path that differed from his initial expectations. His experience reinforces his belief that success is not about following a predetermined plan but rather about setting realistic goals, working hard, and remaining open to opportunities.

Hook encourages current Morse students to embrace uncertainty and trust the growth process. He emphasizes that while faculty and staff are dedicated to helping students succeed, individuals must take responsibility for their own efforts and commitments. "You're going to get what you put in," he advises, underscoring the importance of perseverance and self-motivation. His ongoing connection to Morse, including returning to visit former teachers, reflects his appreciation for the school’s lasting impact. Through his career and community involvement, Hook exemplifies what it means to engage positively with others, lead with integrity, and carry the spirit of Morse High School beyond its walls.

Serving students for 17 years, the Morse High School Food Pantry is located in the Morse Library. The food pantry provides services to approximately 93 students per day.

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

• Applesauce

• Canned Fruit

• Canned Vegetables

• Soup

• Pretzels

• Nutri-Grain® Bars

• Granola Bars

• Peanut Butter Crackers

• Goldfish®

• Cheez-Its®

• Animal Crackers

• Toothpaste

• Toothbrushes

• Deodorant

• Dental floss

• Feminine hygiene products (tampons; sanitary pads/napkins)

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

Did you know that the senior class officers become the class agents responsible for bringing their class together every five years for reunions? A big responsibility and a lot of work. No matter when you graduated, if you have an opportunity to help with the planning, the execution and the communication for these events contact your class agent.

A popular Alumni Weekend event is the decorating of downtown Bath in Blue & White. Graduates and the reunion year classes are invited to decorate a store front downtown with photos, uniforms, posters and class momentos. The Association gives a plastic tote to the class advisors for seniors and their families to collect items over their senior year. Newspaper clippings, programs, trophies, posters etc. We also like to have copies to store with the class records in the Alumni Room.

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