Parent News – March/April 2012
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Best Teaching Practices Transform Blake Classrooms
By Rand Harrington Assistant Head of School
New teaching methods, driven by a deeper understanding of learning and advancements in learning technologies, continue to transform our classrooms at all grade levels. Read about some of these new methods currently being used in Blake classrooms.
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Teach Your Child to Seek Help and Use School Resources
By Blake's Director of College Counseling Frank Sachs
College Counseling Director Frank Sachs advises, "When a student struggles, seek help."
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Got Support? I Do — Thanks to Blake Faculty, Administration and Parents
Debbie Norgaarden, Blake parent
Blake parent Debbie Norgaarden shares her experience with Blake's LGBTQ Family Support Group, which meets monthly and is open to parents and guardians from all divisions. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/769jfkm.
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Farewell to Head of School John Gulla: June 1, 2012
Farewell to John: June 1, 2012
OPEN HOUSE
**Date Change**
Come Celebrate! Mark your calendar for Friday, June 1, 2012, from 4-7 p.m. on the Blake campus (Hopkins), when we will honor John Gulla's legacy at Blake. Blake parents, students, alumni and friends of the school are all welcome to join us for food, fun and a fabulous tribute. Invitations to follow. -
Robotics: A Student-led Affair
By Evan Patchen ’14, student engineer
This build season is the first time I have participated in robotics. The build season has been a lot different than what I expected it would be. When I joined, I expected the adults to lead the team in planning and problem solving. Instead, the students designed the robot and solved the problems that arose, together.
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All Aboard! The Back Story on Bus Rides to Blake
By The Blake Transportation Team
Thank you for taking the transportation survey in January. Your in-depth, detailed responses about Blake transportation services are immensely valuable to us. Blake is committed to offering a top-notch program that serves our families’ needs while also reducing our community's collective environmental impact and lessening traffic congestion on campus. Check out some highlights from the survey in the list at the end of this article.
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Faculty Spotlight
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Meet Blake's Middle School Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Financial Aid
By Caryn Schall
Ms. Cheryl Boyd, Blake Middle School’s associate director of Admissions and director of financial aid, lights up like a backyard floodlight when she talks about her family. And that light continues to shine when she talks about Blake, its students, its faculty and its mission.
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Parent Association Updates
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The Blake School Parent Association 2012-2013 Parent Association Officers Elected
The Executive Committee of the Parent Association has elected the following Steering Committee and divisional leaders for the 2012-13 academic year. We also are in the process of filling additional leadership positions for next year. These positions are open to ALL Blake parents, and we would love to hear from you.
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2012-13 Volunteer Leader Sign Up Now Available — We Need You!
Have you ever wanted to be a Parent Association room rep, event chair or parent liaison? There is something on the Volunteer Leadership Form for everyone! Several of these leadership opportunities have flexible time commitments and can be done on your own schedule and/or in the evenings. If you are interested in becoming a leader, but would like to share the joys and responsibilities of being a leader with a co-chair, simply indicate your preference in the "Notes" section of the online registration form (found at http://tinyurl.com/895ccb9). Thank you for volunteering at the leadership level!
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Sustainability at School — A Learner’s Guide
By Paula Riggi, Parent Association President
Have you ever stood before the multiple and varied choices of waste receptacles at the School and not been sure of where to put your empty coffee cup, used paper napkin or soda bottle? You are not alone! Blake currently has three streams of waste: commingled, recyclables, compost and everything else.
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Save the Date for the Parent Association Volunteer Luncheon
All Blake volunteers are invited to lunch on Wednesday, May 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bovey Chapel.
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Applause
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Applause, Applause!
By Caryn Schall
Let's give a round of applause to these students for their outstanding accomplishments!
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Announcements, News & More
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'Drugs and Risk Taking Behaviors' Webinar Airs March 5
The next webinar of the Parent Connect Webinar series will be aired Monday, March 5. (For more information visit http://tinyurl.com/7l4eh8r.) This month's topic is "Drugs and Risk-Taking Behaviors" and is for parents of children aged 13-18. A panel of experts will share current data and highlight trends on athletes, drug use and risky behaviors and give advice on helping student athletes make sound decisions and resist impulsive urges. To register for the live webinar or access on-demand sessions, email Support@CampusOutreachServices.com or call 888-773-7072.
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John Gulla to Keynote LearningWorks Graduation March 10
LearningWorks founders John Gulla and Amie DeHarpporte be the keynote speakers at this year's LW graduation on Saturday, March 10., 10:30-11:45 a.m. on the Northrop campus. Their dual address will mark the last time the program's original architects share the stage before they both end their long tenure at Blake. This event is open to all Blake community members. (Read more at http://tinyurl.com/83g3wfl.)
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Blake's Communications and Editorial Teams Need Your Help!
Please consider taking five minutes today to visit http://tinyurl.com/74djo3s and take a short communications survey. Your responses and ideas will help us prioritize programs, articles and more, next year and beyond. The survey includes questions on what is and isn't of value to you as well as where, when and how Blake families access information. Thank you in advance for your time and feedback.
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Grease is the Word!
A wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom! Grease is coming to Blake, and this year's Upper School musical is causing much excitement. Due to sellout crowds, another show was added on Saturday, March 10 at 2 p.m. in the MPAC (Hopkins campus). If you haven't reserved your seats yet, don't delay! Reservations can be made online now at http://tinyurl.com/86ky5dd.
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The Derby Classic, May 5, 2012
Saddle up for Blake’s biennial all-school fundraiser on May 5! The Derby Classic will be held at a new racetrack — the dazzling downtown Hilton Minneapolis!
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New Athletic Director, Familiar Face
Blake's Athletic Director Search Committee looked far and wide, but in the end the ideal candidate had been here all along. Nick Rathmann, a teacher and multi-sport coach at Blake, will be the school’s next athletic director. He will assume his new role on July 1, as current Athletic Director Jim Lindsay steps down. Read more about Rathmann's appointment at http://tinyurl.com/775v547.
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Blake Welcomes New Advancement Director
Blake has named Chris Clark as the next director of the Office of Institutional Advancement. He will begin his work with the school on April 9. Chris comes to Blake from Carleton College, where he has worked in the development office for 13 years, most recently as the executive director of Carleton’s alumni annual fund and parent giving. (Read more at http://tinyurl.com/88qblk4.)
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Parent Support Group: Student Mental Health
By Upper School Counselor Erin Adams
Blake School Counselors (Erin Adams, Jeanette Gadeberg and Jon Halpern) will host a monthly Support Group for parents/guardians whose child or teen who is managing a mental health concern.
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'Coal' Author Barbara Freese Visits Blake in April
Barbara Freese, author of "Coal: A Human History," will be on campus April 23-26 as this year's Otis Environmental Visiting Author. She will be working with Blake students at all three divisions and campuses and will be the featured Breakfast at Blake speaker on Thursday, April 26.
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LearningWorks Volunteer Opportunities
Learning Works has a couple of great parent volunteer opportunities on the horizon!
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Severe Weather School Cancellations/Early Dismissals
While we will always try to keep school open whenever we are scheduled to be in session, there are rare occasions when the weather requires us to close school for the day or close early on a particular day.
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Lower School (HC & BC) Events You Don't Want to Miss
Mark your calendars and join other Lower School parents at the Highcroft and Blake campus for these important events.
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Middle School Parents – These Items are for You
It's a busy time of year at the Middle School – be sure to come participate in as many of these events as possible.
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Upper School Events That Keep You Linked In
Stay linked to what's going on at the Upper School by checking out the following events and activities.
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