11/27 - 1/2 Day for Students/Staff
11/28 - Thanksgiving - No School
11/29 - No School
12/3 - Blake Band Concert
12/6 - End of Term 1
12/8 - Angel Run
12/9 - SEL Task Force Meeting - 3:30 p.m. at MHS
12/10 - Spaghetti with Santa
12/11 - Blake Orchestra Concert
12/12 - 7th Grade to A Christmas Carol
Blake Chorus Concert
12/16 - Term 1 Report Cards go home
Site Council Mtg - 3:15 p.m.
12/18 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
12/20 - 1/2 Day for Students and Staff
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about the practice of gratitude and Thanksgiving, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What are you thankful for this year? Naming and Sharing Our Gratitude (Week of 11/24/19) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Spirit Week at Blake
Student Council invites staff and students to participate in our first spirit week of the year.
Monday is comfy cozy day.
Tuesday is advisory choice day.
Wednesday is class color day. 6th grade- white, 7th grade- blue, 8th grade- black
Advisory Update for Blake
Due to the half day this week, there will be no lesson in Advisory. Happy Thanksgiving!
Blake Wednesday Advisory Website
ADL Update
On Tuesday, November 19th our ADL Peer Leader group met to discuss guidelines for respectful discussions - especially when those discussions are about difficult topics. Students also started to compare different perspectives on Thanksgiving. This discussion on perspective and traditions and history will continue into next week as we look forward to our own family traditions in celebrating Thanksgiving. Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 11/26. Our peer leaders should make sure that they have completed the ADL Interest Form and their single ADL Introduction Slide that was shared in our ADL Google Classroom.
Message from Medfield Youth Outreach
Having a tough time making ends meet? Are basic resources such as obtaining food and covering the cost of utilities becoming more daunting? Medfield Youth Outreach, a confidential town service, may be able to help. Learn about food and utility resources as well as holiday and birthday programs that help ease the stress during difficult financial times. Reach out at 508-359-7121 to Chelsea at Medfield Youth Outreach to learn more about what help is available. This office also provides other services which you can learn about here: https://www.town.medfield.net/403/Medfield-Youth-Outreach
The Blake Yearbook Deadline is quickly approaching!
The deadline for ordering yerabooks has been extended to Wednesday November 27th. We will not have an abundance of extra yearbooks to purchase at the end of the year and cannot guarantee your student a book if it is not ordered now.
You can place an online order here: Order A Yearbook Now
You can also call Balfour directly to place an order at: 1-800-944-5930
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
26 Days of Kindness
The seven year anniversary of the tragic events in Newtown will be upon us shortly. At Blake, we are continuing a tradition started six years ago by honoring those who died that day by asking everyone in the Blake community to participate in 26 Days of Kindness. On the document, you will see the acts of kindness are not 'big', nor are they complicated, yet each can make an impact on someone, including each of us. On Friday of each week you will see that the acts are a little 'bigger' in nature. We encourage you to print out the document and post it in a public spot (i.e. refrigerator) for your entire family to reference during the next month. We are going to document these days and put them together in a way that we can refer back to easily and remind ourselves that kindness is something we all can practice every day. I encourage you to check out the links for 26 Days of Kindness on Mrs. Gumas's website - mrsgumas.com.
As the weather is turning a bit cooler, I am writing with a reminder about after school supervision at Blake. Students are welcome to stay after school with a teacher, in the library, in the fitness center, or to be part of an intramural activity. Supervision of students ends at 3:15 p.m. as that is when our front office staff leaves, library closes, and activities generally conclude. Exceptions may include the theatre program or sports. Students should plan for transportation home by 3:15 and are welcome to wait for rides outside in the area by the circle or in the lobby of the school but should not be wandering around the building, playing in the gym without adult supervision, or hanging out in unsupervised areas. Student safety is our priority so we ask that students be in a supervised activity or make plans to head home.
Recess Reminder for All Parents/Guardians
This is a gentle reminder to families that students are going outside for recess and should bring weather-appropriate clothing like winter jackets and gloves so that they will be warm outdoors.
Reminder for all Blake Students and Families - Gift Giving
This is a reminder that as a school we will not be orchestrating 'Secret Santa' type activities for students in which gifts are being purchased and/or given. For a number of reasons, school is not the proper forum for the exchange of gifts, and we appreciate your understanding and support.
Health Information for Current 6th Grade Families
In order to keep your child’s school health record updated per Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, please send in a copy of your child’s 6th grade physical including a current immunization record. For students who have already had a physical this past summer or fall (dated from July 1, 2019 on), please send in a copy of your child’s physical by November 27, 2019 if you have not already sent in a copy. For students who are scheduled for their 6th grade physical this winter or spring, please send in a copy of the physical following their appointment. Thank you very much for your assistance. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Community Service Club
After purchasing a new winter coat for any family member, please consider donating your old, gently used coat - of any size or type - to the Blake Community Service Coat Drive. More details to come about the end of November/December sixth, seventh, and eighth grade coat donation competition.
Blake is Social - Any Submissions?
Blake is social is well underway and is now celebrating having reached 200 followers!!! We are always looking for material. Please send in any art, and or pictures our way!Work can be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected]
Blake Blood Drive Information
Please mark your calendars - the blood drive will be held MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020. Thank you.
Blake Site Council Book Discussion Group - Middle School Matters
This year the Blake Site Council’s first book is Middle School Matters by Phyllis Fagell. Stay tuned for more information and we hope you can join in these discussions!
Private School Applications
For those families looking to apply to private school for next year, please make sure all materials (all teacher recommendation forms, transcript request, an 8x11 envelope and 4 stamps per envelope) are to the guidance office at least 3 weeks prior to the application due date. We want to make sure the teachers have sufficient time to provide thoughtful letters for all students applying. If the forms will be sent electronically to the teachers, please e-mail Mrs. Avery and your student's guidance counselor to inform them. Mrs. Avery tracks all applications and makes sure they get out in time. Any questions, please contact or Mr. Marenghi (6th), Ms. Allen (7th), or Mrs. Dondero (8th).
Registration for Blake Middle School Winter 2019-2020 Athletics (Boys and Girls 8th grade basketball) is now open!
Please visit the following to register:
https://www.familyid.com/organizations/medfield-athletics
Theme of Courage for 2019-2020
Our theme for this academic year at Blake is one of Courage. 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, and Happiness. 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]).
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 http://www.medfield.net/o/medfield-public-schools/page/employment-opportunites--7 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.
Soccer Equipment Drive
Please Bring in gently used soccer equipment that will get donated to kids in Antigua through a program called MAP PASSBACK
Equipment being collected includes: Cleats, Shorts , Soccer balls, Shirts, and Soccer Socks. We are donating to Antigua because the people there desperately need and would love to receive anything soccer." Please Join is helping the children in Antigua who do not have the resources to play the Beautiful Game of Soccer. The soccer drive will run until about April break. Thank you!! Collection bins are located at the Blake middle school and Star & Glick orthodontist, Both bins are located in Medfield! More information about the drive can be found at http://www.massathlete.com/content/about-us/mapp-passback-antigua
Medfield Angel Run
Each year the Medfield Foundation Inc (MFi) donates over $35,000 yearly to Medfield families in need, plus supports a variety of other initiatives like the Camp Fund throughout the town. At the high school, MFi sponsors and supports the MFi Youth Leadership to help students develop as philanthropists. You can find more information at
https://www.medfieldfoundation.org/mfi-angel-run
MCPE Update
Thank you to everyone who helped make Fall Fest a success! From those that donated items and gave their time, to those who bought items and tickets and came out last night for a fun evening, we are grateful as always for the community’s support! Together we raised around $35,000 for our schools!
Message from MMA (Medfield Music Association)
Tickets are available now for the festive (46th!) annual "Spaghetti with Santa and Friends," which will take place on Tues., Dec. 10, in the MHS Cafeteria with 5:15 and 6:30 seatings. Young families won't want to miss this cherished winter tradition featuring spaghetti dinner, MHS student musicians, photos with Santa, raffles, bake sale, and more fun surprises. Tickets can be purchased at medfieldmusicassociation.com. More details will be coming soon for those who wish to help out at this event.
Blake PTO Update
The Blake PTO has requested that we send out the sign-up info to help with the Holiday luncheon for the Blake staff on Wednesday, December 18 - thanks in advance for the help and support!
Blake Holiday Luncheon Sign Up
Thanks for any help you can offer.