1/3 - School Resumes
1/9 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
The Gardener and The Carpenter Book Discussion (see details below)
1/16 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Blake Day of Service (see details below)
Blake Community Blood Drive (see details below)
1/18 - Superintendent's Advisory Council Meeting
1/19 - Blake PTO Meeting
1/20 - 7th/8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
1/27-1/29 - Blake Theater Performances
1/30 - All Chorus Extravaganza
2/3 - Term 2 Interim Reports go Home
2/6 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
2/7 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
2/14 - Happy Valentine's Day!
2/15 - Strings SIDE Concert
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about resolutions and reflection as we begin 2017, our topic/question for the dinner table is: Please complete this statement: This year I am committed to these 1-2 resolutions... Resolutions (Week of 1/1/17) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Book Discussion Group for Parents
The next Blake Site Council/Blake community book is The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik. We will be discussing the introduction and parts 1-3 (about 85 pages of reading) at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9. Hope you can join!
Project 351
I am thrilled to announce that Sarah Boyd, one of our eighth grade students, has been selected as Medfield's ambassador for Project 351. Project 351 is a statewide community service project that brings an eighth grader from all 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth together on one single day to perform a service project. Ambassadors should embody the ethic of service and associated values -- humility, integrity, compassion, commitment, and generosity of spirit. In essence, Project 351 celebrates and encourages students' leadership and commitment to others. We are proud and honored that Sarah will be representing Blake and the community of Medfield.
Tilden Village Thank You
We would like to thank the 8th grade students and parents for their support and service at the Tilden Village Dinner. The community service event was a huge success where 8th graders hosted and served a holiday meal including fresh Turkey Pies from Out Post Farm in Holliston. The residents of Tilden Village were serenaded by holiday music from Mrs. Evans' string ensemble as they ate their dinner and conversed with the servers. Thank you to families that participated in this special event during this busy time of year
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man whose goal was to make our country a better place for everyone. While his life was cut short due to assassination, MLK's goal to make our country a better place is still very much alive. On November 2, 1983 President Reagan madeJanuary 15th ( MLK Jr'.s birthday) a federal holiday, a day off for all. But a day off to support a man who gave his life to the betterment of our country did not really seem like a fitting honor so on August 23, 1994 President Bill Clinton signed a bill that moved the date of the holiday from MLK, Jr's birthday to the Monday after that day. The bill also stated that it was meant to be a day of service. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a not a day off, but a day on. To honor this day of service Blake Middle School will open its doors from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. to give students an opportunity to serve their community. Some of the activity students will be doing during this day of service will be: beautifying the school, making Valentine's day cards, book marks and paper flowers, for soldiers and those living in the nursing home. Students will also be making bracelets, which we will give to Children's Hospital for ill children. We are always open to new ideas for how we can serve the community and support making Monday, January 16th a day on! If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail Cynthia McClelland at cmcclelland@email.medfield.net.
Blake Community Blood Drive
This month we are kicking of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. blood drive. Currently we are putting together a committee of students who will work to promote, organize and then run the blood drive. Please consider donating blood, or if you cannot, help find another who may be able to. It is important this blood drive receive high support from the community for us to continue to hold it on a holiday. Hosted by the American Red Cross this blood drive offers an incredible opportunity, so please come out, and donate blood. The drive will be held in the middle school gym Monday, January 16th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Term 1 Report Cards
All outstanding Term 1 report card signature sheets should be turned into advisors.
Reminder about Locks
All Blake students are required to be using a combination lock to lock their hallway lockers. As this is the time of year when students can begin to be lax about using their locks and keeping them locked during the day, we appreciate your reminders at home as well. A photo of locks that fit on Blake lockers can be found on the school supply list page (School Supply Lists).
National Geography Bee at Blake
For the 29th year, the National Geographic Society is holding the National Geographic Bee for students in the fourth through eighth grades in thousands of schools across the United States and in the five U.S. territories, as well as in Department of Defense Dependents Schools around the world.
The champion of the Blake Middle School Nat Geo Bee will advance to the next level of competition, a qualifying test to determine state competitors. All school champions are eligible to win the national championship and its first prize, a $50,000 college scholarship, at the national championship May 15-17, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
Blake students will compete in their Social Studies classes upon returning from Winter Break. Classroom level winners will compete in the grade level competition on Friday, January 6th. The grade level winners will then face off after school in the LMC at 2:15pm on Wednesday, January 11th.
Message for 8th Grade Students and Families
Please send an email to Mrs. Dondero ([email protected]) if you are interested in applying to the Norfolk Aggie or Tri County. Tri County will be setting up interviews for prospective students. The interviews will happen during the school day at Blake (Date and times to be announced). Mrs. Dondero will set up individual meetings with students who are interested in applying to go over the applications and to help prepare those who will be interviewed by Tri County.
Reminder about Bus Notes
All students who would like to ride a different bus may do so for childcare purposes only and need permission from Central Offices. Students should bring a note from home that gives permission to ride another bus, along with the bus number. That note will be sent to Central Offices and approval is granted based on available space on the bus. It is best to have the notes dropped off before the school day starts so that we can get back to students promptly in case they need to make other arrangements. A back up plan is always good to have in case permission is not granted. If you have any questions, please contact Phyllis Montillo at Central Offices ([email protected]).
Community Service Club Information - Coat Drive
The Community Service Club of Blake began its annual Blake coat drive on Monday, December 12. The drive will conclude on Friday January 6. 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.
Blake Winter Intramurals
Our winter intramurals begin this week - if you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
2nd Annual Blake Science Fair - Friday, March 10 - Save the Date!
Have fun with friends while learning and doing science! More information will follow immediately after winter break!
Blake Theater Update
Things are cooking in Blake Theater land. Our largest group of students to date is working hard on our two winter shows - Yearbook and It's a Sign. Both will be performed January 27-29. Ticket information is coming soon. In the meantime, we are looking for a letterman jacket and 2 tricycles to borrow for these performances. Please let me know if you are willing to let us work with these items from now until the end of January. Theater families - if you are not receiving my weekly updates, please let Tracy Allen know.