|
Dear Baker families,
I’ve talked about the importance of gratitude in a school and community before. Today, I’m going to write a gratitude note to a lot of different people. It’s a long note, but there are a lot of fantastic people to thank! At the end, I encourage you and/or your children to submit a gratitude note as well!
I’m grateful for our front office team of Michelle, Wills and Tyler that welcome everyone with a smile and are always looking to help out and resolve any issue that comes their way - and believe me, lots of issues come their way! They coordinate everything from substitute teachers to logistics for school events to sick children and much much more. They are the glue that connects parents, teachers, students, administrators, visitors, and the maintenance team altogether. Their positive and unwavering energy gets us all in the mood for a great day and sustains us until we leave.
| |
I’m grateful for our BPO that is filled with new leaders, and returning ones. They lead so many wonderful initiatives at our school and organize the incredible, diverse skill sets and interests of our parents. Their support of our faculty and school recharges our faculty and helps us grow and improve the school’s footprint and impact. They help us welcome new families into the community and are ambassadors of our school’s culture and mission both inside and outside of our school. Today alone, they brought 60 pies to Baker - one each for everyone who works here! What an amazing display of generosity and a huge thank you to everyone who contributed (I grabbed a 3-berry one)!
I’m grateful for our maintenance team, led by Juan Valdez, that cares for our wonderful, unique, and idiosyncratic building. They keep it sparkling clean and running smoothly, which is no small task. Some of the systems in place date back to when I was a student, and our team knows them inside and out. They are here before school, after school and on weekends when needed. Their dedication and commitment to our school is essential to keep it running.
I’m grateful for our Board of Trustees, led by Stephanie Hentz that guide our school strategically through challenging times. They help me and the leadership team understand and dive into some of the big picture challenges that go into having a successful school. They dedicate time, energy, expertise and resources to help the school overcome difficulties that arise. They bring many different perspectives to the various issues, and I am confident that if me and the leadership team have their support, we are headed in the right direction.
I’m grateful for our parents and guardians that believe in the mission of Baker and put us in charge of their most precious possessions - their children. They are one of our greatest resources and their contributions sustain us in so many ways. They are our strongest marketers, as word of mouth continues to be the primary source of our new enrollments. They provide financial support with tuition payments and donations without which we wouldn’t be able to provide the school we have. They engage with our teachers to be an essential partner in the growth and learning of our students. Parents and guardians were the ones who banded together 18 years ago to keep Baker Demonstration School going when National Louis University sold the campus - and they are hugely responsible for its continued success.
I’m grateful for our associate teachers, who do way more than support our lead teachers. They guide classes and provide new perspectives to our teachers. They help before and after school. They bring a wide range of talents and experiences to their students and the classrooms. We depend on them in so many ways to give the type of personal attention and classroom experience that is unparalleled in other school environments. They are future progressive lead teachers and we are lucky to have them at this stage in their careers.
I’m grateful for our student services team that have eyes and ears in all parts of our school. They are so attuned to the many needs of our students, but also our teachers and parents. Their influence is profound and their social-emotional and academic supports are delivered with such empathy and attention that students always feel an extra layer of care.
I’m grateful for our administrators who cover so many unseen areas of the school. They make sure that everything runs smoothly, and everyone feels supported from the teachers to the students to the parents. They are all dedicated and hard-working and go above and beyond for the school. I’m grateful to be able to work side by side and learn from them.
| |
I’m grateful for our students, who are all amazing, they are the reason we are all here. Their questions, curiosities, energy, and desires provide the fuel that motors this school. Whenever I am feeling tired or worn down, I just need to pop into a classroom, see their smiling faces, and hear their probing questions, and I’m rejuvenated. They challenge and reward us on a daily basis.
Finally, GIVE IT UP FOR THE TEACHERS! I could go on and on about the teachers, but I've talked enough, and now I'm going to just share some of the gratitude notes I’ve received from other parents this year about them, and you’ll get the message.
We are immensely grateful to you for welcoming [our child] into the Baker community with so much warmth, kindness, and enthusiasm! She had a wonderful first week of school, and you set the tone for that. Many, many thanks!
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and communication in helping [our child] get in the classroom each morning. Each day, she goes in more confidently and bravely thanks to the trust she is building with you!
Thank you for an amazing back to school night! The classroom and your team felt so welcoming and safe which is critical for learning to occur. Your genuine care and love for the students is what makes Baker the best.
We are so grateful to have you at Baker this year! Thank you for your hard work and thoughtful care of [our child] and her classmates, and for nudging her to check in with you at Resource. We appreciate your attention to her and her classmates’ needs, and your responsiveness with us as parents.
[Our child] came home from her first day of music class wanting to lead us in rhythms, and she immediately wanted to listen to the Matilda soundtrack. Thank you for making music such a joyful experience!
We wanted to take a moment to thank you for the variety of ways you contribute to making Baker great. From greeting people in the office to holding a stop sign to teaching our kids how to swim and so much more, you are consistently kind and always positive. We appreciate you.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’m so grateful for this awesome community and school.
Have a great day and a great break,
| |
|
Mason Rocca
Interim Head of School
| |
Inset images: Painted stones from our new Baker Kindness Rocks Garden. Piles of delicious pies generously provided to the staff today by the BPO Teacher Appreciation Team! Baker community at our Solidarity Week assembly. | |
|
We hope you and/or your children feel inspired to share some Gratitude!
Gratitude Notes
| |
|
What an amazing response from the Baker Community to the last matching challenge! We crushed the $15,000 challenge with 38 donors contributing! We are now surging toward our 80% family participation goal. We've crossed the $100,000 mark and we are still going up, but we need more help!
Goal: $250,000
Total to date: $108,311
Board participation rate: 100%
Staff/Faculty participation rate: 67%
Family participation rate: 52%
Family participation rate goal: 80% (To Unlock Gym n' Swim Party!)
Match Remaining: $0
Match Received: $17,183
The chart below shows each class's participation rate up as of today. The competition is heating up! 4th grade is now leading the way with 80%, but 2nd, 5th & 6th are hot on their heels! What grade will be the first to get to 100%?
| |
|
1. Give through PayPal using the link. You may set up a monthly gift if you would like.
2. Give a one-time donation using Venmo.
3. Give with a credit card through GiveSmart.
4. Give by sending a direct payment by check or Donor Advised Fund to Baker Demonstration School (Attn: Advancement Office, 201 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091)
All donations are tax-deductible.
| |
|
November 22 - 24
Thanksgiving Holiday - No School / No BASE Available
November 29
BPO Coffee 8:30 a.m. - See details below
December 6
Early Dismissal 1:00 p.m. / Prof. Development Day / BASE Available
Parent's Night Out at Double Clutch 6:30 p.m. - See details below
You can view Baker's public calendar at bakerdemschool.org/calendar
| |
A Letter From the Board of Trustees | |
|
Dear Baker Community,
During this season of thanksgiving, the Board of Trustees would like to extend sincere gratitude to every member of the Baker community. We are infinitely grateful to the teachers, team leaders, and staff who devote themselves, giving their expertise and heart, to nurturing, seeing, and challenging every Baker student. Your seemingly tireless work enables our children to explore, learn, and grow into their best selves. Thank you to the leadership team that supports the school's operations and educational mission; your work allows Baker to continue to shape future generations of children. To our Baker families, thank you for dedicating your time and talents as room parents, on BPO committees, on the spring benefit committee, and as parent ambassadors. And, finally, thank you to the entire community generously donating to the Baker Annual Fund, as we continue our work to ensure that Baker will thrive far into the future. Together, our collective efforts build a positive learning experience for our students, rooted in the principles of progressive education.
We wish each and every one of you a peaceful, healthy, and restorative season with loved ones and those you hold dear.
With warmest wishes,
| |
|
Stephanie Hentz
Chair, Baker Board of Trustees
| |
BASE (Baker After School Enrichment) Registration | |
|
BASE Winter Enrichments - We are looking forward to announcing the new session of enrichment options for families in early December, please be on the lookout here in the BASE section of the bulletin for more details!
The Winter Enrichment session will run January 17 - March 22. BASE care begins January 8.
Registration for Bonus Day on December 6 is open and accepting registrations.
Click HERE to access the registration page.
December 6 - Professional Development
- Half Day Care (1:00 - 3:15 pm)
- Fun Swim
Questions? Please contact Erin at esteiner@bakerdemschool.org or at ext. 5823.
| |
Baker Summer Discovery Camp | |
|
Baker Summer Discovery returns for yet another exciting year of fostering friendships, embracing the great outdoors and engaging in immersive camper-driven activities! Explore below for weekly session dates and pricing details. Camp registration opens on Friday, December 1st at 10am. Registration will be accessible here.
Take advantage of our discounted early-bird registration fee, available until January 31, 2024. After this date, fees will be subjected to an increase, so secure your spot early for an unforgettable summer adventure!
| |
|
Session 1: June 17 - June 21 | $380*
Session 2: June 24 - June 28 | $475
Session 3: July 1 - July 3 | $285*
Session 4: July 8 - July 12 | $475
Session 5: July 15 - July 19 | $475
Session 6: July 22 - July 26 | $475
Session 7: July 29 - Aug 2 | $475
*Sessions prorated: No camp 6/19, 7/4, 7/5
| |
Thanksgiving Resources from Baker Parent EqAT | |
|
We welcome the spirit of gratitude for the harvest festival that for many Americans has become Thanksgiving.
At the same time, we recognize that, for many in our country, the Thanksgiving holiday is a day of mourning that recalls the erasure of Indigenous ways of life, and a promotion of a misleading narrative about meetings between Native people and white colonizers.
Here are ways that some Baker families shine a light on the truths of the Thanksgiving narrative while also retaining family rituals of gratitude and togetherness:
READ TOGETHER This collection of opinion writings that remind us that the history of Thanksgiving is much more than a single story.
SET A THANKSGIVING TABLE that honors Native stewardship of our lands. (See inset photo above.) Here is a placemat idea from Ms. Toole to be used at your event as a conversation starter.
GIVE THANKS for the caretakers. Explore this map together to see who originally inhabited your neighborhood and took care of the land you now inhabit.
WATCH/LISTEN to Native voices 11 a.m. CST LIVESTREAM the annual Plymouth Rock protest, begun in 1970.
SPEAK ALOUD Native prayers and expressions of gratitude for the harvest and the natural world with this blog post.
COMMIT to learning more about the Chicago-area Native community—one of the country’s largest. The Mitchell Museum website is a great place to start! Or check out the Field Museum’s permanent exhibit, Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories.
| |
|
The BPO (Baker Parents Organization) will be hosting a BPO Coffee. Please drop in after drop off.
All are welcome! This is a chance to socialize with other parents and hear short updates from the BPO Teams. No RSVP needed.
November BPO Coffee
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Baker Library
Questions contact bpo@bakerdemschool.org.
| |
|
Come toast the holidays with fellow Baker parents!
Wednesday, December 6th
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Double Clutch Brewing Company
212 Ashland Avenue, Evanston IL
Enjoy food and drink while socializing with new and old Baker friends. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Baker. Please RSVP here. Double Clutch will reserve a section for Baker -- please RSVP by 12/1 if possible, so we have a good head count.
Questions contact nicolejoy.berger@gmail.com
| |
BPO Community Service - Food & Diaper Drive | |
Baker, thank you for your generosity! We received hundreds of food items and were able to fill eleven baskets for Connections for the Homeless. Plus we had a bins full of diapers to give to Bundled Blessings. Thank you for all your support! | |
|
Take a look at these awesome t-shirts we made for our GSA! We ordered extra to sell to our faculty and due to popular demand, we have printed extras to sell to our community! Shirts are $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
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Love Every Day: 365 Relational Self-Awareness Practices to Help Your Relationship Heal, Grow, and Thrive
Monday, November 27, 2023, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
On ZOOM
ALEXANDRA H. SOLOMON, PH.D.
Award-winning author of two books, podcast host, professor, and licensed clinical psychologist, The Family Institute at Northwestern University.
ESTHER PEREL
Psychotherapist, podcast host, and New York Times bestselling author
In Love Every Day: 365 Relational Self-Awareness Practices to Help Your Relationship Heal, Grow, and Thrive, relationship expert and best-selling author Alexandra H. Solomon, Ph.D. (FAN ’20) offers 365 daily practices to cultivate a curious and compassionate approach to your relationships with others, as well as your relationship with yourself. Inspired by her popular Instagram feed and grounded in her life-changing approach to relationships―Relational Self-Awareness―each practice in Love Every Day will help you understand the impact of your past (and your partner’s past), get your needs met, enhance intimacy, improve communication, and address relationship problems.
Dr. Solomon is a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, and she is on faculty in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, where she teaches the internationally renowned course “Building Loving and Lasting Relationships: Marriage 101.” She is the author of two best-selling books, Loving Bravely and Taking Sexy Back. Dr. Solomon is frequently asked to talk about relationships with media outlets like The Today Show, O Magazine, NPR, The Atlantic, Vogue, and Scientific American. She is the host of the weekly podcast Reimagining Love. Read More.
| | | | |
