8/22 - Blake New Student Orientation (10 a.m.)
8/27 - Professional Day for Teachers
8/28 - Professional Day for Teachers
8/29 - First Day of School
Delayed Start for 7th/8th Grade
8/31 - Half Day
9/3 - Labor Day (No School)
9/5 - Grade 8 Trip Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 8 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/6 - Grade 6 Music Ensemble Info Sessions (6 p.m.)
Grade 6 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/7 - Blake Picture Day
9/10 - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
9/11 - Medfield Food Cupboard One-Day Drive (see details below)
Grade 7 Nature's Classroom Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 7 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/19 - Yom Kippur (No School)
10/5 - Half Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
10/8 - Columbus Day (No School)
10/12 - Blake Picture Retake Day
10/23-10/26 - Nature's Classroom for 7th Grade
Topic/Question for the Summer Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about PDF (Playtime, Downtime, Family Time), our topic/question for the summer dinner table is: What are you looking forward to most about summer? Enjoying Summer (Summer 2018) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
New Student Registration at Blake
Blake would like to welcome any families with middle school students moving to Medfield to attend our Blake Registration Day Wednesday, August 22 at 10 a.m. Please contact Beth Ladouceur at (508) 242-8713 or via e-mail ([email protected]) regarding any questions about registration. Information regarding registration can be found at these links...
http://www.medfield.net/district-information/student-registration
http://blakeguidancepage.weebly.com/new-student-information.html
For Incoming 6th Grade Families - New Dates/Times Added
Rising 6th grade families - If your student would benefit from a tour of Blake before school starts, please sign up for an August tour time slot. Ms. Allen will be in the office the week of August 20th. Feel free to bring your student on his/her own or with a small group of friends. If you'd like the tour between June 20 and August 20, please contact the main office. Mr. Vaughn or Mrs. Campbell will be happy to take you around in July or early August. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094bada922a4ff2-6thgrade …
Theme of Happiness for 2018-2019
Our theme for the next academic year at Blake is one of Happiness. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last six years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, Empathy, and Diversity. 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]).
Blake Social Emotional Learning with Project Happiness (www.projecthappiness.org)
Project Happiness (www.projecthappiness.org) specializes in emotional resilience-building programs which provide proven techniques to empower students and their communities to thrive. Drawing from the three pillars of neuroscience, positive psychology, and mindfulness, all participants learn social and emotional learning skills. Project Happiness is connected to Common Core Standards, which helps students to learn to build a climate of kindness, appreciation, and cooperation. Each lesson fulfills Common Core Standards by teaching skills that allow students to calm themselves when angry, make friends, resolve conflicts respectfully, and make ethical and safe choices.
In May 2016, The MCPE funded the Project Happiness grant which included: Project Happiness Middle School Curriculum, Project Happiness Training Videos, Project Happiness Film, and 20 Project Happiness Books. Medfield Public Schools were recently featured by Project Happiness. http://us9.forward-to-friend.com/forward/show?u=2e45f17d3d4a1ef72e24e6d3f&id=acd6095363
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)
Blake Parent Nights for Fall 2018
The Blake parent nights for this fall have been scheduled...
9/5 - Grade 8 Trip Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 8 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/6 - Grade 6 Music Ensemble Info Sessions (6 p.m.)
Grade 6 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/11 - Grade 7 Nature's Classroom Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 7 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
Blake Summer Reading
Please refer to the Blake Summer 2018 Reading Lists for copies of the 6th-8th grade reading lists for this summer. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Haycock at [email protected].
Summer Supply Lists
All students should refer to the School Supply Lists located on the Guidance webpage.
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 of the Middle School Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. throughout the summer. 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.)
Site Council Opening for Incoming Grade 6 Parents/Guardians
We have an opening for a parent representative (Grade 6) on the Blake Middle School Site Council. The Site Council meets monthly to review issues and discuss initiatives for the Blake Middle School community. The Council is also responsible for developing the annual School Improvement Plan and monitors progress with the plan throughout the year. Members include the administration, teacher representatives, and members of the community. The meetings are typically held once a month on Monday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. Serving on the Site Council is a wonderful way to get involved in your child's education and have an active and positive role in improving the Blake Middle School experience. Interested parents should send a letter of interest, indicating their desire and rationale for involvement, to me ([email protected]) by Thursday, August 23. If multiple parents express interest, an election will take place at parent night. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
iPad Information for 2018-2019
Information will be sent out in the next couple of weeks about our mobile learning work at Blake. Families who will be leasing or borrowing will be receiving information about deployment and roll-out plans as well. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Nat Vaughn or Tania Manuel ([email protected]).
Blake Site Council Book Discussion Group
Over the last two years the Blake Site Council has read several books and we will continue this practice during the 2018-2019 school year. Stay tuned for more information and we hope you can join in these discussions!
Locks
All Blake students will be required to bring in a combination lock with which to lock their hallway lockers. They will give their combination to their advisory teacher for safekeeping in the event that they forget it. In order to give students time to practice using their lock and become comfortable with it, we recommend that families consider purchasing it early so that students may practice using it throughout the summer. A photo of locks that fit on Blake lockers can be found on the school supply list page.
Recognition of September 11
September 11, 2018 will mark the seventeenth anniversary of the tragic events that transpired on September 11, 2001. To help commemorate all those who were affected by the events that took place, we are encouraging everyone, in an appropriate and respectful manner, to wear the colors of red, white, and blue on Monday, September 11. One of the lessons we were all reminded of fifteen years ago was the importance of community and looking out for one another. In that spirit, and to continue a tradition started seven years ago, Blake will be helping its own Medfield community by holding a one day collection for the Medfield Food Cupboard. More details regarding specific needs will be shared as we get closer to the date. Donations will be collected in the guidance office on Tuesday, September 11.
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.
Outdoor Classroom Space - Seeking Help
Mr. Gow is looking for volunteers to help construct an outdoor classroom space near the school - thanks to MCPE for their generosity and support. He needs help with trail clearing, trail building, outdoor classroom site work, and the building of a platform for a future shed. For those who are interested in helping this summer, please contact Michael Gow at [email protected].
Middle School Athletics for Fall, 2018
Anyone interested in participating in Blake Middle School Athletics in the Fall (Grade 6-8 Boys and Girls Cross Country, 8th Grade Girls Field Hockey, 8th Grade Girls Volleyball, or 7th and 8th Grade Football) please do the following ASAP:
- Register your son/daughter on FamilyID.com (direct link off Blake Athletics Page)
- Pay online (Direct Link for UniBank on FamilyID) or send check for $225 (made out to the "Town of Medfield") to Medfield High School, C/O Eric Scott, AD, 88R South St, Medfield, MA 02052. You can also drop it at the main office.
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.
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.
Blake PTO News
Volunteers Needed for Blake! In particular, we are in need of a Hospitality Chair or Co-Chairs, which helps coordinates 3-4 teacher luncheons a year. It's a great way to get involved and appreciate the wonderful staff at our school! Please click on the link to the volunteer form below. Thank you! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVH6fbiK1-cVI5r7yu42e6szW5bnuT2EUO9qk3CLc-l9A8UQ/viewform