9/24-10/16 - Meadow Farms Fall Fundraiser (see details below)
9/29 - Stripes Bike Trip
9/30 - Stars Canoe/Russian Icon Field Trip (postponed)
10/1 - Stars Canoe/Russian Icon Field Trip (postponed)
10/5 - Theater Parent Meeting (see details below)
10/5-10/8 - Nature's Classroom for 7th Grade
10/6 - MCPE Subway Night (see details below)
10/9 - Teacher Professional Day (No School for Students)
10/12 - Columbus Day (No School)
10/13 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:15 p.m.)
10/16 - Twitter Workshop for Parents (see details below)
10/19 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off
10/21 - Grade 6 Parent Coffee (8:30 a.m.) - see details below
Picture Retake Day
10/22 - Blake PTO Meeting (9:00 a.m.)
10/28 - Grade 8 Parent Coffee (9:00 a.m.) - see details below
10/29 - 8th Grade Salem Field Trip
10/31 - Happy Halloween!
11/4 - Grade 7 Parent Coffee (10 a.m.) - see details below
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations about innovation, change, new ideas, and feedback, the topic/question for the dinner table is a series of questions:
Innovation Philosophy
If you had to choose, which approach to Innovation would you encourage - Innovation for the beauty of innovation or Selective innovation that adheres to a specific goal?
New Ideas Philosophy
If you had to choose, at which would you rather get better - Someone who comes up with new ideas or Someone who effectively buys into and encourages others to buy into someone else's ideas?
For Teachers
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being highest, how much would filming yourself in the classroom help you improve, and help you improve as a collaborator?
Please see link to Google Form to share your responses: 2 If You Had to Choose, and 1 On a Scale (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Nature's Classroom Information
On Monday, September 28 students came home with a sheet listing their room and bus number. Some of the rooms in the Inn have double and queen sized beds. If your child is bringing sheets, please look at this sheet carefully to find out what size sheets to send. No children will share beds. Folding beds will be brought into a room if there are not enough beds listed for a room. All medications should have been turned into Mrs. Williams last week. Please contact Judy Silva if you have any questions.
#blake@nc
We are very excited to embark on our trip to Nature's Classroom in Silver Bay, NY with 7th graders on Monday, October 5th. Please follow us on Twitter with the hashtag #blake@nc. You can also follow Kelly Campbell at @kmcsoup. She will be sharing photos and updates on Twitter in addition to a daily email to all parents with a general update.
Grade 6 Standards Based Reporting Pilot Information Sessions
This year the 6th grade science team is continuing to pilot Standards Based Reporting. All 6th grade parents are invited to attend an information session to learn more about the philosophy and how feedback will be reported to families. There will be two sessions for your convenience:
Session 1: Monday, October 5 6:30-7:30 PM
Session 2: Tuesday, October 6 8:20-9:20 AM
Information will also be shared about how to participate in a parent focus group. This time will be an opportunity for parents to share meaningful input. Please RSVP via our Google Form: Standards Based Reporting Information Sessions
Confucius Institute Event
September 28 was a day that brought Chinese culture to Blake Middle School and High School Mandarin students - featuring Chinese folk dance, costumes and props, Chinese folk instruments and scores, Chinese brush painting, Tai Chi , as well as Chinese ornaments, games artifacts and more. Students were given the opportunity to interact with scholars and specialists at this Chinese Culture Exhibition!
Library/Media Update
Students are enjoying our updated “comfy chair” corner. The upholstered chairs in the corner have been augmented by newly purchased beanbag chairs (thanks to CSA and Coalition) in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. The area is primarily used for small group discussions during the school day and for reading and light socializing during LMC after school time. The bags are enabling the students using them to simultaneously recharge their bodies while also charging their brains! Quite a combo - which helps to explain the keen competition to secure one of the beanbag chairs when the opportunity presents itself. The LMC is open for students after school Monday through Friday until 3:00 P.M. For those of you who haven’t seen the Medfield Hometown Weekly article on Heather Abbott’s visit to Blake last week, here is a link to the story: http://hometownweekly.net/marathon-bombing-victim-speaks-in-medfield-p15278-143.htm
Parent Coffees
Are you feeling like you had just mastered your child's last grade's norms and now you have a new set of expectations to adjust to? Maybe your student is in a whole new building with even greater expectations. The Blake guidance counselors would like to help put your mind at ease by talking about what each grade level looks like and answering your questions. The coffees will take place October 21 at 8:30 a.m. (Grade 6), October 28 at 9 a.m. (Grade 8), and November 4 at 10 a.m. (Grade 7). To RSVP, please go to this link - Parent Coffee Signup Form.
Twitter??? Tweets are for kids!! (And adults…)
10/16/15 at 10:10 a.m.
We are thrilled to offer this workshop for all parents/guardians! Come explore the Twitterverse with Jason Heim (@jasonjheim), Diane Horvath (@techmonstah) and Nat Vaughn (@nat_vaughn)! This workshop is for all parents (both social media fans and those with 'socialmediaphobia' - learn about tweets, hashtags, following, and being followed. We hope to share lessons about Twitter and highlight how the educators at Blake are building professional learning networks and using the tool to enhance the learning environment at Blake. Feel free to bring your own device, an established Twitter account (we can help with that), and a willingness to learn! Please RSVP via our Google Form: Twitter Workshop for Parents (10/16/15)
Parent Information Nights
Thanks to all of the Blake teachers for wonderful parent information nights. For your reference and information, here are links to the respective presentations...
Grade 6 Fall 2015 PIN Presentation
Grade 7 Fall 2015 PIN Presentation
Grade 8 Fall 2015 PIN Presentation
Student Council Update
Student Council would like to thank all of the candidates who ran for Student Council this year, as well as the students in each homeroom for participating in the voting process. We are impressed with the bravery and positive attitudes that everyone brought to the elections and we congratulate the following advisory representatives:
Grade 6: Sloan Inozemcev, Sophia Slesar, Freya Spitzer, Lily Goodman, Charlie Katsikaris, Jani Passas, Jake Mewhiney, Sophia Bruno, Adrian Sheehy, Thomas Shurtleff, John Marcucci
Grade 7: Josie Bisciotti, Cole Van Meter, Erin Sullivan, Colin Benson, Nigel Lau, Sam Kornet, Molly Wagenseller, Sarah Churchill, John Shelley, Anna Schulman, Michael Vachon, Brendan Melley, Ellie Bayard
Grade 8: Jame Hollander, Micah Borkan, Katelyn Pelkey, Jordan MacLean, Nicole Abely, Lucas Borrelli, Will DePiero, Jack Cahill, Connor Adams, Zoe Condon, Sophia Gustafson, Sara Lako, Caitlin Nee, Sam Joline
Student Council meets for the first time this week in Room 303, Thursday after school.
8th Grade Trip Information
8th Grade Trip packets went home with Grade 8 students on Friday, Sept. 11. Trip deposit and signed permission slip are due to your child's Advisory teacher by October 2nd. On-line registration with our tour company, Worldstrides, is to be completed by October 30. Please see trip packet for details and instructions. For your reference and for more information, here is a link to the 8th grade trip presentation...
Memorials, Monuments, and Museums Fall 2015 Presentation
Girl Talk
Middle School Girls: Join MHS Senior Paiton Marshall on Thursday, October 1st at 2:15 in room 104 ( the health room) to learn more about Blake Middle School’s Girl Talk chapter. Girl Talk is a national mentor organization for middle school girls to receive advice from and bond with high school girls. We will be meeting every other Thursday to discuss a variety of topics relevant to teen life such as friendships, self esteem, health, community service and much more! Email [email protected] with any questions.
Book Discussion Group for Parents - Stay Tuned!
As shared at the end of the 14-15 year and in the summer blog update, I am hoping to initiate a book discussion group for parents for this year. The book will be HOW TO RAISE AN ADULT: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims. Reading it has been centering and thought-provoking - as I have said before, I am not sure I agree with everything, but it certainly has sparked reflection and introspection. Stay tuned!
Attention Theater Parents
Blake is so lucky to have parents who like to help out. This year, the theater program will take more advantage of the time and talents of interested helpers. I would love to have a meeting for all parents interested and available to help with theater needs on Monday, October 5th at 4:45pm. I will be sending notes out after the meeting so if you're interested, but know you won't be able to attend, please e-mail me at [email protected].
Recess Donations
This year we are continuing with recess as part of our Advisory structure. A great deal of research evidence shows that students are more productive and intellectually engaged when a physical and or mental 'break' is provided in the middle of the day. We are looking for donations from families to provide options for students during this time: frisbees, wiffle balls/bats, kickballs, tennis balls, single and double jump ropes, volleyballs, foam footballs, soccer balls, and hula hoops. If you have done some 'fall cleaning' and have extra items that could be donated, have students drop them off in the main office. Thank you in advance for your help.
Substitute Nurses
As with our teaching positions, from time to time our nurse, Tricia Williams, will be out of the building and we need a substitute nurse for these days. We are fortunate that we have several substitute nurses in the district who are able to work on those days. If you are a registered nurse and have an interest in potentially serving as a substitute throughout the year, please let us know. You can contact me ([email protected]) or Tricia Williams ([email protected]). By the same token, if you have friends in the area who would have an interest in serving as a substitute, please let them know that they can contact us as well. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we would appreciate your interest in one of these roles.
Blake Intramurals
Fall intramurals at Blake begin in October. Look for signup information on the intramural page of the website. Parents/guardians are welcome to run intramurals as well. If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Blake Poetry Club
Grace Sowyrda, a High School Senior and Honors English student is in the process of completing her Girl Scout Gold Award on Poetry. She's running a poetry after school program at the the Middle School which will begin on Tuesday October 13th from 2:15 to 3:15. It will be a four week program held on Tuesdays from October 13th to November 3rd. This is a fun intramural for anyone interested in exploring creative writing. During the program, students will learn about different types of poetry, play games, experiment with words and connect with others. They will even learn to share or publish their work if they desire. It will be a stress free atmosphere filled with food, laughter, creativity and of course poetry. The google signup is below. Grace is looking for about 10 to 15 students. Of course it would be great for students to attend all four weeks, but students may also drop in for a session or two.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uCCHaLJZc8wu1a8N7l2cF-hexdq_rKB5oUwIq-wdHQE/edit
If you have any questions just contact Grace Sowyrda at [email protected]
Cross Country
The middle school Cross Country boys were victorious against Westwood last Thursday with the girls running a solid race. This week we had a meet at Hopkinton State Park on Monday and will have a home meet against Medway on Thursday. Practices will be on Tues. and Wed. Please note that there is a schedule change for the following week. The meet originally scheduled for Thursday 10/8 has been moved to Wednesday 10/7.
Field Hockey
The field hockey team had two good games this past week. The first at Weston saw star player Anna Pelosi with over 20 saves in goal. The second game was held at Wellesley. The team kept up the pace for the whole game, giving up just one goal. Star players for this game were Molly, Taylor, and Katie. Molly Hardiman displayed the ability to make quick decisions and had strong, accurate drives that put the ball down the field, Taylor Guindon at the center mid position showed quickness and athleticism contributing both offensively and defensively, and Katie Moon proved to have good field sense and ball control effectively stopping the offense. The team will be off to three away games this week.
Volleyball
Blake's volleyball team is getting into the swing of things, working on skills an teamwork during practice and games. The girls are very supportive and helpful to each other. Coach Hellerstein is greatly encouraged by their willingness to work together, and learn. Keep and eye and ear out for when the next games are, particularly home games. We would love to have devoted fans attend the games to cheer on our players.
Angel Run
Don't forget to sign up for the 2015 MFi Angel Run online at Medfield Foundation | Building Community, Medfield, MA Join our virtual training group by participating in the 10 week training plan. It is only 30 minutes, 3 times a week. Starting this week do six cycles of 1 minute of running followed by 4 minutes of walking. There are ten weeks to train, but only 4 to register by the October 31st deadline for early bird pricing and the famous Angel Run t-shirt.
K-8 PTO News
Meadow Farms Fall Fundraiser
September 24 through October 16
Our Fall Fundraiser with Meadow Farms is well underway. All packets were handed out to students last week so please be sure to check in with your child/ren! Please remember the profits from this Fundraiser benefit Blake students by funding activities, events, outside speakers and more ... your efforts will go a long way!
Along with the prizes provided by Meadow Farms, the overall top 3 sellers in the school will receive a gift card as a thank you for all their effort.
Questions ... please contact Kim Lipsy at [email protected] or 508.423.9765
Open Volunteer Position
This Fall we are looking for a Local Business Coordinator. This is the liaison that works with Subway, Go Fresh and La Groceria for Blake dinner nights. Please contact Maura Gerardi at [email protected] if you are interested in this position.
PTO Dues
Thanks to all who have sent in their PTO dues! If you haven’t yet sent in your dues, please do so. You can send them to any school and Blake will get our share through the Townwide PTO.
Bay State Textiles
The Baystate Textile Fundraiser for Town Wide PTO continues to be a great success! Just a reminder as you clean out your closets for fall that the bins accept clothing, shoes, pocketbooks, linens, accessories, and stuffed animals are as long as they are in clean and dry condition. This helps the PTO fundraise, helps the town save on disposal fees and helps the environment! Last year we raised $3,000 for our schools! Please keep those donations coming!
PTO Meeting
The next Blake PTO meeting will be October 22nd at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Minutes
Did you miss the September PTO meeting? Please see our June and September 2015 PTO meeting minutes in the Thursday Packet to see what you missed.
MCPE News
Registration is filling for MCPE’s November Community Trivia Night and the Student Trivia Challenge events. These events promise to be fast-paced and humor-filled, testing your knowledge in geography, sports, music, science and history. The Community Adult Trivia Night is set forFriday, November 13th, and the Student Trivia Challenge is set for Tuesday, November 10th. Don’t delay as Trivia Night sold out the last two years! Click here to register: MedfieldCoalition.org.
Subway and MCPE: MCPE has partnered with Subway of Medfield. The first Tuesday of every month from 2:00-8:00 PM will be "MCPE Subway Day". TWENTY PERCENT of all proceeds will be donated to MCPE. Last year, this fundraiser generated over $1300 for curriculum enrichment in Medfield. Please make a note that the first "MCPE Subway Day" will be held on Tuesday, October 6th.