Morse High School (Maine)

For the school of the same name in San Diego, see Samuel F. B. Morse High School.

Morse High School
Address
826 High Street Bath , Maine 04530 United States
Coordinates	43°54′51″N 69°49′12″W
Information
Established	1904
School district	RSU #1
Superintendent	William Shuttleworth
Principal	Peter Kahl
Faculty	52
Grades	9–12
Enrolment	654
Color(s)	Blue and   White
Song	The Blue and The White
Mascot	the Shipbuilder
Website	mhs.rsu1.org/

Morse High School in Bath, Maine, draws on the communities of Bath, West Bath, Phippsburg, Woolwich, Georgetown, Five Islands and Arrowsic, Maine. The original school building, a gift to the city from Charles W. Morse, burned down March 24,1928 and was later rebuilt in 1929. A large addition was made in 1969, and an expanded vocational center was added in 1996. As of 2011, Morse's population is 654 students, 94% Caucasian. The student/teacher ratio at Morse is 14:1.

Morse's mascot is the Shipbuilder, because of Bath's shipbuilding legacy at Bath Iron Works, and the school colors are blue and white.

Rivalry

Morse High School has a long-time rivalry with the neighboring town, Brunswick High School, dating from the early 1900s. The Morse/Brunswick rivalry is one of the oldest in the state.

Athletics

Morse students participate in many athletic and social clubs. The students take pride in the school's proud tradition of championships, including six state championships in boy's basketball (1956, '62, '63, '87, '88, and '89), two state championships in baseball (1953 and '88), five state championships in football (1968, '69, '70, '71, and '72), and one state championship in Boys' soccer in 1988. Morse's boy's swim team won the state championship in the 2005–2006 swim season. The girl's swim team has also enjoyed recent success, winning the 2009-2010 state championship after finishing runners-up or third for several years. Morse is a member of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference.

The Morse football team has not been a contender since its last state championship in 1972. In 2006, Morse finished 3–5 and gained the 8th and final seed in the playoffs before suffering a 63–12 loss to unbeaten Gardiner in the quarter-finals. Morse was the surprise team of the 2007 season, when it defeated previously unbeaten Gardiner in week 7 and finished the season 7–1 as the second seed. Morse went on to its first post season victory since its '72 state championship season by beating Oak Hill High School of Wales, Maine, 35–6 in the quarter-finals. Morse faced their biggest challenge of the season in the semi-finals when the Shipbuilders played host to the defending Class B PTC Champion, Winslow. Winslow has been a perennial contender since it moved to Class B in 1989. Morse shocked the Pine Tree Conference by entering the locker room with a 22–12 lead at half time. In the second half, Winslow held Morse scoreless and was able to win the game 28–22. In 2008, the Shipbuilders avenged that loss with a 27–0 win over Winslow, and went on to win the PTC Championship allowing just 7 points in three playoff games. They went on to play Mountain Valley in the Maine Class B State Championship game. The schools first appearance in the football state championship game since 1972.

The Arts

Home to the Montgomery Threatre, Morse High School has long had an active drama club, which took the district title in the One Act Play competition two years in a row in 2004 and 2005.

Each November for more than 75 years, Morse has held the MOHIBA (MOrse HIgh BAzaar), a talent show where students can perform individually, or in acts with their class, club or team.

From 1981 to 1983 MHS students ran a 5 watt radio station whose call letters were changed to WMOS 98.3 "The Rock and Roll Clipper."

Alumni Association

The Bath High School Alumni Association is one of the oldest in the country. In 1891 a small group of graduates met to form the association. One hundred graduates attended first Alumni Banquet on June 22, 1892. The Alumni Banquet on June 10, 2011 was the 120th such banquet. The objective of the B.H.S.A.A., according to the 1982 bylaws, is "to encourage sociability among the graduates and incidentally aid in promoting the welfare of Bath High School."

Miscellanea

Old Morse High School c. 1905

Morse High is one of the few high schools in the state which does not have its own gym for basketball games, instead using Bath Middle School's gym. Morse does have 'The Pit', a gym used now for phys ed, wrestling meets, and as a place to practice for other teams. The Pit is more than 80 years old and was voted the "Nicest gym in the state of Maine" when it was first opened in 1929. The pit caused many issues being dug out when the school was built due to ledge under the foundation.

MTV's Made was filmed at Morse High School in the fall of 2005, starring Jackie Buck, a then junior wanting to "step out of her sister's shadow" and have a part in the school's talent show, MOHIBA.

Liam McDermott Went to Morse. He is currently heir to the throne of bath. Long live prince McDermott of Bath!

Sources

• Morse High School
• PublicSchoolReview.com profile
• Morse High School Student & Parent Handbook 2008–2009
• Bath High School Alumni Association

Morse High School was filmed briefly in the video "Where's My Mind" by the Pixies.

External links

• Morse High School
• Lower Kennebec Region School Unit (RSU 1)
• Bath High School Alumni Association