10/18 - Grade 8 Parent Coffee (10:15 a.m.)
#HackYourHalloween Challenge (see details below)
10/20 - Girl Talk (see details below)
Standards Based Reporting Info Session - 6:30 p.m. (see details below)
Blake PTO Meeting (7:00 p.m. in Blake LMC)
10/21 - Breast Cancer Awareness Day at Blake
Twitter Workshop for Parents/Guardians (see details below)
Term 1 Interim Reports go home
7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
10/26 - Grade 8 to Tri-County
Medfield Talks - Michael Thompson (see details below)
10/27 - Grade 6 Parent Coffee (10:15 a.m.)
10/31 - Happy Halloween!
Blake Costume Day
11/1 - Magazine Drive Kick-Off
11/9 - Grade 7 Parent Coffee (10:15 a.m.)
11/10 - XITC Basketball Game Fundraiser (see details below)
11/11 - Veterans Day (No School)
11/11-11/13 - No Homework Weekend for Blake
11/14 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about helping oneself learn, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What is one thing you can do to help yourself learn? Please see link to Google Form to share your responses: Setting Myself Aside for Learning (Week of 10/16/16) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
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 24 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.
Parent Coffees
Are you feeling like you had just mastered your child's last grade's norms and now you have a new set of expectations to adjust to? Maybe your student is in a whole new building with even greater expectations. The Blake guidance counselors would like to help put your mind at ease by talking about what each grade level looks like and answering your questions. The coffees will take place...
10/18 at 10:15 a.m. (Grade 8)
10/27 at 10:15 a.m. (Grade 6)
11/9 at 10:15 a.m. (Grade 7)
To RSVP, please go to this link...
Blake Guidance Parent Coffee RSVP Form Fall 2016
Grade 6 Standards Based Reporting Information Session
This year the 6th grade science team is continuing their work with Standards Based Reporting. All 6th grade parents/guardians are invited to attend an information session to learn more about the philosophy and how feedback will be reported to families. The information session will take place...
Thursday, October 20 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Information will also be shared about how to participate in a parent focus group. This time will be an opportunity for parents to share meaningful input. Please RSVP via our Google Form: Standards Based Reporting Information Session 10-20-16
Twitter??? Tweets are for kids!! (And adults…)
10/21/16 at 11:20 a.m.
We are thrilled to offer this workshop for all parents/guardians! Come explore the Twitterverse with Jason Heim (@jasonjheim), Diane Horvath (@techmonstah) and Nat Vaughn (@nat_vaughn)! This workshop is for all parents (both social media fans and those with 'socialmediaphobia' - learn about tweets, hashtags, following, and being followed. We hope to share lessons about Twitter and highlight how the educators at Blake are building professional learning networks and using the tool to enhance the learning environment at Blake. Feel free to bring your own device, an established Twitter account (we can help with that), and a willingness to learn! Please RSVP via our Google Form: Twitter Workshop for Parents (10/21/16)
#HackYourHalloween Challenge
Attention BlakerMakers! Come join in the #HackYourHalloween Challenge by inventing a spooky decoration using the Little Bit circuits!
Where: BlakerMakerspace in the LMC
When: Tuesday, Oct. 18th 2:10- 3:00
*Feel free to bring in Halloween props that we can bring to life or we'll create it here from scratch!
*More dates will be announced for the following week. Stay Tuned.
Any questions, ask Ms. Horvath!
Blake Ledger Update
The Blake Ledger has been updated - check it out!
Blake Ledger
Girl Talk
Girl Talk is coming back to Blake on Thursday, October 20th in room 104! Our mission is to help young teenagers build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and recognize the value of community service. Girl Talk has reached more than 60,000 girls in 48 U.S. states and 7 countries. We encourage you to join in on the experience. You can visit http://www.mygirltalk.org/ to learn more about the program.
We will meet at Blake every other Thursday, starting THURSDAY OCTOBER 20th after school in the health room, room 104 from 2:15-3:15. Girl Talk mentors from Medfield High School will be offering a variety of activities, discussions and fun!
High school girls mentoring middle school girls is a great way to help deal with the trials and triumphs of the early teenage years.
Please sign up by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] with your name and grade! Feel free to email them with any questions as well!
Veterans Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
In a continued effort to provide down time for students, staff, and families, Columbus 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.
Nature's Classroom - Medication Pick Up
Medications from the Nature's Classroom trip are available for PARENT pick up in the nurse's office. Any medication not picked up by Friday, November 4 will be discarded.
Community Service Club Message
If any family of a middle school student has the desire and the means to help shovel snow this winter for some of our elderly residents in Medfield, please contact Mr. Gow, co Adviser of the Community Service Club of Blake at [email protected].
Student Council Updates
Student Council would like to invite members of the Blake community to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Friday, October 21.
On Monday, October 31st, Blake is invited to participate in a costume day. We are asking students not to:
- wear masks or face paint
- wear fake blood
- bring fake weapons to school
More information will be shared with students in Advisory.
Tri-County/Norfolk Aggie Trip and Information
All 8th graders will be taking a field trip to Tri-County Regional Vocational High School on Wednesday, October 26th 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 Jen Dondero ([email protected] or 508-359-2396 ext 2003).
7th Annual Student/Staff Charity Basketball Game
The 7th Annual Student/Staff Charity Basketball game will take place Thursday, November 10, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Middle School gym. Tickets cost $3 each. All money raised goes to benefit Christmas in the City, a non-profit organization which receives donations each year to throw a Christmas Party for homeless children in Boston. This year, 8th grade students and teachers will spend one day helping to set up the party and purchase gifts for homeless children. Students can purchase tickets during advisory or at the door the day of the event. Any additional donations are welcome.
Blake Open Studios
The Blake Art room will be open after school on Thursdays, until 3pm. All students are welcome to participate in studio activities of their own choice- choose from drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Ms. Deveno and 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!
7th/8th Grade Dances
7th and 8th grade dances this year will be held:
Friday, October 21st, 2016
Friday, January 20th, 2017
Friday May 19th, 2017
All dances are held from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Blake Gym. Students in 7th and 8th grade will soon receive Dance Contracts that must be completed by students and parents/guardians in order for students to attend! Thank you to the PTO who will be providing water for students at all the dances this year.
8th Grade Trip Information
8th Grade Trip packets went home with Grade 8 students on Monday, Sept. 12. Trip deposit and signed permission slip were due to your child's Advisory teacher by October 4th. On-line registration with our tour company, Worldstrides, is to be completed by October 28. Please see trip packet for details and instructions. For your reference and for more information, here is a link to the 8th grade trip presentation...
Memorials, Monuments, and Museums Fall 2016 Presentation
Book Discussion Group for Parents
The next Blake Site Council/Blake community book will be The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik. Stay tuned for more information!
Angel Run News
It is week #4 in your Angel Run training program. Don’t forget to sign up by 11/1 so you will have your commemorative shirt to wear proudly! Your assignment: 4 cycles of 5 minutes running followed by 2.5 minutes of walking. Register at Medfieldfoundation.org. See you on Sunday, December 4th at noon.
Cradles to Crayons Drive
Medfield Girl Scouts is running a fall/winter clothing drive in conjunction with Cradles to Crayons (C2C). You can drop off your gently used clothes sizes 0-18 in the C2C collection bin in the lobby of the school. You can also drop your donations off on Saturday 10/22 between 10am-3pm at the UCC Church, where the Girl Scouts will be sorting and packing all donated clothes. Thank you for your contributions.
SEPAC KidStuff Fundraiser
SEPAC has the Kid Stuff coupon book fund raiser in progress. Anyone interested in purchasing a book may contact Kate Tormey - [email protected] Books are $25, with half of the proceeds going to the Medfield SEPAC.
BLAKE PTO UPDATE
Please join us for our next PTO meeting on Thursday, October 20th @ 7:00 pm in the Blake LMC.
VOLUNTEER NEEDED
We are looking for a coordinator for the 7th Grade Ice Cream Social - Spring timeframe. Please sign up here if you are interested. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVH6fbiK1-cVI5r7yu42e6szW5bnuT2EUO9qk3CLc-l9A8UQ/viewform
ONGOING BAY STATE TEXTILE FUNDRAISER
Donate unwanted textiles to one of the bins located at the schools, transfer station or Hinkley Pond. For more information, go to our website and visit Bay State Textiles.
BOX TOPS
Don't forget to clip your Box Tops and send them to the main office.
DON’T MISS OUR IMPORTANT POSTS SENT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
Like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO, follow us on Twitter @MedfieldK8PTO For more information and calendar of events, please check out our website medfieldpto.weebly.com.
MCPE Update
Medfield Talks, a new committee comprised of Dr. Marsden, MCPE, K-8 and High School PTOs SEPAC, MMA and the Medfield Foundation, presents its inaugural speaker, Michael Thompson, Ph.D., on Wednesday October 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the Medfield High School Auditorium. Dr Thompson, author of The Pressured Child, will meet with students from BMS and MHS during the day, and then present his observations to the community in the evening. (http://michaelthompson-phd.com) The event, free and open to the public, is sponsored by a grant from the MCPE. Tickets may be reserved at www.medfieldcoalition.org.
The E4E (Entertaining for Education) tradition in Medfield is alive and well. Haven't heard of it yet or new to town? It's pretty simple- throw a party or an event, charge an admission price ($25/head or $25/family is the minimum suggested) and donate the proceeds to the MCPE in support of the Medfield Public Schools. We've seen Halloween parties, nights in with friends, comedy events, wine tastings, multivendor markets... The only limit is your creativity. Need more information or ideas? Email [email protected]