9/4 - Grade 8 Trip Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 8 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/5 - Grade 6 Music Ensemble Info Sessions (6 p.m.)
Grade 6 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/6 - Blake Theater Meeting (see info below)
9/11 - One-Day Food Drive (see info below)
9/12 - Blake Picture Day
Grade 7 Nature’s Classroom Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 7 Parent Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/19 - School Committee Meeting
9/30 - Rosh Hashanah - No School
10/9 - Yom Kippur - No School
10/14 - Columbus Day - No School
10/15 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
10/21 - Blake Picture Retake Day
10/22-10/25 - Nature’s Classroom for 7th Grade
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about learning together as a community, our topic/question for the dinner table is: What are you hoping to learn this year? Planting Seeds for Learning (Week of 9/2/19) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake Parent/Guardian Information Nights for Fall 2019
9/4 - Grade 8 Trip Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 8 Parent/Guardian Information Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/5 - Grade 6 Music Ensemble Info Sessions (6 p.m.)
Grade 6 Parent/Guardian Information Night (6:30 p.m.)
9/12 - Grade 7 Nature's Classroom Info Session (6 p.m.)
Grade 7 Parent/Guardian Night (6:30 p.m.)
Mobile Learning Update
In our continued effort to support families with the integration of technology, I am sharing a link to a 'customizable device contract' from Common Sense Media...
Tablet Family Contract
As noted at the top of the front page of this link, it is important to talk with your children about how the device will be used at home. The suggested guidelines will help assure open and consistent communication so that you are 'on the same page'. The form is customizable to allow for variances in approaches from family to family. We are strongly encouraging all Blake families to take the time to fill out this contract, post it in a 'public' location in your house (i.e. refrigerator), and keep a copy in a secure location. Starting off the year with clear guidelines and 'house rules' will be the first step to a productive and successful experience. Should issues arise throughout the year, it will serve as a solid reference point for resolutions.
Theme of Courage for 2019-2020
Our theme for this academic year at Blake is one of Courage. 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, and Happiness. 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]).
Advisory Update for Blake
Throughout the year in advisory, students will participate in a wide variety of activities focusing on team-building, mindfulness, stress management, and organizational strategies. These activities are meant to help foster a sense of community within advisories and to provide students with strategies to help them feel confident and prepared to succeed in school. In addition to having fun and building relationships with their advisory peers, students will learn and practice different study and time management strategies, set academic and personal goals, and learn strategies to calm down when they feel overwhelmed or anxious.
Advisors will have the ability to choose from many resources to accomplish team-building, mindfulness, stress management, and organizational goals. The development of this website (https://medfieldprojecthap.wixsite.com/wednesdayadvisory) and many resources came from feedback from teachers, students, and parents last year.
This year there will also be some changes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our SSR program is now expanding from solely giving students the option to read to have other options for finding some time to unwind - it is now SSA (Sustained Silent Activities). Students and their advisors will come up with some ideas to share. Some options may include: reading, drawing, puzzles, crafts, etc. The practice of down time is one that we want all of our students to embrace and develop - we look forward to seeing how this change evolves for our community. We encourage you to check out the Advisory website to stay apprised and connected with what is taking place at Blake!
Blake Wednesday Advisory Website
Arts in Education Week
Next week (9/8-9/14) 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
A Message from Blake Student Council
It is almost time for Student Council Elections as the new school year is upon us!! Elections will be held the week of September 16th. If students are interested, they will hear more in advisory! Here are some DETAILS:
-Mandatory WEDNESDAY meetings from 2:10 – 3:00
-Leadership role in the grade – behavior, conduct, academics, etc.
-Peer role model in advisory
-Volunteer time for school and community
-Help encourage spirit days
-Keep notes, distribute, and post information to advisory students
From MA DESE…
Back-to-School Basics: A brief video for parents on how the state and districts work together to support teaching and learning. The video transcript is available in Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Eighth Grade Canoe and Swim Test Information
As part of the eighth grade Charles River Community Awareness Unit offered in the fall, each eighth grade student is required to pass a swimming test during the summer. Each student is required to tread water for five minutes and swim a distance of seventy-five yards. A qualified swim instructor is required to administer the test and sign the form: Swim Test Form. Completed swim tests may be dropped off at the main office of Blake. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. The Charles River Community Awareness Unit is an exciting way for students to begin their eighth grade experience! (FYI: In the past, students have been certified at Hinkley Pond, YMCA and local swim clubs.)
Media Notification
In order to promote some of the exciting programs and events in the Medfield Public Schools, we plan to continue the use of student photos on our district/school websites, teacher websites, blogs, and district approved Twitter accounts. In addition, there are times when we will have coverage in the local newspaper or on local TV. Please let Nat Vaughn know by Friday, September 6 if you DO NOT want your child’s photo or name to appear in the media. Please note, your child’s image or name may still appear within the school for classroom projects, hallway postings, in-school presentations, newsletters, yearbooks, and other in-school media. Please contact Nat Vaughn if you have any additional questions.
Safety Reminder for All Blake Families
Bike Safety Reminders-- We are noticing that students are riding through the middle of the bus circles amongst cars and ask that you remind your child that students should only be walking bikes on sidewalks and use the crosswalks when on bikes. We are also noticing a number of students with no helmets or with helmets on but not buckled. We will continue to remind students but any help with that message from home would be great. It's great to see so many kids on bikes and we want to ensure that everyone is safe.
Social Emotional Learning Resource for All Families
I want to remind you about our website that comes from the Office of Social/Emotional Learning (www.medfieldsel.com). Included in the website is information regarding our current list of mental health resources, information about our RISE Transition Program, and a lot of information about Social/Emotional Learning. In addition, in our “In The News” tab, you will find articles that we feel may be of interest, including current trends that may affect our kids. Check back often, as there are new things to read all the time. The “Communication” tab will bring you to letters that this office has sent out during the course of the school year, so if you want to refer back, it is easy to find. Medfield Public Schools is taking the commitment to Social/Emotional Learning very seriously, so check out the site, browse around, and use it as a way to ignite conversation with your kids. - Dr. Dave Worthley (@DrWorthley)
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.net and find applications under the tab "employment opportunities", the. Professional Staff Openings. Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
Substitute Nurses
As with our teaching positions, from time to time our nurse, Tricia Williams, will be out of the building and we need a substitute nurse for these days. We are fortunate that we have several substitute nurses in the district who are able to work on those days. If you are a registered nurse and have an interest in potentially serving as a substitute throughout the year, please let us know. You can contact me ([email protected]) or Tricia Williams ([email protected]). By the same token, if you have friends in the area who would have an interest in serving as a substitute, please let them know that they can contact us as well. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we would appreciate your interest in one of these roles.
Blake Site Council Book Discussion Group
Over the last two years the Blake Site Council has read several books and we will continue this practice during the 2019-2020 school year. Stay tuned for more information and we hope you can join in these discussions!
Recognition of September 11
September 11, 2019 will mark the eighteenth anniversary of the tragic events that transpired on September 11, 2001. To help commemorate all those who were affected by the events that took place, we are encouraging everyone, in an appropriate and respectful manner, to wear the colors of red, white, and blue on Wednesday, September 11. One of the lessons we were all reminded of eighteen years ago was the importance of community and looking out for one another. In that spirit, and to continue a tradition started seven years ago, Blake will be helping its own Medfield community by holding a one day collection for the Medfield Food Cupboard. More details regarding specific needs will be shared as we get closer to the date. Donations will be collected in the guidance office on Wednesday, September 11.
Twitter Accounts (@nat_vaughn, @blakeoffice) and Blake/Medfield Hashtags (#bmsed, #MedfieldPS, #MedfieldPLN)
We have established the hashtag (#bmsed) for education-related tweets of interest and Blake events and #MedfieldPS and #MedfieldPLN for Medfield Public Schools and Professional Learning related tweets, so be sure to check them out! My account is @nat_vaughn and the Blake account is @blakeoffice, and we will continue to tweet up-to-date information, Blake happenings, links to sites, and articles of interest on a daily or more frequent basis.
Blake Theater Information
Blake's Theater program starts this Friday with a meeting on 9/6 for people interested in hearing more about our plans for the year. Students who had been involved with theater in the past need not come unless they have questions. All interested participants must fill out this form - https://forms.gle/zrum4xtEDdshwy7E7 - before Monday, 9/9. Contact Ms. Allen with any questions.
Recess Donations
This year we are continuing with recess as part of our Advisory structure. A great deal of research evidence shows that students are more productive and intellectually engaged when a physical and or mental 'break' is provided in the middle of the day. We are looking for donations from families to provide options for students during this time: frisbees, wiffle balls/bats, kickballs, tennis balls, single and double jump ropes, volleyballs, foam footballs, soccer balls, and hula hoops. If you have done some 'fall cleaning' and have extra items that could be donated, have students drop them off in the main office. Thank you in advance for your help.
Message from Medfield HS Music Department
The Medfield High School Music Department will be holding a mattress fundraiser next fall on Sunday, September 22nd. Today, I'll be visiting each school to put a flyer in your mailbox with some information on the sale. These flyers are simply to let everyone know that the sale is happening and that if you'd be looking to purchase a mattress in the next few months, you may want to hold off to take advantage of our sale to save some money and support our students. The athletic department held this sale several years ago and raised over $7,000 to help fund its new sound system for the high school gym. The proceeds from this sale will provide financial aid for students attending our Music Department Trip next year and help fund a major purchases for our String and Choral Programs. If you have any questions about the sale, don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks!
Mr. Jason Bielik, K-12 Director of Music
Message from MCPE
MCPE is excited to welcome everyone back! The Medfield Coalition of Public Education funds system-wide support and academic enrichment for the Medfield Public Schools with particular attention to academic needs that exceed the parameters of the school budget. Our first event of the year will be our first ever Fall Fest on November 15th at the Boylston Shul Vernin German American Club in Walpole. There will be great food, music and an auction! Stay tuned for more details. Visit medfieldcoalition.org to see what we’ve funded recently and opportunities to get involved!
Message from MMA (Medfield Music Association)
We hope you can join us for the MMA Kickoff Event on Tuesday, 9/17, 7pm at the Zullo Gallery. Also, on Sunday, 9/22 the Music Department is hosting a Mattress Sale fundraiser from 10-5 in the MHS gym to help offset Music Trip costs. Come check it out!
Blake PTO Update
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook (Medfield K-8 PTO) and follow us on Twitter (@MedfieldK8PTO). And for more information and calendar of events, please check out our website medfieldk8pto.com