Parent News – May/June 2013
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Intentional Institutional Change
By Dr. Anne E. Stavney, Head of School
“How do you decide what to change at a school?” asked an Upper School parent at a recent Parent Association meeting. Her brief but profound question has stuck with me for the past several weeks.
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Service at Blake: A Culture That Inspires
By Scott Flemming, Director of Office of Equity and Community Engagement
“Empathy and compassion really can be taught and practiced.”
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— Nan Peterson, Blake PK–12 Director of Service Learning -
Blake Introduces New Math Curriculum for K–6
By Renee Carrel
We’re so fortunate to have PK-12 department chairs who oversee our students’ entire journey in each of the academic disciplines, making sure they build their knowledge and skills through a well-designed and coherent course of study. This unique structure allows for a continual and thoughtful evolution of curriculum, and that’s exactly what’s been happening in the math department over the last year.
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The College Search — Relax and Trust the Process
By Frank Sachs, Director of College Counseling
A year ago, I appeared on a number of panels at a variety of professional conferences speaking on a topic, which is currently much discussed in college admission circles these days, “The College Admission Process, Earlier and Earlier.” There is no denying the fact that for many, the process is earlier and earlier.
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Faculty Spotlight
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Upper School Grade Dean Alyn Eastin's Ultimate Goal is to See Her Students Soar
By Laura Silver
"That’s what life is all about. It’s your resiliency. That’s what we do; we raise the birds to fly. And I want you to soar. That’s why I do this!”
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Meet Samara Estroff: Third Grade Teacher, Outdoor Enthusiast & World Traveler
By Beth Pliego
"I enjoy creating a partnership with families who are so committed to their children’s education and development as world citizens,” Estroff says.
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Parent Association Updates
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Parent Association Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon
The Parent Association Volunteer Recognition Luncheon is Wednesday, May 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bovey Chapel (Blake campus, Hopkins). We invite all Blake volunteers to a celebratory luncheon to thank you for all you have done to enhance the year for our students, families and staff.
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Help Wanted: Blake Volunteers to Work Long Hours With No Pay; Benefits: Priceless!
By Jamie Wilson, Blake Parent Association President 2012–13
As you are reading my final missive as Parent Association president, volunteers just like you are working hard to organize the final Parent Association (PA) events of the year. I look forward to thanking all of you at the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, May 8. Please join me so that I can thank you for everything that you have done for Blake and for the Parent Association this year. There will be a delicious lunch, speeches from Head of School Anne Stavney and Senior Class President Thomas McManus, as well as entertainment by some of Blake’s talented students.
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Volunteering — It’s All Good!
As the school year winds down, the Parent Association volunteer coordinators would like to thank everyone who has volunteered this year! We have made many transitions in the volunteer sign-up process during the past few years, moving from a multi-page paper form to an online form, which this year has been updated to a Google-based form.
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Applause
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Applause, Applause!
By Caryn Schall
Student accomplishments in lacrosse, math and Model United Nations highlight this month's achievements. Join us in giving these students a warm round of applause!
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Announcements, News & More
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Join Us on May 5 for Celebration of Community
Come to this year’s Celebration of Community — a biennial event that celebrates Blake’s diverse community.
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Raymond Yu Named New Lower School Director
Impressing the search committee with his educational leadership experience, cultural competency and joy in working with young students, Dr. Raymond Yu was recently tapped to be Blake’s next Lower School director. He will formally begin his responsibilities at Blake on July 1. http://tinyurl.com/c4p7vdj
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Now Accepting Teacher Award Nominations
Nominate a Blake faculty member who has gone above and beyond this year! All Blake students or parents may nominate a faculty member from any division for the Juliet Nelson Award. The deadline is Friday, May 10. http://tinyurl.com/d7j925o
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Learning Differences Parent Support Group
The Learning Differences Parent Support Group provides resources, emotional support and practical advice to parents of students in all grades with diagnosed or suspected learning differences. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 1, 8:45 to 10 a.m. in the Pillsbury Conference Room in the Middle School.
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Onward and Upward! Upcoming Changes for the Blake Student Services Department
For the past seven years, the PK–12 student services department chair has overseen the work of both the counselors as well as the learning specialists at all divisions within Blake. Upon examination of other local and national independent school student services programs, we have chosen to realign our department into two distinct strands overseen by Director of Counseling Erin Adams and a newly hired director of learning support services.
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Join us for Breakfast at Blake
Documentary filmmaker Annie Sundberg ’86 will be the speaker at the next Breakfast at Blake on Thursday, May 16 (7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Bovey Chapel on the Blake campus, Hopkins). During her presentation “Stranger Than Fiction: The World of Documentary Filmmaking,” Annie will share clips and talk about her upcoming ESPN special “Nine for IX” as well as other film projects. http://tinyurl.com/d4thbhk. Please R.S.V.P. by May 9 to rsvp@blakeschool.org or 952-988-3445 if you plan to attend.
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Special Head of School Edition of Breakfast at Blake
The Blake Alumni Association is pleased to present a special Head of School Edition of Breakfast at Blake on Thursday, June 20 from 7:30-8:30 am at the Minikahda Club. Enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast buffet and hear from Dr. Anne Stavney as she reflects on her first year as Head of School and offers her perspective on the future. Please R.S.V.P. by June 13 to rsvp@blakeschool.org or 952-988-3445 if you plan to attend.
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Take the Summer at Blake Quiz
Did you know …
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Blake Directory: Now With Photos
Beginning with the 2013–14 school year, Blake’s printed school directory will include photo pages of all students and employees.
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Sell Back Your Gently Used Text Books
Blake will be facilitating the MBS textbook buyback for families at both the Middle and Upper Schools again. Click here (http://tinyurl.com/cd4b9zs) for more information.
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A New Twist on an Old Classic: Introducing the New Blake Classic
This is YOUR Classic benefiting YOUR kids so mark YOUR calendars today for March 1, 2014.
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New Minnesota State High School League Classifications and Section Assignments
The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) recently released the Classification and Section Assignments for the upcoming 2013–14 and 2014–15 school years. Click here (http://tinyurl.com/cln83j9) to read about these new assignments and how they will affect Blake athletics.
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Darkroom@Blake
Upper School visual arts teacher Robert Teslow leads Darkroom@Blake, a series of photography studio access sessions in a traditional darkroom. The program is open to current and former parents and faculty, grandparents, alumni and adult friends of The Blake School. The sessions will run Tuesdays during May (7, 14, 21 and 28). All sessions will be held at the Upper School (room LL10-12) from 7 to 9 p.m. Questions? Contact Robert Teslow at rteslow@blakeschool.org or 952-988-3712.