The Blake School

Last week, our sixth graders capped off their social studies Blake Tank project when they presented the social innovation plans they developed to address issues in the local community. Special thanks to the 28 Blake community members and social innovation experts who served as judges (or “Bears”), asking questions and giving feedback over the course of the week of presentations. Each of the six social studies classes selected a winning plan, then one group of the six was voted the overall Best Blake Tank Social Innovation. Congratulations to our winners and to all our sixth graders on a job well done!

Congratulations to the Blake Quiz Bowl team whose members (pictured l to r) Andres Amador Fitzgerald ‘26, Jack Dillon ‘26, Hazel Alexander ‘27, Charlie Frenzel ‘28 and Liam Schmalstieg ‘27 competed at the national tournament over the weekend. Nearly 1,600 students from 320 teams from across the country were invited to this tournament. Blake ended with a 5-5 record, just one win shy of the playoff rounds, and Charlie earned special recognition, winning a Rising Star award for placing among the top 10 highest-scoring 10th graders at the tournament. Way to go, Bears!

As a fun way to build community before the year ends, 40 fifth graders biked to school together yesterday—with one group coming from Minnetonka and another from Minneapolis—then celebrated their arrival with donuts. One rider called the experience “epic,” and most agreed they will definitely bike to school again! 🚲

Advanced Theater Production took a trip to Stages Theater Company and learned about how a fly system works in the theater. Did you know theater fly systems are based on the ropes and lines used in sailing ships?

As part of their Blake Tank social studies project, 6th graders participated in a design thinking workshop led by Dr. Jim Toole, co-founder and president of the Compass Institute. Hands-on activities helped them think more deeply about how to develop creative solutions for real world challenges connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Toole’s visit helped lay the foundation for students to use the elements of design thinking as they developed their own social innovation plans for addressing issues in their local communities. Students are presenting these plans throughout the week to each other and faculty and staff members serving as Blake Tank panelists. Good luck and good work, Bears!

Blake Tank is a sixth grade social studies project through which students explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and examine how collective action and social innovation can create positive human, environmental and economic change.

To launch the program, students heard from nonprofit leaders and changemakers in our local community about how their organizations are addressing real-world issues connected to the SDGs. Thank you to our guest speakers!

And check back here over the next week to learn more about Blake Tank!

Blake seeks an Extended Day program lead and an Upper Elementary specialist teaching assistant for the 2026-27 school year. Both positions work on the school’s Hopkins campus. The Extended Day program lead will provide logistical and supervisory leadership across the after-school Extended Day program and support lunch, recess and coverage duties at Blake’s Early Learning Center. The Upper Elementary specialist teaching assistant supports students in grades 2-5 in specialist area classes, including visual and performing arts, engineering and programming and physical education. Visit blake.mn/employment for job description and to apply.

Blake’s music department has a number of exciting announcements! 1) Upper School has four musicians participating in all-state ensembles—the highest honor for Minnesota’s student musicians—this summer at Concordia College in Moorhead and again at Orchestra Hall next February. Congratulations to Minha Ali ‘27, Ruby Jackson ‘27 and Brynn Lorenz ‘28 (SSAA choir) and Lucy Zhang ‘29 (orchestra). 2) Junior Harry Wallace has been named one of the 24 Triple Threat on Hennepin finalists. After a highly competitive statewide audition process, he is moving on to an intensive week of professional coaching and rehearsals, culminating in a performance at the Spotlight Showcase. 3) And seniors Emily Alexander, Sophia Alexander and Layla Chakhvashvili’s string quartet took third place at the National St. Paul String Quartet Competition last month. They were one of eight string quartets in the finals and the only one from Minnesota. Way to go, Bears!