12/20 - #MedfieldPS Chat (see details below)
12/22 - 6th Grade Movie (see details below)
12/23 - 1/2 Day for Students
12/24-1/2 - No School
1/1 - Happy New Year!
1/3 - School Resumes
1/9 - Blake Site Council Meeting (3:30 p.m.)
1/16 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Blake Day of Service
1/19 - Blake PTO Meeting
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about improving and enhancing the 'learning organization' of Blake Middle School, our topic/question for the dinner table is: How do/can you contribute to the culture of learning at Blake?
Tangible Learning (12/18/16) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 1 Report Cards
All outstanding Term 1 report card signature sheets should be turned into advisors.
Christmas in the City Recap
Last Friday our eighth grade students took a field trip into Boston to help set up Boston's Christmas in the City festivities for homeless families. Many thanks to the Blake PTO for covering the cost of transportation for this trip! I encourage you to check out the links below about the event...
Children Are Stars At ‘Christmas In The City’
Joy to the world at Christmas in the City
Message for 8th Grade Students and Families
Please send an email to Mrs. Dondero ([email protected]) if you are interested in applying to the Norfolk Aggie or Tri County. Tri County will be setting up interviews for prospective students. The interviews will happen during the school day at Blake (Date and times to be announced). Mrs. Dondero will set up individual meetings with students who are interested in applying to go over the applications and to help prepare those who will be interviewed by Tri County.
Blake Ledger Update
The Blake Ledger has been updated - check it out!
Blake Ledger
Yearbooks Sales Update
Yearbook Sales have been extended until this Wednesday, December 21. The Yearbook costs $30. Checks should be made out to "Blake Middle School". Submit orders to Mrs. Boulos or Mrs. Batts. Please order today because books ARE NOT available to order in June.
MHS Alumni Visit Blake
This Wednesday, 12/21 during 8th grade science classes, students will hear talks from Medfield graduates who are majoring in or working in the field of STEM. Twelve recent graduates have volunteered to come to Blake and talk on topics including computer science, medicine and chemistry. We are excited at the opportunity for our students to listen to and learn from these graduates. Special thanks to Orla Berry for her help organizing these visits!
8th Grade AMC Contest The 8th Grade American Mathematics Contest (AMC 8) is a multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills and sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. The contest is held yearly in November. Students from all over the country participate in this contest both individually and on a school-wide basis. This year, 67 of our 8th grade Blake students elected to participate in the exam. We are proud of all students who participated. The following students have earned special recognition for their top performance within Blake Middle School:
- Ajay Anisetti, First Place School Winner, Honor Roll Certificate Recipient: Scored in the top 5% Nationally
- Edward Liu Second Place School Winner
- Benjamin O’Neil, Second Place School Winner
- Sarah Churchill, Third Place School Winner
- Tristan Marble, Third Place School Winner
Community Service Club Information - Coat Drive
The Community Service Club of Blake is holding its annual coat drive at Blake beginning Monday, December 12. The drive will conclude on Friday January 6. Please donate new or gently used WINTER coats. The donation box can be found at the front of the school starting on the 12th. All coats that are donated will be delivered to Medfield's Anton Cleaners who sponsors the drive.
The sixth grade is hosting a movie matinee for all sixth grade students on Thursday, December 22 after school from 2:15-4:30. The cost of admission is $2. All proceeds are donated to World Connect, a world-wide organization focused on community driven projects. As part of the sixth grade curriculum on Poverty, sixth grade students will learn more about the organization and its mission come early spring when students will grow tomato plants as a way of experiencing the demands that international poverty has on communities across the globe. More information is to come during the new year.
#MedfieldPS Twitter Chats
As a way to bring the five schools together (staff and administration), we have been holding monthly Twitter chats for #MedfieldPS. The focus of these chats are pertinent topics in education, initiatives, and ideas to collaborate around and share. Our December chat will take place tonight (Tuesday, 12/20) at 8 p.m. We welcome you to join the chat!
Blake Community Blood Drive
This month we are kicking of our annual Martin Luther King Jr. blood drive. Currently we are putting together a committee of students who will work to promote, organize and then run the blood drive. Please consider donating blood, or if you cannot, help find another who may be able to. It is important this blood drive receive high support from the community for us to continue to hold it on a holiday. Hosted by the American Red Cross this blood drive offers an incredible opportunity, so please come out, and donate blood. The drive will be held in the middle school gym Monday, January 16th, from 9am to 2pm.
Blake Winter Intramurals
Our winter intramurals begin in the new year - if you have any questions, please contact Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
2nd Annual Blake Science Fair - Friday, March 10 - Save the Date!
Have fun with friends while learning and doing science! More information will follow immediately after winter break!
Reminder for all Blake Students and Families
This is a reminder that as a school we will not be orchestrating 'Secret Santa' type activities for students in which gifts are being purchased and/or given. For a number of reasons, school is not the proper forum for the exchange of gifts, and we appreciate your understanding and support.
Lost and Found Items
The number of items in our Lost and Found has increased. Please remind students to come take a look, as there are a number of items that are unlabeled that have been collected. We will be clearing out the Lost and Found during the winter vacation.
Blake Theater Update
Things are cooking in Blake Theater land. Our largest group of students to date is working hard on our two winter shows - Yearbook and It's a Sign. Both will be performed January 27-29. Ticket information is coming soon. In the meantime, we are looking for a letterman jacket and 2 tricycles to borrow for these performances. Please let me know if you are willing to let us work with these items from now until the end of January. Theater families - if you are not receiving my weekly updates, please let Tracy Allen know.
Jazz Winterfest
Don’t miss the FREE Jazz Winterfest on Tuesday, December 20 featuring the talented musicians of the MHS Lab Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Jazz Band -- and even our own Music Director Doug Olsen joining in on trumpet with the guest salsa band “Latin Logic”. The concert begins at 7:00 pm in the MHS Lowell Mason Auditorium. Funding for Latin Logic Band provided by Medfield Music Association.
Book Discussion Group for Parents
The next Blake Site Council/Blake community book will be The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children by Alison Gopnik. Stay tuned for more information!
Message from Blake PTO
GRANT FUNDED
$1800 to the World Language Team for the Grupo Fantasia…a Latin-American and Caribbean dance group for an “in-school” field trip.
BLAKE TEACHER & STAFF THANK YOU FUND
Has a teacher or staff member at Blake done something special for your child? Something above and beyond what is expected? Or do you simply want to just say thank you for all you do each and every day? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! Anyone may contribute a financial gift to a teacher or staff member at any time. The teacher/staff member can use these funds to purchase books, apps, games, supplies and other items for their classroom as needed. This is a great way to say thank you and give your child’s teacher a little extra something that will benefit both the teacher and the children in their class. This is all you have to do:
1. Write a check made payable to BLAKE PTO with a note in the memo line (or separate note) indicating which teacher’s or staff member’s fund you are contributing to (one check can be distributed to multiple funds).
2. Send the check (and note for the recipient if you would like) to school in an envelope with your child and include Erika Clarke, Blake PTO Treasurer on the envelope.
A note and certificate will be sent on your behalf to the teacher/staff member letting them know that you have contributed to their fund. Please contact Kim Price mailto:[email protected] with any questions.
DON’T MISS OUR POSTS SENT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
Like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO, follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/MedfieldK8PTO and for more info check out http://www.medfieldk8pto.com.
Message from MCPE
Give the gift of appreciation this holiday season by giving your child's teachers the tools they need to innovate! Make a tax deductible Blue Ribbon Donation in any amount to the MCPE, and your designated teacher or staff member receives a personalized note acknowledging your appreciation of their skill and dedication. Blue Ribbon donations may be made throughout the year, but the deadline for delivery by Winter Break is Wednesday, December 21. http://www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/blue-ribbon-program/