Morse High School was dedicated 60 years ago
Sixty years ago, Morse High School at 60th Street and Skyline Drive was formally dedicated on May, 16, 1963. Named for the inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, the $2.37 million school had opened to students in grades 9-11 the previous September.
Morse was one of two new high schools in the city system to open in 1962. The other was James Madison High School in Clairemont.
From The San Diego Union, Friday, May 17, 1963:
600 AT DEDICATION OF MORSE SCHOOL
Six-hundred spectators last night witnessed the dedication and open house of the city’s new Samuel F.B. Morse High School, 6905 Skyline Drive.
Lelia Morse, granddaughter of the inventor of the Morse code and the telegraph, came here from Hollywood and told of a Morse College recently being dedicated at Yale University.
SCHOOL PRESENTED
Mrs. Marion Jessop, Board of Education member who presented the school to the community, added:
“We are confident that with the cooperation of the staff of this school, parents, church and the community, this school will produce citizens with the same talents and attributes equal to those of the great artist, inventor and patriot for whom the school is named.”
Mrs. Ray J. Mortier, Parent-Teacher Association president, and the student body president, Robert Lushbaugh, accepted the school for community and students.
PANEL GIVEN
Miss Morse gave the school a three-pictured panel depicting Morse as artist, inventor and patriot. Students John Kling, Phyllis Silva, Linda Miller and Robert Breedlove eulogized Morse. Dr. George V. Hall, an associate superintendent of schools, introduced guests.
The 1,200-student $2.37 million school was opened in September for students in grades 9 through 11. Next fall, it will admit students only in grades 10 through 12.
Morse High has 52 classrooms, a gymnasium, an athletic field, a 1,500-seat cafetorium. It is designed to accommodate 2,700 students.
MORSE ENTHUSIASM HIGH NEW HIGH SCHOOL GETS FINE START
“We’re the Tigers delegation
“When we fight with determination
“We create a gre-e-e-eat sensation!”
That’s a cheer students of Samuel F.B. Morse High School use to encourage their athletes. Like everything else about Morse High, it’s brand new.
Morse is finishing its first year as a San Diego high school. The baby is healthy and growing fast.
Last September, 1,250 students enrolled at the new school at 6905 Skyline Drive, and as far as school traditions were concerned, walked into a vacuum.
START FROM SCRATCH
There was no student body organization, no school song or cheers, no mascot or motto, no clubs, no schedule of social activities, no memories of past triumphs of good old MHS.
“It was awful trying to fill up the newspaper. There wasn’t any news,” said Barbara Wall, secretary of the student body and a staff member of The Dispatch.