10/17 - Medfield Talks - Challenge Success (7-8:30 p.m.)
10/19 - Blake Picture Retake Day
Blake PTO Meeting (7 p.m.)
10/20 - Term 1 Interim Reports go home
7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
10/23 - Standards Based Reporting Info Sessions (see details below)
10/24 - #GlobalMakerDay
10/25 - Blake Guidance Coffee (see details below)
SEPAC Meeting (7 p.m.)
10/27 - 8th Grade to Tri-County
10/30 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off
10/31 - Happy Halloween!
11/6 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
11/7 - Winter Athletics Meeting (see details below)
11/8 - Student-Staff Basketball Game (see details below)
11/10 - No School (Veterans Day)
11/10-11/12 - Blake No Homework Weekend
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about finding creativity in challenging moments, our topic/question for the week is: How can thinking 'inside the box' help you to move forward and foster creativity? Finding a Way (Week of 10/15/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Medfield Talks - Challenge Success - 10/17/17
The first 'Medfield Talks' presentation for 2017-2018 is scheduled for October 17. Challenge Success (challengesuccess.org) will be presenting 'The Balanced Student' from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Medfield High School auditorium.
Standards Based Reporting Information Sessions
This year the Blake staff is continuing and expanding our work Standards Based Reporting. All 6th-8th grade parents/guardians are invited to attend an information session to learn more about the philosophy, progress that is taking place, and how feedback will be reported to families. The information sessions will take place...
Monday, October 23
8:30-9:30 a.m.
6:30-7:30 p.m.
(These sessions will share the same information - one in the morning and one in the evening.)
Please RSVP via our Google Form: Standards Based Reporting Information Session 10-23-17
Parent Coffees
Please mark your calendars…..The Guidance Counselors would like to invite parents/guardians to a coffee on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. More information will be sent in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in attending the parent coffee, please click here: Parent Coffee RSVP
Nature's Classroom Follow Up
We are thrilled that the students and Blake staff had a wonderful time at Nature's Classroom. If you have not had a chance I encourage you to take a look at the hashtag #blakeatnc to see a 'journal/log' of the trip! Medications from the Nature's Classroom trip will be available for PARENT pick up in the main office until the end of the month. Any medication not picked up by October 31st will be discarded.
Term 1 Interim Reports
This Friday students will be bringing home their interim reports for the first term. The interim report is a mid-term progress update on students' effort and work based on the first five weeks of school. It is not a report card and the expectation is that students will follow up on any suggestions that teachers provide in the interim report. Time will be spent in advisory reflecting upon the work they have accomplished, as well as setting healthy goals for the second half of the term. The signature sheet that accompanies the report should be returned on Monday, October 23 to advisory teachers. If you have any questions about your child's work on the reports, please start by having a conversation with your own child. If questions still exist, you should contact the teacher directly to gain more insight.
Blaker Makerspace - Join us!
Come by the Blaker Makerspace afterschool to help haunt and spookify it!
- Create a light up haunted house using the new Digital Cutting Machines
- Make spider pom poms!
- Invent a creepy moving hand!
- and more!
iPad Updates
Thank you for your patience. AT last….you may update your iPad's to iOS 11. BEFORE you do, make sure you back up your iPad first along with Notability and Explain Everything apps. Follow these steps:
- Back up your iPad and update to iOS 11- Go here for directions
- Back up the Explain Everything App to Google Drive- Watch this Video
- Back up the Notability to Google Drive- Watch This Video
Watch some iOS11 Tips from students in the Burlington Schools
If you would be interested in helping creating video iOS 11 tips and tricks for our BlakerMaker's YouTube Channel, please let me know! Thanks - Ms. Horvath
Medfield Food Cupboard Drive - Grade 6
October is GRADE SIX's month to collect donations for the Medfield Food Cupboard!! Most needed items (October) ~ Kid friendly cereal ~Mac and cheese boxes ~Canned pasta ~Cookies ~Crackers ~Peanut butter ~Non grape jelly Of course Household Items and Other Suggested Food Items can also be donated (see a list in student emails!). The goal is for each advisory to reach 20 donations in order for the whole grade to earn a collective prize!
Veterans Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
In a continued effort to provide down time for students, staff, and families, Veterans Day Weekend will be a 'No Homework Weekend' for all of Blake. No assignments will be given with a due date of 11/14 and tests, quizzes, and projects will not be due or given on November 14 or 15. Thank you to all of the staff for their support and help in making this happen. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know.
Tri-County/Norfolk Aggie Trip and Information
All 8th graders will be taking a field trip to Tri-County Regional Vocational High School on Friday, October 27 as well as attend a presentation by Norfolk Aggie in order to explore options for high school that are publicly funded. Tri-County’s mission is to provide an excellent comprehensive technical and academic education to regional high school students. State-of-the-art technical skills and knowledge are enriched and complemented by a solid foundation of academic skills. Norfolk Aggie provides for a hands-on education, with caring and involved teachers in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding. Students are united in their interests and attend vocational and academic classes every day. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tracy Allen ([email protected] or 508-359-2396 ext 2018).
Winter Athletics Meeting - 11/7 at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, November 7, at 6:00pm, there will be a meeting held in the gymnasium at the Medfield High School for all athletes and a parent(s) interested in playing high school athletics this coming winter season at Medfield HS and Blake MS. This meeting is very important and will cover many questions and concerns you may have, as well as introductions to all high school coaches and staff. Immediately following this meeting, coaches will meet with their respective sports to speak about the season and answer any questions you may have.
*Sports offered for the winter season at Blake are...
Basketball (Boys and Girls 8th Grade)
Blake Open Studios
Every Thursday the Blake Art room will be open after school on Thursdays, until 3 p.m. All students are welcome to participate in studio activities of their own choice- choose from drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Ms. Jones will be on hand to provide materials and informal instruction. There will be no formal registration, it is on a first come, first served basis and limited to 15 students. We are looking forward to seeing you in the Art studio, room 208 !
Student-Staff Basketball Game for Christmas in the City - 11/8
Blakers- It is time for the annual Student-Staff Basketball Game to help raise money for Christmas in the City! Christmas in the City is an annual event held in the city of Boston for homeless children and families, where all children in attendance receive a gift from their wish list. Here at Blake, we help out in several ways, including taking the 8th grade into the city to help set up this great event, and purchasing gifts for children. The money raised during the Student-Staff basketball game will help to purchase as many gifts as possible. The game will take place during Wednesday, November 8th from 2:30-3:30 in the middle school gym, and the price per ticket is $3. Additional donations are welcome.
Bird Seed Donations
Mr. Gow's Exploration class is looking for bird seed donation. The class is in need of SHELLED SUNFLOWER seeds and PACKAGED SUET. If anyone is interested in donating one or all of these items, please contact Mr. Gow at [email protected]
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.
Blake is on Facebook!
Blake is adding Facebook to our social media repertoire! You can now follow our page for the latest announcements, sharing of our school life, glimpses into special events and learning with FB Live and more...
Click this Link: www.facebook.com/BlakeMiddleSchool/ or search for @BlakeMiddleSchool
Blake's BoxTop Contest
BLAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL'S BOX TOP COLLECTION CONTEST IS HERE
EVERY BOX TOP COUNTS AND IS WORTH 10 CENTS. The winning cluster will receive a prize.
Here's the deal:
Collect your box tops in an envelope/baggie and start sending them in THIS WEEK. Each Advisory class will have a collection envelope.
Remember: Your trash is Blake's cash!!
****This contest will run from Oct 2 - Dec 1****
Medfield Angel Run News
Angel Run update!! Have you signed up for the MFi 5k Angel Run yet? Two weeks left for early bird pricing and guaranteed t-shirt. This is week 4 on the training plan. Jump in! Your assignment: 4 cycles of 5 minutes running followed by 2.5 minutes walking (30 minutes). Grab a friend and get ready. Go to MedfieldFoundation.org to register.
SEPAC - KidStuff Coupon Book
The KidStuff coupon book fundraiser is underway. Your support helps SEPAC fund workshops, events for kids and families, and scholarships. If you are interested in purchasing a book, please contact Kate Tormey at [email protected].
Parks and Rec - Ski Club and Tubing
Medfield Parks and Recreation would like to invite students from Blake Middle School to two exciting events in 2018. The first is the Nashoba Valley Ski Club, which will run on six Thursdays in January and February. Registration is available for the ski club, but space is extremely limited. This trip has SOLD OUT each of the past two years. To register, go here. The second event is the annual Snow Tubing trip to Nashoba Valley, which will take place on Thursday, Feb. 1. This annual event always sells out! This is a half school day in Medfield, so take full advantage with a fun trip to go tubing with friends! Registration for this event just went live, and you can signup here. Some of you may need to create an account before registering if you have not done an activity with Parks & Rec over the past few years since we upgraded to a new software program. That process should take no more than 5 minutes. To register an account on our Web site simply go to create an account. Any questions, or to volunteer for either program (CHAPERONES ARE NEEDED FOR BOTH TO RUN!!!), please email Kevin Ryder, Director of Parks & Recreation, at [email protected] or Eric Kevorkian, Program Coordinator, at [email protected]. Chaperones will be able to ski/snow tube for free at these events!
Update from Blake PTO
NEXT BLAKE PTO MEETING IS OCTOBER 19TH AT 7:00 PM. Minutes from the September 26th PTO Meeting can be found on our website http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake-meeting-minutes.html SAVE THE DATE! October 17th at 7:00 pm Challenge Success will come and discuss "The Well Balanced Student" at the High Schol Auditorium. For more information and to secure your seat at this event, please visit our website medfieldk8pto.com and click on the Medfield Talks link under the Town Wide tab.
BLAKE'S BOX TOP COLLECTION CONTEST IS HERE! Every box top counts and is worth 10 cents. The winning cluster will receive a prize! Collect your box tops and start sending them into school. Each advisory class will have a collection envelope! REMEMBER: YOUR TRASH IS BLAKE'S CASH! Contest runs through December 1.
GET YOUR MEDFIELD WARRIOR SIGNS, COASTERS, TRAYS, ETC! Rustic Marlin Designs has designed a line of wood-based Medfield Warrior products (signs, coasters, flags, trays, blocks, etc.) that will be carried exclusively at Be Charmed, a new store in town! Be Charmed is located at 70 North Street. 75% of the profits from the sale of the Warrior line will go to both the PTO and MCPE! It’s a great way to get Warrior merchandise while supporting a new local shop and raising money for our schools! GET YOURS TODAY!
ONGOING BLAKE APPEAL - We need your help so we can continuing funding enrichment programs and future initiatives for the 2017 - 2018 school year. We are requesting a contribution of $50/child this year. This is a suggested amount but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute. Making a donation is easy. Simply click on the link http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake.html and scroll down to the end of the page or send a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO to Blake at 24 Pound St. Medfield, MA 02052. Thank you in advance for your support of the Blake PTO. Please feel free to contact Claudia Rosen [email protected] or Keven Gallagher [email protected] with any questions.
STAY IN TOUCH Please like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO and follow us on Twitter @MedfieldK8PTO. And for more information and calendar of events, please check out our website medfieldk8pto.com
Update from MCPE
The MCPE is turning 30!! Be on the lookout for more details in your mailbox this week on how to support our campaign. We want every mailbox in town decked out in blue ribbons! Also a friendly reminder of our ongoing book drive in partnership with Park Street Books. Bring in your nearly-new children's books to Park Street and mention the MCPE fundraiser. Depending on their condition and popularity, a donation will be made to the MCPE so we can continue funding innovation in our schools. Books that don't meet condition requirements will be given to Children's Hospital - it's a win win! See flyer in the Thursday packet for details.