2/3 - Nadine Briggs Parent Presentation (see details below)
2/4 - 8th Grade Placement Test Make-Ups (7:40-9:15)
2/5 - Blake Ski Club
Go Fresh Night for Blake
2/6 - Digital Learning Day for Medfield Staff (#DLDMedfield)
No School for Students
2/10 - Twitter Workshop for Parents *Originally scheduled for 1/28
Tri-County Interviews
2/16-2/20 - February Vacation
2/24 - iPad Highlights and Information Session (see details below)
2/25 - iPad Highlights and Information Session (see details below)
2/25 - Incoming 6th Grade PIN (6:30 p.m.)
3/5 - Incoming 8th Grade PIN (6:30 p.m.)
3/11 - Incoming 7th Grade PIN (6:30 p.m.) *Originally scheduled for 3/12
3/12 - Band-o-Rama
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations about the ideas of relevance and connections, our topic/question of the week is: Often people have great ideas - or plant the seed for an idea - when doing something that is relaxing to them, such as taking a walk. But they won't have as many of those ideas if they do not have any new challenge to think about.
Term 2 Interim Reports
This week students will be bringing home their interim reports for the second term. They will be spending time in their advisories reflecting upon the work they have accomplished thus far, and setting healthy/measured goals for the second half of the term. Our hope is that this communication tool will give you an update on the progress your child is making in school. 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.
Twitter??? Tweets are for kids!! (And adults…) ** Originally scheduled for 1/28
2/10/15 at 8:30 a.m.
We are thrilled to offer this workshop again for all parents!
Come explore the Twitterverse with Jason Heim (@jasonj1507), 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 (or RSVP again if you had previously signed up for 1/28) via our Google Form: Twitter Workshop for Parents 2-10-15.
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Sessions
2/24 at 6:30 p.m. and 2/25 at 8:30 a.m.
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 Tuesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 25 at 8:30 a.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 Info Sessions 2-24-15 and 2-25-15) 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.
Parent/Student iPad Survey January 2015
Thank you to all parents who have taken the iPad Survey that was sent out Monday, January 26. For those who have not had a chance, my hope is that you will be able to find some time over the next couple of days. This survey is Part 2 of our data collection process and it is being distributed electronically to all Blake Middle School grade students and parents. The questions will serve as a midpoint assessment (middle of year) tool and we will be administering a similar survey at the end of the year as well. The questions have to do with organizational skills, executive functioning, and comfort with technology. Questions are being sent to all three grades. The survey is not an evaluative tool of the teachers or the students; rather, it is a tool that we believe will help us gain insight about the initiative, our programming, and technology. The questionnaire is anonymous, and your identity can not and will not be discovered through the completion of this survey. You will see that the survey is for both students and parents, and students will be given time in school to complete it. It is important we only get one response per student. We appreciate your honest responses and are hoping for 100% participation from the student body and parents. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes of your time. Your sincere responses are essential to our information-gathering vision and mission. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me ([email protected]). Please take the time to complete a unique survey for each student you have at Blake Middle School: Student/Parent iPad Survey January 2015
Digital Learning Day for Blake and Medfield Staff - 2/6/15
The official Digital Learning Day 2015 is scheduled for Friday, March 13, but in Medfield we are also recognizing it on our professional day next Friday, February 6, 2015. I encourage you to check out our blog, DLD Medfield 2015, and to follow the hashtag #DLDMedfield throughout the next week and on Friday, 2/6/15 to stay current with the Blake and Medfield tweeters. Some of our Blake students will be helping out throughout the day as well. We are excited about this opportunity to learn from one another and expand our understandings of technology integration.
Medfield SEPAC Parent Presentation
Winning Over Worries: Parenting the Anxious Child
Tuesday, February 3rd from 7-9 p.m.
Blake Middle School Auditorium
RSVP by January 27 to Una Smith [email protected]
This seminar will discuss what kids worry about, how to teach kids what worrying is and how to manage those strong feelings. Parents can play a huge role in helping kids manage anxiety. Learn many strategies on how you can help in as little as 5 minutes a day. Roundtable discussion included to discuss your personal situation. Nadine Briggs, Director of Simply Social Kids, is an accomplished social educator. Nadine has expertise and certifications in bullying and cyberbullying prevention and sibling relationships (Sibshops). She is trained in social thinking methods, uses collaborative problem solving to teach children conflict resolution and has been trained by the Child Anxiety Network at Boston University. She has dual graduate certifications in Coaching Children & Teens and Coaching Children & Teens with ADHD.
Tri-County Interviews
Tri County interviews will be February 10th. If your student is applying and you have not already done so, please contact Tracy Allen at [email protected].
Theater Recognition
Many thanks to everyone who made Darcy's Cinematic Life happen despite Juno's best effort to derail it. The kids all did an amazing job both onstage and backstage. If you have not seen the exquisite recreations of artistic masterpieces, please check them out in the Blake lobby starting next week.
Staycation
Last chance to sign up for February break's Staycation is this Friday, Feb 5. We need at least 10 students per day to be able to run it. Any questions, please contact Tracy Allen at [email protected].
Blake Site Council Survey
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey and an Executive Summary will be distributed to families in the coming weeks. Focus areas on the survey centered on the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. Our intent is to distribute the 2014-2015 survey in early February in the hopes of gathering the data by February vacation. Stay tuned!
Parent Information Nights - Mark Your Calendars!
2/25 - Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming sixth grade (current fifth grade) students. We will be presenting information about the 6th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year along with an overview of the middle school. A more detailed presentation about the logistics of the 2015-2016 academic year's iPad Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
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3/5 - Incoming 8th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming eighth grade (current seventh grade) students. We will be presenting information about the 8th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year. A more detailed presentation about the logistics of the 2015-2016 academic year's iPad Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
3/11 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m. ** This night was originally scheduled for 3/12
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming seventh grade (current sixth grade) students. We will be sharing information about the 7th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year. We will also be presenting information about the 7th grade's field trip to Nature's Classroom. A more detailed presentation about the logistics of the 2015-2016 academic year's iPad Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
8th Grade Families - Save the Date!
February 26, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
High School Auditorium
Please join members of the high school faculty as they present an overview of the Medfield High School academic curriculum. Additional information will be sent home as the date becomes closer. If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact Heather Mandosa, Assistant Principal at [email protected] or Stephanie Worthley, Guidance Content Specialist at [email protected] or call the high school at (508) 359-4367.
Mark Your Calendars - MCAS Dates for Sessions 1 and 2
Session 1
3/23/15 - Grade 6 ELA
3/24/15 - Grade 7 Long Composition
3/26 - Grade 7 ELA
3/27 - Grade 6 ELA
3/30- Grade 8 ELA
3/31 - Grade 8 ELA
4/1 - Grade 7 ELA
4/2 - Grade 7 Long Composition Make-Up
Session 2
5/4 and 5/5 - Grade 6 Mathematics
5/6 and 5/7 - Grade 8 Mathematics
5/11 and 5/12 - Grade 8 Science and Tech
5/13 and 5/14 - Grade 7 Mathematics
Career Day Planning
The 2015 Career Day for the 8th grade will take place on our half day, March 17th. For this program, we enlist community members and parent volunteers who are interested in sharing about their occupation with our students. We have 3 sessions and each one is about 35 minutes long. Each participant would have the option to speak at one, two or three of the sessions, depending on the individual's schedule. To make this a success, we will need 20 volunteers. If you are interested and available to participate, please contact Debbie Avery ([email protected]) for more information. We welcome past presenters and new volunteers alike.
Ted Talk Club
The Ted Talk Club will meet in Room 212 on Monday, February 9 and Monday, February 23 until 3pm.
CSA News
Please take a look at the Blake CSA volunteer form and sign up to co-chair or volunteer for any open activities.
http://docs.google.com/forms/d/13mcnCavHDlVAOhiiCi5pDKcrQtKvdE-VXHqv5VPNK80/viewform5
Don't forget to send in those box tops!
MCPE News
‘And the Oscar goes to…’
How about an E4E party with friends to checkout the latest fashions on the red carpet and see who will take home an Oscar?
• Plan a February 22 party for the Academy Awards (or plan a party anytime!)
• Invite your friends, asking them to make a donation to MCPE as their "ticket" to the event
• Have fun AND raise money for Medfield Schools
To-date, MCPE has funded over $40,000 in grants across all five public schools. We still need additional funds to help us continue this level of giving.
For questions about your E4E party, please contact Megan Infantino (508-359-9928), Kim Price (508-246-8335), or email [email protected].
Register your party at www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/e4e-2/
Medfield Music Association
The Sing Off, featuring 12 Blake students and 8 MHS students, is a vocal contest for our talented singers that will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4 in the MHS auditorium. In addition to our students, the event will feature The Bostonians of Boston College, an a cappella group directed by alumni Paul Wagenseller. Tickets for The Sing Off are on sale now at Park Street Books -- $5 for students & seniors, and $10 for adults. Blake students who auditioned and successfully earned a spot in The Sing Off as a soloist or duet member are: Sophia Gustafson, Nolan Hogan, Mike Koellner, Thomas McGowan, Matthew McGrory, Bekah Morrison, Maria Neafus, Jessica Nicotera, Zoey Pollard, Alana Potts, Katie Predella and Emily Rosecrans.