A Note From Edith

The communication below provides important information from the Edith C. Baker School.

Translations and accessibility options are available at the top of the page.

Principal's Message

Dear Baker School Families and Friends,

As we wrap up our first full week of school, I want to take a moment to reflect on how smoothly the year is getting underway. It has been great to see our students engaged in learning, settling into their routines, reconnecting with old friends, and forming new connections.

In these early weeks, we are placing a strong emphasis on building consistent routines which are an important foundation for student success. A predictable daily rhythm helps students feel secure, promotes better focus, and prepares them for each school day. Working together to reinforce these routines at home and at school ensures our students are well-rested and ready to learn.

In this “Note from Edith,” please find some important announcements and reminders regarding:

New staff at Baker
Open House dates
Student information verification
Brookline Thrives
After school programming at the Brookline Teen Center
A message from the Baker School counselors
Cell phones and other electronic devices
Volunteers wanted for 2025-2026 school play
A message from the Baker School PTO
Arrival and dismissal procedures

New Staff at Baker

We are excited to introduce and warmly welcome the following new educators who have joined us this school year! Each of them brings unique talents and experiences that will enhance our learning community.

Cynthia Sperl- Grade 8 Teacher
Lauren Manning- Grade 8 Teacher
Kevin Maguire- Middle School French Teacher
Carolyn DiPierro- English Language Education Teacher
Megan Sheehy- Music Teacher (long-term substitute)
Lily Chen- Special Education Teacher
Brooke Meehan- Special Education Teacher
Haeyoung Koh- Special Education Teacher
Miranda Tygert- Special Education Teacher
Katherine Newman- Learning Center Paraprofessional
Dante Wycoff- Learning Center Paraprofessional
Phoebe Van Soest- Northeastern co-op

Open House

Open House provides an opportunity for families to meet their child’s teachers, explore the curriculum, and learn about the upcoming school year. Further details and specific information will be shared by your child’s teachers. We look forward to seeing you and working together to make this a great school year!

Open House Dates

Kindergarten: Thursday, September 25th at 4:30pm
1st Grade:

1B and 1D: Wednesday, October 8th at 8:15am
1L and 1P: Friday, October 10th at 8:15am

2nd Grade: Thursday, September 25th at 5:15pm
3rd Grade: Thursday, September 25th at 5:00pm
4th Grade: Thursday, September 25th at 4:45pm
5th Grade: Thursday, September 18th at 4:30pm
6th Grade: Thursday, October 9th at 6:00pm
7th Grade: Wednesday, September 17th at 8:15am
8th Grade: Friday, October 3rd at 8:10am

Student Information Verification

Each school year, the Public Schools of Brookline requests families to verify important medical, contact, and consent information for their students. Keeping this information accurate allows for effective communication about school and district updates. Please complete the Student Contact Verification Form to update emergency contacts, medical details, and communication preferences. For more details on how to update this information please click the button below.

Student Information Verification

Brookline Thrives

Brookline Thrives is back at Baker! Thrives is a free weekend food program for any and all school families who may benefit from additional food options for their children over the weekend. No qualification is necessary.

Important information about Thrives bags

Each bag contains two breakfast items, two lunch items, milk, fruit and snacks.
Everything is shelf-stable, single-serve portions. Nothing needs to be refrigerated.
Thrives can also accommodate most major food allergies and dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and Kosher.
Families may take bags for ALL children in their household, even if they attend different schools or are too young for school.
Families can start and stop receiving Thrives bags any time during the school year.

Choose to have Thrives bags delivered to your student at school OR pick up bags in person on Fridays.

If you want Thrives bags delivered to your student at school, you must register. Registrations from the previous school year do not carry over. Click here to register online or get a paper form from the Main Office.

If you prefer to pick up bags in person on Friday afternoons the location is 226 High Street, Community Room (map) from 5:00pm- 6:00pm

Click here for more information or email thrives@brooklinefoodpantry.org.

After School Programming at the Brookline Teen Center

The Brookline Teen Center, a community hub and gathering place for teens in Brookline, welcomes students in grades 6 through 8 after school between until 7:00pm. The Teen Center provides shuttle van service from Baker School to the Teen Center and parents/guardians will be responsible for picking up or giving permission for their child to walk home from the Teen Center.

Please see the attached flyer for more information and to sign up.

pdf

insert_drive_file

Brookline Teen Center.pdf

Download

10.2 MB

A Message from the Baker School Counselors

Greetings from the Baker School Counselors! Below is information about winter coats, financial assistance for school pictures and financial assistance for the Scholastic book fair. If you are interested in financial assistance, please contact your child’s school counselor directly by September 19th.

The Kid Clothes 2025 Application for Winter Coats

As the winter months approach, it is time for us to check-in with families that may need a scholarship/s for a winter coat through The Kids Clothes Club 2025. The Kids Clothes Club is a local nonprofit agency that makes new, warm winter coats available at no cost to families in the Greater Boston area. For your convenience, we have linked the portable document format (.pdf) here for your use: Kids Clothes Club Application 2025. We ask that families in need complete this form and return it to your child’s school counselor by Friday morning, September 19th, 2025. It is important that you review the sizing information carefully on the Kids Clothes Club application. In previous years coats have run small. Please consider a larger size if you are unsure or your child(ren) is close to the upper end of the size chart.

School Picture Financial Assistance

(School Picture Date: Tuesday, October 7th - more information coming soon!)

If your family is in need of financial assistance for school pictures, please contact your child’s school counselor by Friday morning, September 19th. The school counselors’ contact information is listed below.

Book Fair Financial Assistance

(Book Fair date to be announced)

If your family is in need of financial assistance for the Book Fair, please contact your child’s school counselor. The school counselors’ contact information is listed below.

Baker School Counselors:

Alexa Cuff, Grades K-2: alexa_cuff@psbma.org; 617-879-4518
Jeanette Sergeant, Grades 3-5: jeanette_sergeant@psbma.org; 617-879-4531
Katy Sazama, Grades 6-8: katy_sazama@psbma.org; 617-879-4515

pdf

insert_drive_file

2025 Kids Coat Order Form.pdf

Download

124.5 KB

Cell Phones and Other Personal Electronic Devices

Please find below information about our practices around student cell phones and personal electronic devices.

Away for the Day

During the school day, cell phones and other electronic devices (e.g., smart watches) may not be used anywhere in school. Please know that cell phones and personal electronic devices are not required resources for students at school. There are times, however, when a teacher might ask students to use a phone during class in service of learning. This is rare as we prefer to use the technology we have available in all classrooms.

Please know that any message you wish to leave for your child on a cell phone will be received after school. If you need to communicate with your child during the school day, please contact the Main Office. If a child needs to contact a parent/guardian during the day, they will be directed to go to the Main Office. Please do not call or text your child during the day; if you need to reach your child, please call the Main Office. We’ll be happy to connect you with your child.

It is our hope that this practice will help create a more positive learning environment and allow students to be more engaged in classroom activities and less likely to be distracted by non-school activities.

Volunteers Wanted for 2025-2026 School Play

Are you a fun and creative person? Does helping to design the set and props for the Baker Play sound exciting? The Play Program is looking for 2-4 parent/guardian volunteers to work together, alongside Ms. Sharif, from December through mid-March to create the sets and props for next year's school play. You do not need to be an artist or have any specific skills.

The time commitment would be a couple of hours 1-2 afternoons/week, with a bit more in March as we head towards our performance week. Volunteers can come from any grade level and would be working with each other as well as with groups of responsible and wonderful 7th & 8th graders. The play is an important piece of our middle school program and the success of the play is dependent upon the partnership between the students on the stage and the sets and props that are created for them to work with. We cannot do the play next year without volunteers to coordinate the crew and their activities. Working on the play is really rewarding and is so much fun!

If you think you might be interested or you have any questions, please reach out to Yasameen Sharif (6th grade teacher/play director) at yasameen_sharif@psbma.org.

A message from the Baker School PTO

We’re excited to welcome you to a new school year! Here’s how to get involved and stay connected:

Stay in the Loop: Sign up for the PTO newsletter and let us know your kids’ grades so you get the most relevant updates!
The Baker PTO Event Calendar is live on our website—check it out and add all our events to your calendar for the year!
Baker Gear is Here!: PJs, tumblers, hoodies & more— perfect for spirit days and cozy weekends.
Parent Social + Annual Fund: Mark your calendar for our upcoming Parent Social— Friday September 19th 6:30-9:00pm at One Hancock Village Drive, Chestnut Hill. Tickets: $15 (funds support PTO-sponsored activities @ Baker). Support our school through the Annual Fund!

Morning Arrival and Afternoon Dismissal Procedures

Morning Arrival

Students can enter the building starting at 7:55am, with classes beginning at 8:00am. If arriving late, please proceed to the Main Entrance for late check-in.
Be sure to adhere to grade level and waiting area protocols. Please review the attached Edith C. Baker School Entrance Map, if needed. There are designated entrances and waiting areas based on grade-levels and classrooms.
If you are dropping off your child(ren) in the front loop, please remember to pull all the way through the front loop before letting your child(ren) out of your vehicle. Be sure to have your child(ren) exit your vehicle on the right-hand side of your vehicle. Stay aware of your surroundings and pay attention to the Baker School personnel directing driveway traffic each morning.
Breakfast is served in the Edith C. Baker School cafeteria every morning before the start of school beginning at 7:30am. Students having breakfast are to meet at the Main Entrance door between 7:30am and 7:45am and will be brought to the cafeteria. Students arriving after 7:45am must wait outside at their grade level or classroom waiting area. Please review the attached Edith C. Baker School Entrance Map, if needed.

Afternoon Dismissal

All students are dismissed at 2:30pm on Mondays through Thursdays and at 1:40pm on Fridays. Students may only remain in the building after dismissal if they are participating in a supervised after-school activity.
Students will be dismissed from the same location used during morning arrival. Please review the attached Edith C. Baker School Entrance Map, if needed. There are designated entrances and waiting areas based on grade levels and classrooms. Students in kindergarten and grade 1 must be dismissed to an adult caregiver.

Parking

Please remember that the Faculty Parking Lot is reserved exclusively for faculty and staff during school hours, morning arrival, and afternoon dismissal. We kindly ask families and visitors to utilize the available parking along Beverly Road when dropping off and picking up students. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

pdf

insert_drive_file

Entrance Map 2025-2026.pdf

Download

464.3 KB