To encourage dialogue and reflection about being intentional about the practice of appreciation, our question for this week is: Who and/or what do you appreciate most in your life? Why? Practicing Appreciation (Week of 5/14/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake's Guiding Lights
Our Students
Blake's Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Reflection
Our Essential Question: How can we cultivate and curate the progression of student learning and growth?
Our Mission: Blake Middle School believes in a living mission statement, based on the concept that our community seeks and respects knowledge, integrity, character, wisdom, and the willingness to adapt to a continually evolving world.
The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning. - John Dewey
You cannot teach today the same way you did yesterday to prepare students for tomorrow. - John Dewey
The weather last weekend was absolutely beautiful and it felt like a true gift - I hope that everyone was able to enjoy it in some capacity. It was great to spend some time in the garden and on a few walks with Lila. Maggie came home from college on Saturday and we are looking forward to being together this afternoon to watch the Celtics (hoping for a big win!) and have dinner to celebrate Mother’s Day. For all of the mothers in our community, I hope you had a Happy Mother's Day - and I also want to again convey full recognition and understanding that this day and time of year can be hard for some/many and ‘create the space’ for support.
There are many others to thank and I would not want to leave anyone out, but please know how greatly appreciated you all are! It was great to have our efforts support our own community, and Kathy McDonald’s note of thanks from Medfield Outreach really captures the morning - ‘A quick note to thank you for our involvement in today's event. We are so honored to be this year's recipient of the funds. Also, what an amazing event in general! I loved seeing the kids without technology, connecting, exercising, enjoying the weather, celebrating individual, grade and Blake community accomplishments!! Really great! Awesome way to end the week as well.’
Each year during Mother’s Day weekend, one symbolic gesture is to keep the Natworthy brief (Katie is my proofreader, editor, and provider of honest feedback - so, this is a small ‘gift’ of time). In keeping with this theme of practicing appreciation, I am re-sharing the e-mail I sent Friday morning to the staff along with a few responses from last week’s question…
As we end Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to just say again how much I greatly value your presence, care, and professionalism for all of our students and families. Our jobs are complex (and getting more complex each day), and I am reminded every day how fortunate I am to work with such a caring team. Thank you! We may not always hear the appreciation, but I know it is there. A parent e-mailed me earlier this week, and ended the note with this...
'We continue to be so touched and amazed by the kindness and caring Blake teachers and administrators show on a daily basis.'
Thank you.
- We can create a positive environment that fosters a desire to grow, take on challenges, and help others.
- Give students a wide variety of experiences to learn the material and enough time to learn.
- More communication with parents and understanding the middle schoolers are not checking emails
- Teachers try and help us when we need it and they can help students by explaining things.
- Teachers make learning fun and motivate students.
- Some ways the teachers can help the students are like playing a game after we do good.
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Take care.
Nat