4/4-4/5 - Grade 8 ELA MCAS
4/5 - Band-o-Rama
4/6 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
4/7 - Grade 8 ELA MCAS
4/7-4/9 - Blake Musical
4/10 - Harlem Wizards Game at MHS (see details below)
4/12 - Day of Silence
K-12 Student Art Exhibit at Zullo Gallery (5:30-7:00 p.m.)
4/17-4/21 - April Vacation
4/25-4/26 - Grade 6 ELA MCAS
4/27 - LBGTQ Book Discussion (see details below)
4/27-4/28 - Grade 7 ELA MCAS
5/4-5/5 - Grade 8 Math MCAS
5/10-5/11 - Grade 8 Sci/Tech/Eng MCAS
5/16-5/17 - Grade 7 Math MCAS
5/18-5/19 - Grade 6 Math MCAS
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about choices and continuous learning, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What do you want to learn more about? Continuous Learning (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 2 Report Cards
This past Friday students brought home their report cards for the second term. Time has been and will be spent in advisory with students reflecting upon the work they accomplished, as well as setting healthy goals for the third term. If you have a question 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.
Math Placement Information - For Incoming 7th Grade Families
This week you will receive 2 separate emails from Blake:
Email #1: A customized email with the first name and math placement scores for your 6th grader.
Email #2: An email with a link to a Google Form to allow you to confirm receipt of your child's math placement information. Please be sure to complete the Google Form by Friday March 31, 2017 to allow us to schedule your child for the upcoming school year.
Click here for information for 6th grade parents/guardians regarding 7th grade math placement for the 2017-2018 school year
Thank you!
Math Placement Information - For Incoming Grade 8 Parents/Guardians
You have recently received 2 emails from Blake regarding your child's math placement for the 2017-2018 school year.
Email # 1: A letter with your child's math placement information
Email #2: A letter with a link to a Google Form allowing you to confirm receipt of your child's 8th grade math placement
Click here for further information regarding the placement process. As always, let us know if you have any questions!
World Language Selection
All incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians must complete the selection form for music...
2017-18 Blake Middle School Music Selection
For Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians
Below please find links to the Course Selection Google Forms that all incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete...
2017-18 Blake Middle School Music Selection
2017-18 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Special Olympics Information
For the fifth consecutive year, the Medfield Public Schools has partnered with Special Olympics of Massachusetts to develop a 5 town chapter and this year's event will be held at Medfield High School on Friday, April 7. We are thrilled that some of our Blake students will be participating, along with students from Wheelock, Dale Street, and Medfield High School. For those students and/or parents interested in attending the event to support the athletes, independent transportation arrangements must be made in advance and communicated to the front office at Blake. The event is scheduled to begin with the parade of athletes between 9:30 and 10:00 and is expected to conclude around 12:30 p.m., with the athletes staying for lunch.
Blake Site Council 16-17 Survey
The Blake Site Council has been working on the development of our annual survey to students and parents. A similar survey has been administered the last three years and we are committed to having parents and students take it each year as part of our continual efforts to examine our programming. Focus areas include the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. The results will help us to gather information and examine our current practices to better meet the needs of our students and assess progress towards our mission. Please complete the survey for each child you have at Blake, and base your responses on your student's experiences this year. The questionnaire is anonymous, and your identity can not and will not be discovered through the completion of this survey. We sincerely appreciate your honest responses and are hoping for 100% participation from the Blake community. If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]). Link to the survey: Blake Middle School Parent Survey February 2017
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey. The Blake Middle School Executive Summary 15-16 of the compiled data is here for your reference, and I hope you are able to find some time to read the highlights.
ADL Youth Congress Conference
Our ADL peer leaders were excited to go to Boston on March 31st for the annual ADL Youth Congress. Connecting with over a thousand other peer leaders, they listened to inspiring presentations by an 18 year-old Haitian immigrant and Khizr Khan, the Gold Star Muslim speaker made famous by his speech at the Democratic National Convention last year. He urged all of the students to be "custodians of our Constitution" and protect the rights we have in this country for everyone. Once split up into workshops, the students were led by high school peer leaders in activities designed to help them get to know students from other schools and create PSAs to foster the theme of the day, "There is no them, just us." All were inspired and re-energized to continue our work back at Blake!
What are Your Words of Acceptance?
"Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they are alive and human." - Albert Ellis
A new bulletin board, set up outside the entrance to the Library, greets all those who enter Blake. Students and staff were invited to share their "words of acceptance." They could type their words, write them, draw them - whatever, and however, they wanted to express their ideas. The message is simple: "Within these Walls, All are Welcome!" Stop by and see Blake's warm-hearted thoughts.
April is Autism Awareness Month
In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. For more information from the 'Autism Society', please click on the following link: http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/national-autism-awareness-month/
Blake Theater Update
Blake's Theater students invite you to Shrek Jr. Come watch everyone's favorite Ogre as he tries to save his swamp and ends up finding his Princess. The performance are April 7th and 8th at 7pm and April 9th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://shrekjrbms.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door (if still available).
Blake GSA Information
To continue to the conversations started with Colby and Zach's presentation, the Blake Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) will meet each Tuesday, from 2:15 - 3:00, in room 101. The GSA will provide a space for open dialogue about topics such as how to be better ally and how to make our school a safe place for LGBTQ students and families. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please feel free to contact Elise Malone ([email protected]), Russ Becker ([email protected]) or Amy Reynolds ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns you may have.
LBGTQ Book Discussion
Interested in discovering more books for children and teens that have LGBTQ characters? Blake educators and community members are invited to attend an LGBTQ book talk and share on Thursday, April 27th at 2:30. Please refer to this doc for more information and book title suggestions - LGBTQ Book Talk.
Blake Math League - Back by Popular Demand!
The New England Math League promotes the enjoyment and study of mathematics by organizing contests for grades 4-12. Contests serve as an enrichment to their current math program. Blake Middle School is holding the first annual math contests for students in grades 6-8. All Blake students are welcome to participate. We have decided to offer 3 more "practices" for students. New participants welcome!
Dates:
Wednesday April 5, 2017
Wednesday April 26, 2017 (If you have already signed up for the Algebra I contest, you will need to take that on this day instead.)
Cost for participation is $18 ($12 if you have already signed up for the Algebra I contest)
Please make check payable to 'Blake Middle School'. To register you must fill out this google form and submit the check and indemnity form to the main office. Contact Mrs. McLaughlin ([email protected]) or Mrs. Bycoff ([email protected]) with questions.
Thank you!
Parking
This is a general reminder to all parents to be sure to follow the parking regulations in the parking lots and around the 'flagpole circle'. When dropping off or picking up students, vehicles should not be parked ('stationary' or 'live') in the fire zone. We need to make sure that we are providing a safe environment at all times for our students and community. Thank you for your cooperation.
School Attire Guidelines
As we transition into spring at last, it is a good time to review guidelines for school dress. These guidelines can be found in the Blake student handbook. Students have an electronic copy and one is available on the Blake website for your reference. Open dialogue, balance, and discretion are important when dealing with issues related to dress. The responsibility for student dress and attire rests with both the student and the parent/guardian. We are confident that good judgment on the part of students and parents will result in the wearing of clothing that creates an environment that is conducive to learning for all. Each student will abide by the guidelines of decency, cleanliness and safety at all times. In accordance with our expectations for school dress, students are required to wear clothing that does not show the 4 B's: boxers, breasts, buttocks, and belly buttons. We do ask students not to wear hats, short shorts, midriff shirts, off the shoulder shirts, or clothing that displays obscene language, violence, lewd or vulgar pictures, alcohol or drug references, sexual innuendoes, racial/ethnic/religiously offensive materials, or any graphic that may interfere with the educational process. If clothing is deemed inappropriate for school, the parents/guardians will be contacted. We encourage students to consult their parents if they are concerned about an item of clothing that they may be considering wearing to school.
Author Visit
On Monday, April 24th, Margaret Haddix will be visiting the sixth grade at Blake. Ms. Haddix is known for her New York Times Bestselling series - 39 Clues, The Shadow Children, and The Missing. Ms. Haddix will be presenting to students about the writing process and how she became a published author. Students will also have a question/answer opportunity with Ms. Haddix. Students are able to purchase copies of Ms. Haddix's books, and Wellesley Books will have Margaret Haddix sign the purchased books ahead of time.
Intramurals Update
The spring intramurals begin this week. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
Spring Cleaning - Request for MakerSpace Donations
In our ongoing efforts to foster experiences for students to be 'hands-on' and creative with materials, we are looking to provide outlets for students to create in our 'maker space'. As you begin your spring cleaning efforts (optimistic, I know!), we are looking for any donations from Medfield families of: old toys and electronics, PVC pipe, felt/fabric, crafty supplies (yarn, string, makers, wipe off markers, wipe off contact paper, marbles, duct tape, wasabi tape, different types of glue), cookie cutters (variety of shapes), old tools, play dough, recyclables (anything used for storage containers/bins), cell batteries, AA batteries, conductive materials (copper wire, aluminum foil, telephone wire, washers, brackets). Any donations can be dropped off at the Blake main office and would be greatly appreciated.
Blake Track 2017
Signups are ongoing, the season begins on Tuesday, April 4. Click below link for further information. Please contact Jon Haycock with questions: [email protected]
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zOAb7MaTa_AfrPk0NmxSAj6sncG91NyrDMdBcUQ1Bvs/edit
8th Grade Trip Forms
All outstanding forms should be turned in ASAP. Forms should be completed in pen, dated and signed. If your child will need to take any medication on the trip (prescription and/or non-prescription), then his/her physician needs to review and sign the medication form. Please plan ahead and submit the medication form to your child’s physician within the next two weeks in order to get the signed form back to school by the April 3rd deadline. Please contact our school nurse, Tricia Williams, at 508-242-8554 or [email protected] if you have any questions after reviewing the packet. Your assistance is appreciated in returning the forms on time as we finalize preparations for the trip.
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.net and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities", the. Professional Staff Openings. Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
Harlem Wizards Game - 4/10
Are you looking for a fun, exciting night next Monday, April 10th? Well then the Harlem Wizards game is for you! This is a entertaining basketball game to watch between the Harlem Wizards, which are similar to the Harlem Globetrotters, and teachers from all schools in the Medfield district! The game starts at 6:30 and is sure to be a great time and fun event for all ages. There will be concessions and souvenirs to buy as well! Tickets can be purchased at Park Street Books all week long! It costs $14 for students and $16 for general admission if bought in advance, $16 and $18 respectively if bought the day of. If you are looking for a truly, one-of-a-kind experience, you can buy reserved tickets for $25 which includes up close reserved seat and a free team poster, or courtside plus tickets for $35 which includes courtside reserved seats and a chance to meet the team as well as a free team poster and $15 discount for a Wizards replica jersey! See you there! (Tickets can also be purchased online with a small, additional fee at www.harlemwizards.com) This is an event put on by the class of 2019 to raise money for their class.
Message from Blake PTO
2nd ANNUAL BLAKE APPEAL
We have reached 41% of our $30,000 goal. We need your help so we can continuing funding enrichment programs and future initiatives for the 2017 - 2018 school year.
We are requesting a contribution of $50/child this year. This is a suggested amount but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute.
Making a donation is easy. Simply click on the link http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake.html and scroll down to the end of the page or send a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO to Blake at 24 Pound St. Medfield, MA 02052.
Thank you in advance for your support of the Blake PTO. Please feel free to contact Claudia Rosen [email protected] or Kim Price [email protected] with any questions.
OPEN PTO BOARD POSITION for 2017-2019 SCHOOL YEAR The town wide PTO is looking for a publicist to cover Memorial, Wheelock, Dale St. and Blake Middle School for the 2017-2019 school years. There will be training for this position. We would love to have you join our team! Please contact Kim Price for more information [email protected].
7th GRADE YEAR END ICE CREAM SOCIAL VOLUNTEERS We are looking for ten volunteers and a chair person to help us with the 7th grade year end Ice Cream Social. Please contact Maura Gerardi if you are interested. [email protected]
STAY IN TOUCH Our email address has changed to www.medfieldk8pto.com. Make sure you don't miss out on important posts sent throughout the week. Please LIKE us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO and follow us on Twitter @MedfieldK8PTO.
Message from MCPE
Seeking Nominations for the The Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award
Bob Maguire was Principal of Medfield High School for 8 years and Superintendent of Schools for 14 years. In recognition of his commitment to our students,
the MCPE has created this award to honor an educator in the Medfield school community who embodies Bob's legacy of exposing our students to the world outside of Medfield. The Maguire award is given to a staff member who inspires students to learn more about the global community through innovative programs and technologies.
Parents, administrators, school staff and community members are encouraged to nominate a recipient for the Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award. Nominations are due April 14, 2017. The recipient will be announced at the MCPE annual meeting on May 18, 7:00 at the Zullo Gallery. For more information and criteria, please visit: www.medfieldcoalition.org/grants/bob-maguire-award/.