To help encourage conversations and dialogue about gratitude, our topic/question of the week is: Share something or someone that you feel grateful for today or this week. Sharing Gratitude (Week of 3/4/18) (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.
I hope that the past few days has been calmer than the crazy weather we experienced at the end of last week! We had a 'colonial-styled' (no power) and sports-filled weekend with the kids for their basketball playoffs and swim championships all day on Saturday. On Sunday Maggie's softball clinic served as an indication that spring is on the way - always a good thing!
This week, rather than highlight some posts or learning that I have experienced, I simply want to share my gratitude and sincere appreciation for the students, staff, and community at Blake for caring for one another this past Friday during our events with the storm and power outage. Everyone's responsiveness and efforts to help, volunteer, offer support, and contribute are a true testament to the culture - thank you. There is plenty of learning to highlight and readings to share, but I also know it is important to take a step back and simply just be and say thank you and allow gratitude to be the learning that is highlighted and shared.
Please click here for Blake Updates.
Please click here for Thursday Packet Information.
Take care.
Nat
Important Dates
3/6 - Incoming 7th PIN (6:30 p.m.)
3/7 - Spread the Word to End the Word (see details below)
3/8 - Evening with Kwame Alexander
3/12 - Blake Site Council Mtg (3:30 p.m.)
3/13 - SEL Task Force
Band-o-Rama Concert
3/14 - String Fling Concert
3/15 - Incoming 8th PIN (6:30 p.m.)
3/16 - Blake Science Fair
3/23 - Special Olympics
Term 2 Report Cards go home
3/24 - Miss Amazing Pageant
3/29 - 1/2 Day for Students
3/30 - No School
4/3 - SEL Task Force
4/6- - Blake Spring Musical
4/10 - #DLDMedfield
No school for students
Topic/Question for the Dinner Table
To help encourage conversations and dialogue about gratitude, our topic/question of the week is: Share something or someone that you feel grateful for today or this week. Sharing Gratitude (Week of 3/4/18) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Term 2 Interim Reports and Reflection
All outstanding interim report 'sign-off' sheets need to be handed into advisors asap.
BMS Science Fair - 3/16/18The third annual BMS Science Fair has been rescheduled for Friday, March 16, 2018, at 4:00 pm. Participating BMS students should confirm their participation in this rescheduled event with their science teachers. Students should arrive at 3:15 pm that afternoon to set up their projects. Parents and friends are invited to attend at 4:00 pm.
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 from last night...
Blake Incoming 6th PIN 2018 Presentation
Blake Parent Resources Handout 2018-2019
Blake Program of Studies 2018-2019
Below please find links to the Course Selection Google Forms that all incoming 6th grade parents/guardians must complete...
2018-2019 Blake Middle School Music Selection
2018-2019 Blake Middle School World Language Selection
Parent Information Nights - Mark Your Calendars!
3/6 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming seventh grade (current sixth grade) students. We will be sharing information about the 7th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year. We will also be presenting information about the 7th grade's field trip to Nature's Classroom.
3/15 - Incoming 8th Grade Parent Night at 6:30 p.m.
This night is for all parents/guardians of incoming eighth grade (current seventh grade) students. We will be presenting information about the 8th grade program of studies and curriculum, previewing the students' experience that they will have next year.
8th Grade Yearbook Photos
During the next couple of weeks, we will be collecting childhood/baby pictures from all our 8th grade students for a photo collage in the Yearbook. Students should write their names on the pictures and turn them into their advisors. Please note that photos will Not be returned. Thank you!
DEADLINE: Friday, March 16
8th Grade Trip Forms
A packet of medical forms was sent home with your 8th grader last week for the Washington, D.C. trip Please take time to review and complete the forms which are due back to your child’s advisory teacher by March 29, 2018. 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 March 29th 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.
Student Council - Acceptance
Over the next month and a half, Student Council will be focused on raising awareness about, engaging their community in, and inspiring others to be ACCEPTING. Within each week, various efforts have been planned to bring awareness, activities, and demonstrations surrounding the theme of Acceptance to the Blake Community. The theme of week 1 is The Power of Words. Wednesday, March 7th, is the Spread the Word to End the Word Day of National Awareness. The R-word is the word 'retard(ed)'. The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It's offensive. It's derogatory.This campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people. Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions. Blake students will see a video in advisory, create a message to represent their advisory's support of the efforts, and sign a banner at lunch (Wednesday & Thursday) to pledge to use respectful, people-first language during our acceptance activities in the month ahead.
Parent/Guardian Input Information for 2018-2019
Parental/guardian input is an important part of our planning purposes for the 2017-2018 academic year. Please refer to the Blake Parent/Guardian Input Letter Spring 2018 regarding our process and the guidelines for input. If you are interested in sharing information, please submit your thoughts in writing not later than Friday, March 16. As stated in the letter, written requests for specific teachers and will not be entertained or accepted. Your letter should be addressed to your child's guidance counselor and Assistant Principal, Kelly Campbell. Guidance counselors for next year will be Tracy Allen (Grade 6), Jen Dondero (Grade 7), and Matt Marenghi (Grade 8).
Digital Learning Day for Blake and Medfield Staff - 4/10/18
This Wednesday is Digital Learning Day for the staff of the Medfield Public Schools. I encourage you to begin checking out the hashtag #DLDMedfield and to look for more information to stay current with the Blake and Medfield tweeters. Some of our Blake students will be helping out throughout the day as well. We are excited about this opportunity to learn from one another and expand our understandings of technology integration as we continue to work towards our mission for our students and school.
Mathematics Placement Process
Math teachers at Blake will soon start the process of course placement for the 2018-2019 school year. The goal of the process is to see that every student is placed in a class that allows for them to learn math well while feeling good about their efforts. For current 6th and 7th grade students, decisions on student placement are made by considering current class grades, placement test grades, MCAS scores and teacher recommendations. For current 8th grade students, placement is determined by success in their current class level and teacher recommendation. We are very mindful during this time to consider the whole child while making these decisions. Additionally, it is important to us that parents feel they have a voice in this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher. If your questions involve long-term planning for math, do not hesitate to email Susan Bycoff, Math Content Specialist at [email protected]. Thank you!
Career Day for 8th Grade
Planning for the 8th grade Career Day is underway. Career Day will be held on Friday, May 11, 2018, which is also a half day for students. On this day we will have a morning of presentations given by a variety of professionals from many different occupations. Year after year people return to share their careers with our students but we need additional volunteers to help make this event successful. We invite you to volunteer to participate in this exciting program to enlighten our students about your occupation and career opportunities.
Please consider sharing your experiences regarding your present occupation, stories of interest and personal insights with eighth graders in three informal sessions of approximately 35 minutes each. The sessions run between 8:45 am and 10:35 am. If you are interested in participating, please contact Debbie Avery in the Blake Middle School Guidance Office at 508-359-2445 or email [email protected]. Thank you in advance for helping make our Career Day a continued success. We count on the community to make our program a rewarding and enriching experience for our students.
Spring Athletics Meeting - 3/8 at 6:30 p.m.
On Thursday, March 8th, at 6:30pm, there will be a meeting held in the gymnasium at the Medfield High School for all athletes and their parents interested in playing high school (and middle school) athletics this coming spring season at Medfield. This meeting will hopefully address any questions and concerns you may have. Blake parents are encouraged to attend. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email coaches directly (emails below).
Registration is currently open on FamilyID.com. There is a direct link off the Athletics page (under Activities) on Blake Middle School site. To complete registration, I will also need a current (last 13 months) copy of physical exam and a check for $225 (Made out to “Town of Medfield”) or pay online with UniBank (Direct link off FamilyID site. The physical can be dropped off at Blake or the High School main office.
*Blake Middle School Sports offered for the spring season are:
Track & Field (Boy’s and Girl’s – Grades 6-8)
Coach Haycock (Head Boy’s Coach – [email protected]
Coach Graham (Head Girl’s Coach – [email protected]
Softball (8th grade Girls). *
* 7th Graders open to sign up and play if not enough 8th graders to field team).
Coach McClelland - [email protected]
Baseball (8th grade Boys)
Coach Becker – [email protected]
PJ Drive - Cradles to Crayons
The 10th Annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive is here! Cradles to Crayons is working with the Boston Bruins to collect new PJs for local children living in low income and homeless situations. All Medfield Schools will be provided a box to collect PJs in. The drive kicks off on February 7th and runs through March 15th.
Blake Site Council Survey Executive Summary
The Blake Site Council has taken time to review the data collected from last year's survey. Focus areas on the survey centered on the topics of school culture, academic workloads, stress, and habits. I am sharing the Blake Middle School Executive Summary 16-17 of the compiled data for your reference, and I hope you are able to find some time to read the highlights. This year's survey will be sent out in the near future - stay tuned!
Maker Mondays with Mrs. Horvath (@techmonstah)!
ALL STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO MAKER MONDAYS WORKSHOPS! Maker Mondays are for teachers and students to learn and create together! No sign up is needed. Just show up after school (2:10-3:00ish) to join in!
March 19th-- TBA Possibly Sew Electronics.. or a yarn/fiber community project
Let's get Making! And please help spread the word to students too!
Blake is Social - Submit Work!
BLAKE IS SOCIAL is our take on the literary magazines of the past! Using Instagram and the blakeissocial.weebly.com website, our hope is to digitally publish all of the creative endeavors that make our community of learners so special. Please encourage students to submit art; photography; poetry, fiction or nonfiction writing; sports photos and/or articles; videos; projects across content areas; musical compositions or performance videos etc. We would love to PUBLISH YOUR WORK.
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 is on Facebook!
Blake is adding Facebook to our social media repertoire! You can now follow our page for the latest announcements, sharing of our school life, glimpses into special events and learning with FB Live and more...
Click this Link: www.facebook.com/BlakeMiddleSchool/ or search for @BlakeMiddleSchool
Registration is Open for New Life's 5K Fundraising Run/Walk
New Life Furniture Bank is excited to announce its 1st Annual New Life 5K Trail Run. This fundraising event will be held at 9 AM on Saturday, May 5th at the scenic Medfield State Hospital grounds in Medfield, MA. The New Life 5K Trail Run is open to the public, and all ages are encouraged to run, jog or walk in what promises to be an annual family event not to be missed! Registration is open now! The first 200 registrants will receive a free t-shirt. To register or for additional information, go to newlifefb.org/5ktrailrun.
Update from Blake PTO
BLAKE APPEAL - We need your help so we can continuing funding enrichment programs and future initiatives for the next school year. We are requesting a contribution of $50/child this year. This is a suggested amount but we will gratefully accept any amount you can contribute. Making a donation is easy. You can bring a check to PIN night, or click on the link http://www.medfieldk8pto.com/blake.html and scroll down to the end of the page. Or you can send a check made payable to Blake Middle School PTO to Blake at 24 Pound St. Medfield, MA 02052. Thank you in advance for your support of the Blake PTO. Please feel free to contact Claudia Rosen [email protected] or Keven Gallagher [email protected] with any questions.
GET YOUR MEDFIELD WARRIOR SIGNS, COASTERS, TRAYS, ETC! Rustic Marlin Designs has designed a line of wood-based Medfield Warrior products (signs, coasters, flags, trays, blocks, etc.) that will be carried exclusively at Be Charmed, a new store in town! Be Charmed is located at 70 North Street. 75% of the profits from the sale of the Warrior line will go to both the PTO and MCPE! It’s a great way to get Warrior merchandise while supporting a new local shop and raising money for our schools!
GET YOURS TODAY! STAY IN TOUCH Please 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