8/26-8/27 - Teacher Professional Days
8/28 - Welcome back!
Delayed Start for 7th/8th Grade
8/30 - 1/2 Day for Students and Staff
9/2 - Labor Day - No School
9/4 - Grade 8 Trip Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 8 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/5 - Grade 6 Music Ensemble Info Sessions (6 p.m.)
Grade 6 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/11 - One-Day Food Drive (see info below)
9/12 - Blake Picture Day
Grade 7 Nature’s Classroom Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 7 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/17 - SEPAC Meeting - 7 p.m.
9/30 - Rosh Hashanah - No School
10/9 - Yom Kippur - No School
10/14 - Columbus Day - No School
10/15 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
10/21 - Blake Picture Retake Day
10/22-10/25 - Nature’s Classroom for 7th Grade
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about PDF (Playtime, Downtime, Family Time), our topic/question for the dinner table is: What are you looking forward to most about summer? Enjoying Summer (Summer 2019) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Opening Day
The 2019-2020 school year for students will begin on Wednesday, August 28. As we have done in past years, we will stagger our starting times for the students. Arrival information for the opening day is as follows:
- Students in grade six report to the gymnasium by 7:40 a.m. for opening orientation
- Students in grade seven report to the gymnasium by 10:00 a.m.
- Students in grade eight report to the cafeteria by 10:00 a.m.
- There will be a separate bus run beginning at 9:15 a.m. on the first day for students in grades seven and eight.
- Students in grades seven and eight should not report to school before 9:40 a.m. on opening day
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 21 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
Theme of Courage for 2019-2020
Our theme for the next 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]).
Visits/Meetings with Mr. Marenghi - Incoming 6th Grade Students/Families
6th Grade Guidance Counselor, Matt Marenghi will be available on Monday, August 19 through Wednesday, August 21 to meet with any incoming 6th graders and their families about the upcoming school year. If you are interested in doing so, please contact Matt to set up a time to meet: [email protected]
Blake Parent/Guardian Information Nights for Fall 2019
The Blake parent/guardian information nights for this fall have been scheduled...
9/4 - Grade 8 Trip Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 8 Parent/Guardian Information Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/5 - Grade 6 Music Ensemble Info Sessions (6 p.m.)
Grade 6 Parent/Guardian Information Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/12 - Grade 7 Nature's Classroom Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 7 Parent/Guardian Night (6:30 p.m.)
Summer Reading Info for Incoming 6th-8th Grade Families
With the new school year getting set to start, we would like to remind you of Blake's Summer Reading Program. Blake Middle School believes that independent reading for pleasure is invaluable to students' life-long learning, and it needs to be encouraged and cultivated. The middle school's summer reading program strives to foster a love of reading through student choice and also encourages students to read a carefully selected book which reflects Blake Middle School's values around literature. The summer reading requirement is at least two books; we encourage students to read consistently throughout the summer to improve as an overall reader. Please see the attached flyers below for your student's summer reading core choices and other suggested titles. In the fall, students will be talking, writing, and completing activities in class, and we hope each student can actively participate in these activities. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ann Marie Fratolillo, [email protected]
Summer Supply Lists
All students should refer to the School Supply Lists located on the Guidance webpage.
iPad Information for Incoming 6th Grade Families and New Students
Please see the link below for important information about registration and enrollment in the district's MDM (Mobile Device Management) system. Within the letter is a link to a Google Form that we are asking all families to complete, granting permission for the district to enroll the student's iPad in the school's Mobile Device Management system. There is also a space on this form for families to opt into the 'lock down' option for the devices...
iPad Information for Incoming 6th Grade, August 2019
Blake Mobile Device Management Parent-Guardian Sign-Off for 2019-2020 School Year
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.)
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)
Site Council Openings for Incoming Grade 6-8 Parents/Guardians
We have openings for parent representatives 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 22. If multiple parents express interest, an election will take place at parent night. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Standards Based Reporting Update
This year the Blake faculty is continuing and expanding our work and efforts to provide effective methods of formal and informal feedback for students. As such, in lieu of traditional grades, students at Blake will be receiving feedback in the form of Standards Based Reporting (SBR) in some of their classes. SBR is a researched-based, impactful feedback system that is gaining traction in a growing number of schools across the United States.
Instead of a letter grade, students will receive feedback in two major areas: (1) Content Standards and (2) Learning Skills. The Content Standards feedback provides information on the student's progress on meeting content area curriculum standards addressed by each department. Learning Skills feedback gives information on the student's progress on acquiring skills important for life-long learning that we strive to foster and help develop in our students.
We are pleased with the progress made to date. SBR has enabled us to provide:
- more descriptive and actionable feedback to students and families
- more meaningful and personalized grading practices
- greater calibration of expectations and assessment practices between teachers
Message from Student Services
Karey Curley has been hired as the Interim Secondary Special Education Coordinator for grades 6-12. We are in the process of hiring a new Team Chairperson for grades 7-12; however, please contact Karey if you have any specific questions related to your child's IEP, evaluation, or services. Karey can be best reached via e-mail at [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 2019-2020 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 (School Supply Lists).
Recognition of September 11
September 11, 2019 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 Wednesday, September 11.
Blake Advisory Program
Throughout the year in advisory, students will participate in a wide variety of activities focusing on team-building, mindfulness, stress management, and organizational strategies. These activities are meant to help foster a sense of community within advisories and to provide students with strategies to help them feel confident and prepared to succeed in school. In addition to having fun and building relationships with their advisory peers, students will learn and practice different study and time management strategies, set academic and personal goals, and learn strategies to calm down when they feel overwhelmed or anxious. Our advisory program this year will be building off of the work we embarked upon with #ProjectHappiness as a concerted means to align our efforts with district's social-emotional learning goals.
Twitter Accounts (@nat_vaughn, @blakeoffice) and Blake/Medfield Hashtags (#bmsed, #MedfieldPS, #MedfieldPLN)
We have established the hashtag (#bmsed) for education-related tweets of interest and Blake events and #MedfieldPS and #MedfieldPLN for Medfield Public Schools and Professional Learning related tweets, 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.
Information for Music Ensemble Students and Families
The music department is very excited to have increased rehearsal time with Blake musicians this year. In addition to meeting with students more frequently in band, chorus, and orchestra, we will have a brand new keyboard lab for our general music classes. Band students will have a particularly exciting change as their new home will be the high school band room. Students will rehearse at the high school during the day (just as the chorus does) and will store their instruments in the lockers in the high school band room. Parents of band students will receive an email from Mr. Dexter in the coming weeks with more detailed information.
Blake Theater Information
An e-mail was sent to all families with some preliminary information about this year's productions, including the dates below. Another email will be sent closer to the beginning of school with audition information. Please e-mail Tracy Allen with any questions at [email protected].
Quick theater meeting for interested students - September 5
Auditions for both shows - September 9-11
First show cast reading - September 12
First Set and Tech meeting - September 13
Tentative Saturday work day - November 2
Tech Week - November 18-20
Dress Rehearsal - November 21
Performances - November 22-24
Second show first rehearsal - January 21
First Set and Tech meeting - January 24
Tentative Saturday work day - March 21
Tech Week - March 30- April 1
Dress Rehearsal - April 2
Performances - April 3-5
Middle School Athletics for Fall, 2019
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.
Digital Citizenry Initiative
In our continued efforts to provide students with an active voice in their learning, our hope is to provide a structure for students to have the opportunity to express what they would like support with in their digital lives. We will be providing forums for students to discuss student-driven topics of concern, such as current happenings in social media, apps, games - even accomplishments in their digital lives! Students will go through the design thinking process to create lessons made and led by students to target their digital learner needs. In addition, we will continue to have academic centered digital citizenship lessons integrated into all curriculum, such as identifying reliable resources online and proper citation of digital resources. The goal is to encourage productive, positive and reflective digital learners on a regular basis throughout the year.
Medication and Health Information from the Blake School Nurses
To do his/her best in school, it is important for your child to get an adequate amount of sleep every night, start each day with a healthy breakfast as well as drink plenty of water throughout the day. Please send your child to school with a refillable water bottle daily. All students are also welcome to bring a healthy snack to eat in the morning. Due to food allergies, we ask that parents/guardians please consider not sending in any packages containing loose nuts including peanuts or any type of tree nuts for snack or lunch. During adolescence, eight to ten hours of sleep is recommended every night. A set time to turn off your child's phone, iPad and other electronics for the night and charge in an area away from your child's room is also recommended to remove distractions and encourage good sleeping habits.
All medication to be taken at school must be kept in the nurse's office and administered by the school nurse. Students are not allowed to carry and self-administer medications at school including non-prescription medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, allergy and cold relieving medication, etc. Parents/guardians are asked to complete the blue Emergency Health Information form that will be sent home the first day of school. On this form, parents/guardians may give written permission for the school nurse to administer specified non-prescription medication, if needed. Any other prescription and/or non-prescription medication to be administered at school requires a written order from the student's healthcare provider and written parental consent on the Medication Authorization and Plan 2019-20 available on the school's website.
General Reminders
- All parents/guardians need to be sure to follow the parking regulations in the parking lots and around the 'flagpole circle'. When dropping off or picking up students, vehicles should not be parked ('stationary' or 'live') in the fire zone. We need to make sure that we are providing a safe environment at all times for our students and community. Thank you for your cooperation.
- Forgotten items can be left in the office with the understanding that the students know to check in the office if they have forgotten an item. Please clearly label items with the student’s name and grade.
- Students are not permitted to bring in baked goods (cookies, cakes, etc.) to celebrate birthdays or personal events. There are many students who have food allergies and other dietary needs, and it is important that we continue to provide all of our students with a safe and healthy environment. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
#MedfieldChat Twitter Chats
I encourage everyone to participate in the #MedfieldChat Twitter Chats. The goal of these chats is to bring the five schools together (staff and administration) to discuss pertinent topics in education, initiatives, and ideas to collaborate around and share. Hopefully you will be able to follow along, ‘lurk’, or join in one of our future chats - stay tuned for a back-to-school chat in August!
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", the. Professional Staff Openings. Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
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.
Message from Medfield HS Music Department
The Medfield High School Music Department will be holding a mattress fundraiser next fall on Sunday, September 22nd. Today, I'll be visiting each school to put a flyer in your mailbox with some information on the sale. These flyers are simply to let everyone know that the sale is happening and that if you'd be looking to purchase a mattress in the next few months, you may want to hold off to take advantage of our sale to save some money and support our students. The athletic department held this sale several years ago and raised over $7,000 to help fund its new sound system for the high school gym. The proceeds from this sale will provide financial aid for students attending our Music Department Trip next year and help fund a major purchases for our String and Choral Programs. If you have any questions about the sale, don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks!
Mr. Jason Bielik, K-12 Director of Music
Medfield SEPAC Meeting
SEPAC's first meeting is Tuesday, 9/17 at 7 p.m. in the Blake Library - all are welcome to attend!
Message from Medfield Music Association
Please mark your calendar! You're invited to the MMA Kickoff Event on Tuesday, 9/17, 7pm at the Zullo Gallery. Also, on Sunday, 9/22 the Music Department is hosting a Mattress Sale fundraiser from 10-5 in the MHS gym to help offset Music Trip costs. Finally, Instrument Rental Night is scheduled for Tuesday 9/3. If you can help out, please email [email protected]. The Music Department receive credits from Music & Arts for volunteer hours. Thank you!
Message from Blake PTO
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!! Blake PTO Volunteer Form