6/10 - PEM Field Trip for Koalas
MHS Athletics Info Night (see details below)
6/11 - PEM Field Trip for Otters
6/12 - PEM Field Trip for Sea Turtles
Grade 8 Mandarin Field Trip
6/17 - Grade 7 Creature Feature Field Trip
6/19 - Grade 7 Field Trip to Boston
6/22 - Transition Day
Grade 8 Closing Ceremony/Graduation
6/23 - Last Day of School
Happy Summer!
Topic/Question(s) for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations about reflecting and the process of seeking feedback for continuous improvement, effort our topic/question(s) of the week are: Should you often ask students for feedback on specific lessons and units? Would you tell them to be critical? How important is the reciprocal give and take process between you and students, administrators, colleagues?
Blake Marathon Recap
The Blake Community would like to thank everyone (staff, students, parents, and community members) for helping to make the 3rd Annual Blake Marathon (a 2.4 mile race around the school campus and surrounding neighborhoods) a smashing success!!! The day featured:
- Over 450 walkers & runners
- raised over $800 for Camp Sunshine to support families of children battling cancer
- 10 winners from each grade level
- plenty of staff and parent volunteers
- a gorgeous 72 degree day
iPad Planning Inventory for 2015-2016 - Please Complete
As you know we are continuing with our mobile learning program at Blake for the entire 6th-8th grade for the 2015-2016 academic year. To help us effectively plan for next year, we are asking all current 5th-7th grade parents/guardians (incoming 6th-8th grade parents/guardians for the 2015-2016 academic year) to let us know your plans for your student (Lease-to-Own, Bring an iPad from home, Borrow) for next year, by completing this brief survey: iPad Planning Inventory at Blake Middle School for 2015-2016. This inventory is different than the initial survey sent back in January. Please fill out this inventory for each child that will be attending Blake next year. This decision is not binding and we recognize that your plans may change - confirmation and final decisions will be made by mid-June, 2015. I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to complete this brief inventory and am hoping for 100% participation.
We have outlined the 2015-2016 Participation Options (Lease-to-Own, Bring an iPad from home, Borrow) for Blake students for this program. We are committed to providing an equitable learning experience for our students and appreciate the shared commitment and investment in the education of our students. As such we have a system in place for families with demonstrated financial need.
The 'minimum specifications' will still remain as the iPad 2, meaning the following are acceptable devices for students to use: iPad2, iPad Mini, iPad4 and the iPad Air. Although the iPad 2 is no longer manufactured by Apple, it will suffice for the students' needs in school as long as Apple continues to update the OS (operating system) on that device. If your family intends to purchase a new device this year, then the iPad4, iPad Mini, or iPad Air are the recommended devices. Our work over the last three years has provided a foundation as our teachers and staff continue to thoughtfully implement and review the effectiveness of this initiative. It is important to keep in mind that teachers and students will be following the same curriculum frameworks and the common core Blake curriculum.
For your reference I am sharing links below to documents about our initiative/program...
Mobile Learning in Medfield
Blake iPad Program Update for 15-16
Blake Mobile Learning General Information
Blake Mobile Learning FAQs 15-16
Blake Mobile Learning Participation Options 15-16
iPad Program Estimated Lease-to-Own Pricing Structure 15-16
We are excited about the prospects that lie ahead as we work to provide your students with the opportunity to learn with meaningful technology and are hopeful that we can foster and promote a positive and relevant learning experience. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]) with any questions, concerns, or thoughts that you may have.
Lost and Found Items
The number of items in our Lost and Found has certainly increased! We will be clearing out the Lost and Found after school gets out - I encourage all students and parents/guardians to come take a look.
Blake Vietnam Memorial
About two years ago the Medfield High School Vietnam Memorial was unveiled at Blake Middle School. With Memorial Day a couple of weeks ago and Flag Day coming up I encourage everyone to take some time when you are at Blake to visit the memorial.
Blake Theater Shirts On Sale
Blake Theater 2015 shirts will be on sale starting this week in guidance. Sizes are limited. Shirts are $5 each. Cash or checks made out to Blake Middle School will be accepted. Purchases can be made before school only.
Library Reminder
Parents, just a reminder, that all library books are now due back in the Blake Library. Students with checked out items were notified last week. Please encourage your child to return any library books promptly so that we can get the Library back in order before the end of the year. If the Library books are not returned, we will unfortunately have to ask for payment. Thanks for your help.
8th Grade Closing Ceremony
Our 8th grade closing ceremony and goodbye evening will be on Monday, June 22 at 7 p.m. This evening will be our opportunity to thank and recognize our 8th graders for their years at Blake and wish them well as they head off to high school. Families are welcome, and there will be a reception with refreshments, including allergen-free treats, in the cafeteria following the ceremony. We are hoping for a 'cool weather' evening.
Blake Yearbooks
This is a message from the yearbook committee. We do have some extra books that came in with our order. If you did not order a book in the fall, there is opportunity to order one this week. Please bring a check to Mrs. Boulos for $30 written to Blake Middle School by the end of the week.
High School Athletics Meeting
On Wednesday, June 10, at 7:00pm, there will be a meeting held in the gymnasium at the Medfield High School for all athletes and their parents interested in playing high school athletics this coming fall season at Medfield. This meeting is very important and will cover many questions and concerns you may have, as well as introductions to all high school coaches and staff. Immediately following this meeting, coaches will meet with their respective sports to speak about the season and answer any questions you may have.
*Sports offered for the fall season are:
Cross Country (Boys and Girls)
Soccer (Boys and Girls)
Volleyball (Girls)
Field Hockey (Girls)
Football (Boys)
Golf (Co-ed)
LMC Update
It's time for the 18th annual edition of the Blake Summer Reading Program. Each summer, our students are given the opportunity to read a variety of great books for both academic connection and pleasure. The cornerstone of the program is the all-school reading book. This year’s choice is The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. It’s the story of 16 year-old Jessica, a high school track star who loses part of her leg in car crash. We journey with Jessica through sadness, anger, frustration and ultimate redemption. Students are also asked to read one required grade-level and one optional book as well, for a minimum total of three books.
ORDERING THROUGH BLAKE: All students should own a copy of The Running Dream and a copy of their grade-level required book – both will be used in English classes next September. Order forms will be distributed during the week of 5/25. Completed forms should be turned into Advisory teachers by Wednesday, June 10. Thanks to Jim James of Park Street Books, all profits from our Blake CSA book sale are used to buy books for the Blake LMC. Every purchase you make greatly enhances reading opportunities for Blake students – thanks for your support!
THE SUMMER READING AWARDS PROGRAM: All students who read 10 books will get to indulge in a free pizza-with-all-of-the-trimmings lunch held in the Blake LMC. All students who read 20 books will attend the pizza lunch then walk to Park Street Books where they will be able to choose a free book. Please do not read more than 20 books – go outside and play! Click here to see our Summer Reading website: http://blakelmcproject.wix.com/blakelmc
Message from Medfield State Hospital Planning Committee
The time for public participation in the Medfield State Hospital planning process has arrived! The Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee (MSHMPC) invites you to attend our first community meeting on Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 PM at the high school cafeteria at 88R South Street. This session provides you the opportunity to become involved in the planning of Medfield’s future. MSHMPC and our master planning consultant, VHB, want to hear your voice about what you would like to see at the property. We also want to educate residents about the decisions and tradeoffs that go into making a viable master plan. Please see our recent newsletter for more details: http://eepurl.com/boKMur
CSA News
The CSA is pleased to announce our new Board for 2015-2016. Please welcome the following members...
Martina Spitzer - Co-President
Claudia Rosen - Co-President
Maura Gerardi - Vice President
Erika Clarke - Treasurer
Janice Marble - Co-Secretary
Kara Gelormini - Co-Secretary
Are you looking for end-of-year gifts for teachers / bus drivers / crossing guards? Consider making your purchase through SCRIP, thereby also supporting our schools. Cards can be purchased from the SCRIP box at Park Street Books or online through www.shopwithscrip.com.
MCPE News
MCPE Year-End Update. This past Thursday you should have received MCPE’s electronic end-of-year newsletter. If you did not receive it, please contact [email protected] to be added to our distribution list.
Blue Ribbon Program for Showing Appreciation. As we approach the end of the school year, are you looking for a way to let a member of our school community (teacher/administrator/coach) know just how much you and your child appreciated them? Consider MCPE's Blue Ribbon Program: www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/blue-ribbon-program. It’s a meaningful (and easy) way to say, “Thanks!” Requests need to be submitted by June 19th.
The AmazonSmile Program is perfect for Father’s Day and graduation shopping and is an easy way to support Medfield Public Schools, at no additional cost to you. Every time you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to MCPE, and, good news: your Amazon Prime account will continue to work the same way. As always, please support our local businesses when you can, but for those items you can't purchase locally, think of AmazonSmile and MCPE!