12/11 - Blake PTO Meeting - 7 p.m. (Blake LMC)
12/12 - 7th Grade A Christmas Carol Field Trip
SEL Task Force Meeting
12/13 - Blake Choruses Concert
12/14 - 8th Grade to Christmas in the City
12/18 - SEPAC Meeting - 7 p.m. (Blake LMC)
12/20 - Tilden Village Dinner
12/21 - 1/2 Day for Students/Staff
12/24-1/1 - Vacation
1/2 - School Resumes
1/7 - Blake Site Council Meeting - 3:30 p.m. (Blake LMC)
1/11 - 7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
1/15 - SEPAC Meeting - 7 p.m. (Blake LMC)
1/17 - Blake PTO Meeting - 7 p.m. (Blake LMC)
1/23 - Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Meeting - 9:30 a.m.
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about the importance of slowing down and making time for our interests, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What are some areas of interest you would like to spend more time learning or exploring? Making Time (Week of 12/9/18) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
#MedfieldProjectHappiness Update
This week in our Project Happiness Advisory students will be continuing writing a letter or writing a second letter of gratitude to someone they feel grateful for in their lives. We would love it if students shared their letter(s) of gratitude. A few notes for your reference...
- The daily inspiration from Project Happiness is included in the morning announcements to staff and students.
- To subscribe: https://www.projecthappiness.org
- To follow on Twitter: @happyblakers #MedfieldProjectHappiness
Information from Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Keigan
It seems to be that time of the year when we are starting to see an increase in illness throughout the school. Our Blake school nurses, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Keigan, have asked that we share this Illness guidelines link for information on sending your child back to school following an illness. Additionally, please note the following reminders:
- Students should go to the nurse's office if they are feeling ill, rather than text parents directly and getting dismissed via the main office. It is important that we are tracking illness in our school community and that students are cared for by an adult while they are not feeling well at school.
- Please review handwashing, hand-sanitizing, and tissue disposal ettiquette with your child so that they can minimize the spread of germs at school.
- Please remind students that sharing foods, drinks and utensils at lunch can lead to the spread of illness. It is a surprisingly common occurrence.
- Please avoid sending your sick child to school just to take a test or quiz. We are happy to provide another time for your child to take it so that they can stay home, rest, and avoid spreading illness to other students.
- If your child is out for multiple days, you may contact the grade level guidance counselor or cluster leader to request that work be left in the guidance office for someone to pick up so that your child does not fall behind.
Term 1 Report Cards
Last Friday students brought home their report cards for the first term. Time was and will be spent in advisory with students reflecting upon the work they accomplished, as well as setting healthy goals for the second term. If you have any questions about your child's work or 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.
Hour of Code at Blake
Our 'Hour of Code' last week was a great success - thanks to Diane Horvath (@techmonstah) for all of her work in providing this great experience for our students! We hope that it sparked or continued an interest for our students in this field as we recognize that the skill of coding is increasingly important for our students as we work to increase their problem-solving and analytical skills in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. I encourage everyone to check out the following links...
Hour of Code
Calling All Learners and Teachers for Hour of Code
What Most Schools Don't Teach
Coding in the Classroom: What is it and Why is it So Important?
Community Service Club Information - Coat Drive
The Community Service Club of Blake is holding its annual coat drive right now. The drive will conclude in early January. Please donate new or gently used WINTER coats. The donation box can be found at the front of the school. All coats that are donated will be delivered to Medfield's Anton Cleaners who sponsors the drive.
Lost and Found Items
The number of items in our Lost and Found has increased. Please remind students to come take a look, as there are a number of items that are unlabeled that have been collected. We will be clearing out the Lost and Found during the winter vacation.
8th Grade to Christmas in the City
The Blake Middle School continues to encourage students and staff to become involved in public and community service. We will be putting this into action as the 8th graders volunteer at the South Boston Convention Center. The Christmas in the City campaign works to brighten the holidays for over two thousand homeless children and relies upon volunteers. Our students have raised money to contribute to the foundation and we will spend the day helping to set up and decorate for the event. We will be leaving school promptly at 7:45 and returning in time for the afternoon buses on Friday, December 14th. The cost of the trip is $15 per student to cover transportation.
Affinity Group Information
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
The Winter Session Intramural offerings will be available very soon. If you have questions or ideas, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Reminder for all Blake Students and Families
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.
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.
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, 2018 on), please send in a copy of your child’s physical by November 30, 2018 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.
Message from Medfield Youth Outreach
Having a tough time making ends meet? Are basic resources such as obtaining food and covering the cost of utilities becoming more daunting? Medfield Youth Outreach, a confidential town service, may be able to help. Learn about food and utility resources as well as holiday and birthday programs that help ease the stress during difficult financial times. Reach out at 508-359-7121 to Dawn, Chelsea or the MYO intern Sarah to learn more about what help is available. This office also provides other services which you can learn about here: https://www.town.medfield.net/403/Medfield-Youth-Outreach
Challenge Success
I encourage everyone to check out Medfield’s Challenge Success website and introductory video. We look forward to broadening our work and using this ‘platform’ as a way to continue our efforts at Blake to best support and meet the needs of all of our students.
Standards Based Reporting Information Sessions
Thank you to all Blake parents/guardians who were able to come to our Standards Based Reporting information sessions last week. As promised, here is the link to the presentation…
SBR Information Sessions October, 2018
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 Ms. Allen (6th), Mrs. Dondero (7th), or Mr. Marenghi (8th).
Blake Site Council Book Discussion Group
Our first Blake Site Council book will be What School Could Be by Ted Dintersmith. We hope you can join in by reading this book - stay tuned for discussion times!
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.net 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.
SEPAC Update
The Federation for Children with Special Needs will present "Understanding Basic Rights in Special Education" on December 18th at 7pm in the Blake Library. In this presentation you will learn about your rights under special education law, special education procedures, and other information so you can better participate in the team process and support your student. To learn more about Medfield SEPAC, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/mail.medfield.k12.ma.us/sepac/
MCPE Update
Do you know a Medfield teacher, staff member, coach, or administrator who has played an extra special role in your child's life? In this season of giving, donate to MCPE in their honor, and those individuals will be personally thanked and acknowledged in MCPE's annual newsletter. Go to www.medfieldcoalition.org for more information or to donate today. Thank you!
Blake PTO Update
The next PTO meeting will be held December 11 @ 7 p.m. in the LMC. REMINDER: please remember to send in your PTO dues! We recommend $25 per child which helps enable the PTO to fund exciting initiatives and programs throughout the year! If you have any questions please contact medfieldk8pto.com. There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved! For more information, please visit our website and sign up using the volunteer form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVH6fbiK1-cVI5r7yu42e6szW5bnuT2EUO9qk3CLc-l9A8UQ/viewform
Don’t forget to 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