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,

Happy New Year and welcome back! We hope you and your family enjoyed a restful and joyful winter break. As we begin 2026, it's a great time to reset and refocus, both for ourselves and for our students as they return to school.

Returning to routines after time away can take a little adjustment and that is perfectly normal. We appreciate your support in helping your child re-establish healthy sleep habits, morning routines, and a positive mindset as they come back to school. A calm and consistent start to the day makes a meaningful difference in setting students up for success.

With winter weather upon us, we also recommend adjusting morning routines to ensure everyone stays warm and gets to school on time. This might mean setting alarms a little earlier or laying out clothes the night before to avoid any morning rush.

We are excited for the months ahead and look forward to continuing our partnership with you as we support student growth and learning.

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

Cold weather gear reminder
Winter health reminder
The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY)
Student attendance
Arrival and dismissal procedures

Cold Weather Gear Reminder

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.

Winter Health Reminder

In December, our school nurses shared a health update about an increase in flu and strep cases, along with a small number of pertussis cases. Please find attached below the letter and two handouts which provide some helpful information about symptoms, prevention, and when to keep students home from school. If you have any questions, please reach out to our school nurses at (617) 879-4514 or by email at ellyn_mulock@psbma.org or diane_purcell@psbma.org.

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Illness Season Letter.pdf

Pertussis Fact Sheet.pdf

When to Keep Student Home from School.pdf

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A Message from the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY)

The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is continuing to sponsor a free Parenting Solutions Library. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering families with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.

For more information, please see the attached handout or contact MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels at margie@mpyinc.org.

Student Attendance

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.

PSB Attendance Policy and Information

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.

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Entrance Map 2025-2026.pdf

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