5/24-5/27 - 8th Grade Trip
5/24 - Grades 4-6 Orchestra Concert
5/26 - MCPE Annual Meeting at Zullo Gallery (see details below)
5/28-5/30 - No Homework Weekend
5/30 - Memorial Day (No School)
6/1 - Blake Art Show Reception
Grades 6-8 Band Concert
Grades 7-8 Orchestra Concert
6/2 - Blake Mini-Marathon (see details below)
6/3 - Great East Music Festival
Civics Field Trip
6/7 - Blake Chorus Concert
6/8 - PEM Field Trip - Koalas
6/9 - PEM Field Trip - Otters
6/10 - Grade 8 Mandarin Field Trip
PEM Field Trip - Sea Turtles
6/13 - Blake Site Council Mtg - 3:30 p.m.
MHS Athletics Meeting (see details below)
6/15 - Creature Feature Field Trip
6/22 - 8th Grade Closing Ceremony (see details below)
6/23 - Last Day of School for Students and Staff
Happy Summer!!!
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about fostering connections within our community, this week's topic/question for the dinner table is: Who do you 'lean on' for support within our community, and why? Please see link to Google Form to share your responses: Connecting a Community (5/22/16) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
8th Grade Trip to Washington, D.C.
I encourage the entire Blake community to follow our hashtag #blakeindc this week (5/24-5/27) to stay current with the Blake tweeters as we look to share and 'record' the trip.
Blake Middle School Art Show
Come join us at the Blake Middle School Art Show reception Wednesday, June 1 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. The show will be up from Tuesday, May 31-Friday, June 3.
ADL Update
We have received close to 40 applications for the 14 open slots in the ADL Peer Leader Program! Students should be sure to email Mrs. Campbell once they have sent along their google form application to ensure that it went through properly. Applications will be reviewed and interviews may occur during the last week in May and new ADL peer leaders will be announced in early June. There are a limited number of spots for students going into 8th grade as most peer leaders who are current 7th graders are continuing next year.
The 4th annual Blake Marathon is here!!
Who: Blake staff, students, & families
What: Runners/walkers will be grouped into 3 waves, by grade level.
When: Thursday, June 2, 2016
Where: The race will snake around the Middle and High School campuses for 2.1 miles.
Why: To bring our Blake Community together and raise money for a good cause - The Heather Abbott Foundation!!
What do we need from families?
1) Parents MUST sign the attached Indemnity Form for ALL students (Runners, walkers, and cheering group) in order for students to participate.
2) This year’s registration “fee” is a suggested donation of $5.00 to The Heather Abbott Foundation. “Fees” can be submitted in cash or checks made payable to The Heather Abbott Foundation.
3) Parents/guardians interested in helping with the following roles, should indicate in the Google form below – we’d LOVE any support you can offer, especially in providing cases of water!
Parent Help sign-up - Click here
BEFORE RACE DAY:
Dropping off a case of water on 6/1
ON RACE DAY:
Runner check-in - before the race
Recording running times– during the race
Runner water stations/ recovery zone set-up & clean up
Memorial Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
In a continued effort to provide down time for students, staff, and families, Memorial Day Weekend will be a 'No Homework Weekend' for all of Blake. No work will be due on Tuesday, May 31 and tests, quizzes, and projects will not be due or given on May 31 or June 1. 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.
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.
iPad Planning Inventory for 2016-2017 - Please Complete
As you know we are continuing with our mobile learning program at Blake for the entire 6th-8th grade for the 2016-2017 academic year. To help us effectively plan for next year, we are asking all current 5th-7th grade parents/guardians (incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians for the 2016-2017 academic year) to let us know your plans for your student (Lease-to-Own, Bring an iPad from home, Borrow) for next year, by completing this brief survey by Thursday, May 12: iPad Planning Inventory at Blake Middle School for 2016-2017. This inventory is different than the initial survey sent back in January. Please fill out this inventory for each child that will be attending Blake next year. This decision is not binding and we recognize that your plans may change - confirmation and final decisions will be made by mid-June, 2016. I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to complete this brief inventory and am hoping for 100% participation.
We have outlined the Blake Mobile Learning Initiative Participation Options (Lease-to-Own, Bring an iPad from home, Borrow) for Blake students for this program. We are committed to providing an equitable learning experience for our students and appreciate the shared commitment and investment in the education of our students. As such we have a system in place for families with demonstrated financial need.
The 'minimum specifications' will still remain as the iPad 4, meaning the following are acceptable devices for students to use: iPad4, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, or iPad Air. The device selected by the students/families will suffice for the students' needs in school as long as Apple continues to update the OS (operating system) on that device. If your family intends to purchase a new device this year, then the iPad4, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, or iPad Air are the recommended devices. Our work over the last four years has provided a foundation as our teachers and staff continue to thoughtfully implement and review the effectiveness of this initiative. It is important to keep in mind that teachers and students will be following the same curriculum frameworks and the common core Blake curriculum.
For your reference I am sharing links below to documents about our initiative/program...
Blake Mobile Learning Blog
Blake iPad Program Update for 16-17
Blake Mobile Learning General Information (has articles, background information, and philosophy)
Blake Mobile Learning FAQs 16-17
Blake Mobile Learning Initiative Participation Options
iPad Program Estimated Lease-to-Own Pricing Structure 16-17
We are excited about the prospects that lie ahead as we work to provide your students with the opportunity to learn with meaningful technology and are hopeful that we can foster and promote a positive and relevant learning experience. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]) with any questions, concerns, or thoughts that you may have.
Marimba Concert Flyer
Check out the flyer below for information about the Marimba event on June 9!
http://ngomadzakanaka.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/1/4/31140019/lowell_mason_house_concert_flyer.pdf
8th Grade Closing Ceremony
Our 8th grade closing ceremony and goodbye evening will be on Wednesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. This evening will be our opportunity to thank and recognize our 8th graders for their years at Blake and wish them well as they head off to high school. Families are welcome, and there will be a reception with refreshments, including allergen-free treats, in the cafeteria following the ceremony. We are hoping for a 'cool weather' evening.
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 March, 2016
Grade 6 Standards Based Reporting Pilot and Focus Group
Thank you to all sixth grade parents/guardians who were able to come to one of our Standards Based Reporting information sessions. As promised, here is the link to the presentation...
Standards Based Reporting Presentation Fall 2015
We are also looking for parents/guardians to be part of our parent focus group. This group will be comprised of the 6th grade science teachers, administration, and parents and will meet throughout the year (Fridays at 12:30 p.m.) to discuss the work that is taking place and provide feedback. The remaining date that has been set for is: 6/3. If you are interested, please complete the form below...
Standards Based Reporting Focus Group Sign-Up
High School Athletics Meeting
On Monday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a meeting held in the gymnasium at the Medfield High School for all athletes and their parents interested in playing high school athletics this coming fall season at Medfield. This meeting is very important and will cover many questions and concerns you may have, as well as introductions to all high school coaches and staff. Immediately following this meeting, coaches will meet with their respective sports to speak about the season and answer any questions you may have.
*Sports offered for the fall season are:
Cross Country (Boys and Girls)
Soccer (Boys and Girls)
Volleyball (Girls)
Field Hockey (Girls)
Football (Boys)
Golf (Co-ed)
K-8 PTO Update
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The PTO is looking for a coordinator and parent volunteers who are willing to PAY IT FORWARD. Traditionally, a few 7th grade parents step up to organize and set up some light refreshments for the 8th grade closing ceremony. All that is required is providing and serving water and cookies (all costs reimbursed). This function is going to be held the evening of June 22nd. Will you help keep this Blake community tradition alive? Sign up by emailing [email protected]. We appreciate all your help and support. We couldn’t do it without you!
MEDFIELD SPIRIT WEAR
Attention Spring Sports Teams, Club Organizers and Administrators! Blake PTO & MyLocker are ready to get you geared up for the season and your big event. Customize EVERYTHING from text to colors and designs from sports to drama to music. Choose from t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, pants, bags, hats, blankets & more. Spend $85 or more and get a free customized t-shirt. 12% of proceeds from each order will go to your school’s PTO. NOTE: Due to different branding sizes, make sure to check all size charts when ordering to ensure you get a great fit for each product. Please contact Laura Zaher [email protected] with any questions. This is all you have to do:
- Go to shop.mylocker.net, enter your school locker number - BLAKE BD979 and use promo code b2g6dTK1
RECYCLE INKJET AND TONER CARTRIDGES
Get rid of your trash and help Blake earn cash & supplies by recycling your inkjet and toner cartridges. We accept HP, Brother, Canon and Lexmark cartridges. Collection boxes are located outside of the Library. Thanks for your help! Please contact Donna Knott at [email protected] with any questions.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Please like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO , follow us on Twitter MedfieldK8PTO and check out our website http://medfieldpto.weebly.com
MCPE Update
The MCPE Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 PM at the Zullo Gallery. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. We will be honoring the following Medfield administrators, teachers and students: Robert Parga, Kerry Cowell, Steve Grenham, Randie Groden, Melissa Bilsborough, Marissa Foley, Orla Berry, Phil Brown, Rudy Cassidy, Kyle Keegan and John Stewart.
MCPE's Blue Ribbon Program recognizes teachers, administrators, school coaches and staff for making a difference in a student's life. This program is an easy way to acknowledge school employees at the end of the school year. Click on the following link (formstack.com/forms/?1155510-ms8sVhWlW6) to make your donation online, and MCPE will take care of the rest. Each recipient will receive a personalized card announcing a donation was made by you in his or her honor. Your tax-deductible donation will help support future educational grants awarded by MCPE. Please see the web site for the due dates and more details.
FALL BALL - COMMUNITY HELP: One of the ways we hope to raise funds at the Fall Ball is through both an online and a live auction of desirable items and exciting experiences. We're thinking outside the box and hoping you can help us take our auctions to the next level. Please click on the Sign Up Genius link (signupgenius.com/go/70a054bacab2faa8-mcpe/) to see if you're able to contribute to this very worthy cause. Thank you, in advance, for making the success of our schools a community effort. If you have something you'd like to donate that is not listed, or have any questions regarding the Fall Ball, please contact Wendi Ayer [email protected] or Kim Price [email protected].
Please click here for Thursday Packet Information.