2/2 - Incoming 9th Grade MHS Info Night (see info below)
2/7 - Blake Battles Bias
2/9 - Blake Student Council
2/10 - Blake GSA
2/14 - Half-Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
2/16 - Blake Student Council
2/17 - Blake GSA
2/21-2/25 - February Vacation
2/28 - DEI Task Force Meeting
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the importance of keeping our hopes and aspirations as compass points in all of our endeavors, our question for this week is: If you had unlimited time and resources, what would you choose to learn about? Starting with Aspirations (Week of 1/30/22) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Upcoming Health Screenings
An email was sent to parents on 1/29/22 regarding upcoming school health screenings. Please complete the appropriate Opt Out form if you prefer to opt your child(ren) out of these state mandated screenings.
OPT OUT Form - 6th Grade Postural Screening
OPT OUT Form - 7th Grade Health Screenings - Vision, Hearing, BMI (Height/Weight), Postural and SBIRT Screenings
OPT OUT Form - 8th Grade Postural Screening
Student Connectedness at Blake
‘No Significant learning occurs without a significant relationship’ - Dr. James Comer
It is important to us that every Blake student has a trusted adult at school. Each year we ask our students to fill out this survey - this information wil help us to support our students. These are the questions that were asked this week in advisory…
- If you needed help at school with a big or small problem, which adult(s) at Blake would you feel comfortable going to about the issue? Please list the names of the adults. If you do not have any adults that you would feel comfortable going to in our school, you may write “no one”.
- Please explain why you feel comfortable going to these adults. What is it about them that makes them helpful or approachable?
- What do you think the people who work at Blake could do to make you feel more welcomed at school?
Term 2 Family Outreach Period - 1/24-1/28
The week of 1/24-1/28 was the Term 2 Family Outreach week for Blake Middle School. During this week, teachers will send an e-mail to families to notify them if their student is consistently not meeting the standard in an area OR if they do not have sufficient data to assess their student at that point in the term due to absence or missing work. If students are meeting the standards, families will not receive an e-mail from teachers. Please know that you may reach out to teachers or your child's guidance counselor if you have questions or concerns about their progress.
Below please find links to letters from the each grade level team with mid-term messages along with the information about Term 2's Family Outreach Period. If you have any questions about your student's progress, please contact their guidance counselor or teachers directly.
Grade 6 - Winter Family Outreach (Term 2, January 2022)
Grade 7 - Winter Family Outreach (Term 2, January 2022)
Grade 8 - Winter Family Outreach (Term 2, January 2022)
Information for 8th Grade Families
We hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, as we welcome the Class of 2026 to Medfield High School! Students and parents will have the opportunity to learn about the culture, classes, and extracurricular offerings at MHS! In preparation for the evening, please note the following:
- 2022 - 2023 MHS Program of Studies - Please find the link to the program of studies here. Please take some time to read through the course offerings with your son/daughter. Students will complete high school course selections between March 4 - 10, 2022. More information to come.
- Placement Letter - Please refer to this letter from the Department Chairs regarding course recommendations and placement.
- RSVP to 2.2.22 - In an effort to minimize the number of people in attendance at one time, we will offer two sessions: 5:30 pm and 6:20 pm. Both sessions will share the exact same information. Please click here for more information and to RSVP.
Stephanie A Worthley
K-12 Guidance Department Chair
Medfield Public Schools
[email protected]
All students are eligible to participate in an optional bookmark contest. All of the details available on the form: here. All entries are due NO later than 2/11/22. We will choose one winner for each division: (grades 4-6) (grades 7-12) to submit to the Mass School Library state contest.
Project 351 Blake Representative
We are thrilled to share that Deven Careau, 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 Deven will be representing Blake and the community of Medfield.
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 Beth Sancher ([email protected]). Happy Reading!
Notification for Absences/Dismissals
If a student will be absent from school, please call Blake's absence line at (508) 242-8501. If a student needs to be dismissed from school before 2:07 p.m.,an email must be sent by the parent/guardian to [email protected]. Please include the following information:
- Date
- Time of dismissal
- Student name
- Reason for dismissal
- Person picking up
Blake MERJ (Medfield Educators for Racial Justice) Update
The Blake MERJ team has been meeting on a regular basis throughout this year for discussions and work to provide meaningful experiences for our students. Advisories will also be choosing their door spotlight over the next few weeks for Black History Month in February.
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.
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 Medfield Public Schools - Employment Opportunities and look under ‘Substitute Teaching’. Please contact Nat Vaughn at [email protected] with any questions.
Progress Update on Reporting Adaptations
As shared in the e-mail to Blake families in December, our staff has been working to address the recommendations from our Director of Instruction and Innovation's 'Analysis of Standards-Based Reporting Assessment Practices' (Spring, 2021), and an update was shared at the most recent School Committee meeting (Link to recording now available: Medfield School Committee (12-09-2021). We will be sharing these updates via information and educational sessions for families in the new year via a recorded webinar format.
Adaptations to our reporting will take place in Term 3 of 2021-2022, including…
- traditional letter grades on all priority standards for grades 7 and 8
- expansion of a metric scale from the current 1-3 scale by adding a fourth metric of feedback (1-4 scale)
The purpose of reporting on academic progress is to provide feedback on a student’s progress and to help direct future efforts. Effective feedback to students during the learning process is essential to a healthy and productive learning experience. Our overarching goal remains to continue steadfast efforts to provide meaningful, actionable, learner-centered feedback for all of our learners via...
- more descriptive and actionable feedback to students and families
- more meaningful and personalized assessment and grading practices
- greater calibration of expectations and assessment practices between/amongst teachers
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.
Medfield Outreach is available for consultation appointments. E-mail [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
Create your own little penguin or polar bear (image attached) to love this Valentine's Day with your children or grandchildren at home and attend a virtual Zoom party! Each kit is $20 or 3 for $50, and comes with a penguin or polar bear, stuffing, birth certificate, and other love-ly things
The kits will be delivered to you in time for our LIVE Zoom party Monday, February 14th, with two party times to choose from. Two zoom offerings at 2pm and 3pm. This 45 minute party will also include live sing-a-longs, story telling, and fun seasonal songs performed by our music guests. Perfect for children and their caregivers. If you can't tune in, the video will be available to purchasers on our website after the scheduled event. Don't miss the fun!
Click here for more information and to make your purchase.
MCPE Update
MCPE is thrilled to revive several beloved events throughout 2022. The Grade 2-5 Spelling Bee will be held on March 24th at the high school auditorium. Students from Wheelock and students from Dale St will form teams of four to compete against their classmates as they work to spell increasingly complex words. Hosted by beloved teachers, teams dress in themed costumes to add to the fun. This event is marvelous. M-A-R-V-E-L-O-U-S. Marvelous. Stay tuned for registration information! Finally, brush up on your obscure knowledge and dust off your party attire! We are eagerly looking forward to the return of both our in-person Trivia Night and the highly-anticipated Fall Ball! Details on both events will be released soon!
Webinars of Interest
LGBTQ+ Basics and Beyond
Thursday, 2/3 at 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness with OUT MetroWest
Curious about some part of the LGBTQ+ acronym? Want to support transgender people but not sure where to start? This presentation will equip participants with up-to-date vocabulary, answers to frequently asked (and frequently awkward!) questions, and basic tools for effective allyship.
ASL interpretation will be provided at this event.
Effective Strategies for Responding to Pushback Against Social and Emotional Learning
Tuesday, 2/8 at 2:00 p.m.
As administrators and educators move quickly to support the pressing mental health needs of students, some efforts have been clouded by a growing national pushback to social and emotional learning (SEL). Misunderstanding and skepticism of the vital role of SEL in the classroom may lead to contentious conversations. Learning about effective strategies for responding to these critiques can help your school district prepare.
Join Education Development Center (EDC) on February 8th at 2pm EST for a fireside chat with a moderated panel of national education experts. Our panelists will discuss what misinformation about SEL exists, how it is causing potential challenges for some schools and districts, and how to communicate more effectively to families, students, and staff about the essence of SEL skills.
We invite you to contribute to this rich conversation and hope our recommended resources prove helpful. If you are unable to join the webinar, register anyway and we’ll send you post-event materials.
This webinar is the first in a series brought to you by the EDC Solutions for Education & Wellbeing team at EDC. Use this link to sign up to learn about future events and download three free tools to build SEL and Mental Health Supports in Schools.
Education Now | Navigating Tensions Over Teaching Race and Racism
Wednesday, 2/9 at 3:00 p.m.
How can schools, educators, and families navigate the continued politicization and tensions around teaching and talking about race, racism, diversity, and equity? As laws banning critical race theory are passed, and the rhetoric grows intense, we'll discuss what educators and families can do to make sure students are supported, learning, and prepared with the knowledge they need to understand their own histories and the diverse and global society they’ll enter.
Speakers include: Daren Graves, Associate Professor of Education and Social Work, Simmons University and Co-Chair of Professional Education program "Schooling for Critical Consciousness of Racism and Racial Injustice," HGSE
Moderator: Uche Amaechi, Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Askwith Education Forum | How K-12 Schools Can Take Action on Climate Change
Thursday, 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time — and schools have a sizable environmental impact. There are nearly 100,000 public K-12 schools in the United States occupying 2 million acres of land and producing 53,000 tons of food waste. Schools operate one of the largest mass transportation fleets in the country with 480,000 school buses, and they are one of the largest public energy consumers.
We’ll talk with national education leaders — members of an Aspen Institute bipartisan commission that recently released a K12 Climate Action Plan – about how the education sector can be a force toward climate solutions and environmental justice. Join us to talk about how schools and educators can help prepare young people to envision and work toward a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable society.
Speakers:
• John King, Jr., President and CEO, The Education Trust; former U.S. Secretary of Education
• Pedro Martinez, CEO, Chicago Public Schools
• Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association
Moderator: Jennifer Cheatham, Faculty Co-Chair, Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (ELOE), Harvard Graduate School of Education
Welcome: Bridget Long, Dean and Saris Professor of Economics, Harvard Graduate School of Education
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. Medfield Spirit Wear
Link (Hyperlink to https://ts020252.prospherefanshop.com/)