11/19 - SEPAC Mtg - 7 p.m.
11/20 - Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council - 9:30 a.m.
SEL Task Force Meeting - 3:30 p.m. at MHS
11/21 - Medfield Talks - Raising a Resilient Child (see info below)
11/22-11/24 - Blake Fall Musical
11/27 - 1/2 Day for Students/Staff
Turkey Bowl for 8th Grade (see details below)
11/28 - Thanksgiving - No School
11/29 - No School
12/3 - Blake Band Concert
12/6 - End of Term 1
12/8 - Angel Run
12/9 - SEL Task Force Meeting - 3:30 p.m. at MHS
12/10 - Spaghetti with Santa
12/11 - Blake Orchestra Concert
12/12 - 7th Grade to A Christmas Carol
Blake Chorus Concert
12/16 - Term 1 Report Cards go home
Site Council Mtg - 3:15 p.m.
12/18 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about adjustments we make as we learn, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What adjustments have you made to help improve your own learning and/or the learning environment for others? Making Adjustments for Learning (Week of 11/17/19) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Advisory Update for Blake
In Wednesday Advisory this week, students and advisors will be preparing for the Celebration of Voice assembly before Thanksgiving. Each grade level creates a presentation related to gratitude.
Blake Wednesday Advisory Website
MEDFIELD TALKS presents
Jim McCauley, LICSW on Raising a Resilient Child
Thursday, November 21, 2019 7:00-8:30 PM MHS Auditorium
Resilience is a quality associated with successful and optimistic people. You may know people who have experienced highly stressful life experiences but they have found a way to overcome these challenges and learn from the experience, but are you born with the ability to overcome adversity? Is it a personality trait? Can you learn to be more resilient? How do we raise more resilient mentally tougher children? In this presentation you will learn the qualities all resilient people share and you will also learn four techniques that will help your child persevere and accomplish their goals despite what appear to be significant obstacles.
Brought to you by: K-8 PTO, MCPE, MHS PTO, SEPAC, and Challenge Success
James McCauley, LICSW Co-founderAssociate Director Riverside Trauma Center
Jim McCauley provides mental health support for schools, workplaces, and communities affected by traumatic events. He has consulted with numerous schools and communities in Massachusetts and New England on trauma responses. He provides consultations and trainings on suicide postvention services, suicide clusters, and suicide prevention coalitions. He has presented at statewide, national, and international conferences on these topics. He also has extensive experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults and previously managed outpatient mental health clinics and programs for children for more than 20 years. Jim is a graduate of the Boston University School of Social Work and also was a Senior Lecturer in the Sociology Department at Suffolk University for more than 30 years. An Army veteran, he has a special interest in developing and providing services for returning vets.
The Blake Yearbook Deadline is quickly approaching!
All yearbook orders are due by Friday November 22nd and yearbooks cannot be ordered in June.
Please order your yearbook online this year at balfour.com
1) Select our school: Thomas A. Blake Middle
2) Cost is $34 and major credit cards are accepted.
You may also send a check into school with your child and deliver to main office: Be sure to include a check made out to:
Town of Medfield:Blake Middle School for $34
Any questions feel free to email...
Kristin Buley:[email protected]
or
Kristin Manning:[email protected]
Thank you!
26 Days of Kindness
The seven year anniversary of the tragic events in Newtown will be upon us shortly. At Blake, we are continuing a tradition started six years ago by honoring those who died that day by asking everyone in the Blake community to participate in 26 Days of Kindness. On the document, you will see the acts of kindness are not 'big', nor are they complicated, yet each can make an impact on someone, including each of us. On Friday of each week you will see that the acts are a little 'bigger' in nature. We encourage you to print out the document and post it in a public spot (i.e. refrigerator) for your entire family to reference during the next month. We are going to document these days and put them together in a way that we can refer back to easily and remind ourselves that kindness is something we all can practice every day. I encourage you to check out the links for 26 Days of Kindness on Mrs. Gumas's website - mrsgumas.com.
8th Grade Turkey Bowl Information
Who: Teams of any four students from Grade 8. Participants are encouraged to bring in at least one non-perishable food item (canned or boxed) and place it in the donation box by the PE office. The Medfield Food Cupboard has expressed a need for the following items: Juice, applesauce, soups, tuna, hot cereal, rice, jelly.
What: A single elimination, 4v4 football tournament comprised of 8th Grade teams. PE football rules will be followed.
When: Wednesday (11/27/19) 7:45-9:15 AM.
Where: High School Turf Field. On the morning of the tournament there will be an announcement for students participating in the Turkey Bowl to report to the gym following announcements and attendance.
GOOGLE FORM: SIGN-UP
Extra Details:
- Sign ups are ongoing through the attached Google Form. All entries must be submitted by Friday November 22, 2019 by 2:07PM.
- Wearing the same team colors or a fun uniform is encouraged, though not required. Dress appropriately for the weather.
Reminder for all Families
As the weather is turning a bit cooler, I am writing with a reminder about after school supervision at Blake. Students are welcome to stay after school with a teacher, in the library, in the fitness center, or to be part of an intramural activity. Supervision of students ends at 3:15 p.m. as that is when our front office staff leaves, library closes, and activities generally conclude. Exceptions may include the theatre program or sports. Students should plan for transportation home by 3:15 and are welcome to wait for rides outside in the area by the circle or in the lobby of the school but should not be wandering around the building, playing in the gym without adult supervision, or hanging out in unsupervised areas. Student safety is our priority so we ask that students be in a supervised activity or make plans to head home.
Reminder for all Blake Students and Families - Gift Giving
This is a reminder that as a school we will not be orchestrating 'Secret Santa' type activities for students in which gifts are being purchased and/or given. For a number of reasons, school is not the proper forum for the exchange of gifts, and we appreciate your understanding and support.
8th Grade Fundraiser Follow Up
Last Thursday's student versus staff basketball game proved to be a nail-biter. Students went up early in the game, but the teachers fought back. It was truly a team effort on both sides of the court. One of the best moments of the game was the 3-point buzzer beater from Kelly Blake that resulted in a 'W' for the student team. This is only the second time students have won. Congrats to the student team! Another victory was the over $700 raised for 8th grade community service events such as Tilden Village and Christmas in the City.
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.
Hearing and Vision Screening Info
Hearing and vision screening procedures are being held this week for all 7th grade students as mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The purpose of this screening is to identify students who may have hearing or vision issues requiring medical follow up. Our school nurses, Tricia Williams and Aimie Keigan, will be conducting the screenings during physical education classes assisted by other trained nurses. If your child has prescribed contact lenses or glasses, please be sure your child wears his/her contacts or brings his/her glasses to school to use during the vision portion of the screening. Please e-mail Tricia directly at [email protected] If you have any questions or concerns about the screening process, both Tricia and Aimie can be reached at 508-242-8554. You will be contacted directly if your child does not pass the screenings and requires medical evaluation.
Health Information for Current 6th Grade Families
In order to keep your child’s school health record updated per Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, please send in a copy of your child’s 6th grade physical including a current immunization record. For students who have already had a physical this past summer or fall (dated from July 1, 2019 on), please send in a copy of your child’s physical by November 27, 2019 if you have not already sent in a copy. For students who are scheduled for their 6th grade physical this winter or spring, please send in a copy of the physical following their appointment. Thank you very much for your assistance. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Community Service Club
After purchasing a new winter coat for any family member, please consider donating your old, gently used coat - of any size or type - to the Blake Community Service Coat Drive. More details to come about the end of November/December sixth, seventh, and eighth grade coat donation competition.
Blake is Social - Any Submissions?
Blake is social is well underway and is now celebrating having reached 200 followers!!! We are always looking for material. Please send in any art, and or pictures our way!Work can be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected]
Blake Blood Drive Information
Please mark your calendars - the blood drive will be held MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020. Thank you.
Blake Site Council Book Discussion Group - Middle School Matters
This year the Blake Site Council’s first book is Middle School Matters by Phyllis Fagell. Stay tuned for more information and we hope you can join in these discussions!
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 e-mail 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 or Mr. Marenghi (6th), Ms. Allen (7th), or Mrs. Dondero (8th).
Registration for Blake Middle School Winter 2019-2020 Athletics (Boys and Girls 8th grade basketball) is now open!
Please visit the following to register:
https://www.familyid.com/organizations/medfield-athletics
Theme of Courage for 2019-2020
Our theme for this academic year at Blake is one of Courage. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last seven years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, Empathy, Diversity, and Happiness. As a staff we have begun brainstorming ideas and I encourage all families to join us in the brainstorming process as well. As ideas and thoughts come to mind, do not hesitate to e-mail me ([email protected]) or Kelly C. ([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 http://www.medfield.net/o/medfield-public-schools/page/employment-opportunites--7 and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities". Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
Substitute Nurses
As with our teaching positions, from time to time our nurse, Tricia Williams, will be out of the building and we need a substitute nurse for these days. We are fortunate that we have several substitute nurses in the district who are able to work on those days. If you are a registered nurse and have an interest in potentially serving as a substitute throughout the year, please let us know. You can contact me ([email protected]) or Tricia Williams ([email protected]). By the same token, if you have friends in the area who would have an interest in serving as a substitute, please let them know that they can contact us as well. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we would appreciate your interest in one of these roles.
'Inhaling the Facts' - Panel Discussion on 11/19
Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is hosting 'Inhaling the Facts: A Panel of Experts on the Vaping Epidemic' on Tuesday, 11/19 at 6:00 p.m. The panelists for this event are:
· Dr. Lester Hartman of Westwood-Mansfield Pediatrics
· State Representative Shawn Dooley for the 9th Norfolk District
· Officer Paul Guarino of Franklin Police Department
· Mary Ellen Bronner, LICSW from Tri-County RVTHS.
This event is free and open to the public and will include a Q&A session. It is being hosted by sophomore students in the Legal and Protective Services shop at Tri-County RVTHS, and is free and open to the public. See flyer below…
Please Bring in gently used soccer equipment that will get donated to kids in Antigua. Equipment being collected includes: Cleats, Shorts , Soccer balls, Shirts, and Soccer Socks. We are donating to Antigua because the people there desperately need and want soccer stuff." The soccer drive will run until about April break and the donation box is in front of the library. Thank you!!
Medfield Angel Run
Each year the Medfield Foundation Inc (MFi) donates over $35,000 yearly to Medfield families in need, plus supports a variety of other initiatives like the Camp Fund throughout the town. At the high school, MFi sponsors and supports the MFi Youth Leadership to help students develop as philanthropists. You can find more information at
https://www.medfieldfoundation.org/mfi-angel-run
Message from MMA (Medfield Music Association)
Tickets are available now for the festive (46th!) annual "Spaghetti with Santa and Friends," which will take place on Tues., Dec. 10, in the MHS Cafeteria with 5:15 and 6:30 seatings. Young families won't want to miss this cherished winter tradition featuring spaghetti dinner, MHS student musicians, photos with Santa, raffles, bake sale, and more fun surprises. Tickets can be purchased at medfieldmusicassociation.com. More details will be coming soon for those who wish to help out at this event.
Blake PTO Update
Volunteers Needed for Blake! In particular, we are in need of a Hospitality Chair or Co-Chairs, which helps coordinates 3-4 teacher luncheons a year. It's a great way to get involved and appreciate the wonderful staff at our school! Please click on the link to the volunteer form below. Thank you!! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVH6fbiK1-cVI5r7yu42e6szW5bnuT2EUO9qk3CLc-l9A8UQ/viewform