4/12 - Grade 7 ELA MCAS
Grade 6 Band Concert
4/13 - Grade 7 ELA MCAS
Blake Student Council
4/14 - Blake GSA
4/15 - No School
4/18-4/22 - April Vacation
4/25 - DEI Task Force Meeting
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about our hopes and vision for the future, our question of the week is: What would you like to do in the future? Why? Fostering the Future (Week of 4/3/22) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
World Language Form for All Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians - Please complete!
All incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete this course selection form…
2022-2023 Blake Middle School World Language Selection Google Form
Music Ensemble Form for All Incoming 6th-8th Grade Parents/Guardians - Please complete!
All incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians must complete this course selection form…
2022-2023 Blake Middle School Music Ensemble Selection Google Form
MICCA Festival Follow Up
A huge congratulations to the 7th & 8th Grade Band students for earning top honors with a Gold Medal rating at the MICCA Concert Festival last Friday! More than 150 bands and orchestras from across the state of Massachusetts participate in the festival each year. The standard is exceptionally high and very few ensembles earn Gold Medal ratings.
Bravo to the 7th & 8th Grade Band Students for not only persevering through a very challenging time for musicians everywhere, but for dreaming big and giving a truly beautiful performance on the big stage! The Band will be entered into a lottery for the opportunity to perform at historic Mechanic’s Hall in Worcester next Sunday on the MICCA Gold Medal Showcase.
You didn't get a chance to participate in our Empty Bowls Workshop? There is still time to sign up and support the Food Cupboard. Come to the Empty Bowls Dinner! Choose a handmade bowl at dinner, fill it with delicious soup donated by local restaurants, and take your bowl home with you!
Empty Bowls Dinner 2022 will be served on 5/12 at 6-8 in the HS Cafe. INFO
Zullo Gallery Art Exhibition
6th Graders - Mason Cotter, Annie Flippo, Allan Han and Anne Zhang
7th Graders - Cecilia Puthiaparambil, Owen Marsette and Thomas Rosa
8th Graders - Emma Birdsong, Isabella LaFrancesca, Lily Lewis, Rose McEntee, Brooke Russell and Lottie Swirbalus
The Zullo Gallery is also open every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon until 5 PM. Over the course of the exhibit, the Zullo Gallery is typically visited by hundreds of viewers, enjoying the display of our wonderful student artwork.
Term 2 Report Cards
Please be sure to complete the respective grade level this form below for each of your Blake students (if you have more than one child at Blake) to indicate that you have received and reviewed your student's report card...
Blake Term 2 Report Card Signature Form 2021-22 - Grade 6
Blake Term 2 Report Card Signature Form 2021-22 - Grade 7
Blake Term 2 Report Card Signature Form 2021-22 - Grade 8
Reporting Adaptations for Term 3
Our staff has been working to address the recommendations from Dr. Christine Power, our Director of Instruction and Innovation's 'Analysis of Standards-Based Reporting Assessment Practices' (Spring, 2021). The report made several recommendations and, in concert with Dr. Power, we have made adaptations to our formal systems of feedback and reporting. I have outlined the structure of feedback that is taking place for Term 3 below...
- All Blake classes will shift from the current 1-3 scale to a 1-4 scale for the priority standards to report a finer-grained level of understanding.
- 7th and 8th grade students will receive a single end-of-term letter grade for 'academic' classes (math, science, SS, ELA, and World Language) based on their work throughout the term. This grade will align to the following format: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, Does Not Meet Standard.**
- Feedback on the Learning Skills will remain the same format
I am thrilled to share that these changes were made in consultation with Dr. Nathaniel Brown, Associate Research Professor of Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment at Boston College's Lynch School of Education. Dr. Brown is a leading expert in assessment and evaluation and he has provided professional development for our staff. Later this term we will be holding informational sessions for families, in an effort to collaboratively support the learning process for our students. 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
Reflection For Students
After receiving their report cards, time was spent in advisory for all students to reflect on their work thus far via a Google Form. Our hope is that this reflection will help students identify areas of success as well as areas for growth, and to foster more connections with staff and trusted adults. I have outlined the questions below and encourage you to have conversations this week to help bridge the connections between home and school...
- What surprised you about your Term 2 feedback? Was this a positive or negative surprise and why?
- What did NOT surprise you about your Term 2 feedback and why?
- If you would like to check in with your advisor or teacher, with whom would you like to speak? Put "none" if you do not wish to check in with one of your teachers
- How do you plan to do so (check all that apply) (Attend extra help, Visit during Advisory, Speak to the teacher in class, E-mail the teacher, Wait for the teacher to talk to me, None)
- Please share something you learned, understood about yourself, challenged you, or about which you are proud.
- What is an area of strength, from the Learning Skills listed below, that you have demonstrated? Please provide an example of how you demonstrated this in your classes.
- From the Learning Skills listed below, which ones are areas of growth/improvement?
- What do you want your teachers to know? How can we help you as a learner?
- In the last month, I learned something interesting in school. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- The last month of school was a positive one for me. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- At Blake, I get to do what I do best every day. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- I have fun at Blake. (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree or Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- If you had time to learn about anything you want this term, what would it be?
- Is there anything else you'd like us to know? (Optional)
For your reference, I have copied links to the presentations and handouts from our incoming information sessions for the 2022-2023 school year…
Incoming 6th Grade Zoom Presentation for Families - 3/9/22
Password: 3EP?0wp%
** The formal presentation starts at '40 minutes' into the recording, as the first 40 minutes is while we were setting up and attendees were arriving.
Incoming 6th Grade Info Night Presentation Slides for Families - 3/9/22
Incoming 7th/8th Info Night Presentation for Families - March 2022
Blake Parent/Guardian Resources 22-23
Blake Program of Studies 2022-2023
Here are direct links to the Music Ensemble Video/'talk' and 'Day in the Life of a 6th Grader' video...
Music Ensembles at Blake Overview
(4:08)
A Day in the Life of a 6th Grader Video
(5:55)
Here are direct links to the videos/'talks' shared within the slides...
Dr. Tony Wagner - 7 Survival Skills
(6:42)
'Inside Out' Pixar Clip
(3:25)
A conversation with Bryan Stevenson: What role does education play in making change possible?
(2:36)
Jesse Jackson - I am Somebody
(1:25)
Creative Person - Fred Rogers
(0:39)
MCAS 2022
We are approaching that time of year again, when our statewide assessment for grades 6-8, MCAS will occur. For planning purposes, we are sharing the dates below for these assessments. It is important that students are present during the MCAS testing window.
4/12 - Grade 7 ELA MCAS
4/13 - Grade 7 ELA MCAS
4/27 - Grade 8 ELA MCAS
4/28 - Grade 8 ELA MCAS
5/3 - Grade 6 Math MCAS
5/4 - Grade 6 Math MCAS
5/6 - Grade 7 Math MCAS
5/9 - Grade 7 Math MCAS
5/11 - Grade 8 Math MCAS
5/12 - Grade 8 Math MCAS
5/24 - Grade 8 Science MCAS
5/25 - Grade 8 Science MCAS
Math Placement Process
Our seventh grade math teachers at Blake will soon start the process of course placement for the 2021-2022 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 7th grade students, decisions on student placement are made by considering current class performance, placement test 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/guardians 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!
Miss Amazing - 4/9 at 6 p.m.
Save the date! Massachusetts Miss Amazing is coming to Medfield High School for its ninth annual event! Miss Amazing’s mission statement reads, “Miss Amazing provides opportunities for girls and women with disabilities to build confidence and self-esteem in a supportive environment.” Join us in supporting this goal and giving these girls and young women an opportunity to shine. This full-day event is Saturday, April 9th, 2022 and the show will be held in the Medfield High School Auditorium at 6 PM. If you want to volunteer with the event, you can sign up to be a buddy, half day volunteer (helping hand), or a right hand man online at https://missamazing.org/volunteer/. If you know a girl or young woman who might want to participate in this event, refer them to the Miss Amazing website so they can learn more! Sign up a participant at https://missamazing.org/participate/. See you there!
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
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.
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.
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/)