September 13 - Grades 7/8 PIN (7 p.m.)
Washington, D.C. Info Mtg for 8th Grade Parents (6:30 p.m.)
September 17 - Rosh Hashanah; No School
September 19-20 - Charles River/Russian Icon Museum field trip for Stars cluster
September 20 - Grade 6 PIN
Band/Chorus/Orchestra Info Mtg for 6th Grade Parents (6:30 p.m.)
September 21, 25 - Charles River/Russian Icon Museum field trip for Eagles cluster
September 26 - Yom Kippur; No School
September 28 - Picture Day
October 2-3 - Charles River/Russian Icon Museum field trip for Stripes cluster
October 5 - Teacher Day; No School for Students
October 8 - Columbus Day; No School
October 9-12 - 7th Grade to Nature's Classroom
Update from Kelly Campbell
This week I started my cluster visits to talk with our students about tips for a safe and successful year at Blake. Over the next two weeks, I will be visiting each cluster to go over these tips and chat with students. A few of the topics we discussed:
- Use of safe language at school
- Safe and kind hallway, bus, classroom and lunchroom behavior
- How to ask for help and who can help you at Blake
- Importance of being on time to school
- Appropriate dress for school
- Items that are not safe to bring to school
- Get involved in your community-- there are many fun activities for you to join!
- Community responsibility to report unkind or unsafe actions of others-- the difference between tattling (trying to get someone in trouble) and reporting (letting an adult know that a classmate may need help).
- Middle school is a good place to make mistakes and learn from them. You may make a mistake this year and that's okay. We will sort it out and move on.
Have a wonderful school year!
Parent Information Nights
Our Parent Information Nights (PIN's) will take place on Thursday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. for grades seven and eight and Thursday, September 20 for grade six. These nights will provide you with an opportunity to visit your student's classrooms and hear about the curriculum and exciting programs that will take place throughout the year. Sixth grade chorus, band, and orchestra parents are invited to informational meetings at 6:30 p.m. on September 20, prior to PIN. There will be an optional meeting on Thursday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. for eighth grade parents interested in hearing about the trip to Washington, D.C. We will send out reminders and more details on all of these meetings as we get closer to the actual dates.
Summer Reading Week at Blake - from Jon Haycock
Welcome to Summer Reading Week 2012! As many of you may have noticed, your child read our all-school book, Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer this past summer. One of the goals of the program is to develop a stronger sense of community through a shared experience. The book’s main character, Hope Yancey, who was abandoned by her parents at a young age, has spent most of her life looking for a caring community. Despite many setbacks, she never gives up her naturally giving and generous spirit and eventually finds her “family” in Wisconsin. Students will be participating in content area activities that were developed by teachers from some aspect of the book. The committee has also developed a student take-home sheet which compares Hope’s giving spirit at work and in volunteering in the mayoral campaign and its effect on both, along with ideas on how your kids can take positive steps in their own lives as well. Talking with your children and helping them fill in their sheets would be greatly appreciated! The book also provides an excellent lesson in perseverance, which is our overall yearlong academic theme.
The culmination of the Summer Reading Week occurs on Friday. Former Blake and Medfield High Social Studies Teacher and Town Historian, Richard DeSorgher will lead period long grade-level assemblies where he’ll offer insights into the book, growing up in Medfield and life! Thanks to Brian Gavaghan for suggesting the book and to the committee for developing lessons over the summer: Kathleen Caprio, Brian Gavaghan, Ian Gagne, John Sullivan, Matt Millard, Kelly Dengos, Tracy Allen, Christina Delaney, and Nancy Deveno. This is the thirteenth straight year of our all-school summer reading program.
Seventh Grade Trip to Nature's Classroom
Thank you for promptly sending in outstanding materials for Nature's Classroom. You will be contacted if there is anything you need to turn in. A packing list will be sent home with your child on Wednesday and it will also be posted on school website on Friday. Please be sure to contact Mrs. Silva, [email protected], with any general questions and Mrs. Williams, [email protected], with any health related concerns. Get ready for the early morning departure on October 9th!
Eighth Grade
Eighth grade students should be sure to turn in their swim test forms for our Charles River Community Awareness field trip this September. Completed forms should be dropped off at the main office at Blake. A copy of the form can be found on the Forms and Documents tab of this blog.
Health Information
All emergency medications such as EpiPens for severe allergies and inhalers for asthma must be submitted to our school nurse, Tricia Williams, by Friday, September 14, 2012 along with completed medication orders. Please contact Mrs. Williams at (508) 242-8554 or [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
Locks and Lockers
This is a general reminder that all students are required to have locks on their hallway lockers. Combinations must be given to their advisory teachers for safekeeping in the event that they are forgotten.
Attire and Phones
Please continue to remind your students about the difference between summer/beach attire and 'school ready' attire. We are confident that good judgment on the part of both students and parents will result in the wearing of clothing that will contribute to a respectful academic environment and educational atmosphere. In addition, students are reminded that mobile phones are to be turned off and in lockers during the school day. At Blake we endeavor to remove as many distractions from the day as possible so that students are able to focus on the most important part of their day -- learning.
Sustained Silent Reading and Book Donations
As part of our Advisory program at Blake, two to three times per week students have a required Sustained Silent Reading period. During this time frame, all students and staff enjoy take time to independently read in the hopes of establishing reading as a lifelong hobby and skill. To help keep our classroom libraries current and full, we welcome donations of adolescent books from families. Thank you in advance for your contributions and support.
Cradles to Crayons
The seventh grade will be sponsoring a clothing/pajama drive in February for Cradles to Crayons. Please be sure to save your children's gently used clothing as you clean out and organize your closets. This is a very worthwhile cause and all of the clothes are passed on to needy children.
Student Council
The Blake Middle School Student Council will be holding elections for the 2012-2013 school year on Friday, September 21, 2012. Information regarding the election process will be disseminated in student advisories. Student Council will be meeting Wednesdays after school this year.
School Dances
The 7th/8th grade school dances will take place on the following dates: 10/26, 12/7, 2/8, and 5/17. Dances will take place in the Blake cafeteria and will be from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Dance contracts will be sent home in late September and must be signed and returned for the students to attend the dances. Guest contracts are available online and through the Blake Middle School office. 7th and 8th graders who are residents of Medfield and do not attend Blake Middle School may fill out a guest contract and attend the school dances.
Online Homework Posting System
This year we will be implementing a new system for posting the homework on our website. The setup is still being established, but the information will be posted through 'googledocs', and it can be found via the website. Once it is fully functional, directions will be conveyed to all students and families. The primary mode for students' understanding and recording of the homework for the given night is from the teacher and the posted homework in the classroom. The information that will be on the website is intended to serve as a 'back-up' resource. Due to the inherent challenges of technology that arise from time to time (servers, e-mail, etc.), we can not always guarantee that the website will be 100% accurate and reliable. However, we hope that it will help students and parents as an additional source of information.
Blake Intramurals
Fall intramurals at Blake will begin the week of October 1, 2012. Look for signup information on the intramural page of the website the week of September 24. Parents/guardians are welcome to run intramurals as well. If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, please contact Brian Gavaghan ([email protected]).
Cross Country
Blake Cross Country officially begins on Wednesday, September 12. Students must turn in 3 forms, a copy of an updated physical and a check for $225 before they can participate in practice. A schedule will be distributed at practice which will include all practices and meets.
8th Grade Volleyball for Girls
8th grade volleyball for girls is starting Tuesday, September 11th. In order to play girls must have up to date health form, the concussion form, consent to treat form, and emergency contact form. All three forms can be found on Ms. Kirby's website. The cost is $225. They will have practice every day and the first game is on September 18th against Weston Middle School.
Vietnam Memorial Project
Donations for this project can be made out to 'Medfield Foundation' with 'Veterans Plaque Fund' noted on the check or enclosure. These donations can be dropped off at the Blake Main Office or at Lord's. Thank you in advance for your support.
MCPE News
CSA News
Meadow Farms Fundraiser
Our Meadow Farms Fundraiser is under way! Packets were handed out on Friday to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders. All information regarding ordering and prizes is included in the packet.
The fundraiser will run until Friday, September 21st. Don't forget, there are multiple benefits to this fundraiser ... it's a great opportunity to get your holiday shopping started early and if you order online, it gets delivered right to your door. This is one of our biggest fundraisers helping raise funds for our school activities such as theater performances, scholarships, author visits, socials, etc. and, it provides our 8thgraders with an opportunity to earn money towards their Washington DC trip account. It's a win-win-win situation!
As a bonus for the students, for every 6 items sold, 1 raffle ticket will be entered in the student’s name for a chance to win one of three prizes – an Apple IPAD, IPod Touch or IPod Nano.
Thank you for supporting Blake and our students.