12/2 - 6th Grade Chorus/6-8 Orchestra Concert
12/4 - Go Fresh Night for Blake
12/5 - Term 1 Ends
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Info Session (see details below)
7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
12/8 - Term 2 Begins
Site Council Mtg (3:15 p.m. in Blake LMC)
Band Concert
12/9 - Ski Club Meeting
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Info Session (see details below)
Royal Pizza Night for Blake
12/10 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Teachers
Spaghetti with Santa
12/11 - Divide and Conquer Parent Workshop (see details below)
12/12 - Study Skills Workshop for Parents (see details below)
12/16 - Subway Night for Blake
12/17 and 12/18 - 8th Grade to XITC
12/18 - 7th/8th Grade Chorus Concert
12/24-1/2 - Holiday Vacation
1/5 - School Resumes
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations about 'taking a break' and 'unplugging', our topic/question of the week is: You do not abandon the online world when you intentionally take time off from it and all it connects you to.
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Sessions
In an effort to continue our dialogue and share information with the Blake community about our iPad Initiative, we are holding two iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Session for parents/guardians on Friday, December 5 at 9:20 a.m and Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Our hope for these sessions is for the entire Blake community of parents and guardians to hear and see highlights from teachers and students, answer questions, and to gain an understanding of the work that is taking place.
These events are for parents and guardians only. Please RSVP via our Google Form link (iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Session on 12-5-14 and 12-9-14)
to let us know if you are planning on attending so that we can make sure we are prepared. Please fill out the form for each parent/guardian attending the presentation.
Divide and Conquer (Mathematics, MCAS, and Mindsets) Parent Workshop
Join Nat Vaughn and Susan Bycoff, Math Content Specialist, gr. 6-12, for the Fall 2014 'Divide and Conquer' parent workshop. The focus is on mathematics, how students learn math, and a yearly review of MCAS will be presented. This year we will discuss an important topic in learning, Growth Mindset, exploring its place in learning and how students may benefit from this knowledge. The day workshop took place on Wednesday, November 19 at 9:30 a.m., and the evening workshop will be Thursday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP via this Google Form: Divide and Conquer Parent Workshop Fall 2014.
Blake Parent Study Skills Workshop
The Blake Survey in recent years has shown parental interest in learning more about Study Skills as their children work their way through the middle school. Blake teacher Kelly (Dengos) Ruminski ran a workshop last year for the staff at both the middle and high schools in regards to study skills. Friday December 12, 2014, she will run a Parent Study Skills Session at 9:15 a.m. in the Blake Library. If you are a parent interested in learning more about what makes up the skill set required to study, and you are interested in some concrete ways to help structure and support your student's study habits, join us! Bring your mobile device if you can. Please RSVP via this Google Form: Blake Study Skills Workshop 12-12-14.
26 Days of Kindness
We are heading into our third week of 26 Days of Kindness at Blake. The students and staff are enjoying the small, 'easy' gestures that honor Sandy Hook victims as well as build a stronger school culture. As we head into the Thanksgiving break, please continue to send Marissa Gumas ([email protected]) any pictures, videos, or feedback of/on your student's participation in the daily activities. She will be putting a visual representation of all the wonderful things our community is doing.
'Troubling Times' Resources
Thanks to all of the parents who joined us on November 3rd for Christi Barney's presentation on " Troubling Times, Talking with your family about mental health issues." We have posted the slides from her presentation along with a few other resources related to self-injury, grief and other difficult topics that may be useful to families on the guidance website. Check out the new "Resource" tab on the Guidance website for these resources and more throughout the school year. As always, please reach out to a guidance counselor if you have a concern about your child.
Winter Dance Information from Student Council
Our Winter Wonderland dance for 7th and 8th grade students is this Friday, December 5 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Blake Cafeteria. The cost to enter is $5.00. There will be an additional (OPTIONAL) collection at the door for donations to the National AIDS Trust (NAT) in honor of World AIDS Day on December 1, 2014.
The use of mobile phones is prohibited, except in the designated 'Cell-Phone Use' zone. If a student has not yet turned in a dance contract for the 2014-2015 academic year, he/she should see Mrs. Ruminski or Ms. Hurley before Friday, December 5. Attire for this dance is 'dressy optional' - we recognize that some students do desire to dress up for this dance, but this is NOT a requirement and the dance is NOT a semi-formal. For ALL of our dances, students are expected to abide by the guidelines of decency, cleanliness, and safety at all times. We recognize that the dance is a social event outside of the classroom, and as such, rules for attire are more flexible than during the school day. Strapless dresses or spaghetti straps will be permitted with appropriate undergarments and adequate coverage. If, however, a student's clothing is deemed inappropriate, the students' parents/guardians will be contacted.
We at Blake also recognize that the December 5th dance coincides with some of Medfield's holiday festivities 'uptown'. As always, families should plan accordingly to pick students up at 9:00 p.m. The school encourages that students are greeted by adults, rather than walk uptown unsupervised at night.
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.
Reminder for all Blake Students and Families
This is a reminder that as a school we will not be orchestrating 'Secret Santa' type activities for students in which gifts are being purchased and/or given. For a number of reasons, school is not the proper forum for the exchange of gifts, and we appreciate your understanding and support.
Christmas in the City
Permission slips will be going home this week for the 8th grade's field trip to Christmas in the City. In the next few weeks 8th grade advisories will be busy shopping for gifts for children attending the Christmas in the City Event. Each 8th grade advisory is responsible for purchasing a gift for a child off of his or her wish list, worth up to $50, in order to help keep the magic and spirit of the holidays alive for these children. The 8th grade will be purchasing gifts for 15 children and will deliver these gifts when they attend the Christmas in the City community service field trip on December 17 and 18. Contributions towards the cost of the buses are greatly appreciated - checks should be made out to Blake Middle School with Xmas in the City Transportation in the memo line.
Theater Update
Auditions for our school plays started Monday, Dec 1. All students received an email with the links to the sign up sheets for our crew and to audition. We could use some more crew members. They can also be found on the theater page - http://padlet.com/tallen/611ejx2h8v. Over the course of the productions the theater page will have the most up to date information. Auditions will be Dec 1-4. If your students have problems signing up or have any questions, please direct them to Tracy Allen or Kathleen Caprio.
Ted Ed Club
We had a great first meeting. The dates of our meetings for the rest of the year are 12/15, 12/22, 1/9, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/16, 3/30, 4/13, 4/27, and 6/5. All students who haven't brought in their release form, please get that in by Dec 1. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Seth Hellerstein ([email protected]) or Tracy Allen ([email protected]).
Blake Chorus Update/Information
The Blake Choruses are eagerly preparing for our Winter Concerts! The 6th Grade Chorus will sing on Tuesday, December 2nd at 7pm and the 7th and 8th Grade Choruses will perform on Thursday, December 18th at 7pm. Both concerts are in the High School Auditorium.
Singers interested in auditioning for the 'Joy to the World' festive tree lighting singing contest should see Ms. Nothnagel in the Chorus room at the High School. Hosted by MEMO, this audition is open to singers grades K-12 and try-outs to sing at Baxter Park is on Wednesday, December 3rd starting at 6:30pm.
Private School Applications
Students who plan on applying to private school need to contact their guidance counselor. For more information, please call the guidance office or visit the guidance website: Blake Guidance Private School Information.
Blake Ski Club
E-mails will be sent out to Ski Club participants by early next week, confirming their spots in the program. If you are missing any paperwork or payments you will be notified. In addition, if you are not interested in participating in the program please notify Marjorie Heim or Eileen Hurley ASAP. There are many families on the waiting list. Looking for to hitting the slopes!
Winter Basketball Information
The Blake boys basketball team practices began practicing on Monday, December 1 at 2:15-3:00, Monday through Thursday. Practices will be 2:15 - 3:15 staring Monday December 8th. Please contact Jeff Cincotta ([email protected]) with any questions. The girls team will begin practicing on Monday, December 15 at 3:30 in the Blake gymnasium. Please contact Marissa Pendergast ([email protected]) with any questions.
Class of 2017 Fundraiser - Warrior Sweatpants
Are you lacking in school spirit? Are you really cold? Do you need new pants? Do you need a holiday gift? Never fear; Class of 2017 is here! We are EXCITED to announce the sale of WARRIOR SWEATPANTS!! The boot-cut pants are for all ages and sizes of a Medfieldian and cost $30. Please click the following link to order your new favorite pants!!
http://tinyurl.com/2017Pants
Thank you for your support!!
Angel Run
Angel Run News! It is the final week of race preparation. Check your mailbox mid-week for your Angel Run t-shirt delivery. On Sunday be sure to get to the high school by 1:30 to see Santa's entrance by special escort. Training advice for week 10: Run 30 minutes twice this week leaving Friday and Saturday as full rest days. See you at the starting line!
CSA News
Don't forget to send in your box tops!
MCPE News
Please consider making MCPE part of your family’s annual charity gift giving. The Medfield Coalition is so grateful to its supporters. As a non-profit fundraising organization, we work hard to raise funds to support enriching programs for our public schools. Please consider making MCPE part of your family's annual charity gift giving. Visit www.medfieldcoalition.org/support-contribute/donate-now/ to make your year-end tax-deductible donation.
Blue Ribbon Program for Showing Appreciation. Are you looking for a way to let a member of our school community know just how much you and your child appreciate them? Consider MCPE's Blue Ribbon Program: www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/blue-ribbon-program. Requests need to be submitted by Dec. 17th.
Having a holiday party this season? Think MCPE and make it an E4E event! Invite your friends to your holiday party and ask them to make a donation to MCPE as their “ticket” to the event. For questions please email [email protected]. Register your party today! www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/e4e-2/