What's Up in Wellness?

MARCH 2023

Physical Education 

After February break our hard working school nurses conducted the state-mandated screenings during PE classes (postural screening in grades 6/7/8 & BMI in 7th.) Once complete, students were able to enjoy some pickup basketball time in the gym.

With screenings complete, we are excited to start indoor floor hockey to finish up the winter. 

Health Education

6th - Students are beginning our unit on Decision Making.  As part of this unit, we will be looking at character and the six pillars of character (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship).  As we discuss these aspects of character, we will also be looking at our values, as both are important parts of making good decisions.  This unit will include a lot of class discussion around these topics and then looking at different decision making scenarios that are possible scenarios for 6th grade students.

7th-  Students have been working hard while researching various communicable diseases and common middle school injuries. The goal of our current unit is twofold: first, we hope that students with gather some helpful information about these illnesses and injuries, as well as how to prevent them. Second, and our primary goal, we hope that students will have a lasting ability to access reliable online health information. Students learned how to conduct an 'advanced search' on Google as well as some helpful tips when evaluating the validity of online sources. 

8th- Students have begun a new unit called "Healthy Relationships." We will be discussing the keys to healthy relationships, the importance of communication in a relationship, and the concept of establishing a respectful dating relationship. We will also be discussing the importance of abstinence and the risks of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and the emotional consequences that may accompany sexual behaviors. Students will work through various scenarios to help practice skills in decision making and setting boundaries. 

VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Congratulations to our grade level champions! Each of the teams below were able to emerge victorious in their individual PE classes as well as the morning grade-level tournaments on 2/17. Their reward was playing the Blake Staff later in the day!

6th- Red Crocs

Emeline Doyle, Barrett Roeder, Lia Kenworthy, Kason Kuzyanov, Benjamin Urquhart, Alexander Mann

7th- Ohio Ostriches

Treydon Shu, James Callahan, Leeanne Louis, Meredith Robertson, Josephy De Olivaira, Sarah Marques

8th- Persian Pandas

Colin Wilson, Colin O'Leary, Cecilia Donahue, Hailey Kufferman, Noah Smith

Thanks to all our Blake staff participants: Kristin Manning, Travis Taliaferro, Erin Kearney, Seth Hellerstein, Mary Ellen DuBois, Greg Keohan, Nate Walkowitz, Juli Dalzell, Cynthia McClelland, Brian Gavaghan, Marjorie Heim, Kara Gelormini, Amy Rensko, Michael Gow, Emily Alland & Matt Millard. 

February 2023

Physical Education

Blake PE students continue with their Sport Ed Volleyball unit and are now competing in regular season games. Every team member is working hard to complete their role and daily tasks.  We have seen gameplay improve over the last few weeks and teams are building chemistry and camaraderie.  All teams will soon enter into a class playoff for a chance to play against other class champions and maybe even a team comprised of Blake Staff members. Our annual volleyball championship tournament is set for the day before February Break. We can't wait!

JANUARY 2023

Physical Education

All three grades have begun participating in a 'Sport-Ed' volleyball unit. This is one of our absolute favorite units in Blake PE classes. We take a pre-season approach to skill acquisition with the first three classes. The classes are devoted to building comfort utilizing each of the three primary plays- the 'forearm pass', the 'set' and the 'underhand serve'. Following the pre-season, students will be assigned to a team for the rest of the unit/ regular season. In the regular season, teams will follow a schedule and keep a record of wins and losses. To conclude, a postseason playoff tournament will take place with ALL teams to crown a class champion. 

Within their individual teams students will sign up for a role that they will perform throughout the season. The roles include: Team Captain/Coach, Statistician, Fitness Leader, Equipment Manager and Camaraderie/Spirit Captain. A consistent emphasis will be placed on communication, teamwork and etiquette.

Health Education

6th- Health - Students are beginning a unit on Analyzing Influences.  We are discussing internal and external influences and what makes us who we are.  We are also looking at why we may act differently in various situations, as a result of the influences that are around us.  As part of this unit, we will be identifying student values and showing how they should be a guide for our development as young adults.

7th- Students have been easing back into the classroom with a few extension activities from our 'Self Management' unit. We have been listening to 'Calm' App mindful meditation sessions and worked on a few 'adult' coloring pages- focusing on intricate designs and precise strokes to increase focus and to relax. Students will soon begin a lesson on 'Accessing Information' where the acronym A-C-E-S will be a helpful reminder when looking to identify reliable web sources covering topics related to injuries and illnesses. The acronym (Accurate, Credible/Current, Easy to Access, Supported) is a helpful tool for all individuals to refer to when looking to find trustworthy sources and information.

8th-  Students are continuing with their unit on Accessing Mental Health Information & Services. Students have picked a second topic of their choice and completed research which includes finding relevant facts and local services for help. The end product will be to design a tri-fold brochure (one you might find in a doctor's office or health clinic). So far, the brochures are very impressive and informational! 

DECEMBER 2022

Physical Education

Following Thanksgiving break, December has become a fun mix of many activities in PE. Sixth graders have continued their impressive gamespersonship in the sport of team handball. Their ability to create space by utilizing the entire court, make clean passes and give-&-go has been exciting to witness. In sixth and seventh grade grade classes we have introduced small groups to our ping-pong room where we have 5 tables set up in our multi purpose space off the back of the gymnasium. After concluding our touch football unit, eighth graders have also quickly picked up and enjoyed playing team handball. 

On mild days we have also been taking classes down to the High School track and turf to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air knowing that the winter weather is heading our way and will soon limit our outside time. When we return from winter break we will be excited to begin our 'Sport Ed' Volleyball unit!

Health Education

7th-  Grade 7 students recently completed their 'Self Management' unit. In small groups students shared Google Slides presentations about a particular area of the school student handbook and the expectations for student behavior within. Students emphasized why the expectations were so important and provided suggestions as to how the handbook may be updated and amended. Finally, students wrote letters of gratitude to a member of the Blake community as another means to achieve of unit objective of "Demonstrate behaviors that will maintain or improve the health of self and others." 

8th- We have begun a new unit on Accessing Mental Health Information & Services. Students will be exploring topics such as Depression, Anxiety, Bi-Polar Disorder, OCD and Traumatic Brain Injury. We are also learning about high profile athletes and celebrities who have used their platform to reduce the stigma around Mental Illness. Students will be researching topics while keeping in mind that all sources must meet the "ACES" criteria: Accurate, Credible, Easy to Use and Supported (by data). 

🏈 Turkey Bowl 2022 🏈

The Blake Wellness Staff was fortunate to be able to host one of our favorite traditions heading into Thanksgiving break. The 8th Grade Turkey Bowl consists of a 4v4 one hand touch football tournament and takes place on the MHS turf. This has been a culminating event to our 8th Grade Football unit and is always a great opportunity for students to come together, show spirit and compete in a friendly competition. In addition, we encourage students to bring in canned goods for our local food pantry.

 This year, we had 32 teams for a total of 132 participants. The morning conditions were crisp and cool and we loved seeing the creativity of the "uniforms" different teams put together. We were proud to see so many participants get involved and also showcase many of the skills learned throughout their PE football unit. We appreciate the support of many teachers who helped make it a safe and fun event for all. 🦃

🦃 NOVEMBER - 2022 🦃

Physical Education

6th-  Grade 6 students have recently begun one of our favorite team games; 'Team Handball'. This sport quickly becomes comfortable to students as it incorporates many of the principles of familiar team sports. The games are played on three courts in the gymnasium with 4-6 players on a team. Players may take no more than 3 steps when in possession of the ball, must pass or shoot on net after 3 seconds with the ball, and the ball must be passed 3 times between teammates before shooting on net. The games are spirited and fun and introduce/ reinforce ideas such as 'zone defense', 'creating space' and the 'give & go'.

7th-  Students have been alternating between Disc Golf and 4v4 Soccer. We have been enjoying the outdoors and working on different skills such as dribbling, the "give-n-go" and inside of the foot passing. Disc Golfers are perfecting their backhand throwing for accuracy. Our 9 Hole course has been well-used and we have had scores as low as 19! As temps begin to drop, seventh grade students will also begin a handball unit indoors.

8th- This month students began an eighth grade favorite unit: Football! While many students  come in to the unit with comfort and knowledge of the rules and skills of football, we start with the basics and begin with catching and throwing. 'Capture the Football' was played as a skill reinforcer to help students learn defense, running with the ball, throwing from the safe-zone (pocket) to open receivers and to learn the one-hand touch rule in competition. The culmination of this unit will be a 4v4 'Turkey Bowl' tournament on November 24 open to all 8th grade students. 

Health Education

6th- We are finishing up our SMART Goal Unit.  Students are continuing to refine and work toward their goals.  We have focused in on coming up with plans for success.  Each student is coming up with five things they are doing in terms of deliberate practices, which is what they will do each time they are working toward their goal.  These are the practices that they will be writing about in their goals journal.  The journal will reflect everything they have done to work toward completion and will be an indicator of their level of success.

7th-  Students have been working closely with our school handbook as we continue on with our unit of 'Self Management'. As a class we determined many of the expected behaviors for various school locations and what sights and sounds of each space should be observed when appropriate behavior is on display.  Students were then directed to the 'Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities' in their handbook and completed a reflection about their knowledge of their rights and the status of their responsibilities. In coming weeks students will begin a further analysis of the handbook and a look at such topics as 'Academic Integrity', 'Lunch Protocols', 'Bus Rules', 'Riding Bikes' and 'Mobile Devices'.

8th- Students are wrapping up their first unit on "Self Management" (Substance Use Prevention). We were very fortunate to be able to take our first Health Ed "field trip" to Medfield Outreach. While there, we learned about services available for Medfield students and families. Our culminating project is to create a "Self Care Kit" to visually represent healthy coping skills that work for them. Our next unit will be called "Accessing Mental Health Information." 

☀️ SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022 🎃

Physical Education

6th- To begin the school year students spent time learning the basics of frisbee throwing. The forehand and backhand passes were demonstrated, practiced and put into action on our 9-hole disc golf course. Students were taken through the course and clearly established expected behaviors were communicated.  After a few trips through the course, students were introduced to 'Ultimate Frisbee' to put their new skills into a different type of competitive environment.

7th-  Students in the 7th grade got to fine tune their frisbee throwing skills acquired in the 6th grade and participated in both Ultimate Frisbee and Disc Golf. We were excited to see students strategizing the course and utilizing both the forehand and backhand skills in order to avoid trees, water traps and other obstacles. Ultimate frisbee presented more of a traditional sport experience where team play, creating space and accurate passing were emphasized. 

8th- Our oldest students at Blake enjoyed the tandem of golf & archery in two-week rotations. These have been two activities we enjoy rewarding our more 'mature' classes with. Students were shown proper 'grip', 'swing' and 'stance' for golf and took 3-4 classes to experience driving practice golfballs to the outfield of the baseball field. In archery, students were shown proper grip and body position to ensure safety, consistency and were instructed to follow a series of routine commands with every turn. 

Health Education

6th- We are currently in the middle of our Amazing Race of Goal Setting.  Students are working on writing and progressing toward achieving Health related goals for their sixth grade school year.  We are using the SMART goal skill of goal writing.  Students are producing goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Based and they are writing them for goals that relate to one dimension of Health.  These dimensions include physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and financial goals.  It is exciting to see some of the great ideas that students have come up with during this process.  Students will be creating journals, where they will be keeping track of all the work that they have done toward the completion of their goal.

7th- After being relocated to various spaces for Health class las year due to COVID, students were welcomed back to our traditional Health room and immediately noticed the more inviting and collegial environment. After establishing classroom norms, seating charts and getting to know each other, students began their first unit on 'Self Management'. Throughout this unit students have been evaluated on their ability to demonstrate the following two skills: 

• Explain the importance of taking responsibility for expected school behaviors.

• Demonstrate behaviors that will maintain or improve the health of self and others.

Some of the activities we have enjoyed so far: 'Calm' App mindful meditation session, 'house of cards' building, 'adult' coloring pages, sudoku & word searches. 

8th- The year began with a unit on Self Management (Substance Use Prevention). We have been exploring the topic of Opioids (and other substances) and how they respond to the body. We reflected on a documentary called "Hoop Dreams" which highlighted the rise and fall of Chris Herren, a former Boston Celtics player who struggled with substance use and addiction. Students also worked on case studies to determine different stages of addiction.