4/9 - 7th Grade ELA MCAS
SEPAC Meeting - 7 p.m. (Blake LMC)
4/10 - 7th Grade ELA MCAS
4/11 - #LoveMySchoolDay
Day of Silence (see details below)
Superintendent’s Advisory Council - 9:30 a.m.
Zullo Student-Faculty Art Exhibit (see details below)
4/15-4/19 - School Vacation
4/22 - Earth Day
4/23 - 6th Grade ELA MCAS
4/24 - 6th Grade ELA MCAS
Challenge Success Parent Evening (see details below)
4/29 - 8th Grade Math MCAS
4/30 - 8th Grade Math MCAS
SEL Task Force - 3:30 p.m.
5/1 - Blake Book Fair
5/3 - 6th Grade Math MCAS
5/6 - 6th Grade Math MCAS
5/8 - 8th Grade Sci/Tech/Eng MCAS
5/9 - 8th Grade Sci/Tech/Eng MCAS
5/10 - 1/2 Day for Students
Professional Afternoon for Staff
5/13 - Blake Site Council Mtg - 3:30 p.m.
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about a community of discussion, dialogue, discourse, and learning, our topic/question of the week is: What topic(s) would you like to see discussed in school? A Culture of Discourse (Week of 4/7/19) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 2 Report Cards
All outstanding report card signature sheets should be turned into advisors.
Day of Silence
On Thursday, April 11, Blake will recognize the Day of Silence, a national day of protest regarding anti-gay language and bullying. Some students will take a vow of silence to represent the voices that have been silenced due to fear, harassment, and violence against the LGBTQ community. Other students may choose to show their support by wearing an "ALLY" sticker on that day. For more information, please visit: https://www.glsen.org/day-silence
Nature’s Classroom Information
The deposit and paperwork for the seventh grade trip to Nature’s Classroom is due on Friday, April 12. The Nature’s Classroom Information Packet and Nature’s Classroom Forms to Fill Out for the trip are attached. Please print the forms to fill out single sided. The forms are given to different people while we are at Nature’s Classroom. Please be sure to fill out the date of your student’s most recent tetanus shot so the nurse at Nature’s Classroom has the information.
Everything can be turned into your student’s advisory teacher. Please let Judy Silva [email protected] Tricia Williams, Kelly Campbell or Tracy Allen know if you have any questions.
Zullo Student-Faculty Art Exhibit
For the 25th year, the Zullo Gallery, in collaboration with the K-12 Visual Arts faculty of the Medfield Public Schools, is hosting its Annual Student-Faculty Art Exhibit. The Zullo Gallery offers a fantastic opportunity for deserving student art work to receive special notice by our community in a professional gallery setting. This year's exhibit will be held from April 6th- April 28th. A reception for the artists, their friends, and families will be on Thursday April 11th, between 5:30-7pm. The gallery is located at 456 Main St in Medfield.
Students for Students
High School Sophomores Sam Hedges, Brendan Harding and Charles Marie have started a new club for middle school students who are dealing with a sick family member or have lost a family member to illness. Their club is called Students for Students. Their faculty advisor is Michael Kramer. They wrote the following "The motivation behind this club is to bring middle school kids together to show them that they are not alone in the battle of illnesses within immediate families. Our goal is to give the kids a safe space to realize that their current situation gets better and gives them help if necessary. . As the club grows our hope is that the older students will serve as mentors to the younger students who might be going through unique family situations that they can relate to. We also welcome to any ideas on how our club can grow and improve." The second meeting will be in the gym at 2:15 on Tuesday April 9th. Please contact Jen Dondero with any questions.
Blake GSA Information
The Blake Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) meets every Tuesday from 2:15 - 3:00, in room 101. The GSA provides a space for open dialogue about topics such as how to be better ally and how to make our school a safe place for LGBTQ students and families. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please feel free to contact Elise Malone ([email protected]), Russ Becker ([email protected]) or Amy Reynolds ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns you may have.
Challenge Success Parent Committee Update
The Medfield Challenge Success Parent Committee is planning two spring events: a Presentation with Jon Kleiman for MHS Parents on Wednesday, April 24th and a District-wide Book Discussion and Student Panel on Thursday, May 16th.
For more information and to RSVP, please read the April Challenge Success Parent Newsletter. '
8th Grade Trip Forms
All outstanding forms should be turned in ASAP. Forms should be completed in pen, dated and signed. If your child will need to take any medication on the trip (prescription and/or non-prescription), then his/her physician needs to review and sign the medication form. Please plan ahead and submit the medication form to your child’s physician within the next two weeks in order to get the signed form back to school by the April 5th deadline. Please contact our school nurse, Tricia Williams, at 508-242-8554 or [email protected] if you have any questions after reviewing the packet. Your assistance is appreciated in returning the forms on time as we finalize preparations for the trip.
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 innuendos, 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.
Music Ensemble Selection - All Incoming 6th-8th Grade Parents/Guardians
All parents/guardians must complete the music ensemble selection Google Form for 2019-2020.
2019-2020 Blake Middle School Music Selection
For Incoming 6th Grade Parents/Guardians
For your reference, I have copied the link to the presentation and handout along with the Program of Studies 2/27/19…
Blake Incoming 6th PIN 2019 Presentation
Blake Parent Resources Handout 2019-2020
Blake Program of Studies 2019-2020
Below please find links to the Course Selection Google Forms that all incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete…
2019-2020 Blake Middle School Music Selection
2019-2020 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Incoming 7th/8th Grade Parents/Guardians
For your reference, I have copied the link to the presentation along with the Program of Studies evening...
Incoming 7th/8th PIN March 2019 Presentation
Blake Parent Resources Handout 2019-2020
Blake Program of Studies 2019-2020
Nature's Classroom PIN Slideshow March 2019
7th Grade Food Drive
The week of April 22 the seventh grade will be running a food drive to support the Medfield Food Cupboard. The food cupboard's current needs are as follows: kid friendly cereals, packs of individual snacks (granola bars, cheese and crackers), jams and jellies, canned beef stew, and canned fruits.
Spring Intramurals at Blake
The 2019 Spring Intramural Session is scheduled to start soon. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Matt Marenghi ([email protected]).
MCAS Information
As we are now in 'MCAS season', the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education asks that we review our expectations with students prior to testing. English teachers will be reviewing student responsibilities in English classes in the weeks ahead. I have posted the Student Responsibilities during Testing sheet that will be reviewed with students during the week in their classes. I would like to call your attention to the updated guidelines with regard to electronics (iPods, iPhones, iPads, phones, Apple Watches, all types of Kindles, Nooks, and e-readers). The DESE states: "Results will be invalidated for students who use cell phones or other electronic devices at any time during a session, including after a student turns in his or her test materials, during a break, or during the transition to a test completion area." Blake students will be instructed to turn off all devices and place them in their locked hallway locker. This is a good time to check in with your child to be sure that they still have a combination lock on their locker and that they are using it to secure their belongings. Please review this aspect of digital responsibility with your child.
While we do not want to foster undue anxiety or pressure for students, a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast will ensure that they come to school prepared to do their best. Please be sure that students arrive at school on time. Arrival by 7:30 allows plenty of time to get settled. If your student is sick on the day of a scheduled test date, it is best for your child to get some rest and take it on a make-up day. Make up tests will be given throughout the testing window. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Kelly Campbell ([email protected]) or your child's guidance counselor.
May Dance for 7th/8th Grade
The final dance of the year is on Friday, May 17. A reminder that all students who wish to attend the dance should have submitted a dance contract. The time of the dance is from 7 pm to 9 pm in the Blake gym. A reminder that there are not cell phones or water bottles allowed in the gym. Students will have access to the water fountain, and there is a designated cell phone area. Additionally, students may leave early only if a pre-arranged parent or guardian picks the student up in person.
#MedfieldProjectHappiness Update
This week in Project Happiness students will continue with the theme of perspectice and choice. Students will be learning they have a choice with their thoughts, words, and actions. They will be working in groups in their Advisory to come up with a positive and a negative consequence for different situations they may experience in life and school. A few notes for your reference...
- The daily inspiration from Project Happiness is included in the morning announcements to staff and students.
- To subscribe: https://www.projecthappiness.org
- To follow on Twitter: @happyblakers #MedfieldProjectHappiness
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.
Blake Site Council Book Discussion Group
This month we discussed What School Could Be by Ted Dintersmith. Stay tuned for information about our next book!
Blake Middle School Site Council Survey
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey and the Executive Summary can be found here: Blake Middle School Executive Summary 17-18. Focus areas on the survey centered on the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. Our intent is to distribute the 2018-2019 survey in the near future. Stay tuned!
Spring Track at Blake
Blake Track Meet Schedule 2019
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". Please contact Kelly Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.
SEPAC Update
Please join SEPAC, Director of Student Services Mary Bruhl, and Principals Missy Bilsborough, Steve Grenham, Donna Olson, Robert Parga, and Nat Vaughn, this Tuesday, April 9th at 7pm in the Blake Library to learn about the tiers of support in each building, accommodations, access, inclusion, and opportunities for partnership. This is a wonderful chance to hear directly from our leadership and build relationships within our community! To learn more about SEPAC, visit our website: https://sites.google.com/mail.medfield.k12.ma.us/sepac/
MCPE Update
MCPE is accepting nominations for the Robert C. Maguire Award. This award will be given to a Medfield staff member who inspires students to look beyond the town of Medfield and learn more about the global community through innovative programs and technologies. Nominations must be submitted by Saturday April 27th, and the winner will be announced at MCPE's Annual Meeting on May 23rd at 7 pm at Zullo Gallery. To nominate a staff member or to learn more about the Maguire Award, go to https://www.medfieldcoalition.org/robert-maguire-award
Blake PTO Update
THANK YOU for those who contributed to our annual appeal this year! If you didn't get to send in your contribution yet, don't worry, there's still time! Donate here http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake.html or you can mail a check to Blake Middle School (24 Pound St Medfield MA 02052) or send it in with your child. Checks should be made out to Blake Middle School PTO. We are hoping for 100% participation of Blake families. This will allow our students and teachers to benefit over the next year, as the students and teachers did before them. We thank you in advance for your financial support of the Blake PTO.
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