9/29-10/2 - Nature's Classroom for 7th Grade
10/1 - 8th Grade Parent Coffee (see details below)
10/2 - Go Fresh Night for Blake
10/6 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:15 p.m. in Blake LMC)
10/7 - 6th Grade Parent Coffee (see details below)
Canoe/RIM Field Trip (Eagles Cluster)
Subway Night for MCPE
10/10 - Teacher Professional Day (No School for Students)
10/13 - Columbus Day (No School)
10/16 - 7th Grade Parent Coffee (see details below)
Tri-County Visit for 8th Grade
10/24 - Term 1 Interim Reports go home
10/28 - Blake Picture Retake Day
10/30 - 8th grade to Salem
10/31 - Happy Halloween!
11/3 - Navigating Social Media with Your Tweens/Teens (see details below)
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help bring the ideas of reflective learning into the conversations this week, our Topic/Question(s) for the Dinner Table this week is: Here is the answer: "someone who is willing to revise their thinking based on new evidence". What is the question?
Nature's Classroom
The students are off to a great start to the week. As long as 'service' is good teachers will be tweeting throughout the week to the hashtag #blakeatNC and #bmsed, so please check it out!
Parent Coffees
Are you feeling like you had just mastered your child's last grade's norms and now you have a new set of expectations to adjust to? Maybe your student is in a whole new building with even greater expectations. The Blake guidance counselors would like to help put your mind at ease by talking about what each grade level looks like and answering your questions. The coffees will take place on October 1 from 9:15am-10:15am (8th grade), October 7 from 9:15am-10:15am (6th grade) and October 16 from 10:15am-11:30am (7th grade). To RSVP, please go to this link - Parent Coffee Signup Form.
Twitter Workshop Information
Thanks to those who were able to attend our Twitter workshop last Friday at Blake. For your reference I am sharing the published presentation: Twitter Workshop for Parents 2014. If you have other topics you are interested in learning about in regards to technology, please e-mail me ([email protected]) and Diane Horvath ([email protected]).
Music at Blake - Guess the Blake Pandora Jockey
In an effort to continue finding ways to foster a positive school culture and make connections between students and adults, we are continuing our Blake Pandora Jockey contest this year. Each week I will ask a different staff member to be the DJ, or PJ (Pandora Jockey) for Blake Tuesday-Thursday. The teacher will select different music 'stations' to be played and students will be able to cast their votes for who the Blake PJ of the week is. We have established an online voting system, Blake Pandora Jockey Form, and all entries must be registered by Thursday evening at 8 p.m. An 'electronic selector' will highlight a winner each week, and the winning student will be the Blake PJ for the following Monday. Each student may register only one vote. Encourage your students to participate!
Bengbu Exchange
We will be hosting a group of students/faculty from Bengbu, China for about three weeks. They will be arriving at the end of this week and their departure is scheduled towards the end of October. For the most part the students will be shadowing their host students, but they will also be involved in group activities during their stay. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to the experience.
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 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.
Navigating Social Media with Your Tweens/Teens - Save the Date!
Monday, November 3rd at 6:30 p.m. in the Blake auditorium
Please join us for an evening with Dr. Elizabeth Englander from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridegwater State University. Dr. Englander was part of our two-part series on technology use last fall and received very positive feedback about her practical and engaging strategies for parents children in the age of social media.
Parents of children of all ages are welcome to attend!
8th Grade Trip Information
The 8th grade trip (Memorials, Monuments, and Museums) information packets were sent home last Friday, 9/12 and the deposit and permission slip are due by October 10. For your reference and for more information, here is a link to the 8th grade trip presentation...
Memorials, Monuments, and Museums
Parent Information Night
Thanks to all of the Blake teachers for wonderful parent information nights. For your reference and information, here are links to the respective presentations...
Grade 6 Fall PIN Presentation
Grade 7 Fall PIN Presentation
Grade 8 Fall PIN Presentation
Blake Cross Country
The Middle School Cross Country team had an impressive win in their first home meet against Medway last Tuesday. Dylan Hogan, Andrew Barrette, and Matt Morgan all crossed the finish line in the top five. Breanna Morgan, Carina Christo and Gabby Christo also finished in the top five for the girls giving the boys and girls the win. In the teams' second home meet against Weston on Monday, Medfield once again took the win. Dylan Hogan, Andrew Barrette, Justin Fugelstad, Aidan Chan, and Colin Benson helped to score for the boys. Breanna Morgan, Gabby Christo, Isabel Vara, and Kathryn Blake scored for the girls. The team will face Holliston away on Thursday 10/2. Practices this week will be Tues. and Wed.
Blake Football
The Blake Warriors played a hard fought contest against a scrappy Sharon squad last Tuesday with a strong support from the Home field crowd. The team continues to improve on making good blocks on Offensive and using sound tackling techniques to bring down opposing ball carriers. Blake opened up the scoring with a deep TD pass to a wide open Wing receiver (Twins Right formation). Their second score was using the Twins Left formation with the right TE catching a TD pass on a crossing pattern. Neither score would have been possible without the Offensive Line providing proper blocking to allow the QB to make accurate throw. The 14-0 lead at half time dwindled to 14-12 after Sharon fought back with two TDs of their own, using a successful onside Kick-off to get another chance for a score. However, the Warrior Defense held strong on Sharon's late scoring attempt in the final minutes of the game to preserve the Warriors first win of the season. The difference of the game was a 2pt conversion. Again, the Defense buckled down on both 2pt conversions to deny Sharon the endzone. The team continue to work on football fundamentals this and will travel Wednesday to play against Newton Bigelow without their 7th grade teammates. All 8th grade team members wish the 7th graders a fun and safe Nature's Classroom trip!
Blake Volleyball
It's game week for the Girls Volleyball team, as they host Holliston on Monday, then travel to Medway and Westwood on Wednesday and Thursday. Go team!
Angel Run
Angel Run News. This is week one of the 5K training plan. If you would like to run the 5K, start your training with 6 cycles of 1 minute of running followed by 4 minutes of walking (30 minutes total). See the full 10 week plan in the Thursday packet and on the Medfield Foundation website. Register at Medfield Foundation by 11/3 for the Angel Run t-shirt.
'Connecting Kids Who Have With Kids Who Need'
My name is Julia Steeger and I am an 11th grader working on my Girl Scout Gold Award Project “Connecting Kids Who Have With Kids Who Need.” For my Gold Award Project, I would like to raise awareness on the issue of how poverty affects kids and to address issues that affect kids who live in poverty. For instance, kids in poverty usually do not have access to enough food to eat; or the clothes they need to go to school like warm jackets or boots during the winter months; or books that would help them be able to read at home; or toys to play with that would be fun and also increase their ability to learn. My idea is to connect kids in Medfield with organizations who are helping kids in poverty so that hopefully, together, we can make a difference. Please see the two links below for more information...
Cradles to Crayons Collection Project
Cradles to Crayons Collection Unit Flyer
CSA News
Blake Middle School has three fantastic business partners!! Go Fresh, Royal Pizza and Subway are hosting monthly nights to support our Blake Students. Please visit the Thursday Packet for dates and details. Let's support Blake and local business!!
Thursday October 2 from 4:00-9:00 PM GO Fresh will donate 15% of all proceeds to Blake Middle School. Thank- you Go Fresh for supporting Blake Middle School! See Thursday Packet Flyer for addition information!
MEADOW FARMS FUNDRAISER UPDATE!
The Meadow Farm fundraiser is coming to an end. Please check out the catalogs that were sent home with your child and support this Fundraising initiative. This is traditionally our largest fundraiser of the year and we truly appreciate your contributions. These funds help offset the cost of field trips, provide technology to teachers and staff, and cover the cost of speakers and special programs, to name just a few of the ways the CSA supports Blake Middle School.
Did you know … you can make a monetary donation to this fundraiser!
If you want to participate in the fundraiser, but don’t want to buy products, you can simply make a monetary donation by sending cash or check (payable to Blake CSA) in to the school office in an envelope marked “Blake Fundraiser / Attn: Kim Lipsy.” Monetary donations will go directly to Blake School to be used towards special activities, presentations, events, speakers, field trips and more.
Did you know … you receive FREE SHIPPING when you choose the “Home Delivery” option on the Order Form
Orders placed through the Order Form will ship directly to your home for FREE when you choose “Home Delivery” option. Orders placed separately online will ship to the address requested – free shipping applies to orders of $65 or more.
Did you know … 8th Graders receive a 25% credit towards their DC trip (based on total sales and profit to the school)
Don't forget to send in those Box Tops!
The Blake library in the midst of an exciting renovation. Right now, we are taking a lot of books off the shelves and deleting them from the system. And, we have a lot of books to get rid of! We have a great organization, More than Words, who will be taking the leftover books once we are finished. More Than Words is a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth -- those in foster care, or who are court involved, homeless or out of school. They use the books to help the kids take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business -- a used bookstore. Long story short, we would love help at the library. Volunteers could basically give whatever time they want to helping us get rid of these books. It could even be as little as half an hour every now and then. The responsibilities involve deleting old books from the circulation system (very simple!), stamping books, organizing book shelves, maybe boxing some books. Please email Joellyn Ripp at [email protected] if you can help in this great endeavor for our school and More Than Words.
MCPE News
E4E Party:
Are you thinking of hosting an E4E party, but don’t know what to do? No problem. Check out our website for some E4E party ideas that are perfect for fall entertaining. Then, pick a date and invite your friends, asking them to make a donation to MCPE as their “ticket” to the event. It’s an easy way to raise money for our schools and have fun at the same time! All hosts will receive an MCPE “party pack” to help with the party planning. To register your party, visit our website: MedfieldCoalition.org. For questions, contact Megan Infantino (508-359-9928), Kim Price (508-246-8335).
Two Fun Filled Trivia Events:
The MCPE Community Trivia Night is more than 80% full.
Every 6-12 grader who participates in our Student Trivia Challenge on November 10th will have his/her name entered for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!
Register your teams today! MedfieldCoalition.org
Trivia Raffle:
For those who can't join us for our trivia events, you can still help bring academic enrichment to Medfield's school children by purchasing raffle tickets or our fabulous Legacy Place gift basket. Tickets are 1 for $5 or 5 for $20. To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit: MedfieldCoalition.org.
Subway and MCPE:
MCPE and has partnered up with Subway of Medfield. The first Tuesday of every month will be "MCPE Subway Day" at Subway from 2:00-9 PM. TWENTY PERCENT of all proceeds will be donated to MCPE, over a 9-month period. Please make a note that the first "MCPE Subway Day" will be, Tuesday, October 7th.
Show the Community You Support MCPE!
Make a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more to MCPE, and you will receive an MCPE Proud Supporter magnet for your car. To make a donation, go to MedfieldCoalition.organd click on "Donate".