9/14 - 6th Grade Info Night - 6:30 p.m.
Music Ensemble Info Sessions - 6:00 p.m.
9/15 - School Committee Mtg
9/21 - Blake Picture Day
9/26 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)
9/27 - SEPAC Meeting (see details below)
9/28 - MCAP Meeting
Blake’s Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about using our strengths in our process of learning, our question for the week is: What are your strengths as a learner? Knowing Your Strengths (Week of 9/11/22) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Arts in Education Week
This week (9/11-9/17) is Arts in Education Week. I have shared this with our art and music departments. Please keep this in mind when talking to your children about cultural events, music, and the arts this month.
https://www.arteducators.org/advocacy/arts-in-education-week
Blake Photo Day Information
Picture Day is Wednesday, September 21st. An order form was sent home with your student on Wednesday, September 14th.
Please prepay online at www.grynnandbarrett.com.
- Select Order Portraits
- Enter code 2E2Z8Z8S and click login
- Prepay for your pictures
*If you pay online, there is no need to submit anything to the school on picture day.
If you don’t pay online you can pay by cash, or check made payable to G&B Photography. Please enclose cash or check in the order envelope and submit to the photographer at time of photographing.
Thank you!
Medfield Public School-McLean Hospital Partnership
We are excited to announce a partnership between the Medfield Public Schools and McLean Hospital School Consultation Services for the 2022-23 school year. This partnership offers significant benefits for staff, students and families including:
- Monthly consultation for school mental health providers
- Professional development specific to Medfield mental health providers four times per year
- Parent/guardian webinars four times a year restricted to Medfield parents/guardians/staff only
- Access to the “Leaders in Youth Mental Health Series” through McLean- available for all parents/guardians, students, staff and community members of all partner districts
- Title: Strategies to Support Children and Adolescents with Low Mood
- Description: This webinar focuses on providing psychoeducation about childhood and adolescent depression and strategies to help children and adolescents engage in skills that build motivation and boost their mood.
- Topic: Managing Depression in Children & Teens
- Time: Sep 21, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
- Join Zoom Meeting https://partners.zoom.us/j/89306024717
Blake Yearbook Information
We are already beginning to create the Blake 2023 yearbook! You will see the first email about purchasing this year's yearbook in the next few weeks. Please keep a lookout for emails from our yearbook provider, Herff Jones. All yearbooks must be purchased through their website. As a reminder this is an all school yearbook and will include highlights of 6th, 7th, & 8th graders!
Please reach out to Kristin Buley ([email protected]) or Kristin Manning ([email protected]) with any questions!
Message from our Nurses
Welcome to the 2022/23 school year! We hope the new school year is off to a healthy start and your child(ren) are enjoying middle school.
Here are a few helpful reminders:
- Please send your child to school daily with a refillable water bottle to hydrate throughout the day. Please make sure their name is on the bottle.
- Please send in your child’s physical following their annual appointment.
- If your child is feeling ill with cold/allergy symptoms, headache, sore throat or other symptoms, please be sure to do a COVID test prior to deciding if they are well enough to attend school. Refer to the attached COVID Guidelines for more detailed information regarding when to test.
If your child tests positive for COVID, please keep them home to isolate for 5 days to avoid spreading the virus to others and notify us in the Blake School Nurse’s office as well as notify your child’s healthcare provider.
You can reach the nurse's office at 508-242-8554 or by email as noted below. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Theme of Discovery for 2022-2023
Our theme for the next academic year at Blake is one of Discovery. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last ten years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, Empathy, Diversity, Happiness, Courage, Curiosity, and Imagination. As a staff we have begun brainstorming ideas and I encourage all families to join us in the brainstorming process as well. As ideas and thoughts come to mind, do not hesitate to email me ([email protected]) or Marcia ([email protected]).
Food Services Information
The breakfast program at the Middle School is up and running! We will be offering free breakfast to all students prior to the start of the school day from 7:10-7:30. The 8th grade students will get their breakfast in the cafeteria and 6th and 7th grade students will have the opportunity to get breakfast outside of the gym in the morning.
Similar to lunch, students will need their PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) to get breakfast. Please note your child’s PIN below and share it with them.
Additionally, if you wish to set up a My School Bucks account to track when your child is getting a school breakfast or lunch, you will need their student ID number.
Our breakfast menu can be found here.
If you have any questions regarding the breakfast program, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Caitlin Fahy
Food Service Director
[email protected]
Blake GSA
The Blake GSA will be meeting Thursday (September 15th) afterschool in Ms Malone's room. Please see Ms. Malone or Mrs. Dondero with any questions.
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 e-mail 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
Student and Family Inventories - Thanks!
In an effort to help foster relationships with students and establish open lines of communication with families, we are asking all students and families to please fill out the respective Google Forms below about each student's interests and approaches to learning...
Blake Student Learning Survey 2022-2023
(This link has been sent to students and they can only access this link via their Medfield email accounts.)
Blake Family Learning Survey 2022-2023
Our hope is that the answers will help our team support students and families throughout the year.
** If you would like this survey translated into a different language, please let me know ([email protected]).
Feedback and Reporting Information
This year Blake will be continuing its model of feedback and reporting that was implemented in Term 3 of the 2021-2022 school year. The purpose of reporting on academic progress is to provide feedback on a student’s progress and to help direct future efforts. Effective feedback to students during the learning process is essential to a healthy and productive learning experience. Formal grade reports are issued at the end of each trimester.
Students will receive feedback in two major areas: (1) Content Standards and (2) Learning Skills. The Content Standards feedback provides information on the student's progress on meeting content area curriculum standards addressed by each department. Learning Skills feedback gives information on the student's progress on acquiring skills important for life-long learning that we strive to foster and help develop in our students.
The structure of feedback for the end-of-term reports include these components…
- All Blake classes will utilize a 1-4 scale for the priority standards to report a finer-grained level of understanding.
- 7th and 8th grade students will receive a single end-of-term letter grade for Math, Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and World Languages based on their work throughout the term. This grade will align to the following format: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, Does Not Meet Standard.**
- Feedback on the Learning Skills is based on the frequency of observation by teachers
** Here is a link to the ‘summation models’, outlining the composite mapping of how the summation of the priority standards establish the letter grades for grades 7 and 8…
Summation Models - 2022-2023 School Year
** This structure reflects the adaptations that have been made based on the recommendations from Dr. Christine Power’s 'Analysis of Standards-Based Reporting Assessment Practices' (Spring, 2021). Adaptations were made in consultation with Dr. Nathaniel Brown, Associate Research Professor of Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment at Boston College's Lynch School of Education. Dr. Brown is a leading expert in assessment and evaluation and he has provided professional development for our staff.
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. We encourage all Blake families to check out the resources within the site…
Blake's Student Feedback and Family Information Portal
Our overarching goal remains to continue steadfast efforts to provide meaningful, actionable, learner-centered feedback for all of our learners.
Book Discussion Group for Parents for 2022-2023
Over the last few years the Blake Site Council has read several books and we will continue this practice during the 2022-2023 school year. Stay tuned for more information and we hope you can join in these discussions - all caregivers are invited and welcome!
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.
Look for purple ribbons, representing the colors of Suicide Prevention, around town center. These ribbons will contain tags with QR codes that lead to a resource page. Medfield is fortunate to have so many businesses that support suicide prevention; many of these businesses will demonstrate that support by displaying purple lights in their windows and entrances during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Driving through Medfield on a September evening will leave you with a sense of togetherness and support as you notice purple ribbons and lights up in the center of town.
Let’s join together as a community by wearing purple on Friday, September 9th as a demonstration of support to all those who have struggled or continue to struggle with mental health. Collective action symbolizes that we are stronger together, help is available, and one is NOT alone. Encourage your child to wear purple to school that day as well! It’s never too early to begin talking about the mind-body connection and health.
A Yoga on the Turf event will be offered on Sunday, September 19th at 12:30pm on the Medfield High School turf. Tracey Buckley of Medfield Yoga Studio graciously donates her time and talents annually to lead this outdoor yoga class, where participants focus on being present and focused. This event honors the mind-body connection and allows residents to connect with themselves and with the community in order to enhance wellbeing.
Medfield Outreach staff are now certified QPR trainers. QPR is a Suicide Prevention Training that teaches people to recognize the warning signs of suicidal thinking and behavior, and trains individuals to question, persuade, and refer those at risk for help. If you have an interest in becoming trained or hosting a training for a group of friends, neighbors, or co-workers in the community, please reach out to [email protected] to check availability.
The Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention was created in September 2017 and is composed of community members and professionals who care about mental health. Recognizing that suicide has touched our town, the coalition came together to form an initiative that raises awareness and has the potential to save lives. Our mission is to promote the mental health and emotional wellbeing of all community members, raise awareness, reduce stigma, and educate our community to help end suicide. Our vision is to build a community where suicide, self-harm, and stigma have been replaced by hope, self-care, and acceptance.
The coalition is open to all community members! Learn more on our website at https://www.medfieldcsp.org/ or email us at [email protected] for the monthly meeting schedule.
Message from SEPAC
The first SEPAC meeting will be Tuesday, September 27th at 7pm via zoom. Join us! All are welcome! Contact [email protected] to join the listserv to receive updated emails from us including meeting agendas, surveys, events and more.
Message from MCPE(Medfield Coalition for Public Education)Mark your calendars!
Come celebrate a Night Under the Stars, presented by MCPE on November 5th, 2022. The biannual Fall Ball is back, celebrating 35 years of innovative programs, curriculum, and enrichment. Join us at Gillette Stadium to dance, socialize, and raise money for our beloved Medfield Schools. Tickets go on sale September 25th. Be sure to stop by the MCPE booth during Medfield Day for a chance to win tickets before they go on sale!
Message from Medfield Music Association
Welcome back to school from the
Medfield Music Association!
Swing by our Medfield Day Booth on
Saturday, September 24
10am-4pm
♪ Enjoy live entertainment from MHS music students 11am -2 pm ♪
♪ Purchase a raffle ticket to win, Maestro, the giant stuffed bear! ♪
♪ Learn more about our mission to support K-12 music education in Medfield ♪
Questions? Send inquiries to:
[email protected]
How to Have Difficult Conversations (with Respect and Understanding)
Wednesday, October 12 7:00-8:30 p.m.
For parents, caregivers, educators, and community members of all ages
In this small group interactive program, SPARK Founder and Executive Director Christine Guthery will share: (1) the reasons why courageous conversations are important; (2) why they are challenging; and (3) the tools, strengths (and super powers) that allow us to manage them successfully.
This program will focus on practical strategies and how to harness our strengths to have conversations that matter at work, at home, and in the community! Feel free to share scenarios that you would like to address in your registration form.
(Limit 30 registrants)
ASL Interpretation will be provided at this event.
Changing the Game with John O'Sullivan
Thursday, October 27 7:00-8:00 p.m.
For youth sport coaches at all levels of play, parents and caregivers of active kids. Young people involved in youth sports and teen athletes are also welcome to attend.
John O'Sullivan, internationally known bestselling author, speaker and podcast host, will offer strategies to promote a positive and character-building sports experience for young people. Youth sports should be focused on learning sport-specific skills, as well as helping kids get the most out of their sports experience, all while growing as a person, learning life lessons, and having fun.
Registrants are invited to also sign up for a special Post-Program Discussion with John O’Sullivan - here
Space is limited, so sign up now if you would like to join John O’Sullivan and fellow youth sport coaches/sports leaders immediately after the program to go deeper into some of the topics and content presented in “Changing the Game”. Bring your questions and ideas for this interactive discussion.