10/16-10/20 - Term 1 Family Outreach Week
10/17 - SEPAC - 7 p.m.
10/18 - Blake Student Council Mtg
10/25-10/26 - ½ Days for Students
Conference Afternoons (info below)
10/27 - Blake Picture Retakes Day (see info below)
10/30 - Blake Site Council Mtg - 3:30 p.m.
10/31 - ½ Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
11/2 - School Committee Mtg
11/10 - No School (Veterans Day Observed)
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways we can be sure to look after our own well-being, our question(s) for the week is: How do you make time for yourself? Why is that important? Listening to Ourselves (Week of 10/15/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 1 Family Outreach Period - 10/16-10/20
The week of 10/16-10/20 is the Term 1 Family Outreach week for Blake Middle School. During this week, teachers will send an email to families to notify them if their student is consistently not meeting the standard in an area OR if they do not have sufficient data to assess their student at that point in the term due to absence or missing work. If students are meeting the standards, families will not receive an email from teachers. Please know that you may reach out to teachers or your child's counselor if you have questions or concerns about their progress.
Conferences Information - 10/25 and 10/26
A detailed letter was sent to families last week, outlining the directions for signing up for conferences. Our hope is that these conferences will further strengthen school-home relationships and to provide an opportunity to discuss progress, including areas of strength and growth. It is important to note that these conferences are optional, and parents/caregivers are not required to meet with their teachers. Some reminders are outlined below...
- The conferences will take place on Wednesday, 10/25 and Thursday, 10/26 between 11:50 a.m. and 2:50 p.m.
- Conference sign-ups opened up on Thursday, October 12 at 10 a.m. and will close on Thursday, October 19 at 2 p.m.
- Each conference will last 7 minutes and will be scheduled on the ‘10s’ (i.e. 11:50, 12:00, 12:10, etc.). There is a 3 minute window of ‘passing time’ between conferences if they are scheduled back-to-back.
- These conferences can take place in person or virtually (via Zoom). The first hour each day is designated as ‘zoom slots’ and the second two hours are designated as ‘in person’.
- Detailed instructions for creating an account and making appointments were included in the letter sent earlier this week.
- In an effort to provide opportunities for more families to sign up for conferences, there is an initial ‘cap’ of 2 conferences per each student.
- At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 10/17, we are opening up the remaining slots that are available within the schedule for conferences.
Info About School Picture Retakes, Yearbook Group Photos, and 8th Grade Class Photo - Friday, 10/27
School picture packages were distributed in advisory on Friday. If you have not seen them, please ask your student if they have them in their bookbag.
- If a student does not like their original photograph and they purchased a package, they must return the picture package to the photographer at time of retake. Retakes will take place the morning of 10/27. If a student forgets their picture package at home on re-take day, they will need to mail their package to G&B at:
3 Anngina Drive
Enfield, CT 06082
**A new package with their new photo will not be ordered until the original package is received by G&B.
- If your student was ABSENT and did not have their photo taken on picture day, they should just come down when their grade level is called and have their photo taken.
- If your student was photographed but did not purchase pictures, you received a "click it" card with a small proof of the photo on it. You may order online using the click it card information.
- The 8th grade class photo will be taken OUTSIDE right at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, October 27th. Students will be brought outside by their A period teacher and should dress for the weather as we will be outside for a bit.
- Yearbook group photos will be taken after the 8th grade photo on Friday 10/27. Students will be called down by groups on the PA (i.e. anyone who does jazz band, please report to the gym for photos).
Pride Alliance
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]).
Event Hosted by Blake PTO - 10/18
We are writing to share about an event this coming Wednesday, October 18th hosted by the Blake PTO. All Blake students are invited to cheer on the Medfield middle school football team in their last home game. Pizza, water/Gatorade and goodies will be provided starting at 3 p.m. on the 'M stamp area' of the HS turf field. Students are invited to grab a bite and are very much encouraged to stay for the game which starts at 3:45 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Blake PTO and supported by the Medfield football team parents. This is not a school sponsored event, and as such there will not be Blake staff chaperoning the event. The football parents will be there supervising the kids. We look forward to seeing you there as well! Hopefully this will be the beginning of many more tailgates for our Blake middle schoolers!
Blake’s Reading Challenge
CHECK IT OUT! All of Blake is participating in a reading challenge sponsored by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. October's theme is a book published in the year you were born. Students can fill out the Google form linked on the Blake library website to show their participation.
Fall Intramurals
Fall Intramural Offerings have begun. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Inktober is Here!!!
Every October, artists all over the world take on the INkTOBER drawing challenge by doing one drawing a day the entire month. ANYONE CAN DO INKTOBER, JUST PICK UP A PEN AND START DRAWING!!!
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 Public Schools - Employment Opportunities and look under ‘Substitute Teaching’. Please contact Kelly Campbell ([email protected]) with any questions.
Teaching Assistant Opportunities at Blake
We currently have several teaching assistant position openings at Blake for the 2023-2024 school year. These are important roles for our students and we value their presence on our staff. If you are interested in applying or know of any potential candidates, please reach out to me ([email protected]) and/or Kelly([email protected]). Thanks in advance!
Youth Action Club
Message from SEPAC
Medfield Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC). SEPAC is run by a group of parent & caregiver volunteers who work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community. SEPAC has a lot of exciting things planned for this school year. Mark your calendars to join us at our upcoming meetings/ events:
Tuesday, October 17th at 7pm at the Blake Middle School Library: Meet the Medfield Educational Team Leaders (ETL) and the new Assistant Director of Student Services, Mark Harrison
Tuesday, November 14th at 7pm at the Blake Middle School Library: Basic Rights Workshop
Our meetings are open to all who wish to attend. A high school student has volunteered to child-watch during the meetings. A zoom link can be provided upon request. Please RSVP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSev0ywtTgQ5M5ZadWSb7RY8VxiV9ocbJszILYex2g7Lck4iUw/viewform?usp=sf_link or get in touch with us at [email protected] Also, check out our website, Facebook and Instagram social media pages.
Message from Blake PTO
Reminder that the PTO serves to support Blake teachers through financial grants, hands-on support, and ongoing teacher appreciation efforts on behalf of all parents. If you have not already, please consider donating $50 for the year (or whatever amount feels appropriate) through Venmo @MedfieldTownwide-PTO or a check made out to Blake PTO. If you are interested in volunteering once or twice a month during the school day to help teachers with photocopying or bulletin boards, please email [email protected]
Message from Medfield Music Association
Join us on Tuesday evening, Dec. 5, 2023 for the Medfield Music Association’s biggest community fundraiser of the year as we joyfully bring back a favorite winter tradition, now named "Spaghetti and Snowballs!" Guests will enjoy a spaghetti dinner and ice cream dessert, music performed by Medfield students, and photos with Olaf. There will also be a bake sale, gift basket raffles, and many more fun surprises.
Two dinner seatings are available: one at 5:15 p.m., and another at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each (plus a small processing fee) and only 250 tickets are available for each seating.This event sells out quickly every year, and families are encouraged to buy their tickets early. Ticket sales open on November 1st!
This event is brought to you by the Medfield Music Association (MMA) and proceeds benefit the music program in all Medfield Public Schools.
Workshops/Webinars of Interest
Planning for College After Affirmative Action
Wednesday, 10/18 at 3 p.m.
Hosted by HGSE Education Now Series
This year’s high school seniors are facing a much-changed college admissions landscape following the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action based on race. Our panel will discuss how seniors and other aspiring college students, including those in underserved communities, can best prepare for college and present themselves in the application process — and we'll also offer guidance for the counselors, educators, and parents who support them.
Speakers:
• Anthony Jack, Inaugural Faculty Director of the Newbury Center and Associate Professor, Boston University
• Mandy Savitz-Romer, Nancy Pforzheimer Aronson Senior Lecturer in Human Development and Education, and Faculty Lead Counseling Strand, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Eric Waldo, President and CEO, District of Columbia College Access Program
Host: Francesca Purcell, Senior Lecturer on Education, Faculty Director, Higher Education Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Dr. Lisa Damour on Raising Connected, Capable & Compassionate Adolescents
Wednesday, 10/18 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness
In person event (at Natick High School) with limited seating. Register early!
For parents/caregivers of adolescents (ages 10-25)
World renowned author/expert Dr. Lisa Damour (NYTimes, CBS This Morning) will discuss her new book - “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers” and offer the concrete, practical information parents/caregivers need to steady their teens through the journey into adulthood.
Being - and raising - a teenager has never been easy and it’s especially challenging now. In this talk, psychologist and best-selling author Lisa Damour, Ph.D., will offer practical strategies to help parents and caregivers understand their teenagers’ emotional lives, how to help teens manage their emotions and how to support them through this critical developmental stage. The program will address:
- What to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry.
- Why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment.
- Strategies for supporting teens in managing their feelings.
- The best ways to stay connected to your tween/teen and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want.
Navigating Inequity And Advancing Equitable Change At Scale
Hosted by Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 7:00-8:30 PM (ET) | Hybrid Lecture | Co-Sponsored By The Mental Health Counseling Urban Scholars Program, The Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program, And The Center For Psychological Humanities And Ethics
In this talk, Dr. Kimberly Leary shares her experience in the Biden-Harris Administration guiding the pursuit of equity in the public sector. The mass protests after George Floyd’s murder reignited movements for equity and economic justice, prompting the public to demand accelerated commitments from government, private companies, and community organizations.
Beginning on Day One, the Administration embarked on comprehensive efforts to advance racial equity and support underserved communities through the federal government. Executive orders mandated equity assessments, equitable data, and environmental justice. Equity principles were integrated into major spending plans like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Concurrently, cities and states also implemented equity initiatives, for example, civic engagement dialogue projects and launching pilot programs for guaranteed incomes. Corporate America, philanthropy, and business entities responded with more than $200B in equity focused initiatives.
The backlash has been as swift, such as claims of reverse discrimination and new voting restrictions. Others persist in viewing equity as a compelling public interest. Among them, the Biden Administration which has released new executive orders to further advance equity. In this talk, Dr. Leary will identify and distill lessons learned from these initiatives and suggest future pathways for progress despite headwinds, including the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify which elements of racial equity reflect an adaptive challenge and which embody a technical problem
- Explain systemic approaches to social justice and how they differ from organizational efforts
- Compare approaches to evaluating at-scale efforts to advance equity across the federal government
Talking Money With Kids and Teens
Wednesday, 11/1 at 3 p.m.
Hosted by HGSE Education Now Series
How can families and educators help students develop healthy money habits early in life? While there is growing momentum for personal finance education, more than half of the country doesn't guarantee lessons at the public high school level let alone in the younger grades. Join as we explore why, when, and how to talk with kids and teens about money.
Guests:
• Ron Lieber, "Your Money" columnist, The New York Times; author of "The Price You Pay for College" and "The Opposite of Spoiled."
• Michelle Singletary, "The Color of Money," personal finance columnist, The Washington Post; author of "What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits" and "The 21 Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom."
Host: Uche Amaechi, Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
“'We’re Doing This to Them': How to Reverse the Mental Health Crisis in YOUR School"
Wednesday, 11/8 at 7 p.m.
Hosted by BQI Community - Free Webinar
We are in the midst of an international youth mental health crisis. Adolescent anxiety and depression are rampant, ESPECIALLY in high-achieving schools in middle and upper-middle-class communities. If you think it’s not happening in your school, you might be in denial.
In this powerful session, veteran educator and host of the Experience Matters podcast Steve Shapiro will bring together a student, a neuropsychologist, and a visionary school leader to address:
- The student experience of struggling with chronic comparison and toxic competition
- The neuropsychological impact on the developing brain and possible long-term impacts
- Concrete steps schools can take to reverse the problem