1/27 - MCAP Meeting
1/28 - School Committee Meeting
2/3 - Incoming 9th Grade MHS Webinar - see below
2/11 - School Committee Meeting
2/15-2/19 - February Vacation
Question of the Week
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about reflection and the process of improving and learning, our question of the week is: What helps you to improve and learn? Reflecting, Improving, and Learning (Week of 1/24/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Synchronous Learning Update from Blake
Below please find a link to a letter outlining Blake-specific information regarding synchronous learning and ‘live-streaming’. Beginning this week, all students on their remote learning days will be attending classes via Zoom in a synchronous manner...
Blake Synchronous Learning Letter - January 15, 2021
As always, thank you for your support, flexibility, grace, and understanding as we walk this path together as a community.
- 6th Grade students are required to attend their English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies classes on their remote learning days.
- 7th and 8th Grade students are required to attend their English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Language/Reading classes on remote learning days.
- You will receive (or have received) Zoom links and passwords for your classes from their teachers via Google Classroom.
- Remote GO Block attendance will continue to be required for all students on their remote learning days.
- Our expectation is that students maintain the norms and routines that have been set for remote participation in classes, including appropriate usage of the chat feature and respect for all students and staff - Blake's Netiquette Guidelines 2020-2021
- All students should arrive on time and be prepared for their Zoom classes with fully charged devices, materials, and headphones/earbuds.
- All students are expected to have the video enabled, and camera ON during Zoom sessions. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your teacher or guidance counselor.
Start With Hello
Start With Hello presented to all Blake Middle School students over the last week via virtual assemblies. Start With Hello teaches students the skills they need to reach out and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation and create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within our classrooms and school. Following the assemblies, students had the opportunity to discuss and reflect the presentation with classmates and their advisors. Our Student Council will be involved in brainstorming and implementing ideas for students and our community.
For further information, please visit: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/start-with-hello/. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s Guidance Counselor.
Black History Month Update
The Black History Month planning team has met to formalize plans to celebrate and honor Black History Month at Blake. Black History Month is a month dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the countless contributions Black Americans have made to society. We are looking forward to honoring Black History Month again through some shared learning experiences. We will be holding grade-level assemblies and asking each advisory to decorate their classroom doors by spotlighting a Black American who has made a significant contribution to our society. Stay tuned for more information!
Information for 8th Grade Families
ATTN: 8th Grade Students & Parents! Please mark your calendars for a Welcome to MHS Webinar on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 6:30pm via zoom. Students and parents will hear about academic offerings, high school culture, expectations, timelines, and more! The zoom link will be shared when the event gets closer. Placement tests for ninth grade classes will take place as follows - if you have questions about the process, the names and e-mail addresses of the respective department chairs are below...
- Science - 1/26 and 1/28
- Orla Berry - [email protected]
- Orla Berry - [email protected]
- English - 2/1-2/5
- Gail Duffy - [email protected]
- Gail Duffy - [email protected]
- Social Studies - 2/8-2/12
- Kathleen Emerson - [email protected]
- Kathleen Emerson - [email protected]
Blake MERJ (Medfield Educators for Racial Justice) Update
The Blake MERJ team has been meeting on a regular basis and has put together a monthly newsletter for the Blake staff and community. Within the newsletter are resources and ideas for advisory lessons. This month in advisory, students will be exploring some different activities from our MERJ January Newsletter. The focus for this month is "Justice January", with advisory activities about social justice and activism. We encourage you to take a look and continue the conversations with your students at home…
Blake MERJ January Newsletter
Here is the mission statement for the district-wide MERJ group...
Medfield Educators for Racial Justice seeks to promote racial justice and equity within the Medfield Public Schools and the larger Medfield community through staff development and education, curriculum review, design, and implementation, and community outreach and partnership. Through reflection, discussion, and action, we seek to promote an antiracist and anti-bias education in order to better prepare our students, staff, and community members to engage in meaningful dialogue and to ultimately make our schools a more equitable, just, and inclusive learning community.
Summer Reading Input?
It's summer at Blake! The summer reading team will meet in early February to begin looking at titles for this summer's reading choices. Have a book you would like to recommend? Please share with Kerry Cowell ([email protected]) and Kara Gelormini ([email protected]). Happy Reading!
Building Aides Needed at Blake!
Are you or is someone that you know interested in working at Blake Middle School? We are looking for four building aides for the 2020-2021 school year. If you are available Monday-Tuesday or Thursday-Friday to align with your family’s Cohort schedules, that would work as well. Please contact Kelly Campbell ([email protected]) if you are interested or would like more information.
Blake Intramurals
The Winter Intramural Session has begun. Please go to the website for a list of offerings and registration info. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
ZoomProv!
ZoomProv! (virtual improv comedy club) will meet every Monday at 2:45 beginning next week. Open to all Blake students who would like to play some improv games and embrace their silly side. No experience necessary. Head to the Blake Intramural page to sign up and check out other club offerings as well. If you have any questions, contact Kara Gelormini ([email protected]).
Blake is Social
Blake is Social would love any and all work from students. We love to show off what makes Blake special. We meet every Monday via zoom, if interested please reach out to Mrs. McClelland at [email protected]
Cold Weather Attire
Please remind students to be sure that they dress in layers and bring hats, gloves, and coats to school. We will certainly be mindful of outdoor lunches but will hopefully be having outdoor mask breaks as much as possible.
Blake Battles Bias
Is your 7th or 8th grade student interested in matters of racial justice and other forms of bias? BBB (Blake Battles Bias) meets every other Wednesday from 12-12:30. New members are always welcome. Any interested 7th or 8th grader should reach out to Mrs. Gelormini [email protected]
Blake’s GSA
Come and join our zoom, Thursday from 2:30-3:00. Need the zoom link? Reach out to [email protected] Please feel free to contact Mrs. McClelland, Mrs. Dondero, or Mr. Marenghi with any questions.
Rainbow Peace Flag Project
We have received a donation of a rainbow PEACE flag as part of the Rainbow Peace Flag Project. - The Rainbow Peace Flag Project seeks to extend kindness and caring across national borders, with love that includes people of all sexualities, genders, abilities, religions, races, and cultures, and to condemn acts of violence and hatred, embracing peaceful dialogue instead.
Medfield Outreach
Medfield Outreach is offering WEEKLY MENTAL HEALTH DROP IN HOURS. Are you a Medfield parent or student who is feeling extra stressed, down or anxious? Want to talk to someone but you're not sure who or if what you're going through warrants ongoing therapy? We are availble to listen and help! Medfield Outreach is now offering Weekly Drop-In Mental Health Open Hours for STUDENTS on: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 - 3:30pm and ADULTS on: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11:30am. Email [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
Building Resilience in Middle School Students - SPARK Kindness Event
Wednesday, 2/3 at 7 p.m.
Parenting a middle schooler can be a time of stress and isolation for parents and caregivers. In this talk, psychologist and SPARK team member, Dr. Kristen Aberle will share tools and strategies to make the best of the middle school years and strengthen your child’s mental health and resilience.
Dr. Kristen Aberle is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in working with children, adolescents and families. She has provided services in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, schools, and community health clinics. She is also an avid runner and ran the Boston Marathon to support SPARK.
Navigating Screen Time, Digital Socializing, and Parenting during COVID-19 with Dr. Jill Walsh
Thursday, 2/11 at 7 p.m.
Join us for a virtual workshop as Dr. Jill Walsh explains best practices around technology consumption. This talk will include:
- the most important conversations to have with your children about technology now
- how to think about screen time during hybrid/ remote learning
- the key tech rules to institute for home learning that will set your child up for success
- understanding the opportunities and challenges that digital socializing provides your child
Building Partnerships Inside and Outside the Classroom
Friday, 2/19 at 1 p.m.
CASEL CARES is an initiative for anyone who supports young people to connect to experts in social and emotional learning on key topics during these challenging times.
Authentic school-community partnerships help create and support positive student experiences both in school and out of school. But how do you align in-school and out-of-school work on social and emotional learning? That’s what the Partnerships for Social Emotional Learning Initiative (PSELI) sought to uncover in a multiyear project across six school district communities. (Learn more: http://bit.ly/3qkceEq)
Join CASEL, the Wallace Foundation, and district and community leaders from Palm Beach County as they share findings about how school and out-of-school time partners can work together to align and implement SEL. Recommended for district leaders, school leaders, and community partners, attendees will gain insights about how to support the adults in the community, improve school climate, and create seamless experiences for students.
Stretch and Movement Break for Students and Families
The Blake Wellness Staff is providing 2 minute "Movement Break" videos for all students and staff to utilize throughout their school day. Whether you are in person learning or remote, you have access to these videos at your grade-level Blake Hybrid Learning Website. You can also visit our Blake Wellness Website for more resources!
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.
Google Classroom Tips for Families
Resharing a resource for families:
Blake Middle School - Google Classroom Tips
‘Go to Site’ for Hybrid Learning at Blake
Please bookmark and utilize our Hybrid Learning site - this is the ‘go to’ resource for students and families - thanks to Diane Horvath, our Technology Integration Specialist, for her work in establishing this resource…
Blake Middle School Hybrid Learning Website - 2020-2021
Resources for Families
CASEL CARES: Permission To Feel for Kids with Dr. Marc Brackett
(57:11)
Blake ‘EdChats’ - Adapting and Learning
We are trying out some ‘edchats’ with Blake teachers/staff as a way to connect and share what we are thinking and talking about as a community of learners. Each chat will have a particular focus and we will take some time to talk through a few questions. Check out our chats…
Adapting and Learning - EdChat # 2 (Learning)
(Maura Batts, Tom Woods, Seth Hellerstein, Marjorie Heim, Michael Gow)
Adapting and Learning - EdChat # 1(Learning)
(Jason Heim, Orla Berry, Brian Gavaghan, Susan Bycoff, Marissa Gumas, and Diane Horvath)
Blake PTO Update
Save the Date - Blake PTO Pizza Night Cooking Class Fundraiser
Virtual Class @ Home Cooking New York
Saturday, March 6, 2021 5 PM to 6:30 PM.
The Blake PTO is hosting a pizza party! We will learn how to make homemade dough, sauce, and the sky's the limit on topping choices. All proceeds will go towards the students and staff of Blake Middle School. The cost is $50 per household and we have a max of 60 households that can attend. Details and signups will be coming soon. You'll make: Quick Pizza Dough, Classic Tomato Sauce, Sheet Pan Pizzas.
HOW THESE VIRTUAL CLASS WILL WORK:
1) After registering, you will be sent a link to log into the class at the appointed date/time along with the list of ingredients that you will need to have on hand.
2) One day before the class you will be sent a copy of the recipes we'll be making, so you can cook from them again after the class!