May 20-23 - 8th Grade Trip to Washington, D.C.
May 20 - Subway Night for Blake
May 21-22 - PARCC Field Test for Grade 6
May 28 - Grades 4-6 Orchestra Concert
CSA Meeting (7 p.m.)
May 30 - Six Flags Music Trip
June 2 - Site Council Mtg (3:15 p.m. in Blake LMC)
Grades 7/8 Orchestra/Band Concert
June 3 - Grades 6-8 Chorus Concert
June 10 - Royal Pizza Night for Blake
June 16 - 7th Grade Creature Feature Field Trip
June 17 - 8th Grade Math Final
Subway Night for Blake
June 18 - 8th Grade Math Final
June 19 - 6th Grade Rock-n-Bowl Field Trip
June 20 - 7th Grade Boston Field Trip
June 23 - 7th Grade Boston Field Trip Rain Date
June 24 - Transition Day
8th Grade Picnic
8th Grade Graduation
June 25 - Last Day of School
Report Cards go home
Topic/Question(s) for the Dinner Table
To encourage conversations about reflection, our Topic/Question for the Dinner Table this week is: Effective reflection can manifest the energy we use for our next creation.
Washington, D.C. Trip
I encourage the entire Blake community to follow our hashtag #blakeindc throughout the week to stay current with the Blake tweeters as we look to share and 'record' the trip. In addition, you can 'follow me' on Twitter (@nat_vaughn), as I am using this account as a communication and resource tool for the Blake community - tweeting up-to-date information, Blake happenings, links to sites, and articles on a daily or more frequent basis. You can also follow the hashtag #bmsed for Blake-related announcements and items of interest.
ADL Peer Training Program
We are thrilled to share that we have over 80 applicants for the ADL Peer Training program. Our selection process is underway and we hope to announce our cohort of 25-30 peer trainers in early June. Thank you for your support of the program and for encouraging students to apply. Students who are not selected this year will have opportunities to support this program during their years at Blake.
Blake Marathon - Run for Leukemia & Lymphoma
We are so excited to announce that the 2nd Annual Blake Marathon - Run for Leukemia & Lymphoma is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2014 - beginning at 8:30am. Students will be bringing home Registration forms to be signed and returned in homerooms. Last year's race was an amazing event that really demonstrated the strength and spirit of our Blake Community. We were able to raise over $3,000 for The One Fund, sending much needed aid to help those in our greater Boston community. This year’s donation to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will also be made in the spirit of community, in honor of those in our own Blake Community whose lives have been impacted by Leukemia and Lymphoma. Registration forms contain details to donate a Registration "fee," 100% of which goes to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
PARENTS & FAMILIES:
We are hoping to make this a big community event once again this year. With that in mind, we would LOVE to have support from Blake families! There are a number of roles with which parents can assist:
- Runner check-in – starting at 8:15am the morning of the race on the Blake Gymnasium
- Recording running times (top 5 boys and 5 girls from each grade) – during the race
- Runner water stations/ recovery zone set-up & clean up
- Dropping off a case of water to the main office Tuesday, May 27 or Wednesday, May 28. (WE NEED WATER!!!)
Additional items needed (Please email [email protected]):
3 tailgate-type canopy tents (for the finish line)
** You can volunteer by simply checking off the box and indicating your email address on your child's Registration Form (or you can email Jeff Cincotta at [email protected]).
Blake Summer Reading
The Blake Summer Reading sale is in full swing through Friday, June 6. All students are required to read a minimum of three books: our all-school Wizard of Oz, one grade level required book and one book from the grade level optional list. Of course, we hope your child will read a few more that the minimum. Toward that end, we off an exciting and varied list for consideration. Book descriptions and order sheets can be found at http://www.medfield.net/blake/summer-reading.html. Students who read a total of 20 books from their grade’s book list will get to spend the final three periods of a school day during the fall having a pizza party, followed by a walk to Park Street Books, where they’ll get to pick a free book. Students who read a total of 10 books from their list will get to attend a pizza lunch party in the Blake library.
Special Summer Reading Bonding Opportunity for Parents and Students
Have you thought about reading The Wizard of Oz with your son or daughter this summer? You could have a great time comparing your childhood memories of the movie with the very different book. Our summer reading guest speaker, Michael Patrick Hearn, the world's leading Oz scholar, will be appearing at Blake to speak with parents on Thursday night, September 11th and with students on the 12th. He’s written The Annotated Wizard of Oz, which not only reacquaints readers with the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, but also illuminates the colorful background of this treasured American classic. The book explores numerous contemporary references, provides character sources, and explains the actual meaning of the word "Oz." More importantly, Michael will once and for all clarify whether or not listening to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon matches visually with The Wizard of Oz movie. Please consider reading this great keepsake (available for purchase from the summer reading sale but you don’t have to buy it to see Michael though!).
All profits from the sale go to the Blake library for the purchase of new fiction. Thanks to Park Street Books, the Blake CSA, and to Diana Mileszko for organizing the sale. Please contact Jon Haycock with any questions ([email protected]).
Summer Math Skills Information
The Blake Middle School math department has found it beneficial for students to work on strengthening their math skills over the summer months. We recognize this may take on many different forms from visiting math websites (www.ixl.com) to completing summer skills workbooks. In addition, we encourage families to connect over board games such as Pay Day, Mastermind and chess. A trip to the mall with cash is a great way for children to learn about money.
For the past few years, we have used a series of workbooks published by a company called Summer Skills (www.summerskills.com). We have found these books to be successful in helping students practice and sharpen their math skills. As a team of teachers, we feel that summer work is beneficial; however, this book is entirely OPTIONAL. If you are interested in purchasing a book, you may complete the order form and return it (with a check made payable to Blake Middle School) to your child’s teacher by May 30, 2014. The Blake Middle School Math Department wishes you a happy and healthy summer!
iPad Planning Inventory Information for Incoming 6th-8th Grade
As you know we are expanding upon the current 8th grade iPad Initiative and implementing a 1:1 iPad program for the entire 6th-8th grade for the 2014-2015 academic year, with students purchasing their own iPads or taking part in a 'Lease to Own' program through the school. The details of the 'Lease to Own' are tentative and still being finalized, as we are looking to find the most cost-effective program for families. As part of our program, we will have a system in place for families with demonstrated financial need. To help us plan our efforts, we are asking all current 5th-7th grade parents/guardians (incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians for the 2014-2015 academic year) to let us know your plans for your student ('Providing iPad' or 'Participating in Lease to Own Program') for next year, by completing this brief survey by Thursday, April 17:]iPad Planning Inventory at Blake for 2014-2015. I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to complete this brief survey and am hoping for 100% participation. This decision is not binding and we recognize that your plans may change, but the initial feedback will help us with our planning. We currently anticipate asking for 'final decisions' mid- to late May, 2014.
Please read the link below to a letter regarding our planning for the iPad Initiative...
iPad Planning Inventory Letter to Blake Families 4-2-14
For your reference I have posted links below to documents about our initiative/program...
Mobile Learning Update from Blake 3-26-14
iPad FAQs 3-31-14
iPad Initiative Estimated Lease-to-Own Program 3-31-14
I continue to encourage you to peruse our mobile learning blog ]Mobile Learning in Medfield) to gain a greater understanding of the work that has taken place. We are excited about the prospects that lie ahead as we work to provide your students with the opportunity to learn with the new technology and are hopeful that we can foster and promote a positive learning experience.
iPad and Mobile Learning Resources
For those who were unable to attend our iPad Information Sessions last week, here is the link to our Google presentation: iPad Info Sessions April 20 14 As we have shared one of our ongoing goals with the iPad Initiative is to share resources for parents/guardians as well as students. With this in mind I have listed links below that I hope will help you to better support and monitor your students at home...
How to Share a Google Doc or Folder
This resource will allow you to access your student's work in their Google drive account.
Understanding Restrictions (Parental Controls) for iOS
This resource provides directions from Apple for enabling parent restrictions. Options include, but are not limited to, turning off installing and deleting apps and restricting access to the iTunes Store. If you have any questions regarding the iPads or the initiative, do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]) or our help e-mail address ([email protected]).
Parent Information Nights
Thank you to all who came out for parent information nights. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. For your reference and information, here are the links to the presentations for the other grades...
Incoming 6th PIN 2014
Incoming 7th PIN 2014
Incoming 8th PIN 20 14
Blake Site Council Survey
The Blake Site Council this year has been working on the development of a survey to be distributed to the Blake community. The survey was administered the last two years and we are committed to having parents and students take it annually 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. 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: 2013-2014 Blake Middle School Survey
Curriculum Highlights - Art and Science
This week's curriculum updates come from the Art (Jim Cousens, Content Specialist) and Science (Orla Berry, Content Specialist) department...
Art
The Blake Middle School Art Department would like to invite the Medfield community, family, and friends to our 2014 Blake Middle School Student Art Exhibit. The Student Art Exhibit will be available for viewing beginning Tuesday, May 27th, and will be on display until Friday, May 30th. The Blake Art staff will also be hosting our Student Art Exhibit Reception the evening of Wednesday, May 28th from 6:00-7:30 in the Blake LMC and Main Hallway. Please join us to view many of the outstanding artistic achievements of our Blake Middle School students.
In other Blake Art news, our 8th Graders are just finishing up their acrylic paintings. They have been learning how to use acrylic paints on canvas board to achieve effects in tonal values, depth, composition, and color blending. Their work is fantastic.
In 7th Grade, Mrs. Delaney's classes have been studying Surrealism and the dream-like images that can be produced, while Mr. Cousens' students are just starting their lesson on Relief through the use of metal embossing. They are discovering how to communicate ideas using texture, pattern, and relief form. They all enjoy manipulating the metal with our embossing tools to create their reliefs.
In 6th Grade, students are looking at the work of Georgia O'Keeffe in their regular Art classes with Mrs. Delaney and Mr. Cousens' 6th Grade Art Plus class... but in very different ways. In Mrs. Delaney's classes students are using glue to create lines that will boarder their pastel flower shapes. They will be blending the pastels for color and tonal effect. In Mr. Cousens' 6th Grade Art Plus class students are "looking" at the Macro-image that Georgia O'Keeffe achieved in her famous flower paintings. They are being asked to create a series of Macro-flower compositions from observation to be used for watercolor postcards. They are using a variety of watercolor techniques to provide the many colored effects of the flowers. We will be mailing these 5X7 postcards to family members, and requesting a verification email once it is received. Think of all the people that will see their artwork as these postcards circulate through our U.S. Postal Service. Talk about exposure!
Science
6th grade science, after having taken to the streets of Medfield investigating geological crimes, has collected and interpreted the evidence through a series of lessons that led students to decide on a primary suspect (Agent of Erosion). They've incorporated the ET writing rubric into constructing a persuasive "closing argument" to convict their suspected criminal in court! Now that we've investigated outside the Earth, it's time to journey...to the center of Earth!
Seventh graders just finished up learning about DNA and genetics. Punnett squares are their new best friends! They will now apply that knowledge to their studies of natural selection. Next week students will take on the role of a bird to discover what kind of beak is best suited to obtaining different foods. They will discover which bird will be able to survive in different environments. In Science Exploration, students said farewell to their trout on April 15th. We hope they are happily swimming around in the Charles River. Currently students have been presented with a sick patient and using their new knowledge of causes of disease they will prescribe treatment for their patient.
Having just completed review activities in preparation for the Science/technology and Engineering MCAS, grade 8 science students will be turning their attentions to the heavens, as the year will conclude with the ever popular units on Physics and Astronomy. The students have also begun construction on their solar powered model cars, another perennial favorite activity.
Congratulations - three teams from Blake Middle School are ranked in the top twenty teams for this year's Ralph Salvucci Online Bridge Competition! The following students are invited as free guests to the awards dinner:
Rank Team Name
9 Electric cellists Margaret K. Travis
9 Electric cellists Emily C. Weintraub
12 Brady and Joe Brady S. Neeb
12 Brady and Joe Joe L. Johnson
20. Steven Sabia
20. Colin Wirsig
Blake Track
Girls Track at Ashland 5/12/14
The Girls Track Team competed against Ashland and Ursuline. In the running events Sophie Tom came in second in the 400 meter. With a strong showing in the 100 Meter, Jamie Hirschfeld placed first and Maggie Baker took third. Sophia Gustafson won the 200 meter event and Breanna Morgan was first in the mile. Julie Letai won the 800 meter and Carina Christo placed second. Medfield Girls dominated in the relay events. The 4 x 100 team of Riley Drometer, Sophia Gustafson, Jamie Woods, and Jamie Hirschfeld took first place with an impressive time of 58:12. Equally strong was the 4 x 400 team of Julie Letai, Ali Clower, Carina Christo and Breanna Morgan also taking first place. In the high jump, Maggie Baker came in second against Ashland and scored first against Ursuline with Ali Clower taking second place. In the Long Jump Sophia Gustafson was third against Ashland and first against Ursuline with Julie Letai coming in second. Macey Musto was second in the Shot Put against Ashland and won the event against Ursuline. Final Tally: Medfield: 48 Ashland: 34, a nd against Ursuline: Medfield: 50, Ursuline: 31.
Boys Track at Ashland 5/12/14
The boys track team traveled to Ashland’s shiny new track. Noah Garfield opened the meet with his second consecutive first place finish in the high jump. Jack Morrill and Dylan Hogan placed second and third in the long jump as did Griffin Murphy and Justin Newman in the shot put. Blake opened the running events with a blistering sweep of the 400 in the order of Dylan Hogan, Eric Plumb and Mike Cantonese. Justin Newman and Scott Tatro next repeated their first and third place finishes in the 100. Teddy Oliver ran a strong 200, taking third place. Owen Drometer continued his season-long dominance in the mile, again taking first place. Blake’s second sweep of the day took place in the 800 with John Churchill taking first, Mike Mangiafico second, and Matt Morgan third. Blake mile relay team of Mike Cantonese, Eric Plump, Dylan Hogan, and Owen Drometer sealed the victory for a strong 49 - 33 win.
Girls at Hopkinton 5/15/14
The girls track team pulled off a win last Thursday against one of its toughest opponents of the season. In a very tight race, Breanna Morgan took first place in the mile with a blistering time of 5:48. Jamie Hirschfeld won the 100 meter with Chloe Rogan taking third. Julie Letai won the 800 with a very strong run. Maggie McCarthy just missed another victory in the 400, taking second place. Sophia Gustafson won the 200 with Maggie Hurley placing second. With a win in the 4 x 400 meter relay was the team of Julie Letai, Ali Clower, Breanna Morgan, and Maggie McCarthy. In the field events, Jacqui Shortsleve was first in the shot put and Macey Musto took second. Sophia Gustafson won the long jump and Kate Davignon placed third. Maggie McCarthy won the long jump and Maggie Baker came in third. The final score: Medfield 45, Hopkinton 36.
Boys at Hopkinton 5/15/14
Having not beaten archrival Hopkinton in three years, the boys track team traveled there last Thursday armed with a strange mixture of dread and determination. An under-the-weather Owen Drometer opened the running events with a second place finish in the mile. Justin Newman continued his undefeated streak in the 100 meter with another first place finish. Mike Mangiafico ran his best 800 of the season, taking second place while also qualifying for the state meet. Medfield hung tough in the 800 with Dylan Hogan and Kyle Heaney taking second and third. Blake also hung tough in the 200 with Ryan Eng taking his first, first place finish of the year in the event and the gimpy yet tough Jack Morrill taking third. Griffin Murphy continued his excellent year in the shot put, taking yet another first place finish with Justin Newman tying for third place in the event. Player/coach Noah Garfield took second in the high jump with Jon Kerivan taking an important third. Jack Morrill continued his dominance in the long jump, taking another first with John McNeil taking third. Heading into the final relays the score stood at Hopkinton 36.5, Medfield 35.5, which meant that if Blake could capture just one of them, victory would be assured. A valiant effort on the part of the 4 x 400 fell short. With the final 4 x 100 relay team moving into the starting blocks, Hopkinton held a precarious 40.5 to 36.5 lead. It was all coming down to the five point winner take all 4 x 100. Mike Mangiafico blasted out of the starting blocks with Blake holding a slight lead as second man Scott Tatro took the baton. Scott slightly increased the lead at third man Bradden Johnson took his turn. Bradden maintained the lead and handed off to anchorman Justin Newman. Justin, of course, was not to be denied, leaving their fourth runner in the dust and securing a 41.5 to 40.5 Blake victory. It’s important to note every single point was necessary for the Medfield win. If just one of the scorers had not placed in his event, Hopkinton would have carried the day. Congratulations on a great team victory.
Practice will be held this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Our final two meets of the season take place at home against Needham on Wednesday, May 28 and at North Attleboro on Friday, May 30.
CSA News
Clip and send in your box tops. Collection box is in the office.
Tuesday Night May 20 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM is Subway Night. Skip cooking and help Blake at the same time!
MCPE News
MCPE Holds Annual Meeting
The MCPE Annual Meeting was held on May 14th at the Zullo Gallery. At the meeting co-presidents, Anna Mae O'Shea Brooke and Julie Layden, shared that this year MCPE's total income (i.e., total amount raised this year not including expenses) was $133,058 and the total amount given out in grants was $108,237. The new MCPE Board Members were approved and introduced: Laura Mulready, Minta Hissong, Jennifer Keating, Jennifer Gemski and Julie Scheck. Megan Infantino and Kim Price were named as the co-presidents of MCPE for the 2014-2015 school year.
Also during the meeting Bethany Sager, a fifth grade teacher from the Dale Street School, was named as the recipient of the Robert C. Maguire Global Perspectives in Education Award. Bethany Davies received the Elizabeth G. Busconi Memorial Education Fund Grant for enhancing the fiction collection at the Wheelock School Library, and the Thomas A. Reis Award was awarded to Kelly Campbell for her grant entitled "ADL Peer Training Program." This grant will fund the training of 7th and 8th grade students who will serve as peer leaders working to inspire others to challenge all forms of prejudice, including bullying and cyber bullying.
Blue Ribbon Program for Showing Appreciation
Are you looking for a way to let your child’s teacher, a school staff member or an administrator know just how much you appreciated them this past year? Consider MCPE’s Blue Ribbon Program. This program is an easy and thoughtful way to thank a member of our school community at the end of the school year while making a donation to the Medfield Coalition for Public Education. Each person recognized with a donation will receive a personalized card from you and/or your group. To learn more and to make a donation in someone’s name, simply go online to http://www.medfieldcoalition.org. Select Events & Programs and then select the tab for the Blue Ribbon Program.
Green & Clear Cleaners Partners with MCPE
Medfield Coalition for Public Education is pleased to announce a partnership with Green & Clear Cleaners to raise money for the Medfield Public Schools. It's so easy to get involved. Here's how it works: mention MCPE and get 10% off your personal cleaning order for that visit. For every visit after that, Green and Clear will donate 10% of the total order to MCPE. Please note, business shirts, specialty items and alterations are not included in the 10% donation. Thank you for supporting MCPE.