11/25 - Turkey Bowl
Celebration of Voice Assembly
11/26 - No School
11/27 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/28 - No School
12/2 - 6th Grade Chorus/6-8 Orchestra Concert
12/4 - Go Fresh Night for Blake
12/5 - Term 1 Ends
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Info Session (see details below)
7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
12/8 - Term 2 Begins
Site Council Mtg (3:15 p.m. in Blake LMC)
Band Concert
12/9 - Ski Club Meeting
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Info Session (see details below)
Royal Pizza Night for Blake
12/10 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Teachers
Spaghetti with Santa
12/11 - Divide and Conquer Parent Workshop (see details below)
12/12 - Study Skills Workshop for Parents (see details below)
12/16 - Subway Night for Blake
12/17 and 12/18 - 8th Grade to XITC
12/18 - 7th/8th Grade Chorus Concert
12/24-1/2 - Holiday Vacation
1/5 - School Resumes
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations about gratitude, our topic/question of the week is: Although it has been found to be good when one often expresses gratitude by - for example - saying "I am thankful for...", it seems to have a more personal impact to often express gratitude by saying "I am thankful to you for...".
iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Sessions
In an effort to continue our dialogue and share information with the Blake community about our iPad Initiative, we are holding two iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Session for parents/guardians on Friday, December 5 at 9:20 a.m and Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Our hope for these sessions is for the entire Blake community of parents and guardians to hear and see highlights from teachers and students, answer questions, and to gain an understanding of the work that is taking place.
These events are for parents and guardians only. Please RSVP via our Google Form link (iPad Highlights and Mobile Learning Information Session on 12-5-14 and 12-9-14)
to let us know if you are planning on attending so that we can make sure we are prepared. Please fill out the form for each parent/guardian attending the presentation.
Divide and Conquer (Mathematics, MCAS, and Mindsets) Parent Workshop
Join Nat Vaughn and Susan Bycoff, Math Content Specialist, gr. 6-12, for the Fall 2014 'Divide and Conquer' parent workshop. The focus is on mathematics, how students learn math, and a yearly review of MCAS will be presented. This year we will discuss an important topic in learning, Growth Mindset, exploring its place in learning and how students may benefit from this knowledge. The day workshop took place on Wednesday, November 19 at 9:30 a.m., and the evening workshop will be Thursday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP via this Google Form: Divide and Conquer Parent Workshop Fall 2014.
Blake Parent Study Skills Workshop
The Blake Survey in recent years has shown parental interest in learning more about Study Skills as their children work their way through the middle school. Blake teacher Kelly (Dengos) Ruminski ran a workshop last year for the staff at both the middle and high schools in regards to study skills. Friday December 12, 2014, she will run a Parent Study Skills Session at 9:15 a.m. in the Blake Library. If you are a parent interested in learning more about what makes up the skill set required to study, and you are interested in some concrete ways to help structure and support your student's study habits, join us! Bring your mobile device if you can. Please RSVP via this Google Form: Blake Study Skills Workshop 12-12-14.
26 Days of Kindness
We have enjoyed a great first week of 26 Days of Kindness at Blake. The students and staff are enjoying the small, 'easy' gestures that honor Sandy Hook victims as well as build a stronger school culture. As we head into the Thanksgiving break, please continue to send Marissa Gumas ([email protected]) any pictures, videos, or feedback of/on your student's participation in the daily activities. She will be putting a visual representation of all the wonderful things our community is doing.
Theater Update
Auditions for our school plays will start Monday, Dec 1. All students received an email with the links to the sign up sheets for our crew and to audition. We could use some more crew members. They can also be found on the theater page - http://padlet.com/tallen/611ejx2h8v. Over the course of the productions the theater page will have the most up to date information. Auditions will be Dec 1-4. If your students have problems signing up or have any questions, please direct them to Tracy Allen or Kathleen Caprio.
Ted Ed Club
We had a great first meeting. The dates of our meetings for the rest of the year are 12/15, 12/22, 1/9, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/16, 3/30, 4/13, 4/27, and 6/5. All students who haven't brought in their release form, please get that in by Dec 1. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Seth Hellerstein ([email protected]) or Tracy Allen ([email protected]).
Blake Chorus Update/Information
The Blake Choruses are eagerly preparing for our Winter Concerts! The 6th Grade Chorus will sing on Tuesday, December 2nd at 7pm and the 7th and 8th Grade Choruses will perform on Thursday, December 18th at 7pm. Both concerts are in the High School Auditorium.
Singers interested in auditioning for the 'Joy to the World' festive tree lighting singing contest should see Ms. Nothnagel in the Chorus room at the High School. Hosted by MEMO, this audition is open to singers grades K-12 and try-outs to sing at Baxter Park is on Wednesday, December 3rd starting at 6:30pm.
Private School Applications
Students who plan on applying to private school need to contact their guidance counselor. For more information, please call the guidance office or visit the guidance website: Blake Guidance Private School Information.
Blake Ski Club
E-mails will be sent out to Ski Club participants by early next week, confirming their spots in the program. If you are missing any paperwork or payments you will be notified. In addition, if you are not interested in participating in the program please notify Marjorie Heim or Eileen Hurley ASAP. There are many families on the waiting list. Looking for to hitting the slopes!
Winter Basketball Information
The Blake boys basketball team practices will begin practicing on Monday, December 1 at 2:15-3:00, Monday through Thursday. Practices will be 2:15 - 3:15 staring Monday December 8th. Please contact Jeff Cincotta ([email protected]) with any questions. The girls team will begin practicing on Monday, December 15 at 3:30 in the Blake gymnasium. Please contact Marissa Pendergast ([email protected]) with any questions.
Stuff the Truck at Blake - Thank You from Julia Steeger
The event was fantastic. We helped over 300 kids! The amount of the donations was enormous, exceptionally all the donations from the 7th graders. We had over 60 volunteers helping sort clothes, books, and toys. The 7th graders should be very proud. Their donations were the bulk of what we received. I want to thank you so much for the support and help from the middle school. I greatly appreciate it!
Class of 2017 Fundraiser - Warrior Sweatpants
Are you lacking in school spirit? Are you really cold? Do you need new pants? Do you need a holiday gift? Never fear; Class of 2017 is here! We are EXCITED to announce the sale of WARRIOR SWEATPANTS!! The boot-cut pants are for all ages and sizes of a Medfieldian and cost $30. Please click the following link to order your new favorite pants!!
http://tinyurl.com/2017Pants
Thank you for your support!!
Angel Run
It is Week 9 Angel Run Trainers! Use the holiday to get in a training run before the run on the turkey. Three times this week run for 20 minutes, walk for 1 if needed, run for 10 minutes. This time next week you will be planning your final two training runs before your two pre-race rest days. You are an angel for participating.
Fundraiser for Sanfilippo Syndrome
December 2 and 3 there will be a fundraiser for Eliza O'Neill. She is a little five year-old girl who has been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome-Type A. The hospital does not have the funding for the treatment and medicine so her parents have started fundraising money and asking for donations. If you would like to help you can buy bracelets that say Eliza Strong for $3 outside the cafeteria and gym on December 2 and 3 in the morning. Any donations are also welcome. Thank you.
CSA News
Don't forget to send in those box tops.
MCPE News
Blue Ribbon Program for Showing Appreciation. Are you looking for a way to let your child's teacher, a school staff member or an administrator know just how much you and your child appreciate them? Consider MCPE's Blue Ribbon Program. It is an easy and thoughtful way to recognize the efforts of a member of our school community during the holiday season. Each person recognized with a donation will receive a card, customized with a thank you note from you, indicating that a donation was made in his or her honor. To thank a school member with this blue ribbon recognition, please go online to the MCPE website: www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/blue-ribbon-program.
Want to help MCPE fund educational grants, but can’t host an E4E event? No problem! Either attend an E4E party or make a tax-deductible donation directly to MCPE. All donations of $25 or more will receive an MCPE Proud Supporter magnet for your car. Show the community you support MCPE. Make a donation today at MedfieldCoalition.org/donate-now Thank you for supporting MCPE and for helping to fund enrichment programs in our Medfield Public Schools.