3/4 - Incoming 6th Grade Information Night (see info below)
3/9 - Incoming 7th/8th Grade Information Night (see info below)
3/10 - Blake PTO Meeting (7 p.m.)
3/11 - School Committee Meeting
3/26 - Teacher Professional Day
No School for Students
Question of the Week
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about the ways that we impact one another, our question of the week is: What are some ways that we can help others succeed? Be specific. Impacting Others (Week of 2/21/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Pooled Testing Info from Our Nurses
We began Pooled Testing this Thursday 2/25/21 at Blake MIddle School and Medfield High School and continue once a week testing for Cohort A (Mondays) and Cohort B (Thursdays) . Please fill out this Consent Form to have your child/student included. We encourage you to sign up to be a part of this data collection tool to keep our students and staff safe and to help us move towards further in person learning. No individual health information is shared.
This is a painless, self-administered front of the nose swab (not the deep naso-pharyngeal swab). It takes a minute or two to complete and we do not anticipate any class time will be missed. If a pool (classroom) of students/staff are negative, we presume all are negative. If there is a positive person in the pool, members of that pool will not miss school. We will use our rapid tests to individually test all students/staff in the positive pool and isolate the positive case.
For additional information, please use this LINK.
If you have any questions, please email us or call in the school nurse's office at (508)242-8554.
Black History Month Update
The Black History Month planning team has met to formalize plans to celebrate and honor Black History Month at Blake. Black History Month is a month dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the countless contributions Black Americans have made to society. We are looking forward to honoring Black History Month again through some shared learning experiences. We have held grade-level assemblies and asking each advisory to decorate their classroom doors by spotlighting a Black American who has made a significant contribution to our society.
Check out the Blake MERJ February Newsletter!
Incoming Information Nights - Mark Your Calendars!
3/4 - Incoming 6th Grade Information 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 2020-2021 academic year’s mobile learning Initiative will take place during this evening as well.
3/9 - Incoming 7th/8th Grade Information Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming seventh and eighth grade (current sixth and seventh grade) students. We will be sharing information about the 7th and 8th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year.
March is Women’s History Month
March 1 marks the beginning of Women’s History Month. Please share any ideas you have as to how we can recognize this month within the Blake community. Here are a couple of reads of interest…
What Schools Teach About Women’s History Leaves a Lot to Be Desired
The Long & Winding Road to Women’s Rights
Educational resources are available from federal sources and the National Women's History Museum, among others.
School Start Times and Drop-Off Procedures
To help keep the line moving and facilitate a smooth process for traffic flow and on-time arrival, please be sure to let your students out of the car once you arrive at the drop-off spot. We have seen an increased number of students waiting in cars in our drop-off line and this slows down the traffic flow, impacting on-time arrival for other students. As a reminder, the start times for Blake this year are as follows...
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 7:50 a.m.
** Students may enter Blake at 7:40 a.m.
Wednesday - 8:00 a.m.
** Students may enter Blake at 7:50 a.m.
Floral Heart Project Comes to Medfield on First National Day of Mourning for Covid-19
What: On March 1st, the first National Day of Mourning for COVID-19, volunteers will lay heart garlands for The Floral Heart Project in over 75 locations across America, to pay respect to those who have lost their lives or are suffering from the effects of COVID-19. Kristina Libby, a NYC artist and activist, started to reveal these dedication sites last April and has partnered up with 1-800-flowers and BloomStudios to expand this endeavor nationwide.
Where: Front lawn of Medfield Town Hall
When: On March 1st at 6pm, a small private gathering will take place to unveil the memorial, made up of flowers and a dedication board, where people are invited to leave notes. Medfield strong, a community service group, will live stream the event on Facebook. The memorial will be exhibited through March 8th for citizens to visit, reflect and embellish upon.
How to get involved:
1. On the night of March 1st, families are invited to join in a moment of silence remotely and light a candle to display on their front step in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to this virus.
2. Families are invited to visit the memorial at the lawn in front of Medfield Town Hall from March 2nd - March 8th.
3. High Schoolers will participate in a moment of silence at school and will be invited to visit a memorial at school set up outside the office to reflect and leave notes.
Why: This project is aimed to help our community have a safe space to grieve and remember what we have lost at the hands of this pandemic. To learn more about this initiative, visit…
Floral Heart Project
If you were not able to attend, here is the link to the presentation prior to vacation. The presentation was titled, “Navigating School During Uncertain Times.” While this webinar was co-hosted by Medway Public Schools and Medfield Public Schools, Jon Kleiman, the presenter, is associated with Challenge Success. Medfield is a Challenge Success school district. For those of you new to the district, or unaware of work we do with Challenge Success, I thought I’d give you a brief summary.
Challenge Success is an organization associated with Stanford University, whose main goal is to help families, schools and communities help students find balance in their personal, social and academic lives. Medfield Public Schools sent a team to Stanford a few years ago to be trained in best practices, as we look fo focus not only on the academic development of students, but also the social, emotional, and physical well-being of our kids. While our group meets primarily with a high school focus, the work is geared to trickle down into the younger grades, so that parents and students will develop with the understanding that academic achievement is but one part of the overall developmental cycle. At the high school level, we are seeing concerning numbers of students who are consumed with stress around academic achievement, and while we understand that the academic piece is very important, there must be a healthy balance for kids.
Our Challenge Success team consists of administration, teachers, students and parents. Our student members consult with other member districts, and have recently hosted a webinar with a speaker discussing how to manage time, family, health and academics as a collegiate and then professional athlete. Our district team meets to brainstorm ideas on how to educate students and families of students of all ages on healthy balance. It is pretty easy to fall into the trap of preparing our kids to see the goal as, “getting into a good college.” In reality, the “good” college is the one that is a great fit personality-wise at the time that the student is ready to attend. You may be surprised at some of the key findings in the research and in the White Papers.
You can follow @Medfield_CS on Twitter or reach out with questions you may have.
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: [email protected]
Building Aides Needed at Blake!
Are you or is someone that you know interested in working at Blake Middle School? We are looking for four building aides for the 2020-2021 school year. If you are available Monday-Tuesday or Thursday-Friday to align with your family’s Cohort schedules, that would work as well. Please contact Kelly Campbell ([email protected]) if you are interested or would like more information.
Upcoming Fundraiser Event for Blake PTO
Below please find a link with information regarding an upcoming fundraiser for the Blake PTO on March 6, 2021.
Save the Date - Blake PTO Virtual Cooking Class Fundraiser
(Hint: While most portals are displayed in windows of downtown businesses, don’t forget to check outside the Medfield schools too! Each portal will be marked with the logo above.)
Find as many people as you can - if you like solving mysteries, use the puzzle decoders on our website to find the portal locations. There are inventors, scholars, athletes, artists, and other trailblazers! Then enter our contest to win a gift card to Park Street Books! Head to our website for contest entry information! https://www.medfieldtogether.com/black-history-knowledge-quest/
ATTN: 8th Grade Students & Parents!
Please visit this website for information from the high school. https://sites.google.com/email.medfield.net/welcome-class-of-2025/home
Here is the link to the high school program of studies. If you have questions about the placement process, the names and e-mail addresses of the respective department chairs are below…
- Science
- Orla Berry - [email protected]
- English
- Gail Duffy - [email protected]
- Mathematics
- Jess Safer - [email protected]
- Social Studies
- Kathleen Emerson - [email protected]
- Mathematics
- Jess Safer - [email protected]
- World Language
- Ellen Toubman - [email protected]
- February 22 - March 3 - Teachers make recommendations in Aspen
- Thursday, March 4th @2:00pm - Aspen will be “Live” for 8th grade students
- March 5 - March 12 - Students make their Course Selections
- March 15 - 25 - HS Guidance Counselors meet with students and go through their student course selections
Summer Reading Input?
It's summer at Blake! The summer reading team will meet in early February to begin looking at titles for this summer's reading choices. Have a book you would like to recommend? Please share with Kerry Cowell ([email protected]) and Kara Gelormini ([email protected]). Happy Reading!
Blake is Social
Blake is Social would love any and all work from students. We love to show off what makes Blake special. We meet every Monday via zoom, if interested please reach out to Mrs. McClelland at [email protected]
Blake Battles Bias
Is your 7th or 8th grade student interested in matters of racial justice and other forms of bias? BBB (Blake Battles Bias) meets every other Wednesday from 12-12:30. New members are always welcome. Any interested 7th or 8th grader should reach out to Mrs. Gelormini [email protected]
Blake’s GSA
Come and join our zoom, Thursday from 2:30-3:00. Need the zoom link? Reach out to [email protected] Please feel free to contact Mrs. McClelland, Mrs. Dondero, or Mr. Marenghi with any questions.
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 [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
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.
Stretch and Movement Break for Students and Families
The Blake Wellness Staff is providing 2 minute "Movement Break" videos for all students and staff to utilize throughout their school day. Whether you are in person learning or remote, you have access to these videos at your grade-level Blake Hybrid Learning Website. You can also visit our Blake Wellness Website for more resources!
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 [email protected] with any questions.
Google Classroom Tips for Families
Resharing a resource for families:
Blake Middle School - Google Classroom Tips
‘Go to Site’ for Hybrid Learning at Blake
Please bookmark and utilize our Hybrid Learning site - this is the ‘go to’ resource for students and families - thanks to Diane Horvath, our Technology Integration Specialist, for her work in establishing this resource…
Blake Middle School Hybrid Learning Website - 2020-2021
Resources for Families
CASEL CARES: Permission To Feel for Kids with Dr. Marc Brackett
(57:11)
Blake ‘EdChats’ - Adapting and Learning
We are trying out some ‘edchats’ with Blake teachers/staff as a way to connect and share what we are thinking and talking about as a community of learners. Each chat will have a particular focus and we will take some time to talk through a few questions. Check out our chats…
Adapting and Learning - EdChat # 2 (Learning)
(Maura Batts, Tom Woods, Seth Hellerstein, Marjorie Heim, Michael Gow)
Adapting and Learning - EdChat # 1(Learning)
(Jason Heim, Orla Berry, Brian Gavaghan, Susan Bycoff, Marissa Gumas, and Diane Horvath)
Blake PTO Update
The Medfield K-8 PTO is looking for a publicist to join the board! The role involves promoting PTO’s events and fundraising efforts through the weekly school newsflashes, blogs and on social media. If you are interested or for more information, please contact Nicole Drummond ([email protected])
Virtual Class @ Home Cooking New York
Saturday, March 6, 2021 5 PM to 6:30 PM.
The Blake PTO is hosting a pizza party! We will learn how to make homemade dough, sauce, and the sky's the limit on topping choices. All proceeds will go towards the students and staff of Blake Middle School. The cost is $50 per household and we have a max of 60 households that can attend. Details and signups will be coming soon. You'll make: Quick Pizza Dough, Classic Tomato Sauce, Sheet Pan Pizzas.
HOW THESE VIRTUAL CLASS WILL WORK:
1) After registering, you will be sent a link to log into the class at the appointed date/time along with the list of ingredients that you will need to have on hand.
2) One day before the class you will be sent a copy of the recipes we'll be making, so you can cook from them again after the class!
MCPE Update
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BE PART OF OUR TEAM! MCPE is looking for new board members-men and women from the Medfield community with various skill sets and interests who want to have a voice in the improvements that reach our classrooms! Board members do not need to have kids currently in the school system—just a desire to support and enrich the Medfield Schools. Board members will serve a 3-year term and attend meetings one evening a month during the school year. The time commitment required to join the Board can be organized to fit the schedules of both stay-at-home and working parents. Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Apply here by March 8th: https://www.medfieldcoalition.org/volunteer-application-form #OneMedfield