Important Dates
4/7 - Full Length School Day
4/15 - School Committee Meeting
4/19-4/23 - April Vacation
4/28 - MCAP Meeting
5/1 - Miss Amazing (see info below)
5/3 - School Committee Meeting
Question of the Week
To help encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways that we find joy and carve out time for joy in our lives, our question of the week is: What brings you joy and how do/can you make room in your day/schedule for joy? Making Time for Joy (Week of 4/4/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Drop Off/Pick Up Reminders for Blake Families
4/7 - Full Length School Day
4/15 - School Committee Meeting
4/19-4/23 - April Vacation
4/28 - MCAP Meeting
5/1 - Miss Amazing (see info below)
5/3 - School Committee Meeting
Question of the Week
To help encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways that we find joy and carve out time for joy in our lives, our question of the week is: What brings you joy and how do/can you make room in your day/schedule for joy? Making Time for Joy (Week of 4/4/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Drop Off/Pick Up Reminders for Blake Families
- All students can be dropped off starting at 7:30 a.m. Once families arrive 'in line', please let your students out of the car (outside of the HS auditorium) so that the traffic line keeps moving. Cars should not be parked and waiting to let their students out until a later time, as the traffic flow gets delayed and backed up. Students can wait outside in the morning and enter the building at 7:40 a.m.
- With the staggered times of dismissal for both Blake and the high school, families should not arrive too much prior to 2 p.m. to allow time for the high school 'clearing out' and arrival of middle school buses.
- When picking up students after school, all Blake cars should be exiting out the Pound Street side of the school property.
- For those families with students who are biking to and from school, please remind your students to wear helmets and to be mindful of both walkers and the traffic flow.
For the twenty-sixth year, the Zullo Gallery, in collaboration with the K-12 Visual Arts faculty of the Medfield Public Schools, is hosting its Annual Student-Faculty Art Exhibit. The Zullo Gallery offers a fantastic opportunity for deserving student artwork to receive special notice by our community in a professional gallery setting. This year’s exhibit will be held from April 3rd through April 25th.
The Zullo Gallery is open every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon until 5 PM. Over the course of the exhibit, the Zullo Gallery is typically visited by hundreds of viewers, enjoying the display of our wonderful student artwork.
Congratulations to our Blake artists:
Hannah Crocker
Keira Oliveto
Molly Cragan
Sara Sahr
Ben Vasquez
Sophia Small
Lily Lewis
Alithea Varughese
Amelia DeHoff
Lucas Gatti
Anna LaRowe
Owen McEntee
Yara Chahine
"Book Spirit" Colors for the March Madness Winner
Which book would you like to see crowned this year's March Madness Book Tourney champion? Hunger Games? Harry Potter? This Friday, wear "book spirit" colors to show your choice! If you want Hunger Games to win, wear black and/or gray to represent Katniss and District 12. If you want Harry Potter to win, wear red and/or gold to represent Harry Potter and Gryffindor. May the best book win! And remember, we have an advisory competition to watch as well between Mrs. Doolan's Cohort B and Mrs. Cuomo's Cohort A!
Pooled Testing Information
If you haven't signed up your middle school child(ren) for the weekly pooled testing yet, please consider doing so now. Currently, 72% of middle school students are participating in the pooled testing. As we have transitioned back into full in-person learning, we would like to increase participation to 90% with your support.
Pooled testing is an important data collection and mitigation tool to help ensure the health and safety of our schools. If you haven’t signed up your child(ren) for the pooled testing yet and would like to do so, click here for the online consent form. If your child has been participating in the pooled testing already, then please do NOT complete the consent form again.
A few reminders:
If your child is feeling ill, then please keep them home from school and notify the school nurse as well as the main office of their absence. COVID symptoms can present as a cold or other symptoms, so please click here to help you determine when you should keep your child home from school. We would be happy to review your child’s symptoms with you.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We appreciate your ongoing support.
Info for Current 6th Grade Families
In order to keep your child’s school health record updated per Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, please send in a copy of your child’s 6th grade physical including a current immunization record if you have not already done so this year. For students who had a physical over the past eight months (dated from July 1, 2020 on), please send in a copy of your child’s physical by next Friday, April 16, 2021. For students who are scheduled for their 6th grade physical this spring, please send in a copy of the physical following their appointment.
You are welcome to email the physical to us or send in a copy with your 6th grader. If you are sending in a copy of the physical with your child, then please let us know as physicals often end up at the bottom of backpacks without ever being turned in. If you prefer to email their physical, then please email us directly to our school email addresses listed below. Please do not reply to or attach your child’s physical to this email as it is a group email.
Thank you very much for your assistance. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns as your child(ren) transitions back to school on a full-time basis.
Exciting Miss Amazing news!
The seventh annual Miss Amazing will take place in person on Sunday, May 2nd, with a rain date of Saturday, May 1st! Miss Amazing’s mission statement declares, “Miss Amazing provides opportunities for girls and women with disabilities to build confidence and self-esteem in a supportive environment.” Many thanks to Medfield Parks and Recreation for allowing the event to take place at Hinkley Pond free of charge. Their generosity and kindness is incredibly appreciated! Even though the event will look different this year with no public audience, there are still ways to support the cause and get involved. We encourage everyone to participate in our Italian Groceria fundraiser on Wednesday, April 14th, from 5 to 8 pm. A percentage of their profit will be donated directly to Miss Amazing. We hope to see you there!
Blake Student Council Update
Attention Blakers! Blake’s Student Council now meets after school on Wednesdays from 2:20-2:50- location TBD. Everyone is welcome! E-mail Mrs. Ruminski or Mrs. Shaw with any questions.
Blake Battles Bias
Any interested 7th or 8th grade student is welcome to join. E-mail Mrs. Gelormini or Ms. Thress with any questions.
Form for All Incoming 6th-8th Grade Parents/Guardians - Please complete!
All incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians must complete this course selection form…
2021-2022 Blake Middle School Music Ensemble Selection
Form for All Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians - Please complete!
All incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete this course selection form…
2021-2022 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Info for all Medfield Families
Last year was the introduction of the Rolling Rally which was a wonderful and successful celebration that many said should be done every year, so we are bringing it back. The Medfield Community was phenomenal with their outpouring of support and we’re asking for the same enthusiasm again this year.
On June 5th, the Seniors will ride through town and end at Blake Middle School baseball park for a ‘Party in the Park’. This will be a safe, supervised and substance-free celebration. Please contact us HERE if you’d like to volunteer at this event. You don’t need to be creative, just have fun working with friends decorating either the Town or the Party in the Park.
This event is dependent on kind donations from our generous community, any level of contribution will be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made HERE
The Zullo Gallery is open every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon until 5 PM. Over the course of the exhibit, the Zullo Gallery is typically visited by hundreds of viewers, enjoying the display of our wonderful student artwork.
Congratulations to our Blake artists:
Hannah Crocker
Keira Oliveto
Molly Cragan
Sara Sahr
Ben Vasquez
Sophia Small
Lily Lewis
Alithea Varughese
Amelia DeHoff
Lucas Gatti
Anna LaRowe
Owen McEntee
Yara Chahine
"Book Spirit" Colors for the March Madness Winner
Which book would you like to see crowned this year's March Madness Book Tourney champion? Hunger Games? Harry Potter? This Friday, wear "book spirit" colors to show your choice! If you want Hunger Games to win, wear black and/or gray to represent Katniss and District 12. If you want Harry Potter to win, wear red and/or gold to represent Harry Potter and Gryffindor. May the best book win! And remember, we have an advisory competition to watch as well between Mrs. Doolan's Cohort B and Mrs. Cuomo's Cohort A!
Pooled Testing Information
If you haven't signed up your middle school child(ren) for the weekly pooled testing yet, please consider doing so now. Currently, 72% of middle school students are participating in the pooled testing. As we have transitioned back into full in-person learning, we would like to increase participation to 90% with your support.
Pooled testing is an important data collection and mitigation tool to help ensure the health and safety of our schools. If you haven’t signed up your child(ren) for the pooled testing yet and would like to do so, click here for the online consent form. If your child has been participating in the pooled testing already, then please do NOT complete the consent form again.
A few reminders:
- Students will not miss class time for the testing.
- Testing will be done once a week.
- Results come back within 24-48 hrs after testing.
- You will only be notified if the pool your student was in comes back positive.
- If a pool is positive, we will run a rapid testing clinic at school for those students in the positive pool to determine if there is a positive case.
- Your student will not need to miss school in person if their pool comes back positive unless they are found to be positive when re-tested.
- Students are spaced 6ft apart with masks below their nose (mouth covered) for about 15 seconds while they test. Students self-administer their test and sanitize their hands before and after testing.
If your child is feeling ill, then please keep them home from school and notify the school nurse as well as the main office of their absence. COVID symptoms can present as a cold or other symptoms, so please click here to help you determine when you should keep your child home from school. We would be happy to review your child’s symptoms with you.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We appreciate your ongoing support.
Info for Current 6th Grade Families
In order to keep your child’s school health record updated per Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, please send in a copy of your child’s 6th grade physical including a current immunization record if you have not already done so this year. For students who had a physical over the past eight months (dated from July 1, 2020 on), please send in a copy of your child’s physical by next Friday, April 16, 2021. For students who are scheduled for their 6th grade physical this spring, please send in a copy of the physical following their appointment.
You are welcome to email the physical to us or send in a copy with your 6th grader. If you are sending in a copy of the physical with your child, then please let us know as physicals often end up at the bottom of backpacks without ever being turned in. If you prefer to email their physical, then please email us directly to our school email addresses listed below. Please do not reply to or attach your child’s physical to this email as it is a group email.
Thank you very much for your assistance. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns as your child(ren) transitions back to school on a full-time basis.
Exciting Miss Amazing news!
The seventh annual Miss Amazing will take place in person on Sunday, May 2nd, with a rain date of Saturday, May 1st! Miss Amazing’s mission statement declares, “Miss Amazing provides opportunities for girls and women with disabilities to build confidence and self-esteem in a supportive environment.” Many thanks to Medfield Parks and Recreation for allowing the event to take place at Hinkley Pond free of charge. Their generosity and kindness is incredibly appreciated! Even though the event will look different this year with no public audience, there are still ways to support the cause and get involved. We encourage everyone to participate in our Italian Groceria fundraiser on Wednesday, April 14th, from 5 to 8 pm. A percentage of their profit will be donated directly to Miss Amazing. We hope to see you there!
Blake Student Council Update
Attention Blakers! Blake’s Student Council now meets after school on Wednesdays from 2:20-2:50- location TBD. Everyone is welcome! E-mail Mrs. Ruminski or Mrs. Shaw with any questions.
Blake Battles Bias
Any interested 7th or 8th grade student is welcome to join. E-mail Mrs. Gelormini or Ms. Thress with any questions.
Form for All Incoming 6th-8th Grade Parents/Guardians - Please complete!
All incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians must complete this course selection form…
2021-2022 Blake Middle School Music Ensemble Selection
Form for All Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians - Please complete!
All incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete this course selection form…
2021-2022 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Info for all Medfield Families
Last year was the introduction of the Rolling Rally which was a wonderful and successful celebration that many said should be done every year, so we are bringing it back. The Medfield Community was phenomenal with their outpouring of support and we’re asking for the same enthusiasm again this year.
On June 5th, the Seniors will ride through town and end at Blake Middle School baseball park for a ‘Party in the Park’. This will be a safe, supervised and substance-free celebration. Please contact us HERE if you’d like to volunteer at this event. You don’t need to be creative, just have fun working with friends decorating either the Town or the Party in the Park.
This event is dependent on kind donations from our generous community, any level of contribution will be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made HERE
Building Aides Needed at Blake!
Are you or is someone that you know interested in working at Blake Middle School? We are looking for building aides for the 2020-2021 school year. Please contact Kelly Campbell (kcampbell@email.medfield.net) if you are interested or would like more information.
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 http://www.medfield.net/o/medfield-public-schools/page/employment-opportunites--7 and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities". Please contact Kelly Campbell at kcampbell@email.medfield.net with any questions.
Mathematics Placement Process for Incoming 8th Grade
Our seventh grade math teachers at Blake will soon start the process of course placement for the 2021-2022 school year. The goal of the process is to see that every student is placed in a class that allows them to learn math well while feeling good about their efforts. For current 7th grade students, decisions on student placement are made by considering current class performance, placement test 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/guardians 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 Jess Safer, Math Department Chair at jsafer@email.medfield.net. Thank you!
Registration for Spring Sports at Blake
Registration for Blake Middle School spring athletics is now open on FamilyID.com. There is a direct link off the Athletics page (under Activities) on Blake Middle School site. To complete registration, Mr. Scott needs a check for $225 (Made out to “Town of Medfield”). If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Athletics, Eric Scott (escott@email.medfield.net).
*Blake Middle School Sports offered for the spring season are:
Track & Field (Boy’s and Girl’s – Grades 6-8)
Coach Krah (Head Boy’s Coach) – kkrah@email.medfield.net
Coach Graham (Head Girl’s Coach) – pgraham@email.medfield.net
Softball (8th grade Girls). *
* 7th Graders MAY be open to sign up and play if not enough 8th graders to field team).
Coach McClelland - cmcclelland@email.medfield.net
Baseball (8th grade Boys)
Coach Becker – rbecker@email.medfield.net
Blake MERJ Update
Check out the April Newsletter…
April MERJ Newsletter
Blake GSA Update
GSA runs every Thursday from 2:30- 3:00. If you have any questions about the Blake GSA, please reach out to Matt Marenghi (mmarenghi@email.medfield.net),Cynthia McClelland (cmcclelland@email.medfield.net), or Jen Dondero (jdondero@email.medfield.net).
WPI's Sonia Kovalevsky Day 2021: Registration Now Open!
The WPI Department of Mathematical Sciences and WPI Student Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) are excited to announce our third-annual Sonia Kovalevsky Day (SK Day) outreach event for local 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls, to be held virtually on Saturday, April 10, 2021.
SK Days at WPI aim to bolster our participants’ passion and enthusiasm for mathematics in a supportive environment, while meeting girls in the New England area who share similar interests and, of course, having fun! SK Day 2021 will provide an interactive online experience for participants (and their parents/guardians!) to engage in math activities led remotely by WPI students and will feature keynote talks by women leaders in STEM.
Please see the attached flyer for more information about the event. In particular, interested participants should register by visiting:
https://www.wpi.edu/news/calendar/events/sonia-kovalevsky-day
^^ The link to the registration form is found at this site. Space is limited, so we ask that participants please register early (no later than March 27, 2021).
Jr Tech STEM Opportunity
Jr.Tech is committed to inspiring students to think about STEM topics and explore STEM career paths. We are hosting Girls STEM Summit LIVE 2021 in April 2021. This year's Girls STEM Summit LIVE 2021 will take place on two half-day Saturdays: Saturday, April 3rd, and Saturday, April 10th, from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, both days. It will be hosted as a live, online, program via Zoom.
The summit is for girls in grades 8-12 who are interested in careers in the STEM fields. As this is a critical time in their education, and college decisions are beginning, we hope to empower these young women to see the many opportunities available to them within STEM.
Please share the attached PDF flyer with your teachers, curriculum heads, guidance staff, and principal to make them aware of Girls STEM Summit Live 2021 and ask them to share with your community. We invite your high school to purchase a group for your school or have parents register them individually.
Who: Girls in grades 8 - 12 interested in exploring STEM fields and career choices
What: #GirlsSTEMSummitLIVE2021
When: Hosted online two Saturday mornings via Zoom
Dates: Saturday, April 3, 2021, 8:30am - noon and
Saturday, April 10, 2021, 8:30 am - noon
Fee: $65
Register: https://juniortech.org/girls-stem-summit-live-2021/
Email: info@juniortech.org
Medfield Outreach
Medfield Outreach is offering WEEKLY MENTAL HEALTH DROP IN HOURS. Are you a Medfield parent or student who is feeling extra stressed, down or anxious? Want to talk to someone but you're not sure who or if what you're going through warrants ongoing therapy? We are availble to listen and help! Medfield Outreach is now offering Weekly Drop-In Mental Health Open Hours for STUDENTS on: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 - 3:30pm and ADULTS on: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11:30am. Email Medfieldoutreach@medfield.net to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
Webinars/Workshops of interest…
Education Now: The Future of Work
Wednesday, 4/7 at 2:30 p.m.
Well before the pandemic, a group of educators and economists saw glitches on the pathway from school to career. Workplaces — increasingly collaborative and digital — needed skills, capacities, and mindsets that job candidates weren’t bringing. For too many job seekers, access to the job market was blocked by inequity, discrimination, and licensing barriers, putting meaningful careers out of reach. And jobs themselves were changing, requiring new leadership skills and candidates who could thrive in uncertainty.
And then the pandemic arrived, to upend and reinvent our workplaces right in front of us. Did the pandemic usher us into a future that was already coming? How can we shape that future so that barriers are lowered and opportunity is broad? How should educators and school leaders prepare their students — and what are the skills that will matter most in the workplaces of today and tomorrow?
Join Harvard faculty for a conversation on the future of work, how the pandemic is shaping the future, and how education can respond.
We Remember: Sylvia Ruth Gutmann, Holocaust Survivor, Shares Her Story
Thursday, 4/8 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Join us for this important webinar commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom Hashoah. Sylvia Ruth Gutmann, author, speaker, and Holocaust survivor, will be interviewed by high school students from the Nobles and Greenough School in Dedham, MA and Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire in this moving webinar. Sylvia's story of survival and resilience is an important call to action and will inspire you to be an active steward for a more just world.
Please have a candle nearby for a brief commemorative ceremony.
Most Likely To Succeed: The Film That Launched Ten Thousand Screenings
Wednesday, 4/14 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Join us for a most memorable evening as we re-connect with the filmmakers, students & teachers from Most Likely To Succeed
A decade ago, Ted Dintersmith and filmmaker Greg Whiteley had an initial conversation about working together on a film about education. Well, one thing led to another. After premiering at Sundance, Most Likely To Succeed went on to be screened by some 10,000 school communities around the globe. This special evening will feature the film’s now-much-older student stars Brian and Samantha, two of their HTH teachers, and others with distinctive perspectives on MLTS and its impact. This will be a most memorable evening!
How Educators Can Support and Empower BIPOC Students
Thursday, 4/15 at 4:00 p.m.
SPARK Kindness presents: A FREE online event for educators (for educators of Preschool - High School students)
Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith on how educators and school leaders can support BIPOC children amidst racism, racialized violence and trauma. Psychologist, author and acclaimed speaker Dr. Briscoe-Smith will present on how to create a school environment that promotes pride and affirms the identity of BIPOC students. Dr. Briscoe-Smith will also offer resources for engaging in conversation, addressing trauma and connecting with families of color. Please note this session is for educators. SPARK Kindness is very excited to also be hosting a 2nd session at 7pm ET on how parents can support themselves and empower their BIPOC children amidst racism and trauma that is also FREE and available to all.
How BIPOC Families Can Support Themselves and Their Children
Thursday, 4/15 at 7:00 p.m.
SPARK Kindness presents: A FREE online event for caregivers and parents of BIPOC children of all ages with Dr. Briscoe-Smith
Dr. Briscoe-Smith will present on how parents and caregivers can support themselves and empower their BIPOC children amidst racism and trauma. Psychologist, author and acclaimed speaker Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith will present on how parents can support themselves and nurture and empower their BIPOC children amidst racism, racial violence and trauma. Dr. Briscoe-Smith will offer tools, strategies and frameworks to assist parents/caregivers in listening to their children and promoting their emotional health, resilience, empowerment and self care. Finally, in the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Briscoe-Smith will speak about how BIPOC families can offer themselves and their children grace amidst these times that are challenging on many levels.
Education Now: Making Schools More Human
Wednesday, 4/21 at 3:00 p.m.
Education Now is an HGSE webinar series that responds to the dramatic changes in the field of education in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each episode is designed to prompt observations and insights that are thought-provoking and actionable.
Education Now: Innovations in Global Education
Friday, 4/23 at 10:30 a.m.
Every nation describes education as a top domestic policy priority. But few avenues exist to connect those policy conversations across national boundaries. What should a global conversation about education look like? What are the pressing international challenges that educators and societies face — and where are the opportunities for innovation, collaboration, discovery, and meaningful engagement on real-world problems?
Join us for this special one-hour broadcast as we explore the powerful ideas that will shape the world’s education landscape for the next decade and beyond. We’re proud to host members of the Council of Luminaries, an international and cross-disciplinary group of leading thinkers convened by the Yidan Prize Foundation in 2020 to fuel education progress globally.
Education Now: Cultivating the Power of Resilience
Wednesday, 5/5 at 3:00 p.m.
Education Now is an HGSE webinar series that responds to the dramatic changes in the field of education in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each episode is designed to prompt observations and insights that are thought-provoking and actionable.
#𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙊𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 - Thank You!
𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐 Medfield!!! Over $106,000 in less than a week! This community is truly amazing. 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐-this community has come together and shown what #𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙊𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 is all about 💙 Congratulations Medfield!!
Blake PTO Update
Want to get involved? We're looking for a Treasurer,Secretary, Co-President and VP for our Board next year! Contact Mary Kelly (marykelly33@yahoo.com for more information!
Our Annual Appeal is here! We are again requesting a contribution of $50/child this year; an amount that has remained the same over the past 5 years. This is a suggested amount, but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute. Please make checks out to Blake Middle School PTO and send it in with your child. We are hoping for 100% participation of Blake families by April 30th, 2021. This will allow our students and teachers to benefit over the next year, as the students and teachers did before them. We thank you in advance for your financial support of the Blake PTO.
Don’t forget to 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
Are you or is someone that you know interested in working at Blake Middle School? We are looking for building aides for the 2020-2021 school year. Please contact Kelly Campbell (kcampbell@email.medfield.net) if you are interested or would like more information.
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 http://www.medfield.net/o/medfield-public-schools/page/employment-opportunites--7 and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities". Please contact Kelly Campbell at kcampbell@email.medfield.net with any questions.
Mathematics Placement Process for Incoming 8th Grade
Our seventh grade math teachers at Blake will soon start the process of course placement for the 2021-2022 school year. The goal of the process is to see that every student is placed in a class that allows them to learn math well while feeling good about their efforts. For current 7th grade students, decisions on student placement are made by considering current class performance, placement test 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/guardians 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 Jess Safer, Math Department Chair at jsafer@email.medfield.net. Thank you!
Registration for Spring Sports at Blake
Registration for Blake Middle School spring athletics is now open on FamilyID.com. There is a direct link off the Athletics page (under Activities) on Blake Middle School site. To complete registration, Mr. Scott needs a check for $225 (Made out to “Town of Medfield”). If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Athletics, Eric Scott (escott@email.medfield.net).
*Blake Middle School Sports offered for the spring season are:
Track & Field (Boy’s and Girl’s – Grades 6-8)
Coach Krah (Head Boy’s Coach) – kkrah@email.medfield.net
Coach Graham (Head Girl’s Coach) – pgraham@email.medfield.net
Softball (8th grade Girls). *
* 7th Graders MAY be open to sign up and play if not enough 8th graders to field team).
Coach McClelland - cmcclelland@email.medfield.net
Baseball (8th grade Boys)
Coach Becker – rbecker@email.medfield.net
Blake MERJ Update
Check out the April Newsletter…
April MERJ Newsletter
Blake GSA Update
GSA runs every Thursday from 2:30- 3:00. If you have any questions about the Blake GSA, please reach out to Matt Marenghi (mmarenghi@email.medfield.net),Cynthia McClelland (cmcclelland@email.medfield.net), or Jen Dondero (jdondero@email.medfield.net).
WPI's Sonia Kovalevsky Day 2021: Registration Now Open!
The WPI Department of Mathematical Sciences and WPI Student Chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) are excited to announce our third-annual Sonia Kovalevsky Day (SK Day) outreach event for local 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls, to be held virtually on Saturday, April 10, 2021.
SK Days at WPI aim to bolster our participants’ passion and enthusiasm for mathematics in a supportive environment, while meeting girls in the New England area who share similar interests and, of course, having fun! SK Day 2021 will provide an interactive online experience for participants (and their parents/guardians!) to engage in math activities led remotely by WPI students and will feature keynote talks by women leaders in STEM.
Please see the attached flyer for more information about the event. In particular, interested participants should register by visiting:
https://www.wpi.edu/news/calendar/events/sonia-kovalevsky-day
^^ The link to the registration form is found at this site. Space is limited, so we ask that participants please register early (no later than March 27, 2021).
Jr Tech STEM Opportunity
Jr.Tech is committed to inspiring students to think about STEM topics and explore STEM career paths. We are hosting Girls STEM Summit LIVE 2021 in April 2021. This year's Girls STEM Summit LIVE 2021 will take place on two half-day Saturdays: Saturday, April 3rd, and Saturday, April 10th, from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, both days. It will be hosted as a live, online, program via Zoom.
The summit is for girls in grades 8-12 who are interested in careers in the STEM fields. As this is a critical time in their education, and college decisions are beginning, we hope to empower these young women to see the many opportunities available to them within STEM.
Please share the attached PDF flyer with your teachers, curriculum heads, guidance staff, and principal to make them aware of Girls STEM Summit Live 2021 and ask them to share with your community. We invite your high school to purchase a group for your school or have parents register them individually.
Who: Girls in grades 8 - 12 interested in exploring STEM fields and career choices
What: #GirlsSTEMSummitLIVE2021
When: Hosted online two Saturday mornings via Zoom
Dates: Saturday, April 3, 2021, 8:30am - noon and
Saturday, April 10, 2021, 8:30 am - noon
Fee: $65
Register: https://juniortech.org/girls-stem-summit-live-2021/
Email: info@juniortech.org
Medfield Outreach
Medfield Outreach is offering WEEKLY MENTAL HEALTH DROP IN HOURS. Are you a Medfield parent or student who is feeling extra stressed, down or anxious? Want to talk to someone but you're not sure who or if what you're going through warrants ongoing therapy? We are availble to listen and help! Medfield Outreach is now offering Weekly Drop-In Mental Health Open Hours for STUDENTS on: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 - 3:30pm and ADULTS on: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11:30am. Email Medfieldoutreach@medfield.net to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
Webinars/Workshops of interest…
Education Now: The Future of Work
Wednesday, 4/7 at 2:30 p.m.
Well before the pandemic, a group of educators and economists saw glitches on the pathway from school to career. Workplaces — increasingly collaborative and digital — needed skills, capacities, and mindsets that job candidates weren’t bringing. For too many job seekers, access to the job market was blocked by inequity, discrimination, and licensing barriers, putting meaningful careers out of reach. And jobs themselves were changing, requiring new leadership skills and candidates who could thrive in uncertainty.
And then the pandemic arrived, to upend and reinvent our workplaces right in front of us. Did the pandemic usher us into a future that was already coming? How can we shape that future so that barriers are lowered and opportunity is broad? How should educators and school leaders prepare their students — and what are the skills that will matter most in the workplaces of today and tomorrow?
Join Harvard faculty for a conversation on the future of work, how the pandemic is shaping the future, and how education can respond.
We Remember: Sylvia Ruth Gutmann, Holocaust Survivor, Shares Her Story
Thursday, 4/8 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Join us for this important webinar commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom Hashoah. Sylvia Ruth Gutmann, author, speaker, and Holocaust survivor, will be interviewed by high school students from the Nobles and Greenough School in Dedham, MA and Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire in this moving webinar. Sylvia's story of survival and resilience is an important call to action and will inspire you to be an active steward for a more just world.
Please have a candle nearby for a brief commemorative ceremony.
Most Likely To Succeed: The Film That Launched Ten Thousand Screenings
Wednesday, 4/14 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Join us for a most memorable evening as we re-connect with the filmmakers, students & teachers from Most Likely To Succeed
A decade ago, Ted Dintersmith and filmmaker Greg Whiteley had an initial conversation about working together on a film about education. Well, one thing led to another. After premiering at Sundance, Most Likely To Succeed went on to be screened by some 10,000 school communities around the globe. This special evening will feature the film’s now-much-older student stars Brian and Samantha, two of their HTH teachers, and others with distinctive perspectives on MLTS and its impact. This will be a most memorable evening!
How Educators Can Support and Empower BIPOC Students
Thursday, 4/15 at 4:00 p.m.
SPARK Kindness presents: A FREE online event for educators (for educators of Preschool - High School students)
Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith on how educators and school leaders can support BIPOC children amidst racism, racialized violence and trauma. Psychologist, author and acclaimed speaker Dr. Briscoe-Smith will present on how to create a school environment that promotes pride and affirms the identity of BIPOC students. Dr. Briscoe-Smith will also offer resources for engaging in conversation, addressing trauma and connecting with families of color. Please note this session is for educators. SPARK Kindness is very excited to also be hosting a 2nd session at 7pm ET on how parents can support themselves and empower their BIPOC children amidst racism and trauma that is also FREE and available to all.
How BIPOC Families Can Support Themselves and Their Children
Thursday, 4/15 at 7:00 p.m.
SPARK Kindness presents: A FREE online event for caregivers and parents of BIPOC children of all ages with Dr. Briscoe-Smith
Dr. Briscoe-Smith will present on how parents and caregivers can support themselves and empower their BIPOC children amidst racism and trauma. Psychologist, author and acclaimed speaker Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith will present on how parents can support themselves and nurture and empower their BIPOC children amidst racism, racial violence and trauma. Dr. Briscoe-Smith will offer tools, strategies and frameworks to assist parents/caregivers in listening to their children and promoting their emotional health, resilience, empowerment and self care. Finally, in the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Briscoe-Smith will speak about how BIPOC families can offer themselves and their children grace amidst these times that are challenging on many levels.
Education Now: Making Schools More Human
Wednesday, 4/21 at 3:00 p.m.
Education Now is an HGSE webinar series that responds to the dramatic changes in the field of education in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each episode is designed to prompt observations and insights that are thought-provoking and actionable.
Education Now: Innovations in Global Education
Friday, 4/23 at 10:30 a.m.
Every nation describes education as a top domestic policy priority. But few avenues exist to connect those policy conversations across national boundaries. What should a global conversation about education look like? What are the pressing international challenges that educators and societies face — and where are the opportunities for innovation, collaboration, discovery, and meaningful engagement on real-world problems?
Join us for this special one-hour broadcast as we explore the powerful ideas that will shape the world’s education landscape for the next decade and beyond. We’re proud to host members of the Council of Luminaries, an international and cross-disciplinary group of leading thinkers convened by the Yidan Prize Foundation in 2020 to fuel education progress globally.
Education Now: Cultivating the Power of Resilience
Wednesday, 5/5 at 3:00 p.m.
Education Now is an HGSE webinar series that responds to the dramatic changes in the field of education in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Each episode is designed to prompt observations and insights that are thought-provoking and actionable.
#𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙊𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 - Thank You!
𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐 Medfield!!! Over $106,000 in less than a week! This community is truly amazing. 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐-this community has come together and shown what #𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙊𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 is all about 💙 Congratulations Medfield!!
Blake PTO Update
Want to get involved? We're looking for a Treasurer,Secretary, Co-President and VP for our Board next year! Contact Mary Kelly (marykelly33@yahoo.com for more information!
Our Annual Appeal is here! We are again requesting a contribution of $50/child this year; an amount that has remained the same over the past 5 years. This is a suggested amount, but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute. Please make checks out to Blake Middle School PTO and send it in with your child. We are hoping for 100% participation of Blake families by April 30th, 2021. This will allow our students and teachers to benefit over the next year, as the students and teachers did before them. We thank you in advance for your financial support of the Blake PTO.
Don’t forget to 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
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