5/11 - Day of Silence (see info below)
Pride Alliance
5/12 - Blake Mini-Marathon (see info below)
Jazz Night
5/15 - Grade 8 Science MCAS
5/16 - Grade 8 Science MCAS
5/17 - Student Council
5/18 - Pride Alliance
5/19 - 8th Grade Dance (7-9 p.m.)
5/23-5/26 - 8th Grade Trip
5/24 - Student Council
5/27-5/29 - No Homework Weekend
5/29 - Memorial Day (No School)
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about the ways teachers foster learning, our question for this week is: What are the things teachers do and what are the ways that teachers can help students improve and learn? Conditions for Learning (Week of 5/7/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Teacher Appreciation Week (5/8-5/12)
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week - please join us in thanking all of the Blake educators for their professionalism, care, and presence for all of our students and families! Thank you to the Blake PTO for their generosity and acts of appreciation!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
For more than 70 years, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness month. The focus of Mental Health Awareness Month is to call attention to the various issues people have with stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges while at the same time reminding us all that each individual has inherent value. Throughout the month, we will be promoting mental health awareness and encouraging our students to prioritize their emotional well-being. Below please find some webinars and workshops that pertain to this endeavor.
Mental health is as vital as physical health, and in fact can impact physical well-being. Adolescence is a challenging time for many. It is important that we provide students with the support they need to cope with the various stressors in their lives.
We invite parents and other caregivers to join in our efforts. Speaking with children about their concerns, fears, and other challenges in their lives, and sharing resources to help them cope with these challenges is one way to promote positive mental health. Working collaboratively we can build resilience, create a healthy and positive learning environment, and help young people develop skills that will serve them into adulthood. Below please find a couple of resources and ‘shares’ of interest.
How can I support you? A teen mental health primer
from Making Caring Common Project
Harvard EdCast: A Crisis of Belonging
(27 minutes)
Geoff Cohen discusses ways we can nurture belonging as educators, parents, and citizens.
Children’s Mental Health Week (5/7-5/13)
May 7-13 is also Children’s Mental Health Week, and resources to raise awareness of the week are available at https://ppal.net/childrens-mental-health-week/.
National School Nurse Day - May 10
Wednesday, May 10 is National School Nurse Day. Please join us in thanking Arlene O’Donovan-Driscoll and Tricia Williams for taking care of all members of the Blake community every day!
Day of Silence - 5/11
On Thursday, May 11th, the Blake Pride Alliance, as it has done in past years, will observe the GLSEN National Day of Silence. This day highlights the erasure LGBTQIA+ people feel in their daily lives. Participation is optional and voluntary. Students who choose to participate can either pledge to be an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community or pledge to remain silent through the first three periods of the school day. For more information about the National Day of Silence, please visit https://www.glsen.org/dayofsilence.
Term 3 Family Outreach Period - 5/8-5/12
This week (5/8-5/12) is the Term 3 Family Outreach week for Blake Middle School. During this week, teachers will send an email to families to notify them if their student is consistently not meeting the standard in an area OR if they do not have sufficient data to assess their student at that point in the term due to absence or missing work. If students are meeting the standards, families will not receive an email from teachers. Please know that you may reach out to teachers or your child's guidance counselor if you have questions or concerns about their progress.
Career Day Thanks
Our 8th Grade Career Day was a great success. Thanks to all of our guest speakers for our students: Doug Pietrzak, Hugh Devlin, Matt Triest, Chelle Manganello, Carl Gustafson, Kim Brennan, Bassim Ibrahim, Kim Brennan, Kurt Hudson, Kerry Cowell, Alex Richardson, Alec Stevens, Kurt Hudson, and Suzie Sonnenberg.
Memorial Day Weekend - No Homework Weekend for Blake
In a continued effort to provide down time for students, staff, and families, Memorial Day Weekend will be a 'No Homework Weekend' for all of Blake. No work will be due on Tuesday, May 30 and tests, quizzes, and projects will not be due or given on Tuesday, May 30. Thank you to all of the staff for their support and help in making this happen. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know.
Blake Intramurals
The Spring Intramurals session is in session. You can find information on the Blake Intramural Website. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
The 9th annual Blake Marathon is here!!
Who: Blake staff, students, & families
What: Runners/walkers will be grouped into heats, by grade level.
When: Friday, May 12, 2023
The route runs through the Hillcrest Rd., Ledgetree Rd., Hearthstone Dr., Bow St. neighborhood, and we are reminding all families who live along the course that all of our participants/runners need to stay along the roads/course for safety reasons.
Where: The race will snake around the Middle and High School campuses for 2.1 miles.
Why: To bring our Blake Community together and raise money for a good cause - Medfield Outreach
(**Registration form with more details)
What do we need from families?
1) Parents MUST sign the Indemnity Form (linked here and paper copies coming home) for ALL students (Runners, walkers, and cheering group) in order for students to participate.
2) This year’s registration “fee” is a suggested donation of $5.00 to Medfield Outreach. “Fees” can be submitted in cash or checks made payable to Town of Medfield - Blake Middle School.
3) Parents/guardians interested in helping with the following roles, should click on the Google form below – we’d LOVE any support you can offer, especially in providing cases of water - we need more than 20 cases!!
Parent Help sign-up - Click here!
BEFORE RACE DAY (drop off in main office 5/8-5/11):
- Dropping off a case of water - WE NEED OVER 20 CASES of water!!
- Dropping off a tailgate tent - (to borrow)
- Recording running times– during the race
- Operating water station/ recovery zone - after race
MassHealth Info from DESE
Outreach toolkit about renewing MassHealth: Families with MassHealth need to renew their coverage this year in order to maintain coverage. Information is available on mass.gov/masshealthrenew; and school leaders can help spread the word using the newly available Phase 2 Redeterminations Outreach Toolkit, which contains downloadable flyers, posters, and other materials in nine languages. Individuals who interact with MassHealth members might also find the new MassHealth Renewal Help Guide helpful.
Update from SEPAC
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) mission is to work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in the community. Our role as a parent council is to advise the district on children with special needs; share information and discuss matters of common concern and interest; offer speaker events, workshops, and other programs for families and children; and fundraise to support the schools and award scholarships. We like to say we “Advocate, Educate and Celebrate”.
SEPAC is starting to plan for next year and has many fun ideas. We seek members to join our Fundraising, Community & Events, and Communications committees. If interested, please reach out to [email protected].
We also hope to see you at our next events:
May 16th - Elections & Yoga (all levels), 7pm, Blake Middle School Library
Jazz Night is back on May 12th at 7pm at Medfield High School! Join us for a special evening with John F. Mastroianni, Saxophonist, Woodwind Doubler, Composer, Arranger, Clinician. His talents as a saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and arranger have led him to a diversity of musical experiences. John will also be performing with musicians from MHS and BLAKE School Jazz Bands, Jazz Combo, Jazz Choir and more. Get your tickets today at http://www.medfieldmusicassociation.com. Buy your tickets NOW!
Do you know a Medfield teacher or staff member who has made a positive impact in a student's life? MCPE's Blue Ribbon Recognition Program is the perfect way to honor their efforts and show your appreciation! By making a donation to MCPE in their name, you can recognize their hard work and dedication to our students.
And what better time to participate in the program than during Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week? This is a thoughtful and easy way to recognize the important role these individuals play in shaping our children's future.
Let's show our gratitude and make a difference in our school community by participating in the Blue Ribbon Recognition Program today!
Submit your Blue Ribbon Recognition here: https://www.medfieldcoalition.org/blue-ribbon-recognition-2023
Message from The All Night Grad Party Team
Please 'Pay it forward' and volunteer to help the Class of 2023 celebrate their Graduation in a fun, memorable, and SAFE party space at Medfield High School.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4BA8AF2CA3FF2-angp1
Parents of Seniors are not allowed to volunteer during the All Night Grad Party. It’s really not cool to have your own parent or guardian at the same party watching over you!!
So, as you’re more cool, please consider volunteering your time to help keep the Seniors safe during the night of June 3rd going into the morning of June 4th. Time flies as it’s such a fun and entertaining night.
Graduation is on a Saturday this year, so you’ll be able to sleep it off all day Sunday or come in early Sunday morning to help dismantle it all.
Your kid will be graduating before you know it, so lets keep this really fun 30 year Medfield tradition alive by helping the ANGP team put on the party of the year for these deserving seniors.
Thank you for signing up!
Janie Boylan and Patty Borteck
ANGP Co-Chairs
To Donate visit: www.medfieldangp.com
Blake’s Student Council meets every Wednesday afternoon from 2:15-2:45 in Mrs. Shaw’s room (525). All are welcome to join - the more members we have, the more we can accomplish! Spread the word!
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 Marcia Berkowtiz ([email protected]) with any questions.
Webinars/Workshops of Interest
Reimagining Grading in K-12 Schools: A Conversation on the Value of Standards-Based Grading
Thursday, 5/12 at 2 p.m.
Standards-based grading continues to gain popularity as schools look to measure students’ mastery of grade-level standards, in addition to, or in place of, traditional grades. As school leaders reimagine the grading systems utilized by educators in their community, many are finding that grading is not a “one-size-fits-all” model.
Join this webinar to hear from three educational leaders with extensive experience with standards-based grading in K-12 schools who will explore:
- How standards-based grading is different from traditional grading and the impact school leaders are seeing on student growth following implementation
- Revisioning grading systems flexibly – what works best across grade level bands from elementary to high school
- Common challenges that arise when revising grading policies in a K-12 community and tangible solutions
- How to gain buy-in from teachers, students, and families
Alexandra Baird
Director of Curriculum & Instruction, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Austin, TX
Matt Townsley
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Northern Iowa
David Dustin
Principal, Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School/Conant High School, NH
Growing Up in Public: Supporting Students in the Social Media + Digital Age
Monday, 5/15 at 4 p.m.
Hosted by Spark Kindness
About this event
Educators are inundated with issues related to students’ public online sharing. What can we do when explicit or hateful images and videos circulate in school communities? How can we prepare all students (and staff) for the realities of having a searchable digital reputation? Drawing from the research for Growing Up in Public, Devorah will engage educators, school leaders, and guidance counselors on how we can shift our focus from the threat of reputation consequences to a conversation about character.
About Our Presenter
Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and her book on navigating Privacy and Reputation with kids and teens, Growing Up in Public will be out in 2023 with Penguin Random House.Dr. Heitner’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager and she lives with her family in Chicagoland. You can follow her on Twitter @Devorahheitner and on Instagram @devorahheitnerphd.
Teen Truth: Youth Mental Health, Managing Success and Achievement, and Understanding the Pressures of Adolescence
Tuesday, 5/23 at 7 p.m.
Join us for a discussion of balancing mental health, achievement, the pressures of adolescence, and what caring, supportive adults can do to help. Ex-NFL Linebacker, West Point Graduate, and former Army Officer, Caleb Campbell, will share his story of overcoming challenges, managing success, and finding his way to a life he loves. Teens are encouraged to join with their parents/caregivers.
Free, Virtual Event
Hosted by the NWH Resilience Project’s Building Resilience Series