10/30-11/3 - Spirit Week (see info below)
10/31 - ½ Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
11/2 - Screenagers Screening (see info below)
School Committee Mtg
11/3 - Grade 6 Band Field Trip
11/9 - MWAHS Administration (see info below)
11/10 - No School (Veterans Day Observed)
11/16 - School Committee Mtg
11/17-11/19 - Blake Play Weekend!
11/22 - ½ Day for Students
11/23 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/24 - No School
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the roles that connections play in our lives and learning, our question(s) for the week is: What are the ‘things’ that help make you feel connected and that you matter? What does that ‘look like’? Culture of Connections (Week of 10/29/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Spirit Week at Blake (10/30-11/3)
Student Council cordially invites all staff and students to participate in our first spirit week of the year! Our Fall Spirit Week will be 10/30 to 11/3! Let's kick off the year with some fabulous spirit!
Monday, 10/30- Pink Out- wear all pink for breast cancer awareness!
Tuesday, 10/31- Costume Day- no full face masks, no fake weapons, no blood!
Wednesday, 11/1- Tourist/Hawaiian Day- get decked out in your favorite tropical or tourist garb!
Thursday, 11/2- Team Day- wear your favorite jersey, shirt, hat, scarf etc to support your favorite team (can be local, college, professional, etc.)!
Friday, 11/3- Lights Out Day- wear all black !
MWAHS Administration - 11/9/23
Below please find a copy of the letter with information about the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey that will be given to students at Blake and Medfield High School on Thursday, November 9…
MWAHS Blake Parent Letter 2023
Completing this survey is voluntary. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment is a Federal Law that requires us to notify you ahead of time about the survey and give you the chance to look at it, so you can let us know if you don’t want your child to take part. If you want to see the survey before deciding, a copy will be available in the Blake Middle School Main Office from October 30th through November 3rd.
If you DO NOT want your child to take part in the survey, please email Stephen Marks, our K-12 Wellness Department Chair, at [email protected] by November 7th, 2023.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Stephen Marks at [email protected].
Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie Visits to 8th Grade
On Wednesday, 10/25 students in the 8th grade heard from representatives from the Norfolk Agricultural school and Tri County Vocational Technical School, learning about the various programs offered as well as the application and interview process. If you have questions or are interested in finding out more information, please reach out to Tracy Allen ([email protected]).
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. Creative and cooperative partnerships between area employers and a dynamic staff at Tri-County guarantee the continued growth and development of exciting programs designed to prepare graduates for careers in the twenty-first century.
The Norfolk Aggie presented about the various programs of study, co-ops and internships that are available at the Aggie. Students will learn about the admissions and interview process and timeline for applications. The school offers specialty training to students who are interested in the following:
Animal and Marine Science
Agricultural and Diesel Mechanics
Environmental Science
Horticulture (Plant) Science
Screenagers Under the Influence - 11/2/23 at 6 p.m.
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023 at 6:00PM in the Medfield High School Auditorium- Medfield Outreach and Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) presents a viewing of "Screenagers Under the Influence" & panel discussion. Panelists from Boston Children's Adolescent Substance Use & Addiction Program, Digital Wellness Lab, New Harbor Behavioral Healthcare, & Medfield Outreach. Free & open to all! This will be an extremely worthwhile event for high school kids and parents.
All are welcome to join the first meeting of Blake's Multicultral Awareness Club (MAC) this Thursday after school.
Below please find links to letters from each grade level team with mid-term messages along with the information about Term 1's Family Outreach Period. If you have any questions about your student's progress, please contact their teachers or guidance counselor directly.
Grade 6 - Term 1 Family Outreach Updates (October, 2023)
Grade 7 - Term 1 Family Outreach Updates (October, 2023)
Grade 8 - Term 1 Family Outreach Updates (October, 2023)
Intramurals Info
There are still spots available in the following Wednesday Intramural offerings: Friendship Bracelet Making and Bucket Drumming. Please reach out to Mr. Marenghi if you are interested.
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]).
Substitute Applications
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.
Youth Action Club
Message from SEPAC
Medfield Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC). SEPAC is run by a group of parent and 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, November 14th at 7 p.m. at the Blake Middle School Library: Basic Rights Workshop, followed by a board meeting. 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]
Our first-ever parent connection group for parents and caregivers of individuals with Down Syndrome meets on November 14th at 11:30 a.m. at the Medfield Library. Hope to see you there! Please email [email protected] with questions. Check out our website, Facebook, and Instagram social media pages. We share area events and more!
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 MCPE - Thank you!
Thank you Medfield for a fantastic Fall Fest! We loved enjoying the night out with you, sharing a brew, getting on the dance floor, and despite the rumors of rain, taking it all in during a balmy New England Fall evening. To top it all off, together we raised more than $20,000 toward grants for our amazing Medfield schools!
The Medfield Music Association Wreath and Bulb Sale is here! Let us help you decorate this holiday season! Order a 20" noble fir wreath ($35). Our amaryllis bulb kits($15) are close to being sold out. Please help support grades K-12 Medfield Music Programs. Order by Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. Deliveries will take place the Saturday after Thanksgiving to Medfield residences. Order at: https://www.medfieldmusicassociation.com/
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
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.
Webinar: Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Dream Session
Tuesday, 11/7 at 11 a.m.
Join Dr. Douglas Reeves and expert panelists, Dr. Joseph Yun, Dr. Peter Ondish, and Brian Pasquini as they discuss how AI can support every level from the state department to the classroom.
In this interactive webinar, participants will learn what AI really is and how educators can maximize its use. Additionally, panelists will address specific AI pain points that are submitted by participants.
“'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
AI & Education: Inclusive Innovation for Student Success
Tuesday, 11/14 at 4:30 p.m.
Join us for a discussion of the possibilities of harnessing AI to create transformative opportunities for teachers and learners. Sal Khan, of Khan Academy, Cynthia Breazeal, of MIT Open Learning and MIT Media Lab, and Bridget Terry Long, of Harvard Graduate School of Education, will explore how generative AI could lead to transformative improvements in teaching and learning, student supports, and career success.
The speakers will consider new opportunities for AI-enabled applications in education as well as the challenges faced, including mitigating bias and ensuring affordability, in a rapidly changing technology environment.
This event is organized by Axim Collaborative, in collaboration with Berkman Klein Center, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard VPAL, Khan Academy, MIT Media Lab, MIT Open Learning, and Partnership for Education Advancement.
For more information, please visit Axim Collaborative.