9/21 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
9/22, 9/25 - Eagles Canoe Trips
9/25 - #MedfieldPS Chat - Diversity (see details below)
9/28-9/29 - Stripes Canoe Trips
10/2 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
10/3-10/4 - Stars Canoe Trips
10/6 - Half Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
10/9 Columbus Day (No School)
10/10-10/13 - Nature's Classroom Trip
10/17 - Medfield Talks - Challenge Success (7-8:30 p.m.)
10/19 - Blake Picture Retake Day
10/20 - 7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
10/24 - #GlobalMakerDay
10/31 - Happy Halloween!
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about forward-thinking practices and innovation, our topic/question for the week is: What problem(s) do you want to solve? Problem Solvers (Week of 9/17/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
#MedfieldPS Twitter Chat on 9/25/17
Our next district-wide Twitter chat is Monday, 9/25/17 at 8 p.m. with a focus on diversity. Our continued intent is to bring the five schools together (staff and administration) at periodic times. The goal of these chats is to bring the five schools together (staff and administration) to discuss pertinent topics in education, initiatives, and ideas to collaborate around and share. I encourage you to follow the hashtag #MedfieldPS during the chat and to participate! Below are links to 'storify' archives of previous chats...
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-a-fresh-start-8-23-17
(A Fresh Start)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-a-community-of-learners-7-18-17#publicize
(A Community of Learners)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-reflections-on-16-17
(Reflections on 2016-2017)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-diversity-4-26-17
(Diversity)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-literacy#publicize
(Literacy)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-58a34a86a51b8de45f9bfd78
(Differentiation)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat
(Resolutions, Reflection, and Growth)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-december-20-2016-a-potluck-chat
(A Potluck Chat)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medf
(#DLDMedfield)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-safe-learning-environments
(Safe Learning Environments)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-57e2929f8c7e6bca7fc31872
(Empathy)
Blake is on Facebook!
Blake is adding Facebook to our social media repertoire! You can now follow our page for the latest announcements, sharing of our school life, glimpses into special events and learning with FB Live and more...
Click this Link: www.facebook.com/BlakeMiddleSchool/ or search for @BlakeMiddleSchool
Blake Podcasts - Stay Tuned!
Ms. Horvath (Techmonstah) & Mrs. Heim (HeimTime) are excited to launch our first official podcast this week- "Everyday Blakers"! Each week we will discuss a different topic and get input from the students to feed the discussion. Our goal is that the podcast is student centered. The theme music will be created by students, with the help of Eithne Stover! The logo was designed by Joy Xu-Allan a current 6th grader.
This week we will discuss the school theme of diversity. Hosts "HeimTime" and "Techmonstah" will chat with Nat Vaughn, our school principal and students will share their thoughts about what diversity means to them. Look for the first podcast to be broadcast by the end of this week - stay tuned!
Medfield Talks - Challenge Success - 10/17/17
The first 'Medfield Talks' presentation for 2017-2018 is scheduled for October 17. Challenge Success (challengesuccess.org) will be presenting 'The Balanced Student' from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Medfield High School auditorium. Stay tuned for more information.
Blake Fall Intramurals
The 2017 Fall Intramural offerings are now available at: http://blakemsintramurals.weebly.com/ Please check them out at the following link and let Matt Marenghi (Intramural Director) know if you have any questions or concerns: [email protected].
iOS Update Information
Apple recently released the next big iOS update with several bugs and glitches. We are asking you to please wait until our Technology Director, Mr. O'Corcora feels it is safe for you to install it on your school device and that the school-based apps are also updated to work with iOSX. It may be another week or two. Students should watch for an update from Mrs. Horvath for more information.
School Absence Reminder
This is a reminder for parents that a student's absence or tardiness must be reported by a written note or a parental telephone call to the school absence line (508-242-8501) by 8 a.m.
Blake Parent Nights for Fall 2017
For your reference and information, here are the links from our parent information nights...
Grade 6 Fall 2017 PIN Presentation
Nature's Classroom Fall 2017 Presentation
Grade 7 Fall 2017 Presentation
Memorials, Monuments, and Museums Presentation Fall 2017
Grade 8 Fall 2017 PIN Presentation
8th Grade Trip Information
8th Grade Trip packets went home with Grade 8 students on Monday, Sept. 11. The trip deposit and signed permission slip are due to your child's Advisory teacher by October 2. On-line registration with our tour company, Worldstrides, is to be completed by October 31. Please see trip packet for details and instructions. For your reference and for more information, here is a link to the 8th grade trip presentation...
Memorials, Monuments, and Museums Presentation Fall 2017
Parent/Guardian Sign-Offs
All families should have received an e-mail from '[email protected]' with 'Emergency Contact Information' in the subject line. We are asking all families to complete this digital sign-off for most of the beginning-of-year forms...
- Student Responsible Use Guidelines/Acceptable Use Policy
- School Handbook (and Addendum, where appropriate)
- Free and Reduced Lunch
- Your child's emergency contact information (all students) and additional contact/authorizations (Grades 1 through 5 only).
- Photo release form
Theme of Diversity for 2017-2018
Our theme for this academic year at Blake is one of Diversity. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last five years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, and Empathy. As a staff we have begun brainstorming ideas and I encourage all families to join us in the brainstorming process as well. As ideas and thoughts come to mind, do not hesitate to e-mail me ([email protected]) or Kelly C. ([email protected]).
Social Emotional Learning Resource for All Families
I want to remind you about our website that comes from the Office of Social/Emotional Learning (www.medfieldsel.com). Included in the website is information regarding our current list of mental health resources, information about our RISE Transition Program, and a lot of information about Social/Emotional Learning. In addition, in our “In The News” tab, you will find articles that we feel may be of interest, including current trends that may affect our kids. Check back often, as there are new things to read all the time. The “Communication” tab will bring you to letters that this office has sent out during the course of the school year, so if you want to refer back, it is easy to find. Medfield Public Schools is taking the commitment to Social/Emotional Learning very seriously, so check out the site, browse around, and use it as a way to ignite conversation with your kids. - Dr. Dave Worthley (@DrWorthley)
Nature's Classroom Information
The seventh grade will be leaving at 6:30 am on Tuesday, October 10 for the annual trip to Nature's Classroom on Lake George. Students should arrive between 6:10 and 6:20 am and report directly to their bus. You will be contacted if you have any outstanding paperwork or money due. On Friday, 9/1 we went over the roommate process with the students during science class. We also handed out a sheet outlining final details for the trip. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Silva, [email protected]. In addition, please be sure to contact Tricia Williams regarding any medical needs, allergies, or health concerns ([email protected] or 508-242-8554). We are looking forward to the trip!
Book Discussion Group for Parents for 2017-2018
Over the last two years the Blake Site Council has read several books (How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott Haims, The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World that Values Sameness by Todd Rose, and The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik), and we will continue this practice during the 2017-2018 school year. Our first two books of the year will be Wait, What?: And Life's Other Essential Questions by James Ryan and The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros . We will discuss our plans/schedule for reading these books at our first Site Council meeting in September - stay tuned for more details!
Eighth Grade Canoe and Swim Test Information
As part of the eighth grade Charles River Community Awareness Unit offered in the fall, each eighth grade student is required to pass a swimming test during the summer. Each student is required to tread water for five minutes and swim a distance of seventy-five yards. A qualified swim instructor is required to administer the test and sign the form: Swim Test Form. Completed swim tests may be dropped off at the main office. All swim tests must be completed and returned to the student’s new advisory teacher by the first day of school. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. The Charles River Community Awareness Unit is an exciting way for students to begin their eighth grade experience! (FYI: In the past, students have been certified at Hinkley Pond, YMCA and local swim clubs.)
Safety Reminder for All Blake Families
Bike Safety Reminders-- We are noticing that students are riding through the middle of the bus circles amongst cars and ask that you remind your child that students should only be walking bikes on sidewalks and use the crosswalks when on bikes. We are also noticing a number of students with no helmets or with helmets on but not buckled. We will continue to remind students but any help with that message from home would be great. It's great to see so many kids on bikes and we want to ensure that everyone is safe.
Twitter Accounts (@nat_vaughn, @blakeoffice) and Blake Hashtags (#bmsed and #bmstech)
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! My account is @nat_vaughn and the Blake account is @blakeoffice, and we will continue to tweet up-to-date information, Blake happenings, links to sites, and articles of interest on a daily or more frequent basis.
Online Homework Posting System
This year we will be continuing our system for posting the homework on our website. The link to the homework pages is here - Blake Homework Pages. The primary mode for students' understanding and recording of the homework for the given night is from the teacher and the posted homework in the classroom. The information that will be on the website is intended to serve as a 'back-up' resource. Due to the inherent challenges of technology that arise from time to time (servers, e-mail, etc.), we can not always guarantee that the website will be 100% accurate and reliable. However, we hope that it will help students and parents as an additional source of information.
Recess Donations
This year we are continuing with recess as part of our Advisory structure. A great deal of research evidence shows that students are more productive and intellectually engaged when a physical and or mental 'break' is provided in the middle of the day. We are looking for donations from families to provide options for students during this time: frisbees, wiffle balls/bats, kickballs, tennis balls, single and double jump ropes, volleyballs, foam footballs, soccer balls, and hula hoops. If you have done some 'fall cleaning' and have extra items that could be donated, have students drop them off in the main office. Thank you in advance for your help.
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". Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
Substitute Nurses
As with our teaching positions, from time to time our nurse, Tricia Williams, will be out of the building and we need a substitute nurse for these days. We are fortunate that we have several substitute nurses in the district who are able to work on those days. If you are a registered nurse and have an interest in potentially serving as a substitute throughout the year, please let us know. You can contact me ([email protected]) or Tricia Williams ([email protected]). By the same token, if you have friends in the area who would have an interest in serving as a substitute, please let them know that they can contact us as well. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we would appreciate your interest in one of these roles.
SEPAC Update
The first SEPAC meeting of the academic year is Monday, 9/18 at 7pm in Blake Library. Please visit the SEPAC website for the agenda and other SEPAC updates. Email [email protected] to be added to the bcc: email distribution list. Please visit the SEPAC website for the meeting agenda and other SEPAC updates.
http://www.medfield.net/district-offices/student-services/sepac.html
Blake PTO News
BLAKE PTO MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 26 AT 7:00 PM HELP!!! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE 2017/18 SCHOOL YEAR! There are opportunities to help with special parties and projects, box tops, school supply kits and more! Sign-up using the Blake Volunteer Sign-Up Form. ONGOING BLAKE APPEAL - We need your help so we can continuing funding enrichment programs and future initiatives for the 2017 - 2018 school year. 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 and scroll down to the end of the page or send a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO to Blake at 24 Pound St. Medfield, MA 02052. Thank you in advance for your support of the Blake PTO. Please feel free to contact Claudia Rosen [email protected] or Keven Gallagher [email protected] with any questions. KEEP IN TOUCH Please like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO and follow us on Twitter @MedfieldK8PTO. And for more information and calendar of events, please check out our website medfieldk8pto.com
Update from MCPE
SAVE THE DATE! Our fun and fierce Trivia Night will once again be held on Friday November 3 at the Medfield Legion. Sign up information coming soon. Interested in learning more about MCPE? Please visit our website at www.medfieldcoalition.org. We also encourage you to "like" our page on facebook and follow us on twitter for all grant and event information @MCPE_Medfield. We'll see you on PIN night!