9/21 - Blake Site Council - 3:30 p.m.
SEPAC Meeting - 7:00 p.m. (see info below)
9/22 - Blake Student Council
9/23 - Blake GSA Meeting (see info below)
9/26 - Yoga on the Turf (see info below)
9/27 - Blake Battles Bias (see info below)
9/29 - Blake Student Council
DEI Task Force Meeting
My Ascension Documentary Screening - 7 p.m. (see info below)
10/7 - School Committee Meeting
10/11 - No School
10/29 - Half-Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
Question of the Week
To encourage dialogue and reflection about staying present and ‘in the moment’, our question for the week is: What strategies do you use to help you stay in the present (to help avoid worrying or thinking about the future)? Addressing Present Needs (Week of 9/19/21) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
E-mail Sent to Blake Families (9/20/21)
September 20, 2021
Dear Blake Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed a nice weekend. This morning Mrs. Campbell and I met with each grade to express our concerns about recent vandalism that has been taking place in our student bathrooms and hallways, i.e. soap dispensers have been emptied (soap poured on urinals and walls), soap dispensers ripped off of the walls, hand sanitizer stands damaged in the hallways, trash liners removed and thrown into toilets. We believe that this trend of poor decision making and destruction has been inspired by the 'tik tok challenge' of 'devious licks' that has been impacting schools both locally and across our country (Students Are Damaging School Bathrooms For Attention On TikTok).
When we met with students today, our message was one of a shared community and the importance of choosing to lean on our core values of respect, responsibility, resourcefulness, and reflection. Blake Middle School is their school and our students share in the responsibility for caring and looking after our learning environment. Our custodial staff, led by Mr. Matt Frazier, cares deeply about our students and school and these careless acts have put an undue burden on their shoulders. I also shared with our students that our resources are funded by the community's tax dollars, and depleting these funds by replacing and addressing these damages has a negative impact on our educational priorities.
As you most likely have seen on the news and social media, this trend is not unique to Blake/Medfield and we fully recognize (and shared with our students today) that the 'lion's share' of our student body are making good choices and are not a part of these incidents. We impressed upon our students the importance of speaking up and 'doing the right thing, even when no one is watching' (C.S. Lewis). We will continue to be diligent in monitoring student bathrooms and hallways and will be following up on some reports we have heard from students this week.
My colleague and principal of Wayland Middle School, Betsy Gavron, shared this recent article from the Wall Street Journal, about the potential toxicity of Instagram/Social Media on teenage mental health, and it is a worthwhile read for all caregivers of middle schoolers. It was an impactful read for me as both a parent and educator of adolescents.
For those families with students who are biking to and from school (or just around town), please continue to have conversations about wearing helmets, coming to a complete stop at stop signs/intersections, and looking both ways. Bikers should remain on sidewalks at all times while on campus - we have heard concerns from community members both on and off campus and we are concerned for the safety of our students.
Thank you for your shared partnership and I ask that you have conversations tonight with your students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for walking this path with us as a community.
Take care.
Nat
Update from Blake Library
The Blake Library is now open (most days) after school Mon-Thurs. After school expectations: The library closes at 2:45 PM, so please be prepared with a transportation plan for when the library closes. (The library is closed on Fridays…). Masks must be worn the whole time while you are in the library. No snacks inside the library… *you may eat outside if you need a snack.* Once you come into the library, you need to stay... no roaming in the hallways or coming and going. Make sure you are aware of other people’s space-- especially on the red furniture. Students use the library to complete homework, so please be aware of your volume when talking. Please remember that staying after school in the library is a privilege, so appropriate behavior is expected. Thank you! Questions? contact Mrs. Cowell [email protected]
LMC will not be open on Blake Faculty meeting days: 9/21, 10/19, 11/23, 12/21, 2/1, 3/8, 4/5, 5/10, 6/7
Back-to-School Resources from DESE
The Department has a new, family-friendly back-to-school page that answers basic questions about the 2021-2022 school year. Please share this link with your community. Other back-to-school resources from DESE include a letter from Commissioner Riley and a back-to-school public service announcement (in English and Spanish) that can be shared with staff, parents, and the community about the upcoming school year. The Department would like to thank Somerville Public Schools and particularly the staff and students of Albert F. Argenziano School for their help with the PSA!
Message from Medfield Nurses
The nurses are thrilled to welcome back our students! We just want to share a few updates from the spring.
*VERY IMPORTANT: Please complete the Student Emergency Health Form. This electronic form replaces the former blue paper emergency sheet.
The new protocols are attached but here are a few highlights:
1. The list of potential COVID 19 symptoms, which we ask that you assess your children for each day before sending them to school, now looks at combinations of symptoms requiring testing. For example, a sore throat alone no longer requires testing but a sore throat in combination with a stuffy nose or cough would require a test. There are also fewer symptoms that require a test if the individual is vaccinated.
2. Individuals who are fully vaccinated may still be identified as close contacts (defined as within 6' for greater than 15 minutes while indoors) to a person testing positive for COVID 19 so that they are aware to get a test if they develop symptoms but are not required to test or quarantine if asymptomatic.
3.Unvaccinated individuals who are identified as close contacts at school may continue to come to school as long as they wear a mask and test negative each school day for 5 days. Antigen Rapid Testing will be provided at school with parent permission. This Test and Stay Program does not apply to close contacts identified outside of school.
4. To adequately space students while they have their masks off while eating, students will be eating in additional areas besides the cafeteria, sometimes further away from the nurse and Epinephrine medications. We ask that parents continue to be mindful of not sending Nuts/Peanuts/Peanutbutter into school. Please let the school nurse know if that is an issue for your child.
5. If your child has an allergy to or is unable to use hand sanitizer, please let the school nurse know.
6. Consent for Pooled testing has been sent home to families.
COVID by the Numbers
Blake Battles Bias Update
The next meeting of Blake Battles Bias will take place in Ms. Thress' Room, Room 505, on Monday, September 27th from 2:15-3:00. Come join us for some great discussions and leadership opportunities!
Blake GSA Update
Attention all Blakers! The Blake GSA will begin meeting on Thursday, September 23rd at 2:15 in Mrs. Malone's room (room 502). The GSA will meet on Thursdays moving forward at 2:15. Our meetings will run from 2:15-2:45. Please reach out to Mrs. Dondero or Mrs. Malone with any questions. We hope to see you there!
Early Dismissal Procedures - Reminder
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
Blake’s Virtual Information Night
Similar to last year, our Information Nights will be structured and shared via a virtual, asynchronous format with recordings/videos of presentations from staff shared with families and posted on the Blake Website. Although it is certainly not the same as seeing Blake families in person, we hope that you find this information/format meaningful and helpful. Our hope is to have these videos/presentations available by the end of the month. Stay tuned for more information!
Theme of Imagination for 2021-2022
Our theme for the next academic year at Blake is one of Imagination. We believe that this theme will extend the work we have done over the last seven years with our themes of Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, Collaboration, Empathy, Diversity, Happiness, 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 e-mail me ([email protected]) or Kelly C. ([email protected]).
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. - Albert Einstein
Creativity doesn’t happen without day dreaming. - Lin Manuel-Miranda
Demanding proof stalls creativity. New ideas need room to breathe, and a good imagination will always be ahead of the best evidence. - Adam Grant
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 Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
From Medfield’s Coalition for Suicide Prevention and Medfield Outreach
Wednesday, 9/29 at 7 p.m.
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 7:00 pm
WHERE:
Medfield High School Auditorium
WHAT/WHY:
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In order to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of talking about mental health and suicide, the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP), a Medfield Foundation initiative, is hosting a screening of the film "My Ascension", which documents the true story of a young woman who survived a suicide attempt. A panel discussion of mental health professionals will follow the film.
SYNOPSIS:
A suicide attempt left 16-year-old varsity cheerleader, Emma Benoit, paralyzed, but propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience to help others find hope and shine more light on the fact that 20 young people die every day by suicide in the in the United States. My Ascension is a feature-length documentary that chronicles Emma's inspiring journey and quest to walk again, as she works to bring Hope Squad, a school-based suicide prevention program, to Louisiana. The film also highlights the stories of two remarkable young people who tragically did not survive their attempts, and we learn first-hand from their families, friends, school
officials, and suicide prevention experts about the devastating effects of suicide and what can be done to prevent it.
COST:
We kindly request donations to MCSP (see donation links below) if resources permit. No one will be denied participation based on inability to donate.
Questions?
Contact Medfield Outreach at [email protected] or at (508) 359-7121
For more information about the event and the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, please visit https://www.medfieldcsp.org/
Yoga on the Turf
9/26 at 12 p.m.
When: Sunday, September 26, 12 pm to 1 pm
What: As part of Suicide Prevention Month, we are offering a FREE Yoga on the Turf class on Sunday, September 26th! Tracy Buckley from Medfield Yoga Studio will lead an hour-long class outside at the Medfield High School turf. Come join us and nurture your mental and physical health!
All ages and levels are welcome. Please bring your own yoga mat and towel.
Challenge Success Update
Challenge Success Medfield Parent Group is working on identifying initiatives for the 2021-2022 school year across all grade levels (PreK-12). If you have an idea or you are interested in being on one of the planning or implementation committees, please reach out to Eric Baacke (HS), Kristen Careau (MS and upper elementary), and Nicole Hall (lower elementary). Challenge Success is always open to new ideas and new faces!
Medfield Outreach
Medfield Outreach is available for consultation appointments. E-mail [email protected] to sign up for a free confidential specific time slot via telehealth.
Webinars of Interest
Gender Equity in Education
Tuesday, 9/28 at 3 p.m.
Addressing gender equity in today's schools is crucial in preparing students for the next iteration of the workforce. Broaching the topic of gender equity in schools today helps to ensure that workplaces foster more gender diversity in their settings tomorrow, regardless of career field. Equity focuses on the opportunity and fairness that exists in environments. When we talk about gender equity in schools, we're talking about empowering our students to find and pursue their interests, even if those interests lie in fields where their gender has been marginalized. A simple look at the current workforce trends in sectors such as technology, finance, and medicine provides us with some insight into the gender equity issues in those fields.
Equity is about more than just representation. In this webinar, we take it one step deeper to investigate ways to move from representation to actual gender inclusion in our learning environments. Are we ensuring that our girls are empowered to explore industries and subjects that have traditionally been led by males? Are we honoring our nonbinary students?
How to Navigate Re-entry Stress
Hosted by SPARK Kindness
Wednesday, 10/20 at 7 p.m.
During the pandemic, many families delighted in a slower, more intentional way of life and are now overwhelmed by the demands and pressures of re-entry. Author (Minimalist Parenting) + podcaster (Edit Your Life) Christine Koh will share practical advice for how to navigate re-entry stress, including tactics to manage calendar creep, maintain boundaries, protect time for yourself and with your family, and continue to tap into the things you and your family truly care about.
About our Presenter
Christine Koh is a music and brain scientist turned multimedia creative. She is a fierce believer in the power of humans, small moments and actions, and vulnerable, authentic storytelling. She communicates on these beliefs through her work as a writer (she is a regular contributor at the Washington Post, Boston Globe Magazine, and CNN; co-author of Minimalist Parenting; and founder of the award-winning blog Boston Mamas), podcaster (Edit Your Life, Hello Relationships), designer (Brave New World Designs), and creative director (Geben Communication). You can find her at @drchristinekoh on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
SEPAC Update
Medfield's Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC) is hosting their next meeting on Tuesday, September 21st at 7pm via Zoom. We will welcome the district's Education Team Leaders Meg Nelson, Nancy Giammarco, Mary Salamone, Peg Szostak and Marcia Berkowitz, Meredith Becker our Out of District/Transition Program Coordinator and Ann Buckley, Medfield's PreK-12 Special Education Leader. Parents will have a chance to participate in a Q&A. All are invited and we hope you can join us. This is a great opportunity for you to get involved!
Join Zoom Meeting https://medfield-net.zoom.us/j/88612729259?pwd=bC84OTBFcittdlBYUVloM0FkSjdmQT09
Meeting ID: 886 1272 9259
Passcode: sepac921
Blake PTO Update
Please join us as we kick off our 2021-2022 school year at Blake! As part of the Hospitality Committee, we will be hosting several staff and Student Appreciation events this year. One of the recurring events we will host is a snack table for our wonderful faculty at Blake this year as we have done in the previous year…
Blake PTO Sign-Up Genius Form
MCPE Update
Come visit MCPE at Booth #68 on Medfield Day! Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 9am-3pm.