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Dear Baker families,
Welcome back to school! The first week back from break can sometimes be difficult as everyone readjusts to school rhythms and routines. However, it has already been a great week and it has been fantastic to have the building teeming with energy. I have a lot of exciting updates to share. While most of our faculty and staff were able to take a well-deserved break over the holidays, our maintenance manager, Juan Valdez, and his team were hard at work. Many prospective and current families have remarked to me about how sparkling clean our building feels when they walk in. This sensation is the result of constant hard work and oversight by Juan and his team. They know this old building inside and out and care for it to keep it in top condition. Over break, the team did a deep clean on the building, monitored and tweaked the heating system, and we also refinished the gym floor. This annual maintenance work is essential to protecting the wood and quality of the floor. This maintenance is especially important as the middle schoolers begin one of their most popular Wellness units, which is roller skating! Don’t worry, the middle schoolers use special rubber wheel skates to not damage the floor.
In other positive news, we broke the participation record for the Annual Fund and our total amount is still growing! Over winter break, we also received additional donations from many of our alumni families. While we will still be seeking donations until we hit our goal, we are thrilled to have such amazing participation and generosity from our community. If you haven’t given yet, or want to give more, please reach out so we can keep the momentum going. This support for our work enriches our school in many, many ways. Here are the numbers from the campaign:
Goal: $250,000
Total to date: $154,889
Board participation rate: 100%
Staff/Faculty participation rate: 80%
Family participation rate: 84% (and still growing)
Family participation rate goal: 80%
In this bulletin, you will also see information about our Baker Benefit being hosted this Spring. Last year was our first Benefit in three years, and we held it in the Baker library. This year we are stepping it up in terms of hipness, sophistication and fun. While we all love the Baker library, the Benefit Committee decided to up our game and we’re having it at the Palmhouse! For those of you who have never been there, it is a really cool venue right next to the Peckish Pig. Both Peckish Pig and Palmhouse are run by a Baker family and they’ve generously offered us the space and catering for the event. The goal of this event will be to bring our community together for a fun, adult evening out together. The event will raise funds for our incredibly important tuition assistance program. We are proud to dedicate almost $1,000,000 in aid every year, which is over 20% of our total revenue, and almost 40% of our student body receives some form of need-based aid. This program helps us be inclusive towards families from all ranges of socio-economic situations, which we think enriches our school and stays true to the part of our mission statement that values differences. Part of the benefit involves a silent auction, and we are asking our community to use their networks and help us gather items of all types to include the auction. We’ve put together an easy form to fill out if you have ideas for auction items. Please consider helping us out!!
Inclement Weather Information
We will be sending out a separate email shortly with information about our decision process to close or alter the school schedule based on weather conditions. Please read it carefully so you understand how the decision will be made, and how we will communicate the decision with families.
Have a great day,
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Mason Rocca (He, Him)
Interim Head of School
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January 15
MLK Day - No School / No BASE
January 16
Records Day - No School / BASE Available
January 19
Chicago Bears Mini Monster Workshop | Volunteers needed - See details below
January 24
BPO Coffee - See details below
March 8
Baker Benefit - Save the date!
You can view Baker's public calendar at bakerdemschool.org/calendar
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Admissions & Re-Enrollment | |
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An email went out with important information and dates about sibling enrollment, re-enrollment dates, tuition assistance and deposit information for all returning families. Please read through that email there are important deadlines in January to be aware of.
Important Upcoming Dates
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January 12th - Priority admission application deadline for siblings of current Baker students and new students. Admissions decision to parents by January 31st.
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January 12th - Deadline for tuition assistance applications for 2024-25
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January 30th - Early deadline for current Baker families to confirm re-enrollment for the 2024-25 school year and pay a reduced tuition deposit amount (Note: After January 30, 2024, the tuition deposit amount will increase. Amounts differ depending on whether the family is on tuition assistance or not. Details will be in the January tuition deposit invoice.).
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March 1st - Deadline for current Baker families to opt-out of evergreen re-enrollment contract.
*All tuition deposits are non-refundable.
*24-25 Tuition rates may be found on our website
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BASE (Baker After School Enrichment) Registration | |
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BASE Winter Enrichments
Enrichments will begin next week on Wednesday, January 17th! Space is still available in Game Design (iCODE), Story Squad (Mudlark Theater) + Advanced Swim Lessons (Mr. Wills).
Limited spots available, register today! BASE Registration Page
BASE Bonus Days this Winter
BASE is offering half day/full day care, plus coverage for your scheduled conferences only.
Where do I sign up? Click HERE to access the registration page. All winter BASE days are open for registration.
Winter Bonus Day Specials
- January 16, 2024 - Records Day
- Full Day Care (8:15 - 3:15 pm)
- Print Shop Clinics
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
- February 7, 2024 - Professional Development
- Half Day Care (1:00 - 3:15 pm)
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
- March 14, 2024 - Conferences
- Half Day Care (11:30-3:15 pm)
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
- March 15, 2024 - Conferences
- Full Day Care (8:15-3:15 pm)
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Flying Fox Conservation: Mammals and More
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
Questions? Please contact Erin at esteiner@bakerdemschool.org or at ext. 5823.
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Baker Benefit - Save the Date | |
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SAVE THE DATE
The Baker Benefit
Friday, March 8, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.
PALMHOUSE
619 Howard St, Evanston IL, 60202
Tickets and more event information will be available soon!
The Baker Benefit is our annual fundraising event to benefit The Baker Tuition Assistance Program. Our tuition assistance program benefits many families directly in our community. It allows more families to make a Baker education accessible for their student. And, more Baker students makes a richer experience for all of us within and outside the walls of Baker. Baker students go on to do great things!
What is the Baker Benefit?
It's a fun adults only night out. A chance to dress up a little or a lot. There will be friends, food, drinks, dancing, an online auction with fabulous items, and so more! Everyone who loves Baker or loves a person who loves Baker is invited to attend!
What can you do to help?
- Buy tickets and attend the event
- Sponsor a staff ticket
- Donate an auction item or experience
- Share with possible donors
- Take part in the online auction
Our school community plays a big role in donating items and experiences for our auction. Please help us by contributing yourself and reaching out to spread the word to others you think will want to contribute.
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A Few More Volunteers Needed - The Bears Are Coming! | |
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The Chicago Bears will be hosting a Mini Monsters workshop for our 2nd - 6th grade students.
We are still looking for a few more volunteers to assist with running stations Friday, January 19th from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
If you are interested, please reach out to Rachael Ross at rross@bakerdemschool.org for more details.
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Baker Library - Volunteers Needed | |
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Calling all Library Friends!
We are looking for Baker community volunteers to help organize books and more in our library. To express interest or for more information, contact Librarian Charles Jones at cjones@bakerdemschool.org.
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New this year the BPO will be hosting Coffee Meetups twice a month, and different room parents will be taking turns hosting our events.
We will try a mix of after drop off, before pick up, and ZOOM meetings. As always all parents and guardians are welcome! This is a chance to socialize with other parents and hear short updates from the BPO Teams. No RSVP is ever needed, just drop in. We would love for you to attend.
January AM BPO Coffee Meetup
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Baker Cafeteria
Thank you to the 8th grade room parents for hosting!
Questions contact bpo@bakerdemschool.org.
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BPO Community Service Spotlight - MLK Day of Service | | |
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The Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy.
MLK Day is also the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
No matter the choice, service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. It breaks down barriers by bringing people from different backgrounds together and it benefits those who choose to serve.
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“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” - Dr. King | |
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Take a look at these awesome t-shirts we made for our GSA! Want one? Shirts are available for $20 each and come in adult sizes S-2XL. They run a bit small and are 100% cotton. We have a limited supply so please fill out this form if you would like one for your child or for yourself! You can send cash in an envelope, drop off cash or check in the office or use Baker Venmo @BakerDem Proceeds will support Baker GSA.
Questions? Please feel free to reach out to GSA Advisors: Becky Crawford, Shane Courville, Julie Toole
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Baker Spirit Wear is back and available for purchase online! Place your order today!
Our first Baker Spirit Wear Friday kicks off on Friday, September 8th. Purchase your Baker Spirit Wear today to be ready for Baker Spirit Fridays (and everyday of the week).
How does it work?
1. Click on the link below and look through the items.
2. Please note that this spirit wear is for both kids and adults!
3. Place your order online.
4. Orders will be shipped directly to the buyer's home address listed on the order in 3-4 weeks.
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Strategies to Reduce Risk and Increase Resilience in LGBTQ+ Youth
January 17, 2024
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
ON ZOOM
MELISSA BLITZ, LCPC
Associate Director of the Center of Excellence for Adult Mood & Anxiety programming at Compass Health Center
JOE SERIO, LCPC
Chief Clinical Quality Officer at Compass Health Center
TIFFANY MYERS, LCSW
Social work department chair at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL
FAN has invited Melissa Blitz, LCPC (she/her) and Joe Serio, LCPC (he/his) of Compass Health Center to create a program addressing the complex issues that LGBTQ+ youth face. Our many school and mental health partners ask us for content that would be helpful to students, parents, educators, and clinicians.
In this webinar, Blitz and Serio will delve into specific risk factors affecting this demographic and offer insights into personal, communal, and societal hurdles. They will explore pathways to active allyship, shedding light on opportunities for advocacy. Additionally, they will emphasize the importance of increasing awareness of personal and societal biases, addressing overt, subconscious, and implicit prejudices.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies to empower and build resilience in LGBTQ+ youth, spanning various crucial settings such as home, intrapersonal relationships, school, work, social environments, and broader political and societal contexts. It is crucial to provide valuable insights into both existing and potential opportunities for advocacy efforts on behalf of LGBTQ+ youth.
Blitz is the associate director of Compass’ Center of Excellence for Adult Mood & Anxiety programming, and Serio is the Chief Clinical Quality Officer there. They will be in conversation with Tiffany Myers (she/her), a licensed clinical social worker and the social work department chair at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. Myers has 30 years of experience working in mental health and has spent the last 27 years counseling and learning from her students in a high school setting.
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