12/16 - Blake Winter Orchestra Concert
12/20 - DEI Task Force Meeting
12/21 - Blake Site Council Meeting
12/23 - Half-Day for Students and Staff
12/24-1/2 - School Vacation
1/1 - Happy New Year!
1/3 - School Resumes
1/10 - MTSS Committee Meeting
1/17 - No School - Dr. MLK, Jr. Day
1/18 - SEPAC Meeting
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about self-care, making time for ourselves, and ‘refreshing’, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What strategy(ies) do you use to ‘refresh’/recharge to have more energy? Refreshing Our Systems (Week of 12/12/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Hour of Code at Blake!
Blake’s annual Hour of Code /STEAM event was a great success! Thanks to Diane Horvath, Kerry Cowell, and our math teachers for providing a hands-on activities for students to experience STEAM!
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. The yearbook is being sold at a $10 discount through December 31st. If you have any questions, please reach out to either yearbook advisor; Kristin Buley ([email protected]) or Kristin Manning ([email protected]).
Term 1 Report Cards
During advisory on Monday, 12/13, students received their report cards for Term 1. Thanks to the work of our staff and technology department, our reports have been streamlined into our database to provide a more accessible layout for students and families to receive feedback on learning and progress. 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. In addition, your child’s guidance counselor is an important resource. Please be sure to complete this form for each of your Blake students to indicate that you have received and reviewed your student's report card...
Blake Term 1 Report Card Signature Form 2021-22
Progress Update on Reporting Adaptations
As shared in the e-mail to Blake families earlier this week, 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
Reflection For Students
After receiving their report cards, time was spent in advisory for all students to reflect on their work thus far via a Google Form. Our hope is that this reflection will help students identify areas of success as well as areas for growth, and to foster more connections with staff and trusted adults. I have outlined the questions below and encourage you to have conversations this week to help bridge the connections between home and school...
- Reflecting on your learning and experiences during Term 1, what are you most proud of?
- Reflecting on your learning and experiences during Term 1 and the Term 1 reports from your teachers, what surprised you? Was this a positive or negative surprise? Why?
- Reflecting on your learning and experiences during Term 1 and the Term 1 reports from your teachers, what did not surprise you? Why?
- Would you like to check in with your advisor or one of your teachers?
- If you answered yes to the previous question, which teacher would you like to speak with and about what? Put "none" if you do not wish to check in with one of your teachers.
- What is your biggest challenge as a learner right now?
- Finish this sentence: I want to improve...
- Based on your answer to the last question, what is one idea that you have that can help you with this improvement?
- Reflecting on your learning skills, the feedback you received, and what you have learned about yourself as a learner, what is an area of strength that you have shown and demonstrated? Explain how you have demonstrated/shown this strength in your class(es).
- Reflecting on your learning skills, the feedback you received, and what you have learned about yourself as a learner, what is an area of growth/improvement for your learning?
- Give an example of feedback from one of your teachers you received that helped you learn. How did this help you learn?
- How can we help you as a learner? Please share ideas.
- In the last month, I learned something interesting in school. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- The last month of school was a positive one for me. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- At Blake, I get to do what I do best every day. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- I have fun at Blake. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- If you had time to learn about anything you want this year, what would it be?
- Do you have anything else you would like to share with us? This can be information that would help us support you in your learning or as a person during this time. (Optional)
Thank you to the Blake PTO and MCPE (Medfield Coalition for Public Education) for their generous support of our endeavors/grants. We greatly appreciate the contributions as we look to provide unique and innovative experiences for our students!
Blake Intramurals
The Winter Intramural session is loosely set to run from mid January until the beginning of April. Be on the lookout for the offerings shortly after we return from winter break. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Update from Blake Library
The Blake LMC has never been busier! Thank you for checking out so many great books!! If you have an overdue library book, let Mrs. Walton or Mrs. Cowell know if you would like to renew it. If you misplace a book, just let us know so that we can replace it. Thank you so much!
Blood Drive for MLK, Jr. Weekend
** Please see message below from Cynthia McClelland...
Hello Medfield community,
I am proud to announce our annual MLK day blood drive, and it will be held at the middle school. Right now, we are looking for students to serve on the blood drive committee. Students on the committee will be responsible for organizing, promoting and supporting the Red Cross in running the blood drive the day of. If your child is interested they can reach out to Cynthia McClelland at [email protected].
Samaritans Presentation Follow Up
The 7th graders participated in the Samaritans, Inc. Suicide Prevention Training this week. The goals of the program are:
- To help our students understand that depression is a treatable illness, and help them assess whether or not they may have symptoms consistent with depression.
- To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that can occur as a result of untreated depression.
- To provide students training in how to identify serious depression and potential suicidality in a friend.
- To impress upon our students that they can help themselves or a friend by taking a simple step of talking to a responsible adult about their concerns.
The parent webinar provided parents with information regarding:
- Suicide risk factors and warning signs
- Coping skills and resiliency building
- Facts, figures, and myth-busting
- Best practices for talking to and helping someone who may be suicidal
- School and community resources
Additional resources can be found here and on the Guidance Department website.
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.
Coats for Kids Drive
At Blake we are collecting winter coats for those in need. The coat drive is called “Coats for Kids”, but coats for all ages are more than welcomed. The collection box will be located in the Blake front lobby. Please ask your parents if you have any coats that your family no longer needs that can be donated. The collection will run up until winter vacation. Thank you for supporting this great cause!
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.
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 at [email protected] with any questions.
Medfield Outreach
Medfield Outreach is available for consultation appointments. E-mail [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
MHS Basketball Fundraiser
The High School Varsity Basketball is selling tee shirts! $20 each – S, M, L, XL. Please support the team and buy one. Great for holiday gifts. Contact Charlie Katsikaris 508-848-8632, Caleb Lawson 781-530-8579, or Brendan Lawless 781-929-2035. Venmo- @Charlie-Katsikaris
Webinars of Interest
Healing, Community, and Humanity: How Students and Teachers Want to Reinvent Schools After the Pandemic.
Thursday, 12/16 at 1:00 p.m.
In this session, Professor Justin Reich will discuss his research on how the experiences of students and teachers during pandemic schooling are vital to educational recovery and building back better.
Three research exercises were conducted in spring 2021:
- 200 teachers were invited to interview their students and share their findings about the past year,
- 50 classroom teachers were interviewed, and
- 10 multistakeholder design charrettes were held with students, teachers, school leaders, and family members to begin planning for the 2021-2022 recovery year.
This event is hosted by the MIT Teaching + Learning Lab .
Justin Reich is an associate professor of digital media in the Comparative Media Studies/Writing department at MIT and the director of the Teaching Systems Lab. He is the author of Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can’t Transform Education, and the host of the TeachLab Podcast. He earned his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was the Richard L. Menschel HarvardX Research Fellow. He is a past Fellow at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society. His writings have been published in Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other scholarly journals and public venues. He started his career as a high school history teacher, and coach of wrestling and outdoor adventure activities. Follow Justin on Twitter or Google Scholar.
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.
MCPE Update
We'd like to send special thanks to Allyson Hart, and Pistil Floral Design for hosting a wonderful wreath workshop! The event was a great success and we hope you ended up with a gorgeous, handmade wreath for your holiday decorating. Upcoming events include the return of the MCPE Spelling Bee in March and Trivia Night planned for Winter 2022. Have a wonderful holiday season and thank you for supporting the Medfield Public Schools!
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, so please plan ahead for the holiday season. Medfield Spirit Wear
Link (Hyperlink to https://ts020252.prospherefanshop.com/)