Social and emotional lessons and behavior and attendance expectations are woven into our curriculum and culture.  

Morning meetings bring students and staff together to celebrate successes, focus on what’s next, and keep building Morse momentum!

By building character, trust, and effective communication and emotional regulation skills, students find their place in our interconnected world—discovering their unique gifts and talents. They develop a sense of purpose and the confidence to contribute to our shared world meaningfully and impactfully.

SEL Concepts and Curriculum  

Schools across the district use the Second Step social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. Morse students participate in weekly lessons that involve videos, activities, instruction, and practice of social and emotional skills like:  

• Building healthy relationships 
• Decision-making 
• Goal-setting 
• Identifying and managing emotions 
• Resolving conflict 
• Problem-solving 

SEL Activities and Opportunities

Students come together during the school day for lessons and sessions that teach skills for a lifetime and prepare them for high school life and learning.

• Weekly counseling lessons address students’ academic, vocational, emotional, and social needs.
• Digital Literacy lessons teach Internet safety, media literacy, and research skills.
• Not A Number lessons in eighth grade help students stay safe by teaching them to identify and report signs of exploitation and trafficking.
• Groups led by psychologists, counselors, and social workers reinforce effective study habits, self-regulation strategies, anxiety management techniques, and more.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Students learn through positivity and consistency, so Morse Middle School joins schools across MPS and the country in using the PBIS framework. Staff and students work together to identify, communicate, and reward behavior that makes our school a safe and welcoming space.  

In monthly award assemblies, morning meetings, and classroom conversations, we ensure students know the expectations, understand their importance, and how to meet them.  

Morse Middle School PBIS Expectations :

• We are safe. 
• We are responsible.  
• We are respectful. 

Students are acknowledged and rewarded for following PBIS best practices such as “no horseplay,” walking on the right side of the hallway, keeping the volume at “zero” during classroom transitions, and keeping the cafeteria clean. 

Students suggest incentives and rewards that motivate them to action, and we build these into Morse’s PBIS framework: 

• Contests
• Dances
• Field days and Field trips
• Food truck days
• Movies

Staff adjust PBIS best practices and focus areas monthly based on academic, attendance, and behavior data. Signs of success include an increase in student attendance and a decrease in behavior referrals in all grades.