5/31-6/3 - Blake Art Show
5/31 - Blake Spring Band Concert
6/1 - Blake Student Council Meeting
Blake Spring Chorus/Orchestra Concert
6/3 - Great East Music Festival
6/6 - Blake Battles Bias Meeting
DEI Task Force Meeting
6/8 - Blake Student Council Meeting
6/15 - Blake Student Council Meeting
8th Grade Closing Ceremony - 6 p.m.
6/16 - 8th Grade Field Trip
6/17 - Transition Day
6/20 - No School
6/21 - Last Day for Students and Staff
Half-Day of School
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways we each can help foster a supportive, caring, and inclusive community, our question of the week is: What can you do to help our community be supportive and inclusive? Be specific. Supporting One Another (Week of 5/29/22) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Memorial Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
Thank you to all of the Blake staff for their support and help in making our 'No Homework Weekend' this past weekend a reality. This effort was part of our continued work to provide down time for students, staff, and families.
Memorial Day Presentations
In honor of Memorial Day, the sixth grade students welcomed Medfield resident and family historian, Jonathan Gray. After a two year hiatus, Jonathan came to Blake more enthusiastic than ever before. Despite some technology glitches, Jonathan once again portrayed his father as he told the story about Richard Gray's time spent as a POW in WWII. Teachers and staff were incredibly proud of the students for providing Jonathan with their full attention and respect. On behalf of the sixth grade at TA Blake Middle School, we thank Jonathan for sharing with us a piece of family history.
On Friday May 27th, the 7th grade listens to a presentation during advisory about Memorial Day. Students learned about Kyle Van de Giesen, a Marine helicopter pilot from North Attleboro who lost his life serving in Afghanistan in 2009. Students also learned about the 13 Medfield residents who have served between World War I and present day who also made the ultimate sacrifice in their service. These 13 Medfield residents all have either streets or squares named after them with commemorative plaques describing their lives. Be sure to ask your 7th grader about their locations the next time you drive through town.
Blake’s Art Show - 5/31-6/3
Blake Middle School will be hosting its 2022 Art Show from Tuesday, May 31st until Friday, June 3rd. This art show showcases the variety of creative perspectives from students of grades 6 through 8 and applauds risks taken, mistakes made and a deeper appreciation of the arts earned through an immersive art making experience. In other words, the students did a phenomenal job this year and we, the Blake Middle School art department, are proud and excited to share their work with the community of Medfield.
Information About Festival of Hope
Last week students participated in a "Festival of Hope" to raise money for humanitarian aid and celebrate Ukrainian culture. They had the opportunity to make bracelets, write their names in Ukrainian, plant sunflower seeds, weave, craft a vinok, and more. Thank you to everyone who helped! It was great to see the school come together!
Blake Battles Bias - Advisory Visits
During the week of June 6th, in 6th grade advisories, student leaders from Blake Battles Bias will be leading an "iceberg" activity around identity. The activity aims to explore aspects of identity and to help students gain an appreciation of what they have in common with each other and what also makes them unique. Students always have the option to share as much or as little as they are comfortable with and advisory teachers will be supporting the activity as well. The link to the slideshow that students will be presenting is included here
Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment Workshops/Presentations
This week we continued our work, discussing and sharing ways to foster a safe learning environment for our community, specifically our LGBTQ+ youth and families. I encourage you to check out the links below for more information/resources...
Why Is This Work Important?
LGBTQ+ Resource Document for Families
Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment Communication - 5/25/22
Our direct work has been taking place this week, with a workshop model by cluster and advisory. The outline for this work is as follows...
Student Presentations
- Stand up/sit down icebreaker
- Why we're here – to build respect & empathy
- Landon's story
- Terminology - definitions of LGBTQ+ and Ally
- How to be an Ally
- Q&A
Advisors will use the following discussion questions:
- Why is it important to make our school a safe and respectful environment for LGBTQ+ students?
- What can Blake do to make sure our school is welcoming and safe for LGBTQ+ students and families?
- What can you do and what can teachers do to be allies to LGBTQ+ students?
The primary goal at Blake is to establish an emotionally and physically safe and healthy learning environment for all of our students. Our core values at Blake help guide our work, and we must continue to remind and assure our students that we want Blake to be a safe school for all students and adults and our efforts and expectations remain steadfast to both welcome and embrace all learners. We are continually striving towards a culture of acceptance and inclusivity, regardless of one's race, color, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, or ethnicity. As such, we continue to live by these three principles:
- Every individual at Blake (students, staff, parents, and the greater community) matters, is cared for, and is an important piece of the Blake fabric.
- We are a community of learners who must 'practice what we preach'.
- We must always be present and continue to be here for one another.
Cluster/Advisory Placement Info for Incoming 6th-8th Grade Students
Tentative cluster and advisory assignments will be shared with students/families at the end of the school day via e-mail on Wednesday, June 15. E-mails will be sent directly to both students and parents/guardians. Please know that clusters and advisories are always subject to change based on budget, staffing, and curricular needs, as well as the possible influx of new students.
Transition Day for Incoming 6th-8th Grade Students
Transition Day will be taking place Friday, June 17 and that morning students will get the opportunity to meet their teachers and get a preview of next year's curriculum and grade level events.
8th Grade Bike Trip
This year the 8th graders will again have the opportunity to participate in the annual Bike Trip. The students will bring a bike and helmet to school and travel by cluster in either the morning or the afternoon on a scenic historical tour of our hometown of Medfield. Students depart from Blake Middle School and will be accompanied by their teachers and other staff volunteers. Each leg of the trip is approximately 3 miles and the pace of the trip is very manageable. At each stop along the route, students will hear about historical events from the past that have impacted the town and its surroundings. The dates for the trip are as follows: Stripes 6/6, Stars 6/8, Eagles 6/9, Rain Date 6/10.
Blake Summer Reading Info
The Blake summer reading website is live... Click here for all details! Email Kerry Cowell/ Beth Sancher with any questions :)
STEM Summer Opportunities
Here are some opportunities for students - check them out!
Stem summer opportunities/websites
Blake’s Feedback Sessions - Follow Up Information
As a follow-up to last week's Feedback Information Session, below please find links to relevant information, including the feedback website, webinar recordings, and a copy of the slide deck. On Tuesday, May 17 we will be holding grade level assemblies with our students to share information about the adaptations taking place for the Term 3 report cards.
Blake's Student Feedback and Family Information Portal
A dedicated website has been created to provide families with information about our feedback system and provide additional resources including a FAQ document, relevant research, recordings/slide decks, and more.
Webinar Presentation Recordings
There are two links below (Part 1 and Part 2) for the recordings...
Part 1…
https://medfield-net.zoom.us/rec/share/gjwCLCnWyCKxvXjfIop9QpJo5H40HHaJ3R7PXuMe4G8ruzf9LAImnoerPPSvHeAs.qXz-mpSs6q2VYntQ
Passcode: Y0wT!rM3
Part 2...
https://medfield-net.zoom.us/rec/share/vSBgdYoN5GNDdGLK2lFNzHtcPojbZ2fKMWPzM9ZFVNpZqpTkHvpozzbsLxqqVs_4.sLBc8FW_yzGjtEjj?startTime=1652309864000
Passcode: ^89?N6ml
Blake's Feedback Information Session Presentation (5/11/22)
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/)