1/12 - Blake Student Council Meeting
1/13 - Blake GSA Meeting
1/17 - No School - Dr. MLK, Jr. Day
1/18 - SEPAC Meeting
1/19 - Blake Student Council Meeting
1/20 - Blake GSA Meeting
SEL Task Force Meeting
1/26 - Blake Student Council Meeting
MCAP Meeting
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about intentional self-care, reflection, and growth, our question for this week is: What are the current ways that you take time for yourself to practice self-care? Embracing the Time (Week of 1/9/22) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 1 Report Card Sign-Offs
(For families who have not yet completed the sign-off form)
Please be sure to complete this form for each of your Blake students to indicate that you have received and reviewed your student's Term 1 report card...
Blake Term 1 Report Card Signature Form 2021-22
MLK, Jr. Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
In a continued effort to provide down time for students, staff, and families, MLK, JR. Weekend will be a 'No Homework Weekend' for all of Blake. No assignments will be given with a due date of 1/18 and tests, quizzes, and projects will not be due nor given January 18. 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.
MPS Student Services’ Newsletter, January 2022
In an effort to continue to build on communication and collaboration, the Department of Student Services will send out a newsletter every other month highlighting an update from each area: EL, guidance, nursing, math intervention, reading intervention and special education…
MPS Student Services' Newsletter, January 2022
Information for Incoming 9th Grade Families
SAVE THE DATE: Medfield High School would like to welcome all students and parents/guardians of the Class of 2026 to an informational program on Wednesday, February 2, 2026. Students and parents will have the opportunity to learn about the culture, classes, and extracurricular offerings at MHS. More information will be shared after the new year.
If a student will be absent from school, please call Blake's absence line at (508) 242-8501. If a student needs to be dismissed from school before 2:07 p.m.,an email must be sent by the parent/guardian to [email protected]. Please include the following information:
- Date
- Time of dismissal
- Student name
- Reason for dismissal
- Person picking up
Chasing Childhood Screening/Discussion
Message from Dr. Worthley…
I hope the New Year finds you healthy, happy, and well. The Medfield Public Schools are happy to partner with Medway Public Schools to bring you a virtual screening of Chasing Childhood.
“Chasing Childhood is a feature-length documentary that explores a phenomenon affecting kids from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Free play and independence have all but disappeared, supplanted by relentless perfectionism and record-high anxiety and depression. What’s lost goes well beyond our idyllic conceptions of childhood past. When kids don’t play unsupervised by adults, they don’t gain critical life skills: grit, independence, and resourcefulness. Though they may appear more accomplished on paper, by the time they get to college they are often falling apart, lacking the emotional tools to navigate young adulthood. The film explores how we got here and how we might empower our kids. Potential solutions are offered by the leaders of this movement, including former Stanford Dean and author of How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims, biological psychologist Peter Gray and others.”
Here is how this will work: From Friday, January 14th until Wednesday, January 19th, families will be invited to screen the documentary at home. If you feel it is developmentally appropriate, you may want to watch it with your kids, as it is sure to initiate some rich conversation. At 12:00 PM on Wednesday, January 19th, Ryan Sherman, Ph.D.(Director of Wellness for the Medway Public Schools) and Dave Worthley, Ed.D.(Director of Social and Emotional Learning for the Medfield Public Schools) will host Dr. Peter Gray for approximately 60 minutes to discuss the following:
Play Deficit Disorder: A National Crisis and How to Solve It Locally.
Research has revealed a dramatic decline in children’s free play—especially their free outdoor play—over the past several decades. This decline in play has been accompanied by dramatic increases in childhood depression, anxiety, suicide, and declines in internal locus of control and creativity. College mental health facilities in recent years have been overwhelmed because of the emotional fragility of incoming students.
In this talk, Dr. Gray will present the logic and evidence behind his theory that the decline in free play is a, if not the major cause of these deleterious effects on children's and emerging adults’ emotional, social, and intellectual wellbeing. Dr. Gray will also suggest ways by which families, schools, neighborhoods, and communities can restore children’s opportunities for play. He will also provide a brief summary of the film Chasing Childhood and will leave plenty of time for parent Q&A.
To register for access to the film and the discussion session and to see the documentary trailer, please use this link: Chasing Childhood Registration. You will register for the film in the “About” tab, and for the following Webinar discussion in the “Q+A” tab. I will also post this email on my website if you would like to go back to it here: www.medfieldsel.com
We have been informed that the discussion session will be recorded and will be able to be viewed at a later date. We were able to register, and the “ticket” appeared in our Update tab from “Show and Tell.”
I have been informed that there is a group of parents in Medfield that is a part of the “Let Grow Play Club” community, which follows the program created by Peter Gray, Ph.D. At this time they are not associated with the schools, so they do playgroups in neighborhoods and playgrounds. If you are interested in learning more about that group, please contact Megan Devendorf at [email protected].
We hope that you will be able to join us as we reflect on our own parenting habits and philosophies, explore differing points of view and work to provide our kids with the healthiest, most balanced, and happiest childhood possible.
Be Well,
Dave Worthley, Ed.D.
Blake Intramurals
The hope was to have the Blake Winter Intramural offerings out last week, but the recent COVID rough patch made that difficult. We are hoping to have the offerings out at some point this coming week. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Blood Drive at Blake Middle School
Hello Medfield families , we have less than two weeks before our annual blood drive . Your child may be coming home soon with the sign up forms. Please consider donating, blood is at an all time low and every donation counts. Each student on the blood drive committee would like to send their thanks for your support. Any questions feel free to reach out to Cynthia McClelland at: [email protected].
Info from Mrs. McClelland about the Blood Drive
MLK Day is more than a holiday, it is an official day of service. In the spirit of what MLK Jr. stood for, the nation is asked to stand up and make the world a better place by giving back. For over 10 years Blake middle school has had a proud tradition in honoring this day by giving back. This includes our blood drive. Due to the support of the amazing Medfield community I am proud to say we are the second largest drive in this area each year. Every year this blood drive is important, but due to Covid, blood is at an all time low. Many in our community are truly counting on us to help. I am proud of all our student blood drive committee members who are working hard to honor MLK by giving back to the community, but they are doing more than just serving, they are saving lives. Students get the gravity of this and feel a sense of pride that will be with them for a lifetime, embodying the spirit of what it really means to honor MLK Jr.
Below are two links about the day of service and the amazing youtube video with MLK preaching the importance of serving and giving back.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (To Serve)
#whatschoolcouldbe Twitter Chat - 1/18 at 9 p.m.
VOLUNTEER TODAY and give back to your community.
Each group is only ONE HOUR long and all responses will be anonymized. Gift cards are also available for participation!
To sign-up:
1. Gather a group of interested Medfield adults
(around 10 participants is ideal)
2. Choose 3 dates and times that will work for your group
to meet (either in-person or via Zoom)
3. Gather all participant email addresses and have one
person sign-up your group by visiting:
https://forms.gle/AJyCCVv5FBkTheTZ6
Questions? Contact Medfield Outreach's Substance Use Prevention Coordinator, Meri Haas, at [email protected] or by calling (508) 359-7121.
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 Nat Vaughn at [email protected] with any questions.
Blake Yearbook Update
We are excited to announce there will be a yearbook this year! ALL yearbooks will be ordered through an online system with the Herff Jones Company. You should have already received an email about the ordering process. If you have any questions, please reach out to either yearbook advisor; Kristin Buley ([email protected]) or Kristin Manning ([email protected]).
Progress Update on Reporting Adaptations
As shared in the e-mail to Blake families in December, our staff has been working to address the recommendations from our Director of Instruction and Innovation's 'Analysis of Standards-Based Reporting Assessment Practices' (Spring, 2021), and an update was shared at the most recent School Committee meeting (Link to recording now available: Medfield School Committee (12-09-2021). We will be sharing these updates via information and educational sessions for families in the new year via a recorded webinar format.
Adaptations to our reporting will take place in Term 3 of 2021-2022, including…
- traditional letter grades on all priority standards for grades 7 and 8
- expansion of a metric scale from the current 1-3 scale by adding a fourth metric of feedback (1-4 scale)
The purpose of reporting on academic progress is to provide feedback on a student’s progress and to help direct future efforts. Effective feedback to students during the learning process is essential to a healthy and productive learning experience. Our overarching goal remains to continue steadfast efforts to provide meaningful, actionable, learner-centered feedback for all of our learners via...
- more descriptive and actionable feedback to students and families
- more meaningful and personalized assessment and grading practices
- greater calibration of expectations and assessment practices between/amongst teachers
Blake Affinity Groups
The purpose of an affinity group is to provide a forum of support for students who may feel a disconnection relative to identity to their larger school community. Such disconnections to identity may include, but not be limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and sexual orientation. An affinity group’s goal is to play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed.
An affinity group is open to students across every grade level. It is arranged for students in an affinity group to meet at least once a month during a mutually agreed upon time and the meetings are supervised by at least one staff member at Blake.
As the need for an affinity group may stem from a lack of or weaker connection to the larger Medfield community, efforts will be made to strengthen connections to the community. To this end, members of the community are welcome and at times will be invited to attend affinity group meetings.
For more information about starting or joining an affinity group at Blake, please contact Matt Marenghi, Guidance Counselor: [email protected] or 508-359-2445.
Medfield Outreach is available for consultation appointments. E-mail [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
Webinars of Interest
Thriving in the New Year: A SPARKing Connections Follow-Up Discussion for our 12/9 program Dr. Ziegler program hosted by Laura McCarthy
Wednesday, 1/12 at 7:00 p.m.
We hope you will join us for this special follow up opportunity to discuss the December 9th Dr. Sheryl Ziegler SPARK Kindness program! This conversation will be facilitated by our Director of Small Group Programming, Laura McCarthy, and other SPARK team members.
This is your chance to gather (virtually) with a smaller group for deeper conversation and connection around how you can move from burnout to thriving in the new year!
Registration is limited, so sign up today to secure your spot!
Addressing Family Stress and Depression Workshop
Wednesday, 1/19 at 7:00 p.m.
Does your family have the tools they need to address life’s stressors? By being knowledgeable about self-care and mental health, you can help your family get on the path to wellness.
This virtual workshop is co-hosted in partnership with Natick 180 and First Church Natick. The program will be facilitated by Families for Depression Awareness and delivered by a licensed mental health professional. During the training, participants will learn how to identify symptoms of stress in themselves and family members, manage stress as a family, respond when symptoms become “more than stress,” and get help for themselves or a family member.
What's Next in Learning in 2022
Thursday, 1/20 at 1:00 p.m.
This is the second annual What’s Next in Learning town hall from Getting Smart. These special town halls kick off each new year by giving you an idea of what’s on our mind, giving us an idea of what’s on your mind and better enable us to provide content and resources that speak to your needs throughout the year.
LGBTQ+ Basics and Beyond
Thursday, 2/3 at 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness with OUT MetroWest
Curious about some part of the LGBTQ+ acronym? Want to support transgender people but not sure where to start? This presentation will equip participants with up-to-date vocabulary, answers to frequently asked (and frequently awkward!) questions, and basic tools for effective allyship.
ASL interpretation will be provided at this event.
Spirit Store Info - Blake PTO
Medfield K-8 PTO Announces A Year-Round MEDFIELD SPIRIT WEAR STORE! Thanks to local business Day St Sports, we have answered the question – where can I find Medfield Spirit Wear? Over 100 options currently listed, all proceeds will be donated to the individual school K-8 PTOs. Shipping takes about 3 weeks. Medfield Spirit Wear
Link (Hyperlink to https://ts020252.prospherefanshop.com/)