January 7 - Geography Bee Grade Level Finals
January 8 - Grade 8 S.S. Placement Essay for HS
January 9 - Grade 8 English Placement Tests for HS
Ski Club
January 10 - CSA Mtg (9 a.m.)
January 13 - Site Council Mtg (3:15 p.m. in Blake LMC)
January 14 - Royal Pizza Night for Blake
Grades 4-6 Chorus Concert
January 16-17 - Grade 8 Mathematics Mid-Term
January 16 - Ski Club
January 20 - MLK, Jr. Day (No School)
Day of Service at Blake
January 23 - Ski Club
January 24 - Blake Lip Sync (see details below)
January 30 - Ski Club
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations about reflection and resolutions, our Topic/Question for the Dinner Table this week is: In this world of useful networking and connection, how much value shall we place on the dedicated time to delve into the silence of our own reflections?
Term 1 Report Cards
Prior to vacation students brought home their report cards for the first term. Time was 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. Please be sure to send back the signature form to your child's homeroom teacher indicating that you have seen the term one report card.
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 made January 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.-1 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 21st a day on! If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail Cynthia McClelland at [email protected].
Project 351
I am thrilled to announce that Mike Foley, 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 Mike will be representing Blake and the community of Medfield.
Blake 8th American Mathematics Competition AMC8 Test Results
Congratulations to all 8th graders who participated in the American Mathematics Competition, AMC8, in November 2013. This competition test is designed to challenge students in math and offer problem solving opportunities that go beyond the classroom. The following students are acknowledged for exceptional performance:
- Jack Barrett - National AMC8 Honor Roll Award (top 5% nationally)
- School AMC8 Gold Medal (first place, school score)
- Rachel Constant - School AMC8 Silver Medal (second place, school score)
- Kyle Infantino - School AMC8 Silver Medal (second place, school score)
- Anthony Tristani, Jr. - School AMC8 Silver Medal (second place, school score)
- Gideon Lung - School AMC8 Bronze Medal (fifth place, school score)
- Matthew McGlone - School AMC8 Bronze Medal (fifth place, school score)
Curriculum Highlights - Art and Science
This week's curriculum updates come from the art (Jim Cousens, Content Specialist) and science (Orla Berry, Content Specialist) departments...
Art
The Blake Art Program is very happy to announce three students whose artwork has been submitted to the Scholastic Art and Writing this year: Margaret Scales, Alyssa Shen, and Amy Schubert. All three students are in the 7th Grade at Blake, and each has had their Self-Portrait submitted. This year's Scholastic competition is being held at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA), Named Massachusetts Affiliate for Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. We should hear back from the SMFA and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in February about how Margaret, Alyssa, and Amy's Self-Portraits were received. We'll be posting news about this and everything else related to our Medfield K-12 Fine Arts Program on Twitter @Medfieldk12Arts.
Science
The sixth grade has just completed a journey through the solar system, investigating the effect of changing location on their mass and weight. Students worked in cross-cluster teams, utilizing Koala tablets to scan images at each location. Different media were utilized to provide context and enhance the experience in each location and on each planet.
As 7th grade students finish up their membrane transport unit they will observe and measure osmosis in action by placing raw eggs (sans membrane) in a variety of solutions and then measure the change in mass of eggs after a specific period of time. This will lead into their unit on digestion in the human body. In Science Exploration the trout tanks are being maintained while observing and learning about the life cycle of trout and one of their food sources, the Mayfly.
Grade 8 science students are participating on a unit focused on physical and chemical changes. Students are preparing solutions, mixing chemicals, and watching for signs of chemical reactions. They then collect gases created in the reactions, and flame test them to identify the gas as hydrogen, oxygen, or carbon dioxide. Sophisticated stuff, but very well executed by the budding scientists of Blake!
Twitter Account (@nat_vaughn) and Blake Hashtags (#bmsed and #bmstech)
We have established the hashtag (#bmsed) for education-related tweets of interest and Blake events and (#bmstech) for technology tweets of interest at Blake, so be sure to check them out! My account is @nat_vaughn, and I will continue to tweet up-to-date information, Blake happenings, links to sites, and articles of interest on a daily or more frequent basis.
There are two ways to get my tweets...
1. To get the 'real feel' for Twitter- you should sign up for your own twitter account and follow me. This works well when you use the twitter app to get the live feed.
2. Go to this link: https://twitter.com/nat_vaughn where you will be able to see all my tweets without a twitter account.
Winter Intramurals
Winter intramural sign-ups will begin on Monday, January 13 and will run through Friday, January 17. The intramural offerings are scheduled to begin the week of January 20. The offerings and sign-up sheets will be listed on the Blake home page under intramural information. Hard copies of the offerings and sign-up sheets will also be available in the main office.
Theater Update
The schedule for rehearsals through February break are up on the theater website - http://padlet.com/wall/611ejx2h8v. This schedule is subject to change based on how well rehearsals go. Please make sure to listen to announcements and check the website for updates and changes. If your student has not turned in the commitment letter and participation fee, please make sure it is turned in to guidance or Mrs. Caprio by Friday, January 10. If your student is a cast member, clothes sizes and measurements should be written on the returned letter. Any questions or concerns, please email Mrs. Caprio or Ms. Allen.
Lip Sync Reminders
On January 8th, we will have our costume check. All performers must attend and every group member must try on and show Mrs. Dondero their costume for approval... NO EXCEPTIONS. The costume check will be in the cafeteria from 2:15-3:15.
On January 15th, we will be having our dress rehearsal. All group members must attend. Students will be required to perform their acts while wearing their costumes. The dress rehearsal will run from 2:15-5:15. Please make arrangements as students are required to stay for the entire rehearsal.
Tickets will go on sale on 15th and 16th for performers and crew during lunch. Each performer/crew member will be allowed to purchase two tickets at that time. Tickets are $5 each. On January 17th tickets will go on sale for the general public, if performers/crew members require more than two tickets they can try and buy additional tickets on the 17th. Tickets always sell out, so please mark your calendars for the 15th and 16th and send your child to school with a check or cash for tickets.
The lip sync will be on January 24th. Performers and crew should arrive between 6:15-6:30.
Doors will open at 6:45 for audience seating. The performance begins at 7pm and should end between 9 and 9:30.
Community Service Club Message
The Community Service Club is holding its annual coat drive from right now until Friday January 10, 2014. We need new or gently used coats for all sizes, ages, and people. All coats are donated to Anton's Cleaners who will clean and distribute the coats free of charge. Please place donated coats in the box under the TV outside the library. Thank you.
Music at Blake - Guess the Blake Pandora Jockey!
Our new PJ/DJ contest began this week. We encourage all students to participate by voting at our Blake Pandora Jockey Link, and all entries must be registered by Thursday evening at 8 p.m. An 'electronic selector' will highlight a winner each week, and the winning student will be the Blake PJ for the following Monday. Each student may register only one vote. Encourage your students to participate!
Medfield Foundation Volunteer Awards
Nominate someone for the 2014 Medfield Foundation volunteer awards by downloading the form from www.medfieldfoundation.org, and e-mailing it as an attachment to [email protected] no later than January 31. The MFi's 2014 volunteer recognition reception, again sponsored by the generosity of the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, will be held from 3 -5 PM on Sunday, March 23 at The Center - all are welcome.
CSA News
Your trash, Blake's cash! Clip and send in your box tops. Collection box in the office.
MCPE News
Auction Items Request:
Now is the time to mark your calendars for the MCPE Spring Fling! This exciting fundraising event will be held Friday, May 2nd at the Spring Valley Country Club in Sharon, MA. This event will feature a silent and live auction to benefit our schools. We have a lot of great auction items, but are still looking for a few more "big ticket" items.
If you are interested in donating tax-deductible auction items such as:
• Vacation homes
• Sports tickets
• Theater/concert tickets
• Favorite Restaurant gift cards
• Celebrity experiences (do you know a chef or local personality who may have some time to donate?)
• Country club outings (golf, tennis, dinner, other)
Please contact Michelle Barrette at 359-4140 or at [email protected].
Spring Fling tickets will go on sale Feb 25; at that time you can order your tickets on the MCPE website: www.MedfieldCoalition.org.
MCPE Grants Funded in December
MCPE is pleased to report that the month of December was a productive one for grant funding. In total $43,297 was invested in support of initiatives that spanned grades K through 12. Two grants were funded that specifically affect Blake. The first was a grant presented by Ellen Toubman, content specialist in the World Languages Department. It will bring, in collaboration with both the CSA at Blake and the High School PTO, a new web-based software program, DiLL, alongside a major updating renovation of both schools' language labs. Additionally, co-presented by the middle and high schools, was a grant from Orla Berry, Science content specialist, for all science teachers to attend the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) Conference to be held in Boston this spring.
MCPE Thank You
Many thanks to our supporters who generously donated to MCPE as part of their family's annual charity gift giving. We are so grateful for your contributions as they help support enriching programs for our Medfield schools and our children. Thank you for making the success of our schools a community effort.