To help encourage conversations and dialogue about the role listening plays in learning, our topic/question of the week is: How does the act of listening help both the teacher and the student? Making Progress (Week of 12/3/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Divide and Conquer (Next Generation MCAS, Legacy MCAS, and Standards Based Reporting in Math)
Thank you to all who were able to attend our Divide and Conquer workshops last week. I have copied the link to the slides for your interest...
Divide and Conquer Fall 2017
Girl Talk
Girl Talk is a national program where high school girls mentor middle schoolers. Ainsley Marshall and Morgan Caro have come together to continue Girl Talk at Blake Middle school. Their goal is to help you deal with the triumphs and trials of the early teen years. Anyone is welcome! We encourage you to follow our instagram account: https://instagram.com/p/BcIr4LoFzXu/
Message from 8th Grade
As we move into december the 8th grade will be beginnning to prepare for two events giving back to the community. First, we will be preparing and serving a meal for the residents of Tilden Village on 12/20 at 5 PM. A limited number of students will be able to serve however everyone will be involved in bringing in the food. 8th graders will also be attending the annual Christmas in the City even to help set up for homeless children in Boston. The student-staff basketball game successfully raised $1149.75!
Blake's Kindness Month
The five year anniversary of the tragic events in Newtown will be upon us shortly. At Blake, we will be continuing a tradition started four years ago by honoring those who died that day by asking everyone in the Blake community to participate in Blake's Month of Kindness. On the attached 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. 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 Blake's Month of Kindness on Mrs. Gumas's website - mrsgumas.com. During this stretch of time, if you see your student partaking in an act of kindness and could take a picture or video, please send it to Marissa Gumas ([email protected]) or post it to post it to Blake's Kindness Padlet 2017. Items in need for the one day food drive (12/8/17) include peanut butter, fruit cups, canned tuna, canned pasta, spaghetti sauce, and paper products (napkins, paper towels, and tissues).
Hour of Code at Blake
Blake students and staff will be participating in the 'Hour of Code' on Friday, December 8. This endeavor is part of Computer Science Education Week and is part of one of the largest learning events in history. We live in a world surrounded by technology, and we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. However, only a tiny fraction of us are learning computer science, and less students are studying it than a decade ago. This skill 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. That’s why our entire school is joining in on the largest learning events in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (Dec. 4-10). Last year, 15 million students tried computer science in one week. This year, we're joining students worldwide to reach 100 million students! This Friday, December 8 all Blake students will participate in the Hour of Code and we will be sure to highlight some of the work on our website. 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?
Christmas in the City
Permission slips will be going home soon for the 8th grade's field trip to Christmas in the City. In the next few weeks 8th grade advisories will be busy shopping for gifts for children attending the Christmas in the City Event. Each 8th grade advisory is responsible for purchasing a gift for a child off of his or her wish list, worth up to $50, in order to help keep the magic and spirit of the holidays alive for these children. The 8th grade will be purchasing gifts for 14 children and will deliver these gifts when they attend the Christmas in the City community service field trip in December. Contributions towards the cost of the buses are greatly appreciated - checks should be made out to Blake Middle School with Xmas in the City Transportation in the memo line.
Blake Winter Intramurals
The Winter Session Intramural offerings will be available the week of December 11th.
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.
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 month. As promised, here is the link to the presentation...
Standards-Based Reporting Parent Presentation October, 2017
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
SEPAC Event - 12/10/17
The coming Sunday, December 10th, Medfield SEPAC is hosting a pottery event at Park Street Books, attached flyer. This event is open to all Medfield families. See the flyer: SEPAC Pottery Painting Flyer
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
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
Thank you, Medfield!! With your help we have crossed the $50,000 mark in our 30th anniversary fundraising campaign. Through your generosity we are able to fund so many important grants across all of our five schools. There is still time to donate, so if you haven't had the chance, please visit our website www.medfieldcoalition.org Thank you!!