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
12/12 - 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
12/19 - 7th Grade to A Christmas Carol
12/24-1/2 - Holiday Vacation
1/5 - School Resumes
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about the importance of embracing change and staying relevant, our topic/question of the week is: As we help learners down the path of meaningful and transferable learning experiences, will it make sense to acknowledge the existence of change, change yourself, model the change, and continue to be yourself?
Hour of Code at Blake
We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. But only a tiny fraction of us are learning computer science, and less students are studying it than a decade ago. This skill is increasingly important for our students as we work to increase their problem-solving and analytical skills in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. That’s why our entire school is joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 8-14). Last year, 15 million students tried computer science in one week. This year, we're joining students worldwide to reach 100 million students! This Friday, December 12 all Blake students will participate in the Hour of Code and we will be sure to highlight some of the work on our Mobile Learning Blog. I encourage everyone to check out the following links...
Hour of Code
What Most Schools Don't Teach
Coding in the Classroom: What is it and Why is it So Important?
Twitter Account (@nat_vaughn) and Blake Hashtags (#bmsed and #bmstech)
I continue to encourage both staff, students, and parents/guardians to explore the world of Twitter. For the past two years I have used this technology as a communication and resource tool for both the Blake community and my own learning network. If you are interested in exploring with me, my account is @nat_vaughn. In addition to the weekly blog to our community, I have been tweeting up-to-date information, Blake happenings, links to sites, and articles of interest on a daily or more frequent basis. We have established the hashtag (#bmsed) for education-related tweets of interest and Blake events and (#bmstech) for technology tweets of interest at Blake, so be sure to check them out! Admittedly I had some reservations at first, but Diane Horvath (one of our Technology Integration Specialists) encouraged me to get out of my 'comfort zone' - thanks, Diane! This is by no means an expectation for anyone, but I thought you may find it of interest - I have found the 'dialogue and network' via Twitter to be relevant, engaging, tangible, and simply put - useful.
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. The day workshop took place Friday, December 5 and our evening workshop is 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 12-9-14) 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 - Postponed
The evening session for 'Divide and Conquer' (scheduled for Thursday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m.) has been postponed. Once the new date and time is set, we will be sure to let everyone know and send out another Google Form invitation. Thank you for your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience.
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.
Term 1 Report Cards
This Friday students will bring home their report cards for the first term. Time will be spent in advisory with students reflecting upon the work they accomplished, as well as setting healthy goals for the second term. 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.
26 Days of Kindness
We are heading into our last 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.
Blake Middle School Sponsoring Blood Drive for American Red Cross
This year, during the MLK day of service Blake Middle School will extend its service to the community by holding its first American Red Cross blood drive. Students will form a committee where they will learn the importance of giving blood, and how they can help recruit those old enough to give blood. The committee will meet every Thursday until the MLK day of service on January 19th. Check out the Prezi below that is being shared with students in advisory...
Blake Blood Drive Prezi
Community Service Club Updates
Starting this week the Community Service Club of Blake is holding its annual coat drive until the second week of January. Please locate the boxes outside the library and donate new or gently used winter coats. Child coats of all sizes are most welcomed but coats of all sizes are needed. Thank you and happy holidays.
For the past month, members of the Community Service Club of Blake have visited the Thomas Upham House talking with residents who live there, decorating Christmas trees, and playing games and puzzles with the residents. This connection continues to build with the hope of extending the program to other members of the Blake community. Stay tuned for more information in the spring.
Blake Lip Sync Information
The Blake Lip Sync will be taking place in March of 2015. See information below for details...
Forms and Lyrics due: January 16, 2015
Mandatory Meetings & Dress Rehearsal:
Monday, February 8, 2:15-3:30 in the cafeteria Costume Check
Monday, February 23th from 2:15 until 5:30pm Dress Rehearsal
Performance dates: Friday, March 6, 2015
Blake LMC Update - Pig Race 2014
The Blake Pig Race, culminating event of both our school’s Magazine Drive and Thanksgiving Assembly was a rousing success. Twenty-five pigs raced – the most in the 16 year history of the event! All participating Advisories souped-up and customized their mechanical pigs. Preliminary races took place by grade which was followed by the three-grade winning pig final. The following Advisories qualified for pigs: Grade 6 – Buley, Gow, Millard, Heim, Hurley, Sperling, Alland, Caprio, Dolan, and Ruminski. Grade 7: Gumas, Musto, Batts, McLaughlin, Boulas, Farrell, Manning, Silva, and Winter. Grade 8 – Kearney, Chiasson, Taliaferro, Dalpe, Perachi, and Manning. The winning teams by grade were: Grade 6 - Mrs. Doolan’s pig “Mr. Sizzle,” who was adapted and handled by Henri Beaudoin and Ellie Bayard. Grade 7 – Mrs. Winter’s pig, “Winter’s Cantaloupe,” adapted and handled by Sam Joline and Joe Gaudet. Grade 8 – Mrs. Perachi’s pig, “Perach-da-Pig,” adapted and handled by Andrew Carlson and Mark Friscia. In a close final, “Winter’s Cantaloupe” emerged as the 2014 champion. Special thanks to Donna Knott, for running the magazine drive and to Greg Keohan and Jeff Cincotta for their help with the assembly’s set-up and music. Travis Taliaferro once again blessed our Blake Community with his powerful pre-race “Blessing of the Pigs” inspirational message. Referees Kath McCullough, Mark Nickerson and Jeff Cincotta insured a tightly run and fair race! – Jon Haycock
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 went home this past 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
We had a wonderful week of auditions. Students will receive emails by end of the day Tuesday, December 9, with their part in either the play or the musical. We will do our best to honor requests but will cast the two shows as best for the performances. There will be a meeting for all crew members on Thursday, Dec 11 at 2:15 in the auditorium, and a readthrough of the Darcy show the following Thursday.
Ted Ed Club
The next two Ted Talk Club meetings will be Dec 15 and Dec 22 from 2:15-3pm in room 212.
CSA News
CSA is excited to partner with a new SpiritWear vendor this year. Check out the many items that you can customize at www.mylocker.net, they make great gifts for all members of your family. Check out the Medfield Spirit Wear Flyer link for more info, along with a coupon for an extra discount. And remember - a portion of all purchases is donated to the Blake CSA.
Tuesday, December 9 is Royal Pizza Night form 4-9:00 PM. Royal Pizza Donates 20% of proceeds to Blake Middle School CSA. Thank you, Royal Pizza !
Please keep sending in those Box tops.
The CSA is hosting a New Field Day Spring Fundraiser. They are looking for committee members to help with this fun day for our students that will take place in the Spring on a 1/2 day. Please contact Joellyn Ripp at[email protected] to donate your time, ideas and expertise. We want to make this the best of all field days. Any amount of time you have for any part of this new fundraiser we'll take. Planning, procuring, volunteering the day of, etc. many thanks!
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 byDec. 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/
Medfield Music Association
Tickets for Spaghetti with Santa on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the high school, are still available for $10 each at Park Street Books for the 5:15 and 6:30 p.m. seatings (but the 5:15 p.m. seating is close to selling out). Special thanks to all 7th and 8th grade students who volunteered to serve at the event! This is the 41st year of Spaghetti with Santa, a Medfield Music Association fundraiser to benefit the award-winning Medfield Music Program.