A Note From Edith

As the weather begins to turn colder, please know that we make every effort to go outside for recess each day and will continue to do so throughout the winter months whenever conditions allow. Please be sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the weather, with a warm jacket, hat, mittens or gloves, and any other cold-weather gear each day.

Our regular dismissal routines remain the same on Early Dismissal days. The only additional note is for students attending the PTO movie and are enrolled in the Baker School Extended Day Program (BSED). Kindergarten and grade 1 students who attend BSED will be sent directly to Extended Day at dismissal unless we receive written permission stating a different plan. If your child will attend the PTO movie and then go to Extended Day, please send a note that includes the name of the adult responsible at dismissal and how your child will transition from the movie to Extended Day. Please be sure to share this note with your child’s classroom teacher, the Baker School Main Office, and the BSED leadership team.

Our community continues to show tremendous care during a time when many families are experiencing food insecurity and disruptions to SNAP/EBT benefits. The Public Schools will continue providing free, nutritious breakfast and lunch to all students every day, and families needing additional assistance can contact Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline for support in more than 180 languages (projectbread.org/foodsource-hotline). As we approach the holiday season, the Bountiful Birds Program will again offer full Thanksgiving meals to families who may need extra support.

There are also many ways for families to help support others in our community. Current efforts include school-based food drives, the Rosie's Place hygiene product drive at BHS, and the Jennifer Coolfridge Grocery Subsidy Program, which provides grocery gift cards to households in need. Families who are able to contribute can donate shelf-stable foods, pantry items, or gift cards to the Brookline Food Pantry. These contributions help the pantry purchase high-need items at wholesale prices. More information about these efforts and additional resources can be found in the superintendent’s most recent newsletter. Every act of generosity, whether large or small, helps strengthen our community and ensures that all families feel supported during this challenging time.

Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025. If your child missed Picture Day or you are not satisfied with their original portrait, this is your opportunity for a new photo. Please have your child return the original portrait package to the photographer on Retake Day or mail it back to Coffee Pond. If you only ordered a Digital Sharing File, nothing needs to be returned and you will receive a new digital file after the retake.

The Office of Registration and Enrollment (ORE) is holding a special virtual Information Session on Tuesday, December 9 at 6:30pm, for families planning to register their children for kindergarten in the 2026-2027 school year. This event is designed to help guide families through each step of the kindergarten enrollment process and answer questions. Simultaneous interpretation will be available for Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish during this event.

Kindergarten is an important milestone for everyone involved and our staff is here to support families in this transition. The Office of Registration and Enrollment (ORE) is committed to ensuring that all families have a smooth and successful transition into their first day of kindergarten in Brookline. All families will have multiple opportunities to engage with our staff throughout the registration process and are happy to work to support each family with any specific needs they may have.

Please see the attached flyer for more information and to register click here.

Notice for BEEP families: This session is open to the general public. If you're a family with a student currently enrolled in BEEP or that is currently receiving Special Education Services through BEEP, you should have received an invitation directly from the Office of Registration and Enrollment to a separate event designed specifically for your student.

Report cards for the first quarter have been published to the Family Portal. To view your child(ren)’s report card, log in to the Family Portal and in the Published Reports section, you can find and download the report card by clicking on the report icon. If you have questions about your child(ren)'s report card, please reach out to the corresponding educator. If you experience difficulty accessing your Family Portal account, please email datateam@psbma.org for assistance.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, we want to remind families of the PSB Wellness Policy regarding food celebrations. To help keep all students safe, especially those with life-threatening food allergies, and to support healthy habits, classroom celebrations will highlight fun, non-food ways to make the day special. We appreciate your understanding and support.

Regular and on-time school attendance is crucial for any child's academic and social-emotional growth. At the Edith C. Baker School, our goal is to work together to ensure that every student attends school every day, arrives on time, and stays for the full school day. Consistent attendance helps prevent academic setbacks, as missing just two days a month can lead to falling behind and increased stress.

If your child is experiencing challenges with attendance, it's important that we address them early. Whether the issue is academic stress, personal challenges, or other factors, we want to work together to help find solutions..

For more information about attendance in the Public Schools of Brookline, please click the button below.

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.

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