A Note From Edith

This year’s Scholastic Book Fair will take place from Tuesday, December 9th to Thursday, December 11th in the Newbury Auditorium of the Baker School. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to explore a broad selection of books for all ages and interests, build home libraries, and support our school community. Click here for more information about this year’s Book Fair.

Last June, our graduating 8th graders wore purple “Be a Buddy” shirts to honor their beloved math teacher, Mr. Goldstein. The shirt design, now also available as a sweatshirt, is based on a student sketch from Mr. Goldstein’s whiteboard. Purple was his favorite color and “Be a Buddy” were words he lived by.

This fundraiser, organized by Baker’s 7/8 GSA with support from the Baker School PTO, will help fund student activities that were especially meaningful to Mr. Goldstein.

If you choose to pick up your order at Baker, please plan to collect your order at Baker School on Thursday, January 15th between 2:45pm and 4:15pm.

For more information and to place your order, please see the attached handout.

The Brookline Teen Center is launching Session 2 of its after school program for 4th and 5th graders! The program will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays until January 29th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Brookline Teen Center.

Students will enjoy healthy snacks, receive homework help, 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.

The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is offering a free parent workshop titled The Digital Well-being Playbook on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 6:00pm. Please see below for more information on the workshop and to register:

The Digital Well-being Playbook

Do your kids spend a lot of time on Tiktok, YouTube, or playing Fortnite? Do you as parents struggle to understand everything that is going on in their online lives? You may also be wondering how your own relationship with technology might be healthier. You’re in the right place! Coming out of the pandemic, many of us have spent more time on screens than ever before, and the lines between home, work, and school are blurry, making it challenging to unplug from our devices. Join us as we discuss navigating this balance with tips and tools to:

• Achieve sustainable, positive digital practices with family and at work.

• Optimize your digital habits for better mental health and family connection.

• Prevent and recover from sensory overload and digital overwhelm.

• Positively shift your relationship with your devices so they fuel vs. fatigue your relationships.

About the speaker

Nina Hersher, MSW, is Chief Learning Officer at the Digital Wellness Institute, author of the bestseller, Your Playbook for Thriving in the Remote Work Era, and a highly sought after speaker. A leading expert in Digital Wellness, Hersher holds a specialized Master of Social Work in Digital Culture and Program Development. Hersher is also Co-founder of annual Digital Wellness Day, reaching over 7 million people in 36 countries.

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.

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