** All ‘school activities’ have been postponed or cancelled during our ‘remote learning’ hiatus from school. As more dates are known, we will be updating them.
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about joy and having fun, our topic/question for the week is: What brings you joy and what do you like to do to have fun? Finding Joy and Having Fun (Week of 3/30/20-4/3/20) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Messages for all Blake Students and Families
Please know we are thinking of you, missing you, and wishing you and your families the very best. Check out our Flipgrid 'messages' from the staff to all of the students - take a look and enjoy…
Message to Blake Students/Families - 3/27/20
Message to Blake Students/Families - 3/23/20
** As noted in the e-mails to students, please take some time to remind them of the importance of respecting 'digital spaces' and not resharing/reposting videos without permission.
Video Conferencing Update and Info for Blake Students/Families
The relationships and connections with our students and families is of utmost importance and will continue to be on the forefront of our minds. As such, the intent of the video conferences this week will be advisory/cluster-based and will serve as a mechanism to check in, make some 'face-to-face' connections, and establish norms and culture for this option of 'remote learning'. Teachers will be communicating the timing for video conferencing sessions to students/families - please know that these sessions are one option for connections and are not required for students/families. We are aware that this is a 'work in process' and we will be patient, flexible and adaptable for students as we walk this path together. We appreciate your patience and understanding as well.In order for video conference sessions to take place, please help your students follow these steps on their iPads...
- All students/families need to download the Zoom Cloud and Hangouts Meet apps in the app store.
- If you are not able to download the app in the app store, please click on these directions: Directions for Connecting Remotely to the MDM (Mobile Device Management System). Diane Horvath, our Technology Integration Specialist), has created a screencast that 'walks' you through the steps: Screencast for Downloading Zoom and Google Meets.
- If you have any questions or need assistance with this process, please reach out to Tania Manuel ([email protected]) or Diane Horvath ([email protected]).
- We have established guidelines/reminders for our staff and students for 'digital learning' and video conferencing - please take some time to review these guidelines with your students: Blake's Netiquette Guidelines, March 2020.
Blake At-Home Learning Considerations and Guidelines, March 2020 **
In an effort to help provide some structure/parameters/guidelines for students and families who are looking for it, we have created a potential template for students and families during our ‘time period of remote learning’. Please know that this is ‘one template’ that can be adapted/adjusted to meet the needs of your children and your family. We encourage you to take a look, talk it through with your children, and make it your own…
Blake At-Home Learning Considerations and Guidelines, March 2020
** For Parents/Guardians: Please give yourself permission to try things out, make mistakes, adjust, and move forward. There is no one right path for parenting, teaching, and learning. We care deeply for all of your children and our commitment is to 'meet them where they are at' and help them (and you as families) to grow and move forward.
Update for Blake Families - 3/17/20
Below please find a link to the note sent to all Blake families on 3/17/20...
Update for Blake Families - 3/17/20
Message for ADL
ADL Peer Leaders should check their Google Classroom for some "food for thought" each week. Mrs. Gelormini and Ms. Thress want to make sure that we stay in touch around the work related to ADL. We were so impressed with the effort that the peer leaders put into ADL this year, and we wanted to make sure to continue to, at the very least, provide food for thought even from a distance. So each Tuesday, we will put out a small post. The post may be a reading, or a video, or a question. Please know that what you were putting into practice, in terms of recognizing bias and reacting to bias, is so important. Keep observing the world around you, continue to be an ally in small or large ways, and you will make a difference!
Resources from Guidance
During the extended school closure, Guidance Counselor are available to our students and families through a variety of means, email, phone, virtual meetings. The Guidance Counselors will send out a daily check-in email each morning, and be available for students by phone and/or virtual meetings. Should you or your student require additional emotional support, please refer to either of the following:
Interface (888-244-6843)
Riverside Community Care (800) 529-5077
You can find additional resources and information on the following pages:
https://www.medfieldsel.com/covid-19-sel-resources--tools.html
https://blakeguidancepage.weebly.com/covid-19.html
Resources from Office of Social and Emotional Learning
We would like to let you know about some resources and tools in relation to SEL in our district. The Office of Social and Emotional Learning has content related to COVID-19 coping strategies, tips and tools for families to utilize. We have broken the material into Elementary and Secondary levels, and have a section for Educators as well. We also want to let you know that we have partnered with many other districts in the state to form a collaborative, comprehensive and ever evolving website that has lots of great information that may help with mental health and wellbeing in this tumultuous time. We hope these resources can be a tool to support health and wellness in our community. The websites are listed below:
Medfield Office of SEL
Mental Health and Well-being Partner Website
Brene Brown on 60 Minutes
I wanted to pass along the link to a 60 Minutes segment from last night with Brene Brown. We have shared some of her work with families and staff, and her inspiring, research-based work on vulnerability and courage is particularly relevant and pertinent at this time for all - 'Vulnerability is the birthplace of courage.' If you are able to find 15 minutes for viewing and reflection, I think it is worthwhile...
Brené Brown on vulnerability and courage - 60 Minutes
Blake ‘EdChats’ - March, 2020
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 first chat with Jason Heim, Orla Berry, Brian Gavaghan, Susan Bycoff, Marissa Gumas, and Diane Horvath - more to come...
Adapting and Learning - EdChat # 1(Learning)
Forms for All Incoming 6th-8th Grade Parents/Guardians
All incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians must complete these course selection form…
2020-2021 Blake Middle School Music Selection
2020-2021 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
For Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians
For your reference, I have copied the link to the presentation and handout along with the Program of Studies 3/4/20…
Blake Incoming 6th PIN March 2020 Presentation for Blog
Blake Parent/Guardian Resources 2020-2021
Blake Program of Studies 2020-2021
Incoming 7th/8th Grade Parents/Guardians
For your reference, I have copied the links that were created for the Incoming 7th/8th Parent/Guardian Information Night…
Blake Incoming 7th/8th PIN March 2020 Presentation for Blog
Blake Parent/Guardian Resources 2020-2021
Blake Program of Studies 2020-2021
Blake is Social - Submit Ideas!
Blake is Social is looking for posts. We would love to see what people are doing at home. Working on your next soccer or gymnastics move? How about some great photography or art? Writing a poem? Or acting out a scene? We would love material. Please send it to Mrs. McClelland : [email protected]
Nature’s Classroom Info for Current Sixth Grade Families
The Information Packet and the Forms to Fill out are linked below for our fall trip to Nature’s Classroom. The 2020 trip to Nature’s Classroom will be Tuesday, October 20 to Friday, October 23. The cost of the trip will be $495.00 and a deposit of $250.00 is due on Monday, April 13, 2020. The balance of $245.00 will be due on Friday, May 15, 2020. Cost is never a reason for a child not to attend the trip. Please reach out to Nat Vaughn [email protected] if this is a concern for you.
Nature’s Classroom Information 2020
Nature’s Classroom Forms to Fill Out 2020
In preparation for the trip an updated physical must be on file. If you have any medical/health concerns, please e-mail directly to Mrs. Williams at [email protected]. Please contact Judy Silva, [email protected] if you have any questions about Nature’s Classroom.
Mathematics Placement Process
Math teachers at Blake will soon start the process of course placement for the 2020-2021 school year. The goal of the process is to see that every student is placed in a class that allows them to learn math well while feeling good about their efforts. For current 6th and 7th grade students, decisions on student placement are made by considering current class performance, placement test grades, MCAS scores and teacher recommendations. For current 8th grade students, placement is determined by success in their current class level and teacher recommendation. We are very mindful during this time to consider the whole child while making these decisions. Additionally, it is important to us that parents feel they have a voice in this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher. If your questions involve long-term planning for math, do not hesitate to email Jess Safer, Math Department Chair at [email protected]. Thank you!
School Survey
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey and an Executive Summary will be distributed to families in the coming weeks. Focus areas on the survey centered on the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. Our intent is to distribute the 2019-2020 survey soon with the hopes of gathering the data in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!
Blake PTO Update
We want to remind everyone that the Blake PTO Annual Appeal is still happening! While Blake is currently conducting learning from home, we’re hopeful that it will be business as usual again soon. And when that time comes, the Blake PTO would like to be ready to help fund initiatives and activities for the students! Please visit MedfieldK8PTO.com to contribute to the Annual Appeal. While we are suggesting $50/child, we understand these are uncertain times for many and will gratefully accept any amount you are comfortable contributing.