3/8 - #DLDMedfield
3/9 - Incoming 8th Grade Parent Information Night (6:30 p.m.)
3/10 - Blake Science Fair (4 p.m. in Blake LMC)
3/13 - Safe Learning Environment Parent Presentation (see details below)
3/14 - Band-O-Rama
3/16 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Information Night (6:30 p.m.)
3/17 - Term 2 Ends
3/24 - Term 2 Report Cards go home
3/31-4/2 - MICCA Festival
4/7-4/9 - Blake Musical
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about recharging, staying centered, and finding meaning in one's work, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What are you looking forward to learning about this week? Seeking Out Learning (Week of 3/5/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Fostering A Safe Learning Environment for Our Students and Community - Monday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
Schools are supposed to be a place where all students can learn. They need to be a place where students can explore who they are and find their strengths and work on their weaknesses. All groups should be accepted so that they can flourish and become contributing members of society. - Peter DeWitt
Please join us for an introductory parent presentation and discussion with Colby Swettberg and Blake educators as we discuss how to best foster a safe learning environment for our community, specifically our LBGTQ youth and families. As outlined below, this event will lay the foundation for our upcoming work we will be doing with our students, staff, and the greater community to assure an inclusive atmosphere of respect, acceptance, and understanding. It is is an opportunity for parents and community members to learn more about this endeavor and get answers to questions that exist. The evening will include...
- Sharing of vocabulary, terminology, and legal updates/implications for schools
- Panel discussion of educators, parents, and mental health providers
- Outline future programming for Blake students (see timeline below)
- Question and answer forum
Safe Learning Environment Evening 3/13/17 - Blake Communication
Safe Learning Environment Parent/Community Evening RSVP Form (3/13/17)
Blake Site Council 16-17 Survey
The Blake Site Council has been working on the development of our annual survey to students and parents. A similar survey has been administered the last three years and we are committed to having parents and students take it each year as part of our continual efforts to examine our programming. Focus areas include the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. The results will help us to gather information and examine our current practices to better meet the needs of our students and assess progress towards our mission. Please complete the survey for each child you have at Blake, and base your responses on your student's experiences this year. The questionnaire is anonymous, and your identity can not and will not be discovered through the completion of this survey. We sincerely appreciate your honest responses and are hoping for 100% participation from the Blake community. If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]). Link to the survey: Blake Middle School Parent Survey February 2017
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey. The Blake Middle School Executive Summary 15-16 of the compiled data is here for your reference, and I hope you are able to find some time to read the highlights.
For Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians
Below please find links to the Course Selection Google Forms that all incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete...
2017-18 Blake Middle School Music Selection
2017-18 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Blake Science Fair
The Blake Middle School Science Fair will be held on Friday March 10th at 4 p.m. in the Blake LMC. Come show your enthusiasm for science by attending this wonderful event!
Parent Information Nights - Mark Your Calendars!
3/9 - 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.
3/16 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
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.
For your reference and information, here are links to the presentations and handouts for grade 6...
Blake Incoming 6th PIN 2017 Presentation
Blake Parent Resources Handout 2017-2018
Blake Program of Studies 2017-2018
Parent/Guardian Input Information for 2017-2018
Parental/guardian input is an important part of our planning purposes for the 2017-2018 academic year. Please refer to the Blake Parent/Guardian Input Letter Spring 2017 regarding our porcess and the guidelines for input. If you are interested in sharing information, please submit your thoughts in writing not later than Friday, March 17. As stated in the letter, written requests for specific teachers and will not be entertained or accepted. Your letter should be addressed to your child's guidance counselor and Assistant Principal, Kelly Campbell. Guidance counselors for next year will be Jen Dondero (Grade 6), Matt Marenghi (Grade 7), and Tracy Allen (Grade 8).
Digital Learning Day for Blake and Medfield Staff - 3/8/17
This Wednesday is Digital Learning Day for the staff of the Medfield Public Schools. I encourage you to check out these links, Medfield's Digital Learning Day and DLD Medfield Schedule 2017, and to follow the hashtag #DLDMedfield throughout the week and on Wednesday, 3/8/17 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 as we continue to work towards our mission for our students and school.
Blake Baseball Meeting - 3/22
The Blake Baseball sign-up meeting will be Wednesday, March 22nd after school in the Blake LMC. This meeting is mandatory if you would like to play. If you are not able to make the meeting, please contact Mr. Becker: [email protected]
Blake Softball Information
The 2017 softball season is nearly here. We are excited to again be a 7th and 8th grade team. This year it looks like the weather may cooperate and we will be able to start practicing March 20th. Middle school softball is a great place for both seasoned and new players. If your daughter is thinking about giving it a try - do not hesitate to contact Cynthia McClelland ([email protected]).
Photos for Yearbook - 8th Grade!
8th Graders!!! We are collecting childhood or baby pictures for a special section in the Blake yearbook. Write your name on the back of the photo and hand it in to your Advisor byFriday, March 17th. Remember that we DO NOT return the pictures.
A New Intramural at Blake. . . . Math League
This winter 19 Blake students from the sixth, seventh and eighth grade participated in a math intramural program. These mathematicians attended practice sessions where they worked together to solve interesting and challenging math problems with varying degrees of difficulty. Working in a relaxed atmosphere, these students started with problems within their respective comfort levels; and over the course of the program with the encouragement and support of their peers, many pushed themselves to solve problems above their grade level. On February 28th, each team member participated in the New England Math League Contest. Scores were impressive for teams at every level. Look for Math League's triumphant return to the Blake Middle School intramural program soon. Thanks to Nancy McLaughlin for her leadership in this endeavor!
8th Grade Trip Forms
A packet of medical forms was sent home with your 8th grader last week for the Washington, D.C. trip Please take time to review and complete the forms which are due back to your child’s advisory teacher by April 3rd, 2017. Forms should be completed in pen, dated and signed. If your child will need to take any medication on the trip (prescription and/or non-prescription), then his/her physician needs to review and sign the medication form. Please plan ahead and submit the medication form to your child’s physician within the next two weeks in order to get the signed form back to school by the April 3rd deadline. Please contact our school nurse, Tricia Williams, at 508-242-8554 or [email protected] if you have any questions after reviewing the packet. Your assistance is appreciated in returning the forms on time as we finalize preparations for the trip.
Spread the Word to End the Word
Wednesday, March 2 was the Spread the Word to End the Word Day of National Awareness. The R-word is the word 'retard(ed)' - and it hurts because it is exclusive, offensive, and derogatory. This campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people. Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions. Blake students will have the opportunity to pledge to use respectful, people-first language during our acceptance activities in the month ahead. Stay tuned for more.
Mathematics Placement Process
Math teachers at Blake will soon start the process of course placement for the 2017-2018 school year. The goal of the process is to see that every student is placed in a class that allows for them to learn math well while feeling good about their efforts. For current 6th and 7th grade students, decisions on student placement are made by considering current class grades, placement test grades, MCAS scores and teacher recommendations. For current 8th grade students, placement is determined by success in their current class level and teacher recommendation. We are very mindful during this time to consider the whole child while making these decisions. Additionally, it is important to us that parents feel they have a voice in this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher. If your questions involve long-term planning for math, do not hesitate to email Susan Bycoff, Math Content Specialist at [email protected]. Thank you!
Blake Celebrates Read Across America On Dr. Seuss's Birthday
Check out the #ReadAcrossAmerica blog post from Jon Haycock...
http://blakelmcproject.wixsite.com/blakelmc
Next-Generation MCAS Dates for Blake Students
All of our Blake students will be participating in the Next-Generation MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) assessments this spring. Our grade 8 students are required to take the computer-based assessments for both English Language Arts and Mathematics, and these will be administered on district-owned Chromebooks. All of our students will be taking assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and our grade 8 students will also be taking the Science and Technology/Engineering assessment. If you would like more information regarding these assessments, please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/. Below are the administration dates for these assessments...
Grade 6
ELA (4/25, 4/26)
Math (5/18, 5/19)
Grade 7
ELA (4/27, 4/28)
Math (5/16, 5/17)
Grade 8
ELA (4/4, 4/5, 4/7)
Math (5/4, 5/5)
Sci/Tech/Eng (5/10, 5/11)
Make-up testing will take place when students return from their absence(s), provided that their return takes place within the testing window determined by the Commonwealth. We appreciate your assistance in looking at these dates and being mindful to try and avoid medical/dental appointments or conflicts with these assessments. As always, do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
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.net and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities", the. Professional Staff Openings. Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
Book Discussion Group for Parents
The next Blake Site Council/Blake community book is The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik. We will be discussing the entire book on Monday, 4/3 at 4:30 p.m.
Message from Blake PTO
2nd ANNUAL BLAKE APPEAL Blake PTO has some great news! Back by popular demand, our second annual BLAKE APPEAL will run March 1, 2017 – April 1, 2017. Your contribution to this appeal gets you and others off the hook from the many volunteer hours needed to make a traditional fundraiser a success, not to mention 100% of your tax-deductible contribution goes directly to the Blake PTO.
The Blake PTO spends approximately $61.00 per student to provide enriching and educational services as well as technology initiatives that support both our students and teachers that are not funded by the town. To continue to fund Blake PTO’s current needs and future initiatives for the 2017-2018 school year we have identified a fundraising goal of $30,000. While Blake Middle School does promote fundraisers throughout the year, such as the Magazine Drive, these are NOT PTO fundraisers and do not benefit the BLAKE PTO.
We need your help. We are requesting a contribution of $50/child this year. This is a suggested amount but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute.
Making a donation is easy. Simply click on the link http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake.html or send a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO to Blake at 24 Pound St. Medfield, MA 02052.
We are hoping for 100% participation of Blake families by April 1, 2017, so that our students and teachers over the next year can benefit as the students before them. Thank you in advance for your support of the Blake PTO. Please feel free to contact Claudia Rosen [email protected] or Kim Price [email protected] with any questions.
OPEN PTO BOARD POSITIONS for 2017-2019 SCHOOL YEAR We are looking for a Blake PTO Co-President for the 2017-2019 school years. The town wide PTO is looking for a publicist to cover Memorial, Wheelock, Dale St. and Blake Middle School for the 2017-2019 school years. There will be training for all positions. We would love to have you join our team! Please contact Kim Price for more information [email protected].
TOWN WIDE BOX TOPS CONTEST Memorial, Wheelock, Dale Street and Blake Middle School…Which school will win by bringing in the most Box Tops before March 31st? The school that brings in the most Box Tops will win a special prize for the entire school. Please start cutting out your Box Tops and bringing them to school. Please contact Jane Barr mailto:[email protected] with any questions.
STAY IN TOUCH Our email address has changed to www.medfieldk8pto.com. Make sure you don't miss out on important posts sent throughout the week. Please LIKE us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO and follow us on Twitter @MedfieldK8PTO.
PTO MEETING Please join us at our next PTO meeting on March 15th at 9:00 am in the Blake LMC.
Message from MCPE
L-C-R Tournament- Limited spots still available!
Limited tables are available for the Second Annual L-C-R Tournament on Friday March 24- don’t run out of time! $350 for a table of 10 and a night of fast fun, luck, music and prizes- and all proceeds go to your kids through the MCPE! Register now at www.medfieldcoalition.org.
Seeking Nominations for the The Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award
Bob MaGuire was Principal of Medfield High School for 8 years and Superintendent of Schools for 14 years. In recognition of his commitment to our students,
the MCPE has created this award to honor an educator in the Medfield school community who embodies Bob's legacy of exposing our students to the world outside of Medfield. The MaGuire award is given to a staff member who inspires students to learn more about the global community through innovative programs and technologies.
Parents, administrators, school staff and community members are encouraged to nominate a recipient for the Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award. Nominations are due April 14, 2017. The recipient will be announced at the MCPE annual meeting on May 18, 7:00 at the Zullo Gallery. For more information and criteria, please visit: www.medfieldcoalition.org/grants/bob-maguire-award/.