NEWS RELEASE: Morse High School Celebrates Newly Completed Performing Arts Center, Third Wave of Campus Modernizations

News Release

Morse High School Celebrates Newly Completed Performing Arts Center, Third Wave of Campus Modernizations

Hip-Hop and Polynesian Dancers Joined Orchestra and Theater Students to Celebrate the New Stage, Theater

October 30, 2024

SAN DIEGO - It's a new era for creative and performing arts students in the Skyline and Paradise Hills community.

On Wednesday, theater, dance, and orchestra students at Morse High School celebrated their newly completed two-story Performing Arts Center (PAC) with district leaders and students.

"It's very big and very nice compared to what we had originally," said student Lyric McKinney. "We used to perform in the gym and cafeteria, but not on a stage like this."

Replacing aging portables, the PAC includes a lobby with a concession stand, a theater with a stage, LED lighting, a theatrical orchestra enclosure, catwalks, a black box theater and classroom, dressing rooms, and more.

"This is life-changing for creative and performing arts students and neighbors in this neighborhood," said Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, San Diego Unified Board of Education Trustee. "They now have this professional-grade theater instead of their old and modest auditorium. They can only dream big from here."

"We are proud of the diversity at Morse and we are thrilled to have a space for our talented performing arts students to enhance their theatrical, music, band, and orchestra skills," said Dr. Cynthia Larkin, Principal of Morse High School.

To showcase the new lighting and sound in their new theater, the hip-hop and Morse Islander Student Association Polynesian dance teams gave rousing performances, and alumni and singer RoAnn Mesina also performed. The school's orchestra showed off its new orchestra enclosure during the celebration.

Mesina had a message of hope for students.

"Bet on yourself every single time," said Mesina. "There will be a lot of adversity that you'll face in life, but the person you can build the best relationship with is yourself. Learn how to trust yourself and use that strong bond between you and yourself to continue getting what you want out of life."

A new student services building was also constructed with a secure campus entry, lobby,

administrative offices and support spaces.

Along with the new Performing Arts Center and student services offices, the project includes

expansion of the student quad area and a new parking lot along 69th Street.

Campus safety and security were enhanced with a new single point of entry, a reconfigured parking lot and student drop-off and pick-up area from Tuther Way, more security cameras, perimeter fencing, and upgraded campus communications and fire alarm systems.

This latest project complements recent enhancements at Morse, including newly modernized classrooms, a remodeled music building, and present-day signage and graphics.

As this project is completed, construction crews are hard at work to bring a new College, Career, and Technical Education Agricultural Science Building to Morse. That project is anticipated to be completed in Spring 2025.

"It's wonderful to see high schools throughout San Diego Unified expanding their Visual and Performing Arts and College, Career, and Technical programs," said Dr. Erin Richison, High Schools Area Superintendent for San Diego Unified. "We want our high schoolers to gain valuable hands-on experience before they go off to college. It puts them ahead."

BACKGROUND:

Funding for the Morse High School Whole Site Modernization Phase III project is made available through Propositions S & Z, and Measure YY, which are local school bond measures approved by San Diego voters to improve San Diego Unified schools.

ABOUT MORSE HIGH SCHOOL:

Located in the Skyline and Paradise Hills neighborhoods of San Diego, Morse High School offers engaging academic and extracurricular programs, with courses in engineering, software and systems development, culinary arts, JROTC, and more. Morse also partners with three local colleges that offer courses and credits to students.

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