11/10 - No School (Veterans Day Observed)
11/14 - Youth Action Club (see info below)
SEPAC Mtg (see info below)
11/16 - School Committee Mtg
11/17-11/19 - Blake Play Weekend!
11/22 - ½ Day for Students
Blake Turkey Bowl (see info below)
11/23 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/24 - No School
11/27 - Angel Run Poster Making Party
11/28 - Blake Site Council (3:30 p.m.)
12/4 - Samaritans Workshop for Families
12/5 - Spaghetti & Snowballs (MMA)
Blake PTO Meeting
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways that questions foster learning and growth, our question for the week is: What questions are on your mind right now? Asking More Questions (Week of 11/5/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Veterans Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
In a continued effort to provide down time for students, staff, and families, Veterans Day Weekend will be a 'No Homework Weekend' for all of Blake. No assignments will be given with a due date of 11/13 and tests, quizzes, and projects will not be due nor given November 13. Thank you to all of the staff for their support and help in making this happen. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know.
Blake Turkey Bowl
The Blake Wellness team wanted to let you know that we are excited to resume our tradition of hosting an 8th Grade one-hand touch football tournament next Wednesday morning. To help students navigate their way through the anticipation, we thought we would send along some of the information we share with them. The event is meant to be inclusive, active and a showcase of the skills and rules they have been asked to demonstrate in class the past several weeks.
BMS Turkey Bowl
Who: Grade 8 Students
What: A 4v4 one-hand touch football tournament.
When: Wednesday (11/22) - 7:45-9:10 AM. Rain or shine.
Where: Meeting in Blake gym, then proceeding to the HS turf field.
Extra Details:
- Sign ups will take place through a live Google Form to be sent to all eighth graders in a few weeks. *Our Google Form will have an option for students unable to field an entire team of 4 to submit their interest so that we may assist them in the process.
- Sign ups must be entered by Tuesday (11/21) at 2:30PM. At this point the Google Form will be closed.
- All students participating in the Turkey Bowl should report to the gym AFTER attendance/ announcements on (11/22).
Blake Theater - 11/17-11/19
It's a Whole New World at the Blake Auditorium. Come check out our beautifully renovated space when you see the Blake Theater production of Aladdin on November 17th (7pm) and 18th (1pm and 7pm). Tickets are available now on bmstheater.booktix.net. Staff (and students) are $10. We will be having a work-still-in-progress dress rehearsal on Thursday, November 16 that we will open to staff only. It will start around 2:50ish. The list of cast and crew are below. Please come support them and the wonderful team of adults who made this show happen - Sarah LoMonaco, Deb Manning, Kathleen Burkell, Nancy McLaughlin, Joe Knaus, Tom Woods, Maureen Doctoroff, and Kim Price. Hope to see you there.
MCAS Dates for Spring 2024 at Blake
Thank you to all the students who attended the first meeting of the Multicultural Awareness Club (MAC) this past week. For this week's meeting, I will be reaching out to students to bring a personal artifact that is reflective of their culture (not required, however). I'm looking forward to sharing my artifact and hearing about what others bring! ALL ARE WELCOME.
November Reading Challenge!
November reaching challenge is: A book recommended by your library. There is a display up in the library with some of my favorites- please come down and have a look! There are suggestions on all subject areas and all types of books. I’m also happy to make recommendations in person so stop in and let’s find the perfect book for you!! Don’t forget to fill out the Google form on the library website to let me know that you participated! Otherwise, how will I know to send you a prize?
Recess Reminder for All Parents/Guardians
This is a gentle reminder to families that students are going outside for recess and should bring weather-appropriate clothing like winter jackets and gloves so that they will be warm outdoors.
Private School Applications
For those families looking to apply to private school for next year, please make sure all materials (all teacher recommendation forms, transcript request, an 8x11 envelope and 4 stamps per envelope) are to the guidance office at least 3 weeks prior to the application due date. We want to make sure the teachers have sufficient time to provide thoughtful letters for all students applying. If the forms will be sent electronically to the teachers, please e-mail Mrs. Avery and your student's school counselor to inform them. Mrs. Avery tracks all applications and makes sure they get out in time. Any questions, please contact or Ms. Allen (8th), Mr. Marenghi (7th), or Mrs. Dondero (6th).
MHS Theatre Society to perform Grease, November 17-19
Grease travels all the way back to 1958, capturing a sugary and idealized view of teenhood in its early stages. Back when love, slumber parties and prom were the main worries of many teenagers, it brings the audience back to simpler times. Guaranteed to spread a wave of nostalgia to an older audience, and a perception of hope and excitement to the younger audience.
Fresh off their summer love, Danny and Sandy never thought they would see each other again. But when their paths cross again at Rydell High, cliques and popularity complicate everything.
Will Danny and Sandy be able to rekindle their love? Or should it all be left in the summer?
The cast and crew of Medfield Theatre Society cordially invites you to join Danny and Sandy as they navigate their senior year at Rydell High School. Grease: School Version is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Condors Theatricals Company. www.concordtheatricals.com. Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Show dates: November 17 and 18 @7:00 PM, and November 19 @2:00 PM
Location: MHS Auditorium, 88 South Street, Medfield, MA
To purchase tickets:
https://www.ticketsource.us/medfield-high-school-theatre-society
At Pride Alliance, we strive to create a safe space for people in the community, those who want to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community, and also those who wish to learn how to become a better ally. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of identity. Meetings for Pride Alliance will take place on Mondays from 2:15-2:45 in room #309. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jen Dondero ([email protected]) and Kristin Manning ([email protected]).
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 Public Schools - Employment Opportunities and look under ‘Substitute Teaching’. Please contact Kelly Campbell ([email protected]) with any questions.
Youth Action Club
You’re in luck! This year, Medfield Outreach is offering a new club called the Medfield Youth Action Club, or YAC! for short.
Perhaps you’ve seen some flyers around the school or remember the YAC! video you watched in advisory. Here is some more information just in case you missed it…
YAC! is free and open to ALL Blake Middle School students. The club will meet weekly on Tuesdays at Blake after school from 2:15-3:00pm. With structure provided by Medfield Outreach staff, club members will identify a topic that is important to them, learn how to advocate effectively for change, design a way to make a difference on this topic in the Medfield community or at Blake Middle School and then implement their plan.
What happens in this club will be determined by YOU - the Blake students. Whether you’re interested in creating art, public speaking, wellness, advocacy, writing, supporting your friends, politics, making a difference, designing presentations, or taking on other types of activities, YAC! is the place for you.
You are invited to become a part of the first-ever Medfield Youth Action Club! Feel free to drop in for the first meeting to check it out or stay for the entire year.
The first YAC! meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 14th right
after school. Interested students should meet in front of the Blake
Library. Still have questions? Head over to the Counseling Office to get more information or to fill out a YAC! student interest form…
2023-2024 Medfield Youth Action Club (YAC!) Student Interest Form
Message from SEPAC
Medfield Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC). SEPAC is run by a group of parent and caregiver volunteers who work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community. SEPAC has a lot of exciting things planned for this school year. Mark your calendars to join us at our upcoming meetings/ events: Tuesday, November 14th at 7 p.m. at the Blake Middle School Library: Basic Rights Workshop, followed by a board meeting. Our meetings are open to all who wish to attend. A high school student has volunteered to child-watch during the meetings. A Zoom link can be provided upon request. Please RSVP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSev0ywtTgQ5M5ZadWSb7RY8VxiV9ocbJszILYex2g7Lck4iUw/viewform?usp=sf_link or get in touch with us at [email protected]
Our first-ever parent connection group for parents and caregivers of individuals with Down Syndrome meets on November 16th at 11:30 a.m. at the Medfield Library. Hope to see you there! Please email [email protected] with questions. Check out our website, Facebook, and Instagram social media pages. We share area events and more!
Reminder that the PTO serves to support Blake teachers through financial grants, hands-on support, and ongoing teacher appreciation efforts on behalf of all parents. If you have not already, please consider donating $50 for the year (or whatever amount feels appropriate) through Venmo @MedfieldTownwide-PTO or a check made out to Blake PTO. If you are interested in volunteering once or twice a month during the school day to help teachers with photocopying or bulletin boards, please email [email protected]
The Medfield Music Association Wreath and Bulb Sale is here! Let us help you decorate this holiday season! Order a 20" noble fir wreath ($35). Our amaryllis bulb kits($15) are close to being sold out. Please help support grades K-12 Medfield Music Programs. Order by Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Deliveries will take place the Saturday after Thanksgiving to Medfield residences. Order at: https://www.medfieldmusicassociation.com/
Two dinner seatings are available: one at 5:15 p.m., and another at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each (plus a small processing fee) and only 250 tickets are available for each seating.This event sells out quickly every year, and families are encouraged to buy their tickets early. Ticket sales open on November 1st!
This event is brought to you by the Medfield Music Association (MMA) and proceeds benefit the music program in all Medfield Public Schools.
Workshops/Webinars of Interest
Fearless Grading
Tuesday, 11/14 at 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 11/14 at 4:30 p.m.
Join us for a discussion of the possibilities of harnessing AI to create transformative opportunities for teachers and learners. Sal Khan, of Khan Academy, Cynthia Breazeal, of MIT Open Learning and MIT Media Lab, and Bridget Terry Long, of Harvard Graduate School of Education, will explore how generative AI could lead to transformative improvements in teaching and learning, student supports, and career success.
The speakers will consider new opportunities for AI-enabled applications in education as well as the challenges faced, including mitigating bias and ensuring affordability, in a rapidly changing technology environment.
This event is organized by Axim Collaborative, in collaboration with Berkman Klein Center, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard VPAL, Khan Academy, MIT Media Lab, MIT Open Learning, and Partnership for Education Advancement.
For more information, please visit Axim Collaborative.
"Perspective-Taking Strategies for Deepening Understanding and Critical Thinking" with Tricia Ebarvia
Monday, 11/20 at 7:00 p.m.
Given today’s challenging social media and (dis)information ecosystem, it’s easy to see how many of us — teachers and students — can fall into either-or traps of thinking or to accept, as given, many dominant (and harmful) narratives we have about the most important issues of our time. Every day, we see evidence of how fear and bias are used to manipulate the public, and our kids are not immune to this.
But as psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt reminds us, “Neither our evolutionary path nor our present culture dooms us to be held hostage by bias. Change requires a kind of open-minded attention that is well within our reach” (Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do, 7). Every day in our classrooms, we can engage in an “open-minded attention” that not only protects kids against biased thinking traps, but also empowers them to seek perspectives beyond their own and beyond those loudest in the room or on their devices.
In this session, we’ll explore strategies we can practice with our students as they read, respond, and interpret texts and the world beyond those texts. We can seek answers to questions like: What other possibilities exist? Whose voice or perspective am I missing? Whose voices or perspectives have I dismissed and why? What do I have to learn here? How can I know better, think expansively, and see more clearly? We can make looking again, behind, and next to a habit of mind.
When students are practiced in perspective-taking, they exercise the flexibility and empathy required to understand issues and ideas from multiple points-of-view. With the problems we face in the world today, we need more young people who are practiced in seeing issues from varying, even contradictory perspectives.
We're thrilled to welcome back Tricia Ebarvia, author of the new book Get Free: Antibias Literacy Instruction for Stronger Readers, Writers, and Thinkers (Corwin, 2024) for this free 45-minute webinar that will help educators reframe their classroom instruction to promote critical inquiry, understanding, and expansive perspective-taking approaches.
Tips for Talking with Your Teen about Drugs & Alcohol in Today’s World - Presented by Dr. Safdar Medina
Tuesday, 12/5 at 6:00 p.m.
Dr. Medina is the Pediatric Director at Tri River Health Center in Uxbridge and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMassChan Medical School. He currently serves as the school physician for the Northborough/Southborough School District. He was awarded a grant by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2008 to work with community partners on teen substance use prevention. He treats youth who struggle with mental health conditions and addiction, including providing medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
Questions or comments? Contact Natick 180 at [email protected]