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 September comes to a close and fall settles in, our school routines are taking shape, creating a positive and productive start to the year. This month, we gathered for our annual Convocation ceremony, where we enjoyed musical performances and heard inspiring reflections from our 8th graders on our school motto: “Work Hard, Be Kind, Help Others, Build Relationships.” Convocation continues to be a special tradition that officially kicks off the school year and provides a moment to welcome our newest community members, our kindergarteners, new students, and new staff, into the Baker School family.

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

Picture day
The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY)
ELE Open House and Fall Family Fun event
Student information verification
Brookline Thrives
New after school programming at the Brookline Teen Center (Grades 4-5)
After school programming at the Brookline Teen Center (Grades 6-8)
Volunteers wanted for 2025-2026 school play
Arrival and dismissal procedures

Picture Day

Picture Day is Tuesday, October 7th, 2025

Order your photo package now at www.coffeepond.com, or submit a paper order form on Picture Day (orders placed after Picture Day may be subjected to a $8 handling fee)
Class group photos will be delivered when retake packages are shipped to the school
Call for Volunteers: Picture Day needs you! Please sign up here.

pdf

insert_drive_file

2025 Baker School Online Ordering Guide.pdf

Download

111.0 KB

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.

ELE Open House and Fall Family Fun Event

The Baker ELE team is excited to host their annual ELE open house on Friday, October 3rd at 8:10am in the Baker library. Come learn more about the ELE program, meet the team, and ask any questions you may have. Also, on Friday, October 17th from 1:45pm to 2:45pm, join the ELE team for their third annual Fall Family Fun event in the Kindergarten courtyard. There will be pumpkins to paint, snacks to enjoy, and plenty of time to connect with other EL families.

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.

New After School Programming at the Brookline Teen Center (Grades 4-5)

The Brookline Teen Center is launching a brand new program just for 4th and 5th graders! The program will run on Thursdays until October 30th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Brookline Teen Center.

Students will enjoy healthy snacks, receive homework help from trained high school junior and senior mentors, and take part in engaging enrichment activities like STEM, art, music, cooking, and sports. The program is designed to provide a safe, supportive, and fun environment that combines academics, mentorship, and enrichment.

Program Fee: $180
Register here: Sign Up Link

Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up soon! Please see the attached flyer for more information.

pdf

insert_drive_file

Grades 4-5 at the BTC.pdf

Download

122.3 KB

After School Programming at the Brookline Teen Center (Grades 6-8)

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

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.

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