Position: Hourly Lunchroom Aide (0.5 FTE, 15 hours/week)

Morse School

The Morse School Community:

The Morse School serves children and families from every Cambridge neighborhood and from over 35 different countries. At the Morse School, we nurture not only our children’s curiosity and intellectual skills, but also their healthy social and emotional development. Morse School families, teachers and staff members work together to foster a sense of safety and belonging and to support students in developing a sense of civic responsibility and an appreciation for people with different origins, identities, beliefs and learning styles. We strive to promote a sense of community, where all adults and children feel respected and appreciated. The Morse School follows an inclusion model, with English learners and students with moderate disabilities learning alongside their general education peers with support from special educators, ESL teachers, related service providers, and interventionists.

We are actively working towards becoming an antiracist school, and are taking steps towards identifying and dismantling racist structures, hearing and elevating underrepresented voices, and striving to achieve an equitable and just educational experience for all students.

The Opportunity:

The Morse School is seeking a caring, kind, and energetic individual to supervise and support our children during their lunch and recess periods (11:00am-1:00pm). Under the direction of the Principal, Assistant Principal, and the Kitchen Manager, the Hourly Lunchroom/Recess Aide will engage in one or more of the following daily activities:

• Help prepare the cafeteria for lunch.
• Distribute lunches to classrooms.
• Supervise lunch and/or outdoor recess.
• Remind and redirect students about expectations for safe and respectful behavior in the cafeteria and playground.
• Clean cafeteria tables and help to get them re-set for subsequent lunch periods.
• Engage in play with students during outdoor recess.
• Accompany students during transitions between the cafeteria and playground.
• Additional related responsibilities as directed by the Principal or Assistant Principal.

This is a wonderful opportunity for an individual who wants to make a difference and have a positive impact on a diverse community of young learners. The Morse School serves children and families from a diverse range of racial, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We recognize that elementary-aged children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in the adults around them and we are eager to field applications from a range of candidates whose backgrounds mirror the diversity of the students we serve.

Your Skill Set:

As an Hourly Lunchroom Aide, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Previous and successful experience working in a multicultural environment and demonstrated ability to work in a positive and affirming way with children from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds;
• Comfortable supporting the positive social and emotional growth of young people (ages 4-11) by celebrating positive behaviors and addressing behaviors that are unexpected.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment and interact positively with children representing a diverse range of behaviors and needs;
• A willingness to engage in light cleaning tasks (e.g. wiping down cafeteria tables) and help young students manage their lunches (e.g. opening milk cartons, etc.).
• A willingness to work both indoors and outdoors (even during cold weather or light precipitation).
• Flexibility and a growth mindset; and
• A sense of humor!

Cambridge Public Schools is committed to slowing and/or stopping the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, as a condition of employment with Cambridge Public Schools, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no later than their first day of work. Written requests for either a religious exemption from this requirement based on sincerely held religious beliefs, or for a medical exemption based upon clear documentation from a medical provider should be submitted to the attention of the Chief Talent Officer.

How to Join Our Team:

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. 

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.