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Dear Baker families,
We made it through our first real Chicago coldsnap mostly unscathed! We did have an issue with a heater in our Kindergarten classroom, but our quick-acting maintenance team has it back and running. Schools across the Chicago area weren’t all as fortunate, and we are not out of the woods yet, as there is more cold weather on the way. Our older building requires much oversight and I am happy to announce that we have a new Director of Finance & Operations named Frank Bisconti that is assisting us in this area, along with many other areas. Frank will be joining the incredible Arona Puttrich as she transitions to part-time for the remainder of the school year. Frank comes to us with independent school experience working as the founding CFO of Elgin Science and Math academy as well as Director of Operations at Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, as well as experience in the private sector.
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What does the Director of Finance & Operations do? Well, you’ve all received emails from Arona about tuition payments, but the DFO has oversight over a tremendous range of areas in the school. They are our director of HR, oversee Buildings & Grounds, facilities rentals, a member of the leadership team, interface with the board, and are responsible for all finances of the school! It is a hugely important job, and Arona has done a masterful job of balancing it all for over 10 years! We are eternally grateful for what she has given to the school. She will be key in helping transition everything over to Frank, but it will take some time for him to learn all the workings of the job. If you run into him in the hallways, or receive an email from him for the first time, please take a moment to introduce yourself and welcome him to the Baker community. Starting mid-year is never easy, but we are thrilled to have him aboard!
One of the major activities that happened during this cold weather was Records Day, which is when the faculty work on crafting their narrative reports that you will receive in early February. The narrative report is an essential part of a Baker education and a progressive practice. Here at Baker we use a combination of qualitative and quantitative assessments to provide a robust assessment of student work and progress towards learning goals. These assessments are student-centered, like all of our work, and should give you a sense of where students have been and where they’re headed. The teachers put a lot of time and thought into these reports and they are a valuable component of the teacher, caregiver and student relationship.
Have a great day,
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Mason Rocca (He, Him)
Interim Head of School
P.S. Make sure to grab your Baker Benefit tickets below. It's the annual event to celebrate our school and the community that makes it so special. I look forward to seeing you there.
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What a magical performance it was. Thank you for your patience as we prepared the video from this year's Holiday Sing. Our main camera feed unexpectedly cut out at the end of the program. Thanks to community videographers we were able to edit together the full show. Enjoy the video! | |
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January 19
Chicago Bears Mini Monster Workshop | Volunteers needed - See details below
January 24
BPO Coffee - See details below
January 25
Admissions Open House for prospective families - Learn more
February 14
Baker's Matilda! Dress Rehearsal 9:00 a.m. - See details below
February 15
Baker's Matilda! Performance 6:30 p.m. - See details below
March 8
Baker Benefit - See details below
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 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
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
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February 7, 2024 - Professional Development
- Half Day Care (1:00 - 3:15 pm)
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
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March 14, 2024 - Conferences
- Half Day Care (11:30-3:15 pm)
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
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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 - Early Bird Tickets Available | |
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The Baker Benefit
Friday, March 8, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.
PALMHOUSE
619 Howard St, Evanston IL, 60202
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. More Baker students makes a richer experience for all of us inside 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 or event sponsors
- 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.
Tickets are $125 per person. Early bird tickets are $95 and available for a limited time through 2/9.
Tickets & Information: bakerbenefit.givesmart.com
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Our hope is that our whole school community can participate in the event. If the ticket price is prohibitive for your family, please reach out to and we will work with you.
Questions? Contact benefit@bakerdemschool.org.
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Baker's Matilda! Mark Your Calendar | |
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Mark your calendar for Baker's Matilda!
We're excited for this all school musical performance.
Wednesday, February 14 at 9:00 a.m.
Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Performance
There will be an option for creating a Shout Out for your student in the Matilda! production. Stay tuned for more information soon.
Contact Becky Crawford with questions at becky@bakerdemschool.org.
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Congratulations Baker Bots - Robotics Team! | |
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Congratulations to Baker's Robotics Team, the Baker Bots, on a great season.
This past weekend was the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Sectionals event. While the team did not advance to State, they were awarded the Rising All-Star Award, which celebrates a team that the judges notice and expect great things from in the future.
This marks the end of the season, but just the beginning for this young team. Job well done! Congrats to Ms. Crawford and The Baker Bots: Sunday 7th, Griffin 6th, Aaron 5th, Amir 5th, Silas 5th, Emmy 4th, Lennox 4th & Willow 4th!
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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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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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The Mirrored Door: What Blocks Women’s Careers
January 23, 2024
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
ON ZOOM
ELLEN CONNELLY TAAFFE
Clinical associate professor and the director of Women's Leadership Programming at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
DEEPA PURUSHOTHAMAN
Former senior executive at Deloitte and author, speaker, and founder of multiple businesses
At some point in their careers, many women encounter the “mirrored door” ― the place where, when presented with opportunities, they reflect inward and hesitate, deem they’re not ready or worthy enough to move forward, whether that is to raise their hands or go for the next role. But there is a way to overcome the gendered expectations that girls and women internalize over our lifetimes that create a hidden barrier that keeps them from reaching their full potential.
In her new book The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place, Ellen Connelly Taaffe, clinical associate professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, draws on research, stories from her own career, and those of her students and the mid-late career women she has coached. She explains why the five perils of success ― preparing to perfection, being eager to please, trying to fit the mold, pushing too hard, and patiently performing and expecting rewards to follow ― get women to a certain level, and then may prevent them taking the next step in their careers as expectations rise. She offers a new, empowering framework for navigating the challenges of the workplace with more awareness and expertise.
Taaffe is the director of Women’s Leadership Programming at Kellogg and serves as a director on several boards. She will be in conversation with Deepa Purushothaman, a former senior executive at Deloitte and author, speaker, and founder of multiple businesses. Her debut book, The First, The Few, The Only, was published to international acclaim in 2022. She recently founded the re.write, an unconventional think tank advancing a new story of work. She is also an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School.
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