3/28 - Blake GSA Meeting (see details below)
3/29 - SEPAC Binder-Making Workshop (see details below)
3/30 - Harmony Day - Wear Green (see details below)
3/31 - Term 2 Report Cards go home
3/31-4/2 - MICCA Festival
4/3 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
4/4-4/5 - Grade 8 ELA MCAS
4/5 - Band-o-Rama
4/6 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
4/7 - Grade 8 ELA MCAS
4/7-4/9 - Blake Musical
4/12 - Day of Silence
4/17-4/21 - April Vacation
4/25-4/26 - Grade 6 ELA MCAS
4/27-4/28 - Grade 7 ELA MCAS
5/4-5/5 - Grade 8 Math MCAS
5/10-5/11 - Grade 8 Sci/Tech/Eng MCAS
5/16-5/17 - Grade 7 Math MCAS
5/18-5/19 - Grade 6 Math MCAS
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about the role that discomfort plays in our learning and growth, our topic/question for the dinner table is: How can discomfort help you learn? Embracing Discomfort (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 2 Report Cards
This Thursday students will be bringing home their report cards for the second term. Time will be spent in advisory with students reflecting upon the work they accomplished, as well as setting healthy goals for the third term. If you have a question 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.
Special Olympics Information
For the fifth consecutive year, the Medfield Public Schools has partnered with Special Olympics of Massachusetts to develop a 5 town chapter and this year's event will be held at Medfield High School on Friday, April 7. We are thrilled that some of our Blake students will be participating, along with students from Wheelock, Dale Street, and Medfield High School. For those students and/or parents interested in attending the event to support the athletes, independent transportation arrangements must be made in advance and communicated to the front office at Blake. The event is scheduled to begin with the parade of athletes between 9:30 and 10:00 and is expected to conclude around 12:30 p.m., with the athletes staying for lunch.
Blake Site Council 16-17 Survey
The Blake Site Council has been working on the development of our annual survey to students and parents. A similar survey has been administered the last three years and we are committed to having parents and students take it each year as part of our continual efforts to examine our programming. Focus areas include the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. The results will help us to gather information and examine our current practices to better meet the needs of our students and assess progress towards our mission. Please complete the survey for each child you have at Blake, and base your responses on your student's experiences this year. The questionnaire is anonymous, and your identity can not and will not be discovered through the completion of this survey. We sincerely appreciate your honest responses and are hoping for 100% participation from the Blake community. If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]). Link to the survey: Blake Middle School Parent Survey February 2017
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey. The Blake Middle School Executive Summary 15-16 of the compiled data is here for your reference, and I hope you are able to find some time to read the highlights.
Blake Theater Update
Blake's Theater students invite you to Shrek Jr. Come watch everyone's favorite Ogre as he tries to save his swamp and ends up finding his Princess. The performance are April 7th and 8th at 7pm and April 9th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://shrekjrbms.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door (if still available).
Blake GSA Meeting
Over the last week the Blake community engaged in a great deal of discussion regarding the creation of safe and productive spaces for all of our students at Blake. Taking those conversations into consideration, we are excited to announce the first meeting of the Blake GSA (Gay Straight Alliance/Gender and Sexuality Alliance). The meeting will be held on Tuesday, 3/28 in room 101 following the end of the school day, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please feel free to contact Russell Becker ([email protected]), Amy Reynolds (areynolds@email.medfield.net), or Elise Malone (emalone@email.medfield.net) with any questions or concerns you may have.
Harmony Day - 3/30/17
On Thursday, March 30, Blake is invited to join the Harmony Club at Medfield High School, sponsoring its annual Harmony Day. Harmony is a day where the club encourages any MHS community member who has a friend, family member, etc. in their life who is LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer) to wear a green shirt. The idea was started by Clinton Oxford, a 2008 graduate of Medfield High School, who thought if everyone could see just how many have a LGBTQ person in their lives, it might reduce the name-calling/anti-gay remarks heard in the hallways. Our students and staff at Blake are invited to wear green in support of this day. In addition to wearing green on Thursday, 3/30, there will also be a poster in the main foyer of the building. Students, staff, and even visitors are encouraged to hang a simple, anonymous, green sticker onto the "Harmony" poster that day in support of someone they know, care about, or just someone they've heard of who is a member of the LGBTQ community. It is our hope that this simple demonstration is a symbol of support in our community, reminding everyone of the importance of Acceptance.
Cradles to Crayons Drive
Would you like to help children in difficult living situations? Then come help Cradles to Crayons by donating gently used clothes and shoes in the donation bins in your cluster leader’s classroom between April 3rd and April 7th! Contact Sarah Boyd with any questions. Which cluster will win the grand prize?
'Mix It Up' Lunches
Student Council held "Mix It Up Lunches" from March 22nd to March 24th. This is part of Student Council's Acceptance Month. Students were randomly assigned to lunch tables. The purpose of this activity was to get to know other students, who they might not normally sit with at lunch. To help foster conversation, students engaged in a trivia challenge. Student Council will tally the scores and provide a prize for the winning trivia table.
Math Placement Information - For Incoming 7th Grade Families
This week you will receive 2 separate emails from Blake:
Email #1: A customized email with the first name and math placement scores for your 6th grader.
Email #2: An email with a link to a Google Form to allow you to confirm receipt of your child's math placement information. Please be sure to complete the Google Form by Friday March 31, 2017 to allow us to schedule your child for the upcoming school year.
Click here for information for 6th grade parents/guardians regarding 7th grade math placement for the 2017-2018 school year
Thank you!
World Language Selection
All incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians must complete the selection form for music...
2017-18 Blake Middle School Music Selection
For Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians
Below please find links to the Course Selection Google Forms that all incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete...
2017-18 Blake Middle School Music Selection
2017-18 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Planning for 2017-2018
The due date for parental input for the 2017-2018 was Friday, March 17. This was one of the first steps in the process of placement and scheduling for next year. There is no need to be concerned if you did not put thoughts in writing, as equal consideration is given to the needs of every student, whether or not we have received input from parents. The input is only necessary if you have information to share that you do not believe the school already knows. As stated in the letter sent in early March, parents are asked not to make specific requests for teachers, as they will not be considered part of the placement process. The information that has been gathered will inform our work, and we do not guarantee placement with specific peers. We are confident our teachers and clusters are well balanced and that they each will provide a productive and positive educational experience for our students. Please trust our professional judgment as we strive to ensure a high quality and positive education for each of our students.
Blake Math League - Back by Popular Demand!
The New England Math League promotes the enjoyment and study of mathematics by organizing contests for grades 4-12. Contests serve as an enrichment to their current math program. Blake Middle School is holding the first annual math contests for students in grades 6-8. All Blake students are welcome to participate. We have decided to offer 3 more "practices" for students. New participants welcome!
Dates:
Wednesday March 29, 2017
Wednesday April 5, 2017
Wednesday April 26, 2017 (If you have already signed up for the Algebra I contest, you will need to take that on this day instead.)
Cost for participation is $18 ($12 if you have already signed up for the Algebra I contest)
Please make check payable to 'Blake Middle School'. To register you must fill out this google form and submit the check and indemnity form to the main office. Contact Mrs. McLaughlin ([email protected]) or Mrs. Bycoff ([email protected]) with questions.
Thank you!
Author Visit
On Monday, April 24th, Margaret Haddix will be visiting the sixth grade at Blake. Ms. Haddix is known for her New York Times Bestselling series - 39 Clues, The Shadow Children, and The Missing. Ms. Haddix will be presenting to students about the writing process and how she became a published author. Students will also have a question/answer opportunity with Ms. Haddix. Students are able to purchase copies of Ms. Haddix's books, and Wellesley Books will have Margaret Haddix sign the purchased books ahead of time.
Intramurals Update
The spring intramurals will begin the week of 4/3/17. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
ADL Youth Congress Conference
The ADL Peer Leaders are excited to attend the Anti-Defamation League's 22nd Annual Youth Congress in Boston on Thursday, March 30.
Spring Cleaning - Request for MakerSpace Donations
In our ongoing efforts to foster experiences for students to be 'hands-on' and creative with materials, we are looking to provide outlets for students to create in our 'maker space'. As you begin your spring cleaning efforts (optimistic, I know!), we are looking for any donations from Medfield families of: old toys and electronics, PVC pipe, felt/fabric, crafty supplies (yarn, string, makers, wipe off markers, wipe off contact paper, marbles, duct tape, wasabi tape, different types of glue), cookie cutters (variety of shapes), old tools, play dough, recyclables (anything used for storage containers/bins), cell batteries, AA batteries, conductive materials (copper wire, aluminum foil, telephone wire, washers, brackets). Any donations can be dropped off at the Blake main office and would be greatly appreciated.
Blake Track 2017
Signups are ongoing, the season begins on Tuesday, April 4. Click below link for further information. Please contact Jon Haycock with questions: [email protected]
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zOAb7MaTa_AfrPk0NmxSAj6sncG91NyrDMdBcUQ1Bvs/edit
8th Grade Trip Forms
A packet of medical forms was sent home with your 8th grader last week for the Washington, D.C. trip Please take time to review and complete the forms which are due back to your child’s advisory teacher by April 3rd, 2017. Forms should be completed in pen, dated and signed. If your child will need to take any medication on the trip (prescription and/or non-prescription), then his/her physician needs to review and sign the medication form. Please plan ahead and submit the medication form to your child’s physician within the next two weeks in order to get the signed form back to school by the April 3rd deadline. Please contact our school nurse, Tricia Williams, at 508-242-8554 or [email protected] if you have any questions after reviewing the packet. Your assistance is appreciated in returning the forms on time as we finalize preparations for the trip.
Next-Generation MCAS Information
All of our Blake students will be participating in the Next-Generation MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) assessments this spring. Our grade 8 students are required to take the computer-based assessments for both English Language Arts and Mathematics, and these will be administered on district-owned Chromebooks. All of our students will be taking assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and our grade 8 students will also be taking the Science and Technology/Engineering assessment. If you would like more information regarding these assessments, please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/. Assessment dates are noted above. Make-up testing will take place when students return from their absence(s), provided that their return takes place within the testing window determined by the Commonwealth. We appreciate your assistance in looking at these dates and being mindful to try and avoid medical/dental appointments or conflicts with these assessments. As always, do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Substitute Applications
Blake is always looking for substitute teacher applicants. Applicants need not have teaching licensure but should be energetic, flexible and enjoy working with children. For more information or to apply, please visit medfield.net and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities", the. Professional Staff Openings. Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
Book Discussion Group for Parents
The next Blake Site Council/Blake community book is The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik. We will be discussing the entire book on Monday, 4/3 at 4:30 p.m.
Message from SEPAC (Medfield's Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
SEPAC together with Student Services is hosting a binder-making workshop to help families organize their student's 504 or special education materials. The workshop will be held Wednesday, March 29th 7-8:30 pm in the Blake Middle School Library. Please let us know if you can come! https://docs.google.com/a/email.medfield.net/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-9E8XUyKcgNCKJjJjHwlZkTi4VvFUJ4x5OSw9pkIDR_zcKQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
Message from Blake PTO
2nd ANNUAL BLAKE APPEAL
We have reached 34% of our $30,000 goal. We need your help so we can continuing funding enrichment programs and future initiatives for the 2017 - 2018 school year.
We are requesting a contribution of $50/child this year. This is a suggested amount but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute.
Making a donation is easy. Simply click on the link http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake.html and scroll down to the end of the page or send a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO to Blake at 24 Pound St. Medfield, MA 02052.
We are hoping for 100% participation of Blake families by April 1, 2017, so that our students and teachers over the next year can benefit as the students before them. Thank you in advance for your support of the Blake PTO. Please feel free to contact Claudia Rosen [email protected] or Kim Price [email protected] with any questions.
OPEN PTO BOARD POSITION for 2017-2019 SCHOOL YEAR The town wide PTO is looking for a publicist to cover Memorial, Wheelock, Dale St. and Blake Middle School for the 2017-2019 school years. There will be training for this position. We would love to have you join our team! Please contact Kim Price for more information [email protected].
7th GRADE YEAR END ICE CREAM SOCIAL VOLUNTEERS We are looking for ten volunteers and a chair person to help us with the 7th grade year end Ice Cream Social. Please contact Maura Gerardi if you are interested. [email protected]
TOWN WIDE BOX TOPS CONTEST - ALL BOX TOPS NEED TO BE TURNED IN BY FRIDAY, MARCH 31st The school that brings in the most Box Tops will win a special prize for the entire school. Please start cutting out your Box Tops and bringing them to school. Please contact Jane Barr mailto:[email protected] with any questions.
January & February Totals
Blake 1,414
Dale Street 1,749
Wheelock 1,187
Memorial 2,429
STAY IN TOUCH Our email address has changed to www.medfieldk8pto.com. Make sure you don't miss out on important posts sent throughout the week. Please LIKE us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO and follow us on Twitter @MedfieldK8PTO.
Message from MCPE
Seeking Nominations for the The Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award
Bob Maguire was Principal of Medfield High School for 8 years and Superintendent of Schools for 14 years. In recognition of his commitment to our students,
the MCPE has created this award to honor an educator in the Medfield school community who embodies Bob's legacy of exposing our students to the world outside of Medfield. The Maguire award is given to a staff member who inspires students to learn more about the global community through innovative programs and technologies.
Parents, administrators, school staff and community members are encouraged to nominate a recipient for the Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award. Nominations are due April 14, 2017. The recipient will be announced at the MCPE annual meeting on May 18, 7:00 at the Zullo Gallery. For more information and criteria, please visit: www.medfieldcoalition.org/grants/bob-maguire-award/.