11/3 - Norfolk Aggie Visits 8th Grade
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)
Signs of Suicide Information Session for 7th Grade Parents/Guardians (see details below)
11/10 - No School (Veterans Day)
11/10-11/12 - Blake No Homework Weekend
11/17-11/19 - Blake Theater Performances (see details below)
11/22 - 1/2 Day for Students
11/23 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/24 - No School
12/1 - Term 1 Ends
12/4 - Term 2 Begins
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about opening up opportunities, fostering empowerment, and expanding the imaginations for our students and their hopes/wishes, our topic/question for the week is: What is one thing we can do at Blake to help open up more opportunities for our students? Opening Up Opportunities (Week of 10/29/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
SOS Information for 7th Grade Families
At Blake Middle School, we believe it is important to focus on the whole student, paying close attention to the emotions that are often associated with the teen years. On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, the Blake Middle School Guidance Department will be presenting the SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program to all 7th grade students. This is the only school-based suicide prevention program selected by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices that addresses suicide risk and depression, while reducing suicide attempts. As of 2013, the CDC ranks suicide as the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24. Unfortunately, not many youth know what to do or who to turn to when they are in need of help either for themselves or a friend. Please know that we do require parental consent for a student to participate in the SOS program. Please complete this online consent form by November 9, 2017. In addition, I am inviting you to a parent presentation on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 6:30pm in the Blake Auditorium. Rose Cheyette, Coordinator of Community Education and Outreach at Samaritans, who is a certified suicide prevention educator, will be providing a free training around Suicide Prevention. In this presentation, you will learn how to recognize risk factors and warning signs in your child as well as learn how to talk to your child who may be feeling depressed or suicidal and basic steps in getting help. Parents will also have the opportunity to view the SOS video at the end of Rose’s presentation. We hope you can join us on November 8th.
Term 1 Interim Reports
All outstanding signature sheets that accompanied the interim reports should be returned 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.
Standards Based Reporting Information Sessions
Thank you to all Blake parents/guardians who were able to come to our Standards Based Reporting information session on Thursday evening. As promised, here is the link to the presentation...
Standards-Based Reporting Parent Presentation October, 2017
#MedfieldPS Twitter Chat Follow Up - Feedback
I encourage everyone to check out the 'storify' archives of our district-wide #MedfieldPS chats below - last week's chat had a focus of 'Feedback', and I have copied the links to the 'storify' archives of all of our previous 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!
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-feedback
(Feedback)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-diversity
(Diversity)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-a-fresh-start-8-23-17
(A Fresh Start)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-a-community-of-learners-7-18-17#publicize
(A Community of Learners)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-chat-reflections-on-16-17
(Reflections on 2016-2017)
New England Math League Comes to Blake
The New England Math League promotes the enjoyment and study of mathematics by organizing contests for grades 4-12. Contests serve as an enrichment to their current math program. Blake Middle School is holding the first annual math contests for students in grades 6-8. All Blake students are welcome to participate. Participation is easy. There are 3 practice meetings plus a contest date:
Practice Dates:
Thursday November 9th
Wednesday December 6th
Wednesday January 10th
Contest Dates:
Grades 6 7 8 contests: Tuesday February 27th, 2018 2:30-3:30 in room 108
Cost for the practice dates and 1 contest date: $24 (3 practices + 1 contest date)
Please do the following to register:
1. Complete this google form.
2. Please send in the following with your child to the front office:
-The indemnity form filled out (attached in this email).
-A check payable to 'Blake Middle School'.
Can't make it to the practices? No worries, you can still participate in the contest. Just contact Mrs. McLaughlin ([email protected]) or Mrs. Bycoff ([email protected]).
Nature's Classroom - Medication Pick Up
Medications from the Nature's Classroom trip is available for PARENT pick up in the nurse's office. Any medication not picked up by Friday, November 3 will be discarded.
Magazine Drive for Blake
Our Magazine (and More) Drive began Monday 10/30! Support our fundraiser and help us continue to offer Blake-specific special events and cultural activities.
Got Bird Seed? We'd Love 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]
MCAS Dates for Spring 2018
This spring our Blake students will be participating in the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System). Below are the administration dates for these assessments...
Grade 6
ELA (4/26, 4/27)
Math (5/3, 5/4)
Grade 7
ELA (4/24, 4/25)
Math (5/14, 5/15)
Grade 8
ELA (4/11, 4/12)
Math (5/1, 5/2)
Sci/Tech/Eng (5/7, 5/8)
Make-up testing will take place when students return from their absence(s), provided that their return takes place within the testing window determined by the Commonwealth. We appreciate your assistance in looking at these dates and being mindful to try and avoid medical/dental appointments or conflicts with these assessments. As always, do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
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.
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.
Blake Theater - Elf Jr!
Blake Theater's production of Elf is weeks away. The shows are Nov 17th & 18th at 7pm and Nov 19th at 3pm. Tickets will go on sale November 10th. The link to purchase tickets is elfjrbms.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets for students/MPS staff will be $12. Everyone else is $15/ticket. Hope to see you there!
Private School Applications
For those families looking to apply to private school for next year, please make sure all materials (all teacher recommendation forms, transcript request, an 8x11 envelope and 4 stamps per envelope) are to the guidance office at least 3 weeks prior to the application due date. We want to make sure the teachers have sufficient time to provide thoughtful letters for all students applying. If the forms will be sent electronically to the teachers, please email Mrs. Avery and your student's guidance counselor to inform them. Mrs. Avery tracks all applications and makes sure they get out in time. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Dondero (6th), Mr. Marenghi (7th), or Ms. Allen (8th).
Blake Magazine Drive Information
Blake’s Magazine Drive begins Tuesday, November 1st! Our Magazine Drive helps us raise funds for special events and activities that are specific to the Blake community. It’s an annual tradition and one of our most popular events. Please start looking around for magazines in your home that need renewing. Or consider ordering new subscriptions. The catalogs and online store offer even more - choose from over 1600 unique and fun gifts, including holiday gifts and personalized items. Look for information packets coming home with your students on 11/1/16. As always, thanks for your generous support!
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 early bird deadline fast approaching!! Don't delay. Sign up at www.medfieldfoundation.org before midnight on Wed., 11/1 to get the famous Angel Run shirt and early bird registration price. If you are training with the MFi Angel Run program, three times this week go out and do the following sequence: 9 min run, 1.5 min. walk twice and another 9 min run. Four training weeks remaining. See you on Dec. 3rd with bells on.
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
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
Thank you, Medfield! We have already raised over $20,000 and are well on our way to our lofty goal of $75,000 in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Medfield Coalition for Public Education! Your dollars allow us to fund amazing programs across our five schools. Every household should have received our mailer asking for your generosity last week. If you did not, you can visit our website at www.medfieldcoalition.org to donate online and we will put up a beautiful blue ribbon on your mailbox acknowledging your donation. Thank you and please let's get to this goal for our children and our amazing public schools!