4/12 - Project Moves (see details below)
4/14 - 7th Grade Trout Release
4/15 - Day of Silence (see details below)
7th Grade Bingo
4/18-4/22 - April Vacation
4/25 - 'This World Music' Assembly & Drumming Workshop (Grade 6)
4/27-4/29 - Grade 8 Math PARCC
5/2-5/4 - Grade 6 ELA PARCC
5/5-5/6 - Grade 7 ELA PARCC
5/6 - Grade 6 Science Field Trip
Term 3 Interim Reports go home
5/9 - Grade 7 ELA PARCC
5/10 - Grade 7 Math PARCC
Grade 8 ELA PARCC
Grade 6 Science Field Trip Rain Date
5/11 - Grade 8 ELA PARCC
5/12 - Grade 8 ELA PARCC
5/16 - Grade 7 Math PARCC
Grade 8 Sci/Tech/Eng MCAS
Final Payment due for Nature's Classroom 2016
5/17 - Grade 7 Math PARCC
Grade 8 Sci/Tech/Eng MCAS
5/18-5/20 - Grade 6 Math PARCC
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about fostering a meaningful culture of learning at Blake, this week's topic/question for the dinner table is: If you found yourself with 30 minutes of unexpected free time, what would you do with it? Please see link to Google Form to share your responses: A Culture of Learning (4/10/16) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Project Moves returns to Medfield with a new show - Tuesday, April 12 @ 7 p.m. at Medfield High School
With the generosity of MCPE, Project Moves, a dance company comprised of young people bringing a powerful message of inclusion, returns to Medfield with an exciting new show! If you missed the sold out show 4 years ago, here is a chance to be part of this impactful experience. "Peace requires everyone to be in the circle, wholeness and inclusion." A show for our times, "Symphony" shows us by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all, even the weak become strong when we are united as one. A cast of more than sixty pre-professional dancers along with a team of extraordinary choreographers and directors will send your heart sailing with optimism. You'll leave the theater holding your head a little higher, inspired to make the world a better place. For more information about Project Moves and their mission, please visit their website - projectmoves.org
Tickets are free and will be available online beginning March 1st. One hundred fifty additional tickets will be reserved for distribution at the door on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve online, please go to projectmovesmedfield.brownpapertickets.com.
Blake Variety Show
Students can sign up today to participate in the Blake Variety Show on 4/29! If you have an act such as singing, dancing, poetry, stunts, instrument playing, karate, lip sync, acting, movies, magic etc. sign up for the BMS Variety Show right here! Before you sign up, be sure you can attend: Make sure you can attend ALL of these events. These include:
Preview of all the acts- April 13th from 2:15-5:30
Run through- April 26th 2:15-5:30
Performance- April 29th from 7:00-9:00
Students received an email with a Google form that invites them to sign up.
Term 2 Report Cards
All outstanding report card should be turned into advisors.
Course Selection Forms
Reminder to all 6th and 7th grade parents that course selection forms for the 2016-2017 academic year need to be turned in asap.
Day of Silence
Friday, April 15 is the Day of Silence, ( www.dayofsilence.org), a national day of protest regarding anti-gay language and bullying. Students take a vow of silence for the duration of the school day to raise awareness of the voices we do not hear during the day: those students who "remain silent" about their identity for fear of bullying or harassment. Some students and staff at Blake will be participating and recognizing this day. Students and staff may also be wearing Supporter badges and signing a pledge...
By signing this pledge you are committing to doing your part to stop anti-LGBT language and teasing in our school. When it is safe to do so, you will intervene by saying to the offender that you do not accept that kind of language or humor, and politely request that it not be used around you. If you are unsure of what to say/do, or feel it would be unsafe for you to intervene, please inform a teacher.
Helpful and Useful Resources...
'What Do You Say to 'That's So Gay'?
GLSEN's website: www.glsen.org.
April is Autism Awareness Month
In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. For more information from the 'Autism Society', please click on the following link: http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/national-autism-awareness-month/
Career Day Thanks
Thank you to everyone who helped make Career Day a great success for the 8th grade last Tuesday. A special thank you to all of our volunteer speakers who provided a window into their careers and vocational paths: Denise Ellis, Alec Stevens, Michelle Manganello, Dave Pucci, Robert Clarke, Carl Gustafson, Nancy MacDonald, Leslie Aldrich, Mark Dondero, Brittany Hardiman, Laurie Mills, Amanda Carnes, Adele Kohler, David Colleran, Kelly Reilly, Judy Gordon, and Kathy Boole.
#MedfieldPS Twitter Chat on 4/14/16
Our next district-wide Twitter chat is Thursday, 4/14/16 at 8 p.m. with a focus on Social Emotional Learning. The goal of these chats is to bring the five schools together (staff and administration) to discuss pertinent topics in education, initiatives, and ideas to collaborate around and share. I encourage you to follow the hashtag #MedfieldPS during the chat and to participate! Below are links to 'storify' archives of previous chats...
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps
(Learning Skills)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-february-2016-twitter-chat
(Spirit of #DLDMedfield)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-twitter-chat-resolutions-and-reflection
(Resolutions and Reflection)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-december-2015-twitter-chat-relevance
(Relevance)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-november-2015-twitter-chat
(DLD Focus)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-october-2015-twitter-chat
(Homework Focus)
https://storify.com/nat_vaughn/medfieldps-august-2015-twitter-chat
(Back to School)
School Attire Guidelines
As we transition into spring at last, it is a good time to review guidelines for school dress. These guidelines can be found in the Blake student handbook. Students have an electronic copy and one is available on the Blake website for your reference. Open dialogue, balance, and discretion are important when dealing with issues related to dress. The responsibility for student dress and attire rests with both the student and the parent/guardian. We are confident that good judgment on the part of students and parents will result in the wearing of clothing that creates an environment that is conducive to learning for all. Each student will abide by the guidelines of decency, cleanliness and safety at all times. In accordance with our expectations for school dress, students are required to wear clothing that does not show the 4 B's: boxers, breasts, buttocks, and belly buttons. We do ask students not to wear hats, short shorts, midriff shirts, off the shoulder shirts, or clothing that displays obscene language, violence, lewd or vulgar pictures, alcohol or drug references, sexual innuendoes, racial/ethnic/religiously offensive materials, or any graphic that may interfere with the educational process. If clothing is deemed inappropriate for school, the parents/guardians will be contacted. We encourage students to consult their parents if they are concerned about an item of clothing that they may be considering wearing to school.
Greek Week - Grade 7
Greek Week 2016 was a tremendous success. Students were engaged in academic challenges during class time and also competed in various games and athletic competitions after school, including the infamous 'Demolition by Dodgeball', a five-way dodgeball bonanza. The level of competition was intense, and each city-state worked hard to show their knowledge and prove their 'polis' was the best. This year's Greek Week featured our first ever 'Film Festival'. Students worked in groups to create a video (many using green screens and iMovie) that showcased the best aspects of their city-state. Students invested a lot of creative energy into the film making process and their films turned out to be quite informative as well. It was delightful to see how students could convey content and demonstrate their understanding of the curriculum in a fun and engaging format. The winning teams on each cluster will be invited to 'feast with the gods on Mount Olympus' (e.g., have a pizza party in the foods room) as a well-deserved reward for their triumphant efforts.
7th Grade Food Drive
The seventh grade will be participating in a food drive to benefit the Medfield Food Cupboard. The drive will run from Monday, April 4 through Friday, April 15. Students can bring food items directly to their advisory teachers. The Medfield Food Cupboard provided the following list of items that are needed most: Kid Friendly Cereal, Juice-large and boxes, Canned black beans, Canned fruit/fruit bowls, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Pasta Sauce, Canned Chicken, Beef Stew, Cookies, Salty snacks, Bags of regular white rice, Trash Bags
Trout Release Field Experience
Seventh grade students have done a great job of raising trout this year. We will be taking science classes to the brook to release the trout on Thursday, April 14 during science classes. There will be a rain date of Thursday. We will go in light drizzle! Please have students wear boots or old shoes that day and a rain jacket if needed. A permission slip will be sent home soon. You can see the development of the trout on Instagram @ tablake_trout. Students post updates during their Science Exploration class. We are looking forward to waving goodbye to our babies!
Nature's Classroom 2016
The planning for the trip to Nature's Classroom next year is under way. The deposit and paper work was due Monday, April 11, 2016. Students should bring the paperwork and deposit to Debbie Avery in the guidance office. We send in the deposit for the bus and reserve a spot at Nature's Classroom for your child based on the paperwork we receive on April 11. The final payment is due on Monday, May 16,2016. The informational packet and forms that need to be filled out for the trip are attached. Cluster Leaders, the main office and the guidance office have paper copies if you need them. If there are any questions regarding the trip, please contact Tracy Allen, Tricia Williams, Kelly Campbell or Judy Silva. If you have financial concerns, please contact Nat Vaughn.
Nature's Classroom Spring2016InformationPacket ...
NaturesClassroomFormstoFillOut2016 (1).pdf
Blake Site Council 16-17 Survey
The Blake Site Council has been working on the development of our annual survey to students and parents. A similar survey has been administered the last three years and we are committed to having parents and students take it each year as part of our continual efforts to examine our programming. Focus areas include the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. The results will help us to gather information and examine our current practices to better meet the needs of our students and assess progress towards our mission. Please complete the survey for each child you have at Blake, and base your responses on your student's experiences this year. The questionnaire is anonymous, and your identity can not and will not be discovered through the completion of this survey. We sincerely appreciate your honest responses and are hoping for 100% participation from the Blake community. If you have any questions or have difficulty accessing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact me directly ([email protected]). Link to the survey: Blake Middle School Parent Survey March, 2016
Spring Cleaning - Request for MakerSpace Donations
In our ongoing efforts to foster experiences for students to be 'hands-on' and creative with materials, we are looking to provide outlets for students to create in our 'maker space'. As you begin your spring cleaning efforts (optimistic, I know!), we are looking for any donations from Medfield families of: old electronic toys, PVC pipe, felt/fabric, crafty supplies (yarn, string, makers, wipe off markers, wipe off contact paper, marbles, duct tape, wasabi tape, different types of glue), cookie cutters (variety of shapes), old tools, play dough, recyclables (anything used for storage containers/bins), cell batteries, AA batteries, conductive materials (copper wire, aluminum foil, telephone wire, washers, brackets). Any donations can be dropped off at the Blake main office and would be greatly appreciated.
Grade 6 Standards Based Reporting Pilot and Focus Group
Thank you to all sixth grade parents/guardians who were able to come to one of our Standards Based Reporting information sessions. As promised, here is the link to the presentation...
Standards Based Reporting Presentation Fall 2015
We are also looking for parents/guardians to be part of our parent focus group. This group will be comprised of the 6th grade science teachers, administration, and parents and will meet throughout the year (Fridays at 12:30 p.m.) to discuss the work that is taking place and provide feedback. The remaining date that has been set for is: 6/3. If you are interested, please complete the form below...
Standards Based Reporting Focus Group Sign-Up
STEM/Engineering for Middle School Girls
There are many STEM/Engineering opportunities for Middle School Girls especially during the summer - check them out!
http://www.bostongirlsstem.org/programs.html
MHS Swim/Dive Team Information
MHS' Swim/Dive team invites you to join them at the Italian Groceria from 5-8PM on Tuesday, May 3rd. Thirty percent of all sales that evening will go toward the team's goal of buying towels for the 2016-2017 season. 8th Graders: Come meet our captains and learn more about our team. We'd love for you to make a splash with us next year!
K-8 PTO Update
BLAKE APPEAL - THANK YOU!
If you have not had a chance to donate, it is not too late. Please help us reach our $30,000 goal. To make your gift on line by credit card go to
http://medfieldpto.weebly.com/blake.html or you can write a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO. You can give your check to the Blake office directly or by mail to 24 Pound Street. Thank you for your ongoing support!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Please visit the Medfield K-8 PTO website or click https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fC6eFODC22eWf1TKc4YTIbSkhTtdcJfkt7oJIxhrvtg/viewform and sign-up to volunteer for the 7th grade Ice Cream Party, 8th grade Cookout and the 8th grade Closing Ceremony Reception (7th grade parents are needed for this event). We appreciate all your help and support. We couldn’t do it without you!
ISLIDE FUNDRAISER
ISlide and Dale Street PTO are offering ALL Medfield students and residents customized ISlides with the Medfield Warrior logo, student’s first or last name and team number for $40.99 a pair. Please complete the order form http://www.medfield.net/images/docctr/dale_pto_islide_order_form.pdf and return to Dale Street School byApril 30th. Please contact Colleen Deignan [email protected] with questions.
MEDFIELD SPIRIT WEAR
Attention Spring Sports Teams, Club Organizers and Administrators! Blake PTO & MyLocker are ready to get you geared up for the season and your big event. Customize EVERYTHING from text to colors and designs from sports to drama to music. Choose from t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, pants, bags, hats, blankets & more. Spend $85 or more and get a free customized t-shirt. 12% of proceeds from each order will go to your school’s PTO. NOTE: Due to different branding sizes, make sure to check all size charts when ordering to ensure you get a great fit for each product. Please contact Laura Zaher [email protected] with any questions. This is all you have to do:
- Go to shop.mylocker.net, enter your school locker number - BLAKE BD979 and use promo code b2g6dTK1
RECYCLE INKJET AND TONER CARTRIDGES
Get rid of your trash and help Blake earn cash & supplies by recycling your inkjet and toner cartridges. We accept HP, Brother, Canon and Lexmark cartridges. Collection boxes are located outside of the Library. Thanks for your help! Please contact Donna Knott at [email protected] with any questions.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Please like us on Facebook Medfield K-8 PTO , follow us on Twitter MedfieldK8PTO and check out our website http://medfieldpto.weebly.com
MCPE Update
Fall Ball - Art Contest Design a poster for the MCPE Fall Ball and the winners will have their artwork on display at the event for all to see. Instructions and art paper will be handed out to each student by Thursday, April 7th. Please submit your entries to your school’s front office by Thursday, May 5th. Prizes will be awarded to the two winners from each grade (PreK-12).
Click here for more information: http://www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/fall-ball/
MCPE’s First Annual LCR Tournament - REGISTRATION FILLING UP! Join us on April 29 for our first annual Left, Center, Right (LCR) Tournament at the American Legion. LCR is a fast-paced dice game using specially imprinted dice and chips. There will be a fun DJ, a scratch ticket raffle, snacks and a cash bar. Sign up to play from either 7:00-9:00 PM or 9:00-11:00 PM. Click here for game rules and registration: http://www.medfieldcoalition.org/events-programs/left-center-right/
Please click here for Thursday Packet Information.