6/3 - 8th Grade ELA MCAS
6/4 - 7th Grade Math MCAS
6/5 - Celebration for Class of 2021 (see below)
6/7 - 7th Grade ELA MCAS
6/8 - 6th Grade ELA MCAS
6/9 - 8th Grade Math MCAS
6/10 - 6th Grade Math MCAS
Bike Trip for Stripes
6/11 - 8th Grade Sci/Tech MCAS
6/14 - Bike Trip for Eagles
6/15 - Bike Trip for Stars
6/15, 6/16 - Save the Dates for 8th Grade Closing Ceremony
6/16 - Bike Trip Rain Date
6/18 - 1/2 Day for Students
Last Day of School
Question of the Week
To help encourage dialogue and reflection about our own learning and making space for this intentional reflection, our question of the week is: What have you learned about yourself over the past year? Creating and Holding Space (Week of 5/30/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake Middle School Art Show
Thank you to Nancy Deveno for coordinating our wonderful art show - it is a wonderful representation of the amazing work of our students! Unfortunately we were not able to hold our traditional art show for visitors and families, but we were thrilled to be able to display the artwork for students and staff!
Sophia Small, 7th grade...Surrealism, skull, Pen and marker
Kaela DeHoff, 6th grade...Celestial orbs and Space, oil pastel
Memorial Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
Thank you to all of the Blake staff for their support and help in making our 'No Homework Weekend' this past weekend a reality. This effort was part of our continued work to provide down time for students, staff, and families.
From the Blake Student Council
T-shirts & Sweatshirts have arrived! Student Council will be sorting them to be passed out in Advisory next Thursday, June 3!
World Language AAPPL Update
The World Language department wrapped up our AAPPL proficiency assessments this week. The process took place during our World Language classes. When we receive the full reports for all the students, each student will receive a printout of what their current proficiency performance level is for the language they are studying. The report will also include information on "leveling up." Teachers will be meeting with their students during class time to relay this information and they will be encouraged to share these at home with parents.
Memorial Day Presentation for 6th Graders
Last Friday, Medfield resident Jonathan Gray gave a Zoom presentation to our sixth grade students. In previous years, Jonathan presented at school while portraying his father, a POW in WWII. On Friday, however, Johnathan sat down with social studies teacher Michael Gow for a conversation about the important role that history has in telling our stories. During the interview, students not only heard about the story of a war verteran, but were given direct insight into the necessary work needed to craft an historical narrative. On behalf of the sixth grade, Blake Middle School would like to thank Johnathan for sharing the journey it took to craft his father's story.
8th Grade Bike Trip
This year the 8th graders will again have the opportunity to participate in the annual Bike Trip. The students will bring a bike and helmet to school and travel by cluster in either the morning or the afternoon on a scenic historical tour of our hometown of Medfield. The trip consists of two parts both departing from Blake Middle School and will be accompanied by their teachers and other staff volunteers. Each leg of the trip is approximately 3 miles and the pace of the trip is very manageable. At each stop along the route, students will hear about historical events from the past that have impacted the town and its surroundings. The dates for the trip are as follows: Stripes 6/10, Eagles 6/14, Stars 6/15, Rain Date 6/16.
8th Grade Closing Ceremony - 6/15 or 6/16
We are cognizant of the feelings of loss and disappointment that our current group of 8th graders have experienced throughout the year, and we want to provide an opportunity to support, commend, and communicate our gratitude for their growth and accomplishments. Please save the dates of Tuesday, 6/15 and Wednesday, 6/16 at 6:00 p.m. for an Outdoor 8th Grade Closing Ceremony on the baseball field at Blake Middle School. We are hoping for dry and nice weather and have reserved the field for both nights - as we get closer to that week, we will make a final decision based on the weather outlook.
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 we ask that all guests bring lawn chairs/blankets for seating in the outfield. Students typically like to dress up a bit but cool clothing makes sense-- collared shirts and nice shorts, dresses, or pants are common choices -- students and families should dress for a potentially warm evening. We are hoping for a 'cool weather' evening!
The safety and well-being of our students is and will remain to be our top priority, and we will communicate all safety parameters as we get closer to the ceremony.
MHS Counselors Meet Incoming 9th Grade
Beginning last week and continuing this week, the 8th grade students will all have an opportunity to meet with their High School Guidance Counselor. The High School Counselors will be visiting Blake Middle School and scheduling a 5-minute meeting with each student to talk about the transition to high school.
Message from the Blake LMC
Last day for book check out for this school year is 6/4/21. We are looking for many overdue books (from over the past year)... if you could remind students to return any overdue books to the LMC, that would be great. If a student has a book from another school, we can take those here too! If you got an email about an overdue book that you lost/ think may have been sent to you in error, stop by LMC or email [email protected] & we will remove it from your account. Please do not stress about this!! Thank you!!
Student Water Bottles
For health and safety reasons we have our water fountains turned off with the exception of the “auto refill” component. Please be sure with weather getting warmer to have your child bring either a refillable water bottle or a few bottles of water for the school day.
Blake MERJ Update
An exciting collaboration is occuring! Members of Medfield High School's National Art Honor Society are lending their art expertise to Blake Middle School's culminating advisory MERJ (Medfield Educators for Racial Justice) activity. These talented high school artists are helping to create a visual social justice piece to be displayed in June.
Blake Battles Bias
Blake Battles Bias, is now open to any 6th grader who is interested in learning more about issues involving social justice and working towards creating a more inclusive community. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Blake GSA Update
Reminder that the GSA will meet in person in room 212 at 2:15 p.m. on Thursdays. If you have any questions about the Blake GSA, please reach out to Matt Marenghi ([email protected]),Cynthia McClelland ([email protected]), or Jen Dondero ([email protected]).
Info for all Medfield Families
Help us keep the decades-long Medfield tradition of safely celebrating MHS Senior’s Achievements!
Line the streets on June 5th 1pm & wave the Seniors on.
If you, with your friends/community groups would like to help decorate part of the route, please sign up to the allocated areas HERE
After the Rally, the Class of 2021 will attend a ‘Party in the Park.’
This will be a fun & safe space for the seniors to Celebrate together.
We really can’t do this without your kind support.
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.
Webinars of Interest
Game Changer Series: A Conversation between Ted Dintersmith and six dynamic classroom teachers, principals, and superintendents
Part of What School Could Be’s Game Changer Series with Ted Dintersmith
Wednesday, 6/2 at 7:00 p.m.
About this Event
Perspectives on leadership strategies from six dynamic classroom teachers, principals, and superintendents. We’ll gain perspective on how to turn the challenges of the past year into a springboard for effecting confidence-building transformation. And we’ll delve into effective strategies of leaders in different organization roles.
Featuring:
Six Classroom Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents TBA
and Ted Dintersmith (author, film producer, innovation expert, 2018 recipient of NEA’s Friend of Education Award)
Change Maker Series: A conversation with Tony Wagner, author of Learning By Heart (and many other remarkable books!) and Ted Dintersmith
Part of What School Could Be’s Game Changer Series with Ted Dintersmith
Tuesday, 6/8 at 10:00 p.m.
About this Event
While our conversation will touch on the vast body of work of Tony Wagner, one of our nation’s most important and influential thought leaders, we’ll spend most of our time exploring his stunning memoir Learning By Heart. He has so much to say about the role of passion and purpose in education -- including how we lost it, and what we can do to restore it.
Featuring:
Tony Wagner is a globally recognized expert in education and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, founded by Linda Darling-Hammond in 2015. Tony is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and a widely published author. His work includes numerous articles and seven books, including three best-sellers: Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for The Innovation Era, co-authored by Ted Dintersmith, was published by Scribner in 2015. Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change The World, was published in 2012 to rave reviews and has been translated into 17 languages. His 2008 book, The Global Achievement Gap continues to be an international best seller, with more than 140,000 copies in print. Tony's memoir, Learning By Heart: An Unconventional Education, was published by Penguin/Random House in 2020. Tony served as the Strategic Education Advisor for a major new education documentary, "Most Likely to Succeed," which had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and has since been shown in more than 8000 communities. He also collaborated with noted filmmaker Robert Compton to create a 60 minute documentary, "The Finland Phenomenon: Inside The World's Most Surprising School System.
and Ted Dintersmith (author, film producer, innovation expert, 2018 recipient of NEA’s Friend of Education Award)
How to "Ungrade" Imagining Assessments That Encourage Discovery - with Jesse Stommel
Thursday, 6/11 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Why Do We Grade? It seems like such a basic question, but in reality, it's profoundly complex. Without much critical examination, teachers accept they have to grade, students accept they have to be graded, students are made to feel like they should care a great deal about grades, and teachers are told they shouldn't spend much time thinking about the why, when, and whether of grades.
Especially now, when the well-being of every student is paramount, asking hard questions about the whys and hows of grading are crucial.Much of our work in education resists being formulated as neat and tidy outcomes, and yet most assessment takes the complexity of human interaction within a learning environment and makes it “machine readable.” When learning is the goal, space should be left for wonder and experimentation.
We're wondering, why do we grade? Who are grades for? How does it feel to be graded? What do we want grading to do (or not do) in our classes (whether as students or teachers)? What do letter grades mean? Do they have any intrinsic meaning, or is the value purely extrinsic? Does assessment mean differently when it is formative rather than summative?
"If you're a teacher and you hate grading, stop doing it."
Join internationally recognized author and educator Jesse Stommel for this free 45-minute webinar that will unpack some of the bigger questions around grading and offer some provocative ideas for doing without. You'll leave inspired to look closely at your own practice around grading, and you'll have a sense of how to change that practice to more effectively serve your students.
Game Changer Series: A Conversation with Dr. Darryl Adams, Education Leader & Social Justice and Equity Advocate and Ted Dintersmith
Part of What School Could Be’s Game Changer Series with Ted Dintersmith
Wednesday, 6/16 at 7:00 p.m.
About this Event
Darryl Adams has been a transformational education leader throughout his career, recognized by the Obama White House for his outstanding contributions. During this conversation, we’ll explore issues of equity, social justice, the appropriate role of technology, and how to energize and mobilize your community and your school board to support bold innovations. Fasten your seatbelt for this fascinating discussion.
Featuring:
Darryl Adams is a sought after keynoter speaker and thought leader and is widely known as the Rock & Roll Superintendent advocating that "Every Child Be Connected" and provided with a 21st Century College, Career and Citizenship education. Dr. Adams, known as an innovator, provides motivational "keynote concerts", a new concept in educating and "edutaining!" Dr. Adams also provides consulting, business and educational leadership training services to corporate firms, government entities and school districts. Dr. Adams has been recognized by the Obama Administration as one of the Top 100 Innovative Superintendents in the nation.
and Ted Dintersmith (author, film producer, innovation expert, 2018 recipient of NEA’s Friend of Education Award)
Game Changer Series: A Conversation with Ken Kay & Suzie Boss and Ted Dintersmith
Part of What School Could Be’s Game Changer Series with Ted Dintersmith
Wednesday, 8/4 at 10:00 p.m.
About this Event
Experts in the power of community’s embracing a Portrait of a Graduate as their education North Star, Ken and Suzie will share with us the many lessons they’ve learned over through their distinguished careers, and highlight what we will find in their eagerly-anticipated new book Redefining Student Success: Building a New Vision to Transform Leading, Teaching and Learning
Featuring:
Ken Kay is the Chief Executive Officer of EdLeader21, a professional learning community for education leaders committed to 21st century education. Ken co-founded the Partnership for 21st Century Skills in 2002 and served as its President for eight years. Prior to his work on 21st century education, Ken served as executive director of the CEO Forum on Education and Technology. Ken spent 28 years in Washington, DC, where he gained a national reputation as a coalition builder on competitiveness. He founded a landmark coalition of US universities and high-tech companies focused on research and development issues, and was the founding Executive Director of the premier CEO advocacy group in the US computer industry.
Suzie Boss is a journalist who writes about the power of teaching and learning to improve lives and transform communities. Author of Bringing Innovation to School: Empowering Students to Thrive in a Changing World and co-author of Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age, She's inspired by educators who push the boundaries of the traditional classroom. Suzie is on the National Faculty of the Buck Institute for Education, and has also helped nonprofit organizations design programs that teach both youth and adults how to improve their communities with innovative, sustainable solutions.
and Ted Dintersmith (author, film producer, innovation expert, 2018 recipient of NEA’s Friend of Education Award)
Medfield Together
To participate, find portal locations, enter for a chance to win a gift card to Park Street Books, and get additional information, please visit www.medfieldtogether.com.
We hope you have fun celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with us!
Blake PTO Update
Want to get involved? We're looking for a Treasurer and VP for our Board next year! Contact Mary Kelly ([email protected]) for more information!