1/25 - MAC Meeting
School Committee
1/29 - Pride Alliance
1/30 - Blake Site Council
1/31 - Blake Student Council
Harlem Wizards Event (see details below)
2/1 - MAC Meeting
MHS Info Night (see details below)
2/5 - Pride Alliance
2/7 - ½ Day for Students
Professional Afternoon
2/8 - MAC Meeting
2/10-2/11 - Blake Theater Performances (see details below)
2/12 - Pride Alliance
2/14 - Blake Student Council
2/15 - MAC Meeting
2/19-2/23 - February Vacation
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways we can create and allow space to learn, our question for the week is: What needs to be in place to help you be present and learn? Creating and Allowing Space (Week of 1/21/24) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 2 Family Outreach Period - 1/22-1/26
This week (1/22-1/26) is the Term 2 Family Outreach week for Blake Middle School. During this week we take time as a community to provide you with an update with regard to areas of curricular focus and student work. You may have also received an email from your child’s teacher if there are specific areas of concern with regard to progress towards meeting the standards under consideration this term. Please know that you may reach out to teachers or your child's counselor at any time if you have questions or concerns about their progress.
Blood Drive at Blake - MLK, Jr. Day
The Medfield Blood Drive Committee would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the blood drive. This year's blood drive proved to be our most successful yet. The students on the committee were excited to celebrate our 10 year anniversary with the goal to make this our biggest blood drive to date, and with your support they reached their goal. We collected 94 units, saving nearly 300 lives. The students shared that they were proud to be a part of such an important day and were excited to see such a large out pouring from our community. We will continue to work with the Red Cross to make this drive better and better each year. Our current discussions are around how we might make the process faster for our donors. Until then, we thank you for your patience . Each baked good was made with love, for you, our donors, we really appreciate you. Thank you Medfield!
Script Writers
As an extension of the theatre program, the "Script Writers" have been working on their original piece, Creating Cody, which follows three friends who attempt to build a "perfect" teenager for a Science Fair. They have just crafted Scene 5 and the story's development has been terrific. With a mixture of comedy and criticism, the writers continues to explore what it means to belong and what it means to be an "imperfect" human. They meet and collaborate after school on Wednesdays. With the help of an MCPE grant, they plan to copyright their finished work and are on track to complete this project by the end of this school year.
Blake Intramurals - Winter Session
Registration for Blake's Winter Intramural Session in now open. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
January Reading Challenge at Blake
Hi Blake Families, start the new year off by participating in the reading challenge! January’s theme is great for the whole family - a book under 100 pages. The real challenge this month might be finding a book that qualifies. Do you have a favorite picture book you would like to revisit? Some chapter books we have found in our library are: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Hub fans bid Kid adieu by John Updike, or All in a Drop: How Antony van Leeuwenhoek Discovered an Invisible World, by Lori Alexander and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. In our graphic novels section we have found quite a few, some of the most popular being the nonfiction books by Don Brown, and the Olympians series. Can you find any other titles? When a Blaker reads a book that qualifies for the challenge they can go to the library website and fill out a google form. Thanks for joining in!
MAC Update
Blake's Multicultural Awareness Club (MAC) will meet Thursday after school in Mr. Gow's room, room 513.
Get ready for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse!
The eclipse may overlap with dismissal for many Massachusetts schools. We recommend preparing students to safely experience the eclipse. Comprehensive information related to the eclipse is available on our new eclipse resource site. Visit NASA’s website for comprehensive information about the eclipse. Free eclipse glasses for families! Solareclipse.us is sponsoring 1 free pair of glasses per household. You will need to order by February 8th, 2024 to allow time to ship.
Pride Alliance
Pride Alliance will meet Monday, January 29 at 215 in Señora Manning's room. At Pride Alliance, we strive to create a safe space for people in the community, those who want to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community, and also those who wish to learn how to become a better ally. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of identity. Meetings for Pride Alliance will take place on Mondays from 2:15-2:45 in room #309. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jen Dondero ([email protected]) and Kristin Manning ([email protected]).
Blake Theater - Re-Save the Dates!
Re-save the dates. Blake's second theatrical production, Pure Imagination, will now take place Saturday, February 10th (1pm and 7pm) and Sunday, February 11th (1pm). Ticket information coming soon.
- Placement Letter - Please refer to this letter from the Department Chairs regarding course recommendations and placement.
- The 2024-2025 Program of Studies will be released in the next few weeks, prior to our evening program. Please note that students will complete high school course selections between March 1 - 7, 2024.
Sincerely,
Stephanie A Worthley
K-12 School Counseling Department Chair
Medfield Public Schools
[email protected]
Calling all K-12 student space and science enthusiasts!
NASA wants to hear where and how you’d explore space with the Power to Explore Student Challenge.
Students are challenged to research Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), a type of nuclear “battery” used in space exploration, and dream up a new RPS-powered space mission to a destination with limited or obstructed access to light. Write about where your RPS-powered mission would go, the mission goal(s), the advantages of using RPS, and a unique power you have to help achieve mission success. In total, your submission is limited to 250 words.
Entries will be judged in three grade-level categories: K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Every student who submits an entry will receive a digital certificate and an invitation to a virtual event with NASA experts, where students will learn about what powers the NASA workforce to dream big and explore. Fifteen national semifinalists in each grade category (45 winners total) will receive a NASA RPS Prize pack, three national finalists in each grade category will (9 finalists total) will receive a virtual session with a NASA RPS expert, and one grand prize winner from each grade category (3 total) will receive a trip for two to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Learn more at the Challenge website. Entries due January 26, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET.
February Vacation Opportunities
Registration is open for TWO Medfield TV Youth Media Programs during February Vacation! These 4-day classes cover essential skills for video production and important topics related to health and wellbeing. Scan the QR codes to register!
Volunteer with MCPE and make a difference for our kids and schools!
Are you looking for a way to give back to Medfield Public Schools? Join the Medfield Coalition for Public Education!
MCPE is an independent, non-profit organization funded to provide system-wide support and academic enrichment for the Medfield Public Schools through grants for the development of innovative programs, curriculum, and enrichment. MCPE is led by a volunteer board that works throughout the school year to organize community-wide fundraising events and make grants to teachers and staff at all five Medfield Public Schools.
We’re recruiting new board members to start in the 2024-25 school year! If you are interested in becoming an MCPE board member, we would love to hear from you. We're looking for candidates who can commit to a 3-year term, attend board meetings once a month (Sept-June), and have an active interest in enriching kids' education in Medfield schools. All skill sets are welcome, and we strive to have a board with diverse backgrounds.
Learn more and apply here: https://www.medfieldcoalition.org/volunteer
SAVE THE DATE:
* Early March – March Madness bracket pool benefitting MCPE!
* Monday, March 18 – Spelling Bee for Wheelock and Dale students!
* Mid-May – MCPE's Blue Ribbon Recognition Program gives you the chance to honor a Medfield teacher or staff member who has made a positive impact in a student's life and show your appreciation
Medfield SEPAC’s Cards for a Cause fundraiser has started!
Each box contains 30 (or more!) high-quality, hand-embellished cards for $30.00 that, if purchased from a store, would easily cost $4-7 each. Save money now and time later. It's a great deal for a great cause! The money raised will fund our scholarships, awarded to graduating seniors, and help us offer more workshops and events. Fundraiser Dates: Jan 16th - Feb 14
Order here: https://www.kidsbookfort.com/orgs/sepac For any questions, please contact: [email protected] Thanks in advance for your support!
Parent Connection Groups, each focused on a different diagnosis, are underway. These groups are informal meet-ups for parents and caregivers to connect and exchange resources on a particular diagnosis. They are coordinated by a parent volunteer. Your child does not need an IEP, 504 or be in the Medfield Public School system to join. This group is for any parent who wishes to connect with other parents who have experience with this diagnosis. If you are interested in joining the Down Syndrome, ADHD, ASD or Dyslexia + LBLD or Mental Health groups please email [email protected]
Did you hear the news? We just launched our brand-new newsletter, and it's full of useful information. Subscribe now by sending an email to [email protected], and don't forget to follow us on IG (@medfieldsepac) or FB for updates!
Success Reimagined - Exploring Intergenerational Perspectives on Life's Purpose
Thursday, 1/25 at 7 p.m.
Join Challenge Success Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Denise Pope, and New York Times Bestselling Author, Chip Conley, for a thought-provoking fireside chat as we delve into the complex concept of success from intergenerational viewpoints. “Success Reimagined” brings together individuals of different ages and backgrounds to discuss and explore life’s purpose and the evolving definition of success in our rapidly changing world.
Chip Conley was Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a ‘modern elder’ at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary transformation from fast-growing start-up to the world’s most valuable hospitality brand. He then went on to create Modern Elder Academy (MEA) – the world’s first ‘midlife wisdom school.’ Dedicated to reframing the concept of aging, MEA supports adults to navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. His new book, Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age, was recently profiled on Good Morning, America.
Chip’s mission aligns directly with Challenge Success’ beliefs that there are many roads to success for students, and lots of ups and downs along the way. We are challenging the narrow notion of success that often leads to high stress, overload, and a lack of well-being for middle and high school students. Challenge Success partners with school communities to elevate student voice and implement research-based, equity-centered strategies that improve student well-being, belonging, and engagement. Our vision is that educational systems value each student for their unique identities, assets, and individual definitions of success and effectively prepare them for the variety of opportunities and challenges they will encounter in school and beyond.
A recording of the event will be sent to all registrants on January 26th.
Real Self-Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Taking Good Care of Yourself
How to shift self-care from a task on your “to do” list to a values-based practice of setting priorities.
Wednesday, 2/14 at 12 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness
In this Q&A “fireside” chat, author and psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin, MD, offers an inclusive and affirming approach to prioritizing your own well-being. Her approach shifts self-care from a task on your “to do” list (that you feel guilty about not achieving) to a values-based practice of setting priorities and taking action. Dr. Lakshmin will share accessible, science-based strategies to help you shift your relationships, nurture yourself, and find ownership over your life. Participant questions will be welcomed before the program.
Live ASL Interpretation will be provided.
Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, author, keynote speaker, and a contributor to The New York Times. Her debut book, REAL SELF-CARE: Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble-Baths Not Included, is an NPR Best Book of 2023 and a national best-seller. Real Self-Care has been featured by Good Morning America, NPR’s Code Switch, The New York Times, The Ezra Klein Show, The Guardian, and translated into 9 languages. Pooja serves as a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at George Washington University School of Medicine, and maintains an active private practice where she treats women struggling with burnout, perfectionism, and disillusionment, as well as clinical conditions like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. She frequently speaks, advises, and consults for organizations on mental health, well-being, and real self-care. Pooja also writes the email newsletter Therapy Takeaway, which is available for free on Substack.
Tackling Unhealed Trauma in Communities and Schools
HGSE Education Now Series
Wednesday, 2/7 at 3 p.m.
Kids growing up in neighborhoods affected by violence often experience persistent traumatic stress, which, through no fault of their own, can impact their learning, development, and mental health. In this episode, we explore a social-emotional learning approach that promotes self-esteem and offers a holistic view of recovery for young people of color managing that kind of trauma while also creating positive conditions for academic achievement. Sign up for a conversation about the practice of healing-centered engagement.
Speakers include:
• Jayme Banks, Deputy Chief, Office of Prevention & Intervention, The School District of Philadelphia, PA
• Shawn Ginwright, Jerome T. Murphy Professor of the Practice, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Host: Josephine Kim, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Pathways to Careers with Purpose
HGSE Education Now Series
Wednesday, 2/21 at 3 p.m.
Recent research shows that many young adults are struggling to find purpose or meaning in their lives and work. This episode will consider new ways to help high school and college students discern their vocations and pursue fulfilling careers in an age where job prospects are evolving, thanks to artificial intelligence and other technological changes, and where financial uncertainty affects the daily lives of many young people.
CASCD Webinar - AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Tuesday, 2/27 at 7 p.m.
Join Dr. Douglas Reeves and expert panelists as they discuss how AI can support every level from the state department to the classroom. In this interactive webinar, participants learned what AI really is and how educators can maximize its use. Additionally, panelists addressed specific AI pain points that are submitted by participants.
Nurturing Relationships in Early Childhood
HGSE Education Now Series
Wednesday, 3/6 at 3 p.m.
While many early childhood frameworks have focused primarily on the healthy development of children, an emerging framework named known as “early relational health” stresses the importance of nurturing the broader human ecosystem around babies and toddlers as well. We explore key principles that can guide practitioners and leaders on the front lines of education, health, and social services.
Speakers:
• Thelma Ramirez, Researcher, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Co-author of Early Relational Health: A Review of Research, Principles, and Perspectives
• Jessica Sager, Co-founder and CEO, All Our Kin