the Link – September/October 2012
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Workload and Wellness
Anne Graybeal, Head of the Upper School
Last May, as many of you know, we asked all Upper School students to take a workload and wellness survey designed by the group Challenge Success. This organization, an outgrowth of Stanford University’s School of Education, seeks to capture and quantify the sources and expressions of stress in students’ lives, including academic obligations, co-curricular activities and parent expectations.
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Finding a Rhythm
Ben Temple, Sophomore Grade Dean
My hope is that at some point in the last few weeks, your child has shifted from the anxious and excited mixture of emotions of the opening of school into a feeling of comfort in the developing routine of the school year.
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Raising Engaged Citizens
We highly recommend reading this timely article (http://tinyurl.com/blakecitizens) by Scott Flemming, US faculty and director of equity and community engagement, about raising informed, respectful and engaged students and citizens. (Reprinted with permission.)
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Greetings and Welcome from Joan Olson
President, Upper School Parent Association
I love the following quote from a University President spoken during freshman convocation this fall. “You have arrived at a great banquet,” he told the incoming Class of 2016. “Don’t make yourself a bologna sandwich.”
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Welcome Coaches!
Welcome to Blake's recently hired coaches: Shawn Reid (girls' varsity hockey) and Frank Clark (boys' varsity lacrosse) as well as alumni Robbie Massie '03 (boys' alpine skiiing) and Jon Sturgis '94 (boys' varsity hockey). We couldn't be more pleased to have you (and, have you back)! Visit Blake's athletic web site for details (http://tinyurl.com/blakeathletics).
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Students and Electronic Calendars
Dan Trockman, Assistant ISS Director for Learning Technologies
Read on for important information regarding assigned homework, assessments, and the use of Moodle in the planning process.
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Announcements
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US Curriculum Night is an Evening Not to be Missed
On Wednesday, Sept. 19, a light dinner buffet is served from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the lobby, prior to the formal presentation in the JNA. Following the presentation you cruise the halls on your child’s course schedule. You have an opportunity to meet all of your child’s teachers, learn important curriculum facts and ask questions. As you jostle quickly through the halls, you will be transported back to your own high school days. You may find yourself wishing you had such awesome teachers and amazing course selections. Time: 5:30–9 p.m. US
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Community of Concern Fall Gathering for Freshmen and Sophomore Parents
Please join other parents from the freshmen and sophomore classes for coffee and conversation on Thursday, Sept. 20. Discussion topics will include the homecoming dance, driving, drinking and substance use. Please come to join the conversation. 8:30 – 10 am at the home of Laura Enkoji and Mike Coyle.
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Blake Collects - Submission deadline extended one week.
Please join us for powerful art and conversation as we fill the Martha Bennett Gallery with a wide range of artwork with a specific point of view about one or more of the themes of this show - religion, gender, politics, race, power, hunger, ecology, war, privilege. All submissions considered - paintings, sculpture, photographs, ceramics, textiles, drawings, prints, posters, video, and objects.
Help our students explore differences, discover common ground and create the steps necessary to build a more inclusive, caring and pro-active community.
Final submissions now due Friday, September 21.
Please click here (or here http://tinyurl.com/blakecollects) to read further about the exhibition, register for an in-home consultation or to submit. If you would like more information, please email blakecollects@blakeschool.org.
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College Counseling Event for Parents of Juniors
Junior Parents: If you have the jitters about the college process, this evening event on Monday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m, will provide all the information you need to approach the college process calmly and confidently. Location: Julie Nelson Auditorium at the Upper School.
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Homecoming Bonfire
All Upper School students are invited to the homecoming bonfire from 8:30 – 10pm., Thursday, September 27, on the Hopkins campus. Sponsored by the Senior Class under the guidance of Senior Grade Dean Dion Crushshon, the bonfire entertainment will be a tasteful line-up of acts starring talented musicians, actors, singers, and dancers from the Upper School.
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Legacy Day Volunteers
The Legacy Day team needs all the help it can get on Friday, Sept. 28! If you can volunteer for even part of the day (between 8am and 3:30/4pm) we would love to hear from you. It is a great day and great fun to watch the students and staff from all three campuses come together around service. To sign up, please contact Legacy Day parent volunteer coordinator Lisa Heidenreich at lisa.heidenreich@gmail.com.
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Challenge Cup Presentation
At halftime of our 6:30 pm Friday home football game versus Minnehaha on Friday, September 28th, the MSHSL and Wells Fargo will present the Challenge Cup to our school. Channel 45 will be there to capture the event, and we will also be live webcasting the game and halftime presentation via our webcasting partner at MN Sports Network. All in the community are invited to attend. More information will follow as we lead up to the event. For more information on Blake winning the Challenge Cup read here (text viewers http://tinyurl.com/blakechallengecup). See you at the game! Go Bears!
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Freshman Homecoming Dinner
Jim Mahoney, Freshman Dean
We are planning a special dinner for members of the Class of 2016 prior to the Homecoming Dance at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29. The purpose of the meal is to create an opportunity for class bonding and to diffuse the pressure on ninth graders to find dates and/or go out to dinner before the dance.
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Homecoming Dance
All Upper School students may attend the annual Homecoming dance on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., on the Blake campus in Hopkins, Bovey Chapel. Please pick up your child promptly by 11:30 p.m. in the circle. Cost $5. Questions? Please email Senior Grade Dean Dion Crushshon at dcrushshon@blakeschool.org.
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MISP College Fair
MISP College Fair September 30, 12:30 – 3pm Blake Hopkins Campus: Representatives from 150 colleges and universities around the country talk with students and parents from six partner schools: Blake, Breck, Mounds Park Academy, Minnehaha, SPA and Shattuck-St.Mary's. The MISP fair is an opportunity for students — especially seniors and juniors -— to personally meet and ask questions of the representative from each college of interest. Juniors, sophomores, and parents find the fair a great time for gathering information on many types of colleges.
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Let's chat with our Grade Deans!
Ask questions, meet other parents in your child’s grade, and get better acquainted with the Blake culture.
Grade 9 – Dessert with Dean Jim Mahoney: Tuesday, October 2 from 7 – 8:30pm Upper School Library
Grade 11 – Coffee with Alyn Eastin: Thursday, October 4 from 8am – 9am US Cherne
Grade 12 – Coffee with Dion Crushshon: Friday, October 5 from 8am – 9am US Cherne
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SAT
SAT testing will take place Saturdays, October 6th and November 3rd in the Upper School Library. Students will need to arrive by 7:30 a.m and will be finished by 1pm.
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National College Fair
The National College Fair, held each fall at the Minneapolis Convention Center, is one of the largest fairs of its kind and annually attracts representatives from over 350 different colleges and universities. The National College Fair is free and open to the public. Blake students are not given time off to attend this event, but they might wish to go on Tuesday, October 9th from 4:30 – 8pm.
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SSAT
SSAT testing will take place on Saturdays, October 13 and November 10 at the Upper School. Students will need to arrive by 7:45 am and will finish by 12:30pm.
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International and Off–Campus Programs Evening
On Monday, Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. you do not want to miss International and Off-Campus Programs Evening, an information session held at the Upper School for all students and parents interested in learning more about off-campus study and service programs.
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Spectrum
Laine Higgins, Spectrum Editor-in-Chief
Do you enjoy reading news printed on paper instead of just online? Do you wish you knew more about the Upper School? Then we have a solution for you! The Spectrum is a student-run newspaper that features the voices of the Upper School. The Spectrum publishes issues monthly, and for only $20.00 you can receive them at your home! If you are interested in subscribing to the Spectrum, please email spectrum@blakeschool.org with your name, address and preferred method of payment, including either explicit permission to bill your child's student account or via check made out to Blake sent in care of Anna Reid to the Upper School. Thank you!
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Volunteer Opportunity in the Science Labs
Exciting volunteer opportunity in the science lab! Help organize. Load, unload dishwasher. Put away beakers, test tubes and other science supplies. Shelve/organize chemicals. Do various jobs for science teachers. Promote your inner mad scientist.
This volunteer help is VERY appreciated by the teachers! Training provided. Contact Luann Dunphy at dunphy5777@msn.com.