2/4 - Term 2 Interim Reports go home
2/5 - Teacher Professional Day (#DLDMedfield) - See details below
2/5 and 2/6 - Blake Play
2/8 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
How to Raise an Adult Book Group (4:30 p.m.)
2/14 - Happy Valentine's Day!
2/15-2/19 - School Vacation
2/22 - School Resumes
2/24 - Incoming 6th Grade PIN (6:30 p.m.)
2/25 - Incoming 9th Grade PIN at Medfield High School (6:30 p.m.)
3/3 - Incoming 8th Grade PIN (6:30 p.m.)
3/10 - Incoming 7th Grade PIN (6:30 p.m.)
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about self reflection and the notion of 'chefs and cooks', this week's topic/question for the dinner table is:
"A cook is then considered a follower. They can even be a creative follower, but they’ll never create from their own understanding, but instead always build on what others have done. They are often doing old things in new ways. Chefs, on the other hand, are experimenting and doing new things in new ways." ("Are we preparing students to be chefs or cooks?" by AJ Juliani)...
"I believe it is ____________ to be both a cook and a chef" What word/words will you use to fill in the blank?
"We should _____________________ after failure." What word/words will you use to fill in the blank?
Please see link to Google Form to share your responses: A 'Protean' Coin (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Jessica Cox - Thank You!
Jessica Cox's presentations to the community and students were fantastic - inspiring and moving on many levels! We want to thank the Helping Hands Foundation, Medfield Coalition for Public Education (MCPE), Blake PTO, and Medfield SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) for their generous support. I encourage all families to have conversations with your children so that we can collectively carry her message forward.
Digital Learning Day for Blake and Medfield Staff - 2/5/16
The official Digital Learning Day 2016 is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17, but in Medfield we are also recognizing it on our professional day next Friday, February 5, 2016. I encourage you to check out our blog, DLD Medfield 2016, and to follow the hashtag #DLDMedfield throughout the next week and on Friday, 2/5/16 to stay current with the Blake and Medfield tweeters. This year we are excited and thrilled to invite parents to experience the event by attending sessions and being part of the day. To register for this free event, click here: Medfield Digital Learning Day 2016 Registration Form. Some of our Blake students will be helping out throughout the day as well. We are excited about this opportunity to learn from one another and expand our understandings of technology integration as we continue to work towards our mission for our students and school.
Volunteer to Help at #DLDMedfield
Please help make Medfield’s Digital Learning Day a success by volunteering and attending a selection of over 75 informative classes on Friday, February 5th.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054bacab2faa8-medfield/
Thank you in advance for your support!
Please contact Kim Price at [email protected] with any questions.
School Connectedness
School connectedness, or how connected a child feels to his or her school community, is a topic that is important to us at Blake. Some families may recall that last winter we surveyed students in order to determine whether each child had an adult in our school that s/he felt comfortable seeking out if s/he has a big or small problem and what it was about the person that made them approachable. This information helps us to identify students who may be in need of more connections at school and gives us a sense of how connected our student body is feeling in general. It also gives us important information about the qualities that are important to middle school students. We will administer this survey again this year on Wednesday, January 27 during advisory. This year, students will complete it as a google form on their devices. Students who are not currently using an iPad may use a classroom desktop computer. It should take 10 minutes or less. Please take a few minutes to ask your child how it went, how they felt about it, and talk in general about their feelings of connectedness at school. As always, please be sure to reach out to a guidance counselor, Kelly Campbell or any of your child's teachers if you have a question or concern.
Term 2 Interim Reports
Next Thursday students will be bringing home their interim reports for the second term. They will be spending time in their advisories reflecting upon the work they have accomplished thus far, and setting healthy/measured goals for the second half of the term. Our hope is that this communication tool will give you an update on the progress your child is making in school. If you have any questions about your child's work or the reports, please start by having a conversation with your own child. If questions still exist, you should contact the teacher directly to gain more insight.
Blood Drive Wrapup
I want to once again thank and recognize Cynthia McClelland for her leadership with the Day of Service and blood drive. It was wonderful having all of the students and staff who came helping out on their day off from school. For the blood drive, we had 50 registered donors (including 12 first time donors) and 42 units of blood were collected - enough to save up to 126 lives. We hope to continue this tradition!
Photos for Yearbook - 8th Grade!
8th Graders!!! We are collecting childhood or baby pictures for a special section in the Blake yearbook. Write your name on the back of the photo and hand it in to your Advisor by Friday, January 29. Remember that we DO NOT return the pictures. See Mrs. Boulos or Mrs. Delaney with any questions.
Theater
On February 5th and 6th @ 7pm, Blake Theater will perform Trumpet of the Swan, based on the E.B. White classic. Doors will open at 6:30pmand audience members will be greeted with the sounds of a special jazz ensemble. Tickets are now on sale for families of cast and crew and will go onsale this Friday. They can be purchased at trumpetoftheswan.brownpapertickets.com with the sale code of KAHOH.
School Survey
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey and an Executive Summary will be distributed to families in the coming weeks. Focus areas on the survey centered on the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. Our intent is to distribute the 2014-2015 survey in early February in the hopes of gathering the data by February vacation. Stay tuned!
Parent Information Nights - Mark Your Calendars!
2/24 - Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming sixth grade (current fifth grade) students. We will be presenting information about the 6th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year along with an overview of the middle school. A more detailed presentation about the logistics of the 2016-2017 academic year's iPad Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
3/3 - Incoming 8th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming eighth grade (current seventh grade) students. We will be presenting information about the 8th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year. A more detailed presentation about the logistics of the 2016-2017 academic year's iPad Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
3/10 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming seventh grade (current sixth grade) students. We will be sharing information about the 7th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year. We will also be presenting information about the 7th grade's field trip to Nature's Classroom. A more detailed presentation about the logistics of the 2016-2017 academic year's iPad Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
8th Grade Families - Save the Date!
February 25, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
High School Auditorium
Please join members of the high school faculty as they present an overview of the Medfield High School academic curriculum. Additional information will be sent home as the date becomes closer. If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact Heather Mandosa, Assistant Principal at [email protected] or Stephanie Worthley, Guidance Content Specialist at [email protected] or call the high school at (508) 359-4367.
Grade 6 Standards Based Reporting Pilot and Focus Group
Thank you to all sixth grade parents/guardians who were able to come to one of our Standards Based Reporting information sessions. As promised, here is the link to the presentation...
Standards Based Reporting Presentation Fall 2015
We are also looking for parents/guardians to be part of our parent focus group. This group will be comprised of the 6th grade science teachers, administration, and parents and will meet throughout the year (Fridays at 12:30 p.m.) to discuss the work that is taking place and provide feedback. The dates that have been set for these meetings are: 2/26, 4/1, and 6/3. If you are interested, please complete the form below...
Standards Based Reporting Focus Group Sign-Up
How to Raise an Adult - Book Discussion Group for Parents
Please join the Blake Site Council will be reading and discussing HOW TO RAISE AN ADULT: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims. For more information, here is a book review from The New York Times...
HOW TO RAISE AN ADULT: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims. We will be reading it throughout the year, taking time to discuss the ideas presented and have a common, shared experience. The discussions will take place at the end of each Site Council meeting (our third book group meeting will be 4:30 p.m. on Monday, 2/8). All parents are invited to join us. If you are interested in joining the book discussions, please fill out this Google Form: How to Raise an Adult Blake Book Group
The breakdown for the readings is as follows...
- For 2/8 Meeting - Read Chapters 12-17 (143-227)
- For 3/7 Meeting - Finish book (228-305)
Blake Science Fair
This is the first middle school science fair ever for Medfield. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in an extracurricular activity while having fun with friends. This project by high school junior Emma Twer was created to promote communication and speech skills for students. Being part of a science fair develops important attributes needed for the high school. Come show your creativity through science! Work sessions are available as a lead up to the fair on February 26. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6WieI40e5TlVnAxNDY4N1NpNVU/view?usp=sharing
Work Sessions: 2:30-3:30 on January 20, February 3
Fair: February 26 from 3:30- 5:30
6th Grade Parents - Save the Date!
Seventh grade trip to Nature's Classroom 2016 will be Monday 9/26 to Thursday 9/29. More information will be shared at the Incoming Parent Night on 3/10.
K-8 PTO Update
RECYCLE INKJET AND TONER CARTRIDGES - Get rid of your trash and help Blake earn cash & supplies by recycling your inkjet and toner cartridges. We accept HP, Brother, Canon and Lexmark cartridges. Collection boxes are located outside of the Library. Thanks for your help! Please contact Donna Knott at[email protected] with any questions.
BAY STATE TEXTILES - Recycle clothing, shoes, household linens and stuffed animals at one of the Bay State Textile boxes at your school or the Transfer Station. Recycle and help the schools!!
BOX TOPS - Please cut out your Box Tops and have your child bring them to the Blake office or their advisory. Visit http://www.boxtops4education.com/coupons for coupons on participating Box Tops products!
MEDFIELD SPIRIT WEAR - Customize EVERYTHING from text to colors and designs from sports to drama to music. Choose from t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, pants, bags, hats, blankets & more. Spend $85 or more and get a free customized t-shirt. 12% of proceeds from each order will go to your school’s PTO. This is all you have to do:
- · Go to shop.mylocker.net
- Enter your school locker number - BLAKE BD979
- · Use promo code b2g6dTK1 to receive $10 off every order you place
ZEBRA’S FLATBREAD FRIDAYS FUNDRAISER - No need to cook on a Friday night after a crazy week! Enjoy a delicious flatbread from Zebra’s and support the Medfield Public Schools at the same time. 10% of the proceeds from flatbreads sold via take-out or in the restaurant on Friday evenings will be donated to the Medfield Coalition for Public Education (MCPE) and Medfield K-8 PTO. Please contact Kim Price [email protected] with any questions.
SOCIAL MEDIA - Please like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO , follow us on Twitter MedfieldK8PTO and check out our website http://medfieldpto.weebly.com
MCPE Update
Do you have unused gift cards floating around in your junk drawer? The Teacher Digital Learning Day on Feb 5th could use them! They will be used as prizes for a free teacher raffle at the end of this professional day. All gift cards welcome (iTunes, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Park St. Books, etc.) Deliver them by February 1st by to Minta Hissong @ 30 Vine Brook Rd. or email her at [email protected] and she will come pick them up. Thank you for your generosity.
Please click here for Thursday Packet Information.