Morris School District Unites Under One ‘Banner’

The Morris School District is comprised of multiple schools, each with their own culture, style and feel. The Home School Association is looking to harness that uniqueness while blending more seamlessly into the whole. 

“We have a new theme we have come up with called One District, Many Schools,” said Kate Hein, speaking to Morris School District Board of Education Monday on behalf of the HSA council she co-chairs.

According to Morris School District Dr. Thomas Ficarra, the presidents of all the HSA’s in the district meet once a month so he can answer any questions they may have about curriculum and other initiatives or issues and they share with him and each other things that are going on in their schools. 

Ficarra said the HSA’s support the school district in “hundreds of little and not so little ways.” One of those “not so little ways” is the launch of this new campaign.

“A year ago, discussions began on how can we better communicate and create more awareness. One District, Many Schools has come from that,” Hein said. 

The plan is deceptively simple, unite the individual schools at district level events. And it all starts this weekend.

“This Saturday we will invite all of the K-8 schools to come to the football game at Morristown High School,” Hein said.  “We want students to come to the game and wear their school colors.” 

According to Hein, the students are being asked to assemble in the Alexander Hamilton School parking lot at 12:30 p.m. and then they will walk over to the football game. Kickoff is at a 1 p.m. and the students are free. Adults accompanying them will still be $3.

Hein said besides being able to sit friends from their school and their sister schools students will get a chance to run out on the field at halftime, be greeted by the cheerleaders and given a free t-shirt for attending. 

The goal as stated is to unite the schools in the district, literally and figuratively, under one banner.

“We have a banner being made that will be shown at all of the different events with the logos for all of the schools and a big number one on it,” Hein said.

Going forward Hein said the plan will be to continue these unifying events at sporting events and also branch out into the other areas like the arts. 

For his part, Ficarra said the HSA was an invaluable resource.

“And we encourage their continued support,” Ficarra said.