11/14 - SEPAC Meeting in Blake MS Library (7 p.m.)
11/16 - #MedfieldPS Chat (see details below)
11/17-11/19 - Blake Theater Performances (see details below)
11/20 - Technovation Info Mtg (see details below)
11/22 - 1/2 Day for Students
11/23 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/24 - No School
11/28 - Divide and Conquer Parent Workshop - 10:15 a.m. (see details below)
11/29 - Divide and Conquer Parent Workshop - 6:30 p.m. (see details below)
12/1 - Term 1 Ends
12/4 - Term 2 Begins
Blake Bands Concert
12/6 - Spaghetti with Santa
12/8 - Hour of Code at Blake!
12/11 - Blake Chorus Concert
12/12 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
Blake PTO Meeting
12/14 - Blake Orchestra Concert
12/15 - Grade 7 A Christmas Carol Field Trip
12/22 - 1/2 Day for Students and Staff
12/23-1/1 - School Vacation
1/1 - Happy New Year!
1/2 - School Resumes
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about how we use our 'down time', our topic/question for the week is: What do you like to do with your down time? Down Time (Week of 11/12/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Veterans Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
Thank you to all of the staff for supporting the 'No Homework Weekend' at Blake. We have planned 'No Homework Weekends' for Martin Luther King, Jr. and Memorial Day as well.
Christmas in the City Fundraiser Follow Up
Thank you to everyone who helped with the Student/Staff basketball game to benefit our support of Christmas in the City. Over $1,000 was raised for this worthy cause - if you would like to help contribute, checks can be made out to Blake Middle School with Christmas in the City in the memo line.
Divide and Conquer (Next Generation MCAS, Legacy MCAS, and Standards Based Reporting in Math) - Rescheduled Evening Session
Please join Nat Vaughn and Susan Bycoff (Math Content Specialist, gr. 6-12) for their annual 'Divide & Conquer' presentation/workshop. This workshop series shares information about mathematics, how students learn math, assessments in math, and initiatives that are taking place. This year, time will also be devoted to the discussion of state assessments including Next Generation MCAS and Legacy MCAS. Additionally, we will present parents and community members with information about our work surrounding new methods of reporting on both Math content standards and student learning skills. The day workshop will take place Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 10:15 a.m. and the evening workshop will be Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. (originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.).
Please RSVP via this Google Form:
Divide and Conquer Math Parent Workshops, November 2017 - Rescheduled
We hope that you will be able to join us for one of these workshops.
#MedfieldPS Twitter Chat on 11/16/17
Our next district-wide Twitter chat is Thursday, 11/16/17 at 8 p.m. with a focus on #DLDMedfield. Our continued intent is to bring the five schools together (staff and administration) at periodic times. 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. I encourage you to follow the hashtag #MedfieldPS during the chat and to participate! Below are links to 'storify' archives of a few of our previous 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)
Recess Reminder for All Parents/Guardians
This is a gentle reminder to families that students are going outside for recess and should bring weather-appropriate clothing like winter jackets and gloves so that they will be warm outdoors.
Turkey Bowl for 8th Grade Students
On Wednesday, November 22nd, Blake Middle School will once again be hosting the 8th grade Turkey Bowl. The Turkey Bowl is a four on four touch football tournament designed to raise awareness and supplies for the Medfield Food Cupboard. Students will create their own four player teams and register at the Blake Middle School PE office in the gym. In order to register, students must bring in at least one non-perishable food item and place it in the donation box by the PE office. We are hoping for a high level of participation again this year, as it is always a great event.
Technovation Information
Attn: BlakeGirls!
Do you want to help change people's lives for the better by coding an app- then you would be perfect for joining Blake's Technovation Teams! You don't have to be an expert at coding or anything, just someone who likes to work with others, contribute ideas, and be willing to learn new things like coding, giving a pitch, and more!
What is Technovation?
Technovation offers girls around the world the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders. Girls ages 10 to 18 learn to identify a problem in their community and create a mobile app solution to address that problem, and then learn how to communicate these ideas and translate them into a fully launched business. Check out www.TechnovationChallenge.org for more info. (Please do not sign up there)
When do we meet?
Blake's Technovation Teams meet every Tuesday after school until 4pm from November-March. Your individual teams will also try to meet an additional time each week too. It could be during lunch or meeting at a team member's house or through google hangout, etc.
*Our regular meetings will begin Tuesday, November 29th.
Special Events
Technovation holds special events and workshops at Microsoft, MIT and other cool places for all Technovation Teams in Massachusetts. Check out the events and watch the short video here. Come to an informational meeting to learn more about Technovation next Monday, November 20 right after school until 2:45ish. See Ms. Horvath with any questions!
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
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.
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 !
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 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 runs from Oct 2 - Dec 1****
Medfield Angel Run News
Angel Run News. Attention all Angel Runners, Bakers and Magic Makers. We are getting closer to the event. Here is your training plan for the week. Run 15 minutes, walk for one and run another 15 minutes. Do this 3 times this week and you will be race ready. Looking for more ways to be involved. Check out the volunteer opportunities on the link. Lots of help needed and many tasks don't involve running. All are welcome. Volunteer & Support the 2017 MFi Angel Run. Online registration remains open until 11/26 at www.medfieldfoundation.org.
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].
Update from Blake PTO
The meeting minutes from our October 19th meeting are now on our website: http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake-meeting-minutes.html
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
We are currently at the half-way point towards our fundraising goal of $75,000. Thank you, Medfield, for your generosity! We are loving seeing all of the blue bows popping up around town in recognition of gifts of all sizes. It's not too late to make your tax-deductible contribution to the MCPE. Please visit our website www.medfieldcoalition.org to donate today! We also want to congratulate our winning trivia teams #Pepoonan and The Trophy Husbands. As always, this event was a ton of fun and raised valuable funds for the MCPE!!