9/29 - Blake Student Council
DEI Task Force Meeting
My Ascension Documentary Screening - 7 p.m. (see info below)
9/30 - Blake GSA Meeting
10/1 - Blake Spirit Day
10/6 - Blake Student Council
10/7 - School Committee Meeting
10/11 - No School
10/13 - Blake Student Council
10/29 - Half-Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways we make time for ourselves, our question for the week is: When you make time for yourself, what do you like to do (interests, activities, hobbies)? Time for Ourselves (Week of 9/26/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Thank You to PTO
Thank you to the Blake PTO for the lovely snacks for the Blake staff - they were greatly appreciated!
Every October, artists all over the world take on the INkTOBER drawing challenge by doing one drawing a day the entire month. ANYONE CAN DO INKTOBER, JUST PICK UP A PEN AND START DRAWING!!! Listen to the announcements every AM for the prompts!
For planning purposes: : The Blake LMC will be closed afterschool on Thursday, 9/30/21.
Student Council Update
- Student Council would like to invite everyone to participate in Blake's first spirit day, which is coming Friday October 1st! Stay tuned on how you can show your spirit.
- The next Student Council Meeting will be after school on Wednesday in Mrs. Ruminski's room from 2:15-2:45. All are welcome!
Back-to-School Resources from DESE
The Department has a new, family-friendly back-to-school page that answers basic questions about the 2021-2022 school year. Please share this link with your community. Other back-to-school resources from DESE include a letter from Commissioner Riley and a back-to-school public service announcement (in English and Spanish) that can be shared with staff, parents, and the community about the upcoming school year. The Department would like to thank Somerville Public Schools and particularly the staff and students of Albert F. Argenziano School for their help with the PSA!
Message from Medfield Nurses - Pooled Testing Update
Covid pooled testing for Blake Middle School students and staff will be held on Mondays instead of on Tuesdays effective this week going forward. If your children have already been participating in the testing, then they are all set to continue.
If you haven’t signed your child(ren) up for weekly pooled testing yet for the current school year and are interested in having your child(ren) participate, then please use the following link to register your child(ren) and provide consent for testing.
Covid Testing Consent Form
Please note, we update our consent testing lists once a week on Fridays. If you are just signing up your child(ren) for pooled testing for the first time this school year, then they will start testing the following week on Monday, October 4, 2021.
If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past three months, then please let me know as your child should wait 90 days after their diagnosis before participating in the pooled testing program.
Blake Battles Bias Update
Come join us for some great discussions and leadership opportunities! Interested 7th and 8th Graders we look forward to seeing you. If you know that you can't make meetings in the fall, but are still interested, please let Ms. Thress or Mrs. Gelormini know!
Blake GSA Update
The Blake GSA had our first meeting on Thursday 9/23, and we had an amazing turn-out! We're looking forward to a great year of learning and talking about LGBTQ+ issues, making friends, and supporting each other. Meetings are every Thursday from 2:15-2:45 in Ms. Malone's room, room 502. Everyone is welcome!
Early Dismissal Procedures - Reminder
If a student needs to be dismissed from school before 2:07 p.m.,an email must be sent by the parent/guardian to [email protected].. Please include the following information:
- Date
- Time of dismissal
- Student name
- Reason for dismissal
- Person picking up
Blake’s Virtual Information Night
Similar to last year, our Information Nights will be structured and shared via a virtual, asynchronous format with recordings/videos of presentations from staff shared with families and posted on the Blake Website. Although it is certainly not the same as seeing Blake families in person, we hope that you find this information/format meaningful and helpful. We anticipate sending a link to the videos/presentations by the end of this week.
Theme of Imagination for 2021-2022
Our theme for this academic year at Blake is one of Imagination. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last seven years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, Empathy, Diversity, Happiness, Curiosity, and Imagination. 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]).
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. - Albert Einstein
Creativity doesn’t happen without day dreaming. - Lin Manuel-Miranda
Demanding proof stalls creativity. New ideas need room to breathe, and a good imagination will always be ahead of the best evidence. - Adam Grant
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 Public Schools - Employment Opportunities and look under ‘Substitute Teaching’. Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
From Medfield’s Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Medfield Outreach
Wednesday, 9/29 at 7 p.m.
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 7:00 pm
WHERE:
Medfield High School Auditorium
WHAT/WHY:
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In order to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of talking about mental health and suicide, the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP), a Medfield Foundation initiative, is hosting a screening of the film "My Ascension", which documents the true story of a young woman who survived a suicide attempt. A panel discussion of mental health professionals will follow the film.
SYNOPSIS:
A suicide attempt left 16-year-old varsity cheerleader, Emma Benoit, paralyzed, but propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience to help others find hope and shine more light on the fact that 20 young people die every day by suicide in the in the United States. My Ascension is a feature-length documentary that chronicles Emma's inspiring journey and quest to walk again, as she works to bring Hope Squad, a school-based suicide prevention program, to Louisiana. The film also highlights the stories of two remarkable young people who tragically did not survive their attempts, and we learn first-hand from their families, friends, school officials, and suicide prevention experts about the devastating effects of suicide and what can be done to prevent it.
COST:
We kindly request donations to MCSP (see donation links below) if resources permit. No one will be denied participation based on inability to donate.
Questions?
Contact Medfield Outreach at [email protected] or at (508) 359-7121
For more information about the event and the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, please visit https://www.medfieldcsp.org/
Challenge Success Update
Challenge Success Medfield Parent Group is working on identifying initiatives for the 2021-2022 school year across all grade levels (PreK-12). If you have an idea or you are interested in being on one of the planning or implementation committees, please reach out to Eric Baacke (HS), Kristen Careau (MS and upper elementary), and Nicole Hall (lower elementary). Challenge Success is always open to new ideas and new faces!
Medfield Outreach
Medfield Outreach is available for consultation appointments. E-mail [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
DIG PINK IN OCTOBER
MHS girls & boys volleyball teams are going to Dig Pink in October!
The Ellie Fund (www.elliefund.org) is a non-profit in Massachusetts which provides non-medical support and services to breast cancer patients in Mass. 100% of all funds raised go directly to the Ellie Fund.
- Buy a snack or drink @ Wheelock soccer fields this Saturday!
- Donate on the Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/294554972088627/4738606006173704/
- Attend the girl's volleyball games Wed. Oct 13th versus Hopkinton @ MHS (JV2 starts @ 4:30, JV1 @ 5:30 & varsity girls serve it up @6:30) with all admissions going to Ellie Fund.
Gender Equity in Education
Tuesday, 9/28 at 3 p.m.
Addressing gender equity in today's schools is crucial in preparing students for the next iteration of the workforce. Broaching the topic of gender equity in schools today helps to ensure that workplaces foster more gender diversity in their settings tomorrow, regardless of career field. Equity focuses on the opportunity and fairness that exists in environments. When we talk about gender equity in schools, we're talking about empowering our students to find and pursue their interests, even if those interests lie in fields where their gender has been marginalized. A simple look at the current workforce trends in sectors such as technology, finance, and medicine provides us with some insight into the gender equity issues in those fields.
Equity is about more than just representation. In this webinar, we take it one step deeper to investigate ways to move from representation to actual gender inclusion in our learning environments. Are we ensuring that our girls are empowered to explore industries and subjects that have traditionally been led by males? Are we honoring our nonbinary students?
How to Navigate Re-entry Stress
Hosted by SPARK Kindness
Wednesday, 10/20 at 7 p.m.
During the pandemic, many families delighted in a slower, more intentional way of life and are now overwhelmed by the demands and pressures of re-entry. Author (Minimalist Parenting) + podcaster (Edit Your Life) Christine Koh will share practical advice for how to navigate re-entry stress, including tactics to manage calendar creep, maintain boundaries, protect time for yourself and with your family, and continue to tap into the things you and your family truly care about.
About our Presenter
Christine Koh is a music and brain scientist turned multimedia creative. She is a fierce believer in the power of humans, small moments and actions, and vulnerable, authentic storytelling. She communicates on these beliefs through her work as a writer (she is a regular contributor at the Washington Post, Boston Globe Magazine, and CNN; co-author of Minimalist Parenting; and founder of the award-winning blog Boston Mamas), podcaster (Edit Your Life, Hello Relationships), designer (Brave New World Designs), and creative director (Geben Communication). You can find her at @drchristinekoh on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Blake PTO Update - Hospitality
Please join us as we kick off our 2021-2022 school year at Blake! As part of the Hospitality Committee, we will be hosting several staff and Student Appreciation events this year. One of the recurring events we will host is a snack table for our wonderful faculty at Blake this year as we have done in the previous year. We will be setting this table up for every Faculty Staff meeting this year! Please use this sign up (Blake PTO Sign-Up Genius Form) to donate funds or gift cards for the purchase of snack items and drinks to set up a nice snack bar for these faculty meetings! You can also drop off gift cards at 2 Pueblo Road or 25 Cole Drive! We plan on using these cards or funds for the snack bar events as well as for future appreciation events at Blake this year. BUT if you don’t have time to grab a card and want to donate, feel free to Venmo a donation. Any amount is appreciated and will be used throughout the year. You can send your Venmo donation here: @MedfieldBlake-PTO (5428 if it asks you for last 4 #'s). Please indicate in the comments section that your donation is for the Blake Middle School Teacher and Staff Appreciation.
MCPE Update
The rumors are true! MCPE has a number of exciting events planned for this year that we hope you will attend. First up, Fall Fest!! We will be back, in person, at the German Club on Friday, November 5th, so save the date. More details will follow on our website.