12/7 - Blake Winter Band Concert
12/8 - Samaritans Presentations for 7th Grade (see info below)
12/9 - School Committee Meeting
12/13 - Term 1 Report Cards go Home
Blake Winter Chorus Concert
12/15 - MCAP Meeting
12/16 - Blake Winter Orchestra Concert
12/20 - DEI Task Force Meeting
12/23 - Half-Day for Students and Staff
12/24-1/2 - School Vacation
1/1 - Happy New Year!
1/3 - School Resumes
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the importance of making time for us to wonder, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What are you currently wondering about? Time to Wonder (Week of 12/5/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Hour of Code at Blake!
Blake’s annual Hour of Code /STEAM event will take place December 7-13 at Blake! Students will get to take part when they go to the LMC with their math class. There will be many stations set up for students to experience STEAM through hands-on activities. Looking forward to a fun filled week of coding and STEAM!
Term 1 Report Cards
Next Monday students will be bringing home their report cards for the first term. Time 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.
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].
Students for Students
Students for Students will be resuming at Blake. Our Mission Statement: S4S was formed to provide support among students within the Medfield public school system. Our mission is to provide social support for students who have experienced or are experiencing a critical illness of an immediate family member. The founding members are students who have experienced such events and who want to help other students navigate this emotional impact on their lives. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please reach out to Mrs. Dondero ([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.
Email the Prevention Coordinator, Meri Haas, at [email protected] for the Zoom link
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!
New Student Club Offering!!
Recently your student viewed the Say Something program in advisory. The program teaches middle and high school students to recognize the warning signs of someone at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to say something to a trusted adult to get help.
A student club is being offered, at the middle and high school levels, to allow for ongoing discussion with students about building and nurturing inclusive welcoming environments for all. Part of the club will include opportunities to learn about being empathic, increasing social skills, how to identify problems and how to engage in responsible decision making.
Advisors for this club include Medfield Outreach mental health clinicians, Kathy McDonald, M.Ed, MSW, LICSW and Chelsea Goldstein-Walsh, LICSW as well as Medfield’s Substance Use Prevention Coordinator, Meri Haas.
If you think your student may be interested in joining, please have them fill out this google form. Parents/guardians will be asked to sign a permission form if their child expresses interest.
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
From Burnout to Thriving with Sheryl Ziegler, Psy.D.
Thursday, 12/9 at 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness
Do you feel tired and overwhelmed? Have you continually put off the things you need to do for yourself? This program is designed for parents, caregivers, and educators, who have been pandemic heroes (often at their own expense). Therapist and author Sheryl Ziegler, Psy.D., will offer practical, empowering, and proven solutions to promote self care and thriving.
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/)