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Dear Baker families,
The joys of my role at Baker are quite unique when compared to those of other staff members. I’m lucky in the fact that it feels like I get to have a small influence in many cogs of the Baker machine—if you ask your kids what I do here at Baker, I’m sure you’d get a wide variety of answers, ranging from middle school math teacher, to the person always touring folks around the building, to the guy who is easy to talk into tag at recess. Recently, I’ve gotten my hands on another exciting opportunity, which is leading Baker’s Rockets for Schools team.
Rockets for Schools gives middle school students the opportunity to build and launch a six-foot-tall, high-powered rocket as a team. Not only do students get to design the exterior of their rocket, they get to design a payload to send up in their rocket, which will hit an altitude of 3,500 feet over Lake Michigan!
Part of what enticed me to sponsor Rockets for Schools this year is the excitement that I get from seeing the amazing ideas that our Baker students come up with every single day. I don’t know what our rocket will look like yet, and I have no idea what the payload will entail (other than that it will be less than 1.5 lbs. and contain no live animals, as per the two competition rules). I do know, though, that I will be overjoyed to witness every step of the process and see what these future engineers and designers come up with.
As a rocketry beginner myself, I cannot guarantee that Baker’s team will win the Rockets for Schools competition this year. I can guarantee, though, that our middle school students will find endless ways to wow me as they start this fun and challenging experience. I can already envision the excited faces of our team members on launch day in Sheboygan, and I, just the guy who influences a few cogs, get to witness the power of what opportunities like this within a progressive environment can do to shape the engineering journey of a pretty great group of students.
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Yours,
Owen Ellis
Admissions, Advancement, & Data Support Specialist/MS Math Teacher
He/Him
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February 23
All School Swim/Run-a-Thon - See details below
February 28
BPO Coffee hosted by Parents EQAT - 8:30 a.m. - See details below
February 29
8th Grade Graduation Parent Meeting via Zoom - See details below
March 1st
Deadline to decline re-enrollment for '24-25 school year - See details below
March 8
Baker Benefit - See details below
March 14
Parent Teacher Conferences Early Dismissal/ Base Available
March 15
Parent Teacher Conferences 8-2pm/ No School - BASE Available
You can view Baker's public calendar at bakerdemschool.org/calendar
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2024-25 Re-Enrollment Reminder | |
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Amidst the planning and preparations already underway for the new school year, we are sharing this courtesy reminder that March 1, 2024 is the deadline for declining re-enrollment for 2024-25.
If, for any reason, your 2024-25 plans have changed, please note that enrollment contracts and tuition assistance must be formally declined in writing by March 1, 2024. This may be accomplished by completing and submitting this Enrollment Decline Form 2024-25.
See communication sent on 12/15 for more details
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Black Lives Matter at Baker | |
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Next week, Feb. 26-March 1st, Baker will be recognizing Black LIves Matter at School Week. BLM at School is a national coalition organizing for racial justice in education that started in 2016 in Seattle schools. As we grow as a school and community, BLM at School Week is just one of many intentional experiences that provide an opportunity for essential conversations and practices that can help us to work towards racial justice. We anticipate that BLM Week will be a powerful time of dialogue, empathy, and thoughtful reflection.
Why We Participate
The Black Lives Matter movement began as a response to police brutality, state-sanctioned violence, and injustice against Black people. It is also dedicated to affirming Black people’s “contributions to this society, humanity, and resilience in the face of deadly oppression.” Participating in the BLM at School initiative aligns with Baker’s mission and ongoing commitment to equity and justice as an inclusive and anti-racist school. Racial equity will not happen if people are unwilling to talk about race—and this week is another step on our journey together. By participating in BLM at School Week, we are living our commitment to progressive practice in order to create a more just and equitable present and future. Our commitment is to weave the social justice standards into all we do so at Baker. Although we recognize and celebrate Black History Month and BLM at School Week, this powerful work is embedded into our curriculum year round.
How We Participate
Throughout the week, morning announcements by students will highlight the 13 principles of BLM in schools. Classrooms and/or buddy groups will engage in developmentally-appropriate activities connected to these principles 13 Guiding Principles — D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice along with connections to the Kingian principles of Non violence we have been learning about starting with our MLK assembly in January. Throughout the school hallways, you will see representations of this work from PreK through Middle School. To help continue these conversations at home, we have created a Padlet of resources for parents to use at home with their children. See the link below.
How Parents & Guardians Can Participate
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BASE Bonus Days this Winter | |
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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
March 14, 2024 - Conferences
- Half Day Care (11:30-3:15 pm)
- Fun Swim (Kinder - 8th)
March 15, 2024 - Conferences
Questions? Please contact Erin at esteiner@bakerdemschool.org or at ext. 5823.
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Baker Summer Camp - Counselor in Training Program | |
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Baker Summer Discovery Camp 2024 Counselor in Training Program is open!
Our Counselor in Training (CIT) program was created to give campers in rising 7th-9th grade the opportunity to gain leadership skills and learn the basics of working with younger campers, with the help of counselors and lead instructors. CIT’s should come to camp looking to learn and grow as leaders and have shown to be positive people models who show initiative and can hear and respond affirmatively to constructive feedback. CIT’s will swim daily with at least one group of campers and will provide support in other areas such as movement, art, music, group time and lunch times. Sign up HERE.
Interested CIT’s should complete the CIT INTEREST FORM (will be sent via email from summer@bakerdemschool.org after sign-up) to help us appropriately place them within our camp.
30 service hours will be provided for each week of camp.
Questions? Please contact summer@bakerdemschool.org.
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Baker Benefit - Happening Soon! | |
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The Baker Benefit
Friday, March 8, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.
PALMHOUSE
619 Howard St, Evanston IL, 60202
We recommend cocktail attire but ultimately, just be as festive or comfortable as you wish!
Tickets & Information: bakerbenefit.givesmart.com
Tickets are $125 per person.
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What is the Baker Benefit?
It's a fun adults only night out. 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!
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!
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Please submit auction items by Sunday, February 25. The Auction will go live soon!
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 or attend.
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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Thank You to Our Sponsors | |
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On Friday, February 23, the Student Leadership Team will sponsor the annual Swim & Run-a-thon. This event will take place during regular school hours. All students in grades PreK through 8th will participate by either swimming or walking/running.
This year, student leadership has chosen Cradles to Crayons as our charity to support. Cradles to Crayons Chicago and the Chicago Furniture Bank are partnering with New Life Centers for Chicagoland families and individuals currently in shelters, and those transitioning to housing, resettlement, and self-sufficiency. This partnership was developed to support all unhoused individuals in Chicagoland, including New Arrivals, or asylum seekers who have been arriving in our city throughout the last year. Cradles to Crayons will be collecting new and gently used clothing, Chicago Furniture Bank will be collecting new and gently used furniture, and New Life Centers is helping connect New Arrivals and those facing financial challenges to resources such as housing, food, clothing, and other essentials.
Students may donate up to $25 of their own money to Cradles to Crayons. Donations can be brought in on the event day, sealed in an envelope with their name and their teacher's name on the front or submitted to Baker via Venmo. Please note that this monetary donation is completely VOLUNTARY; participation in the Swim/Run-a-thon is our main focus.
Families are invited to view the event from either the balcony of the gym or gallery of the pool. See the schedule here or below. With the short time window to give everyone a chance to participate, spectators will not be allowed in the gym or on deck.
Thank you for your support and participation in this year's event. It is sure to be a great one!
The Student Leadership Team
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Autographed Books Available | |
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Karla Valenti, a children's author, will be hosting presentations on February 23rd and February 29th for our kiddos about her illustrations, her Hispanic Heritage, and magical realism; this will encourage students to read, write, and to explore art more. If you would like to purchase an autographed book, you can use this link. Books are available through the local bookstore, Booked.
Questions contact Charles Jones at cjones@bakerdemschool.org.
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Thank you to EQAT Parents Team for hosting!
EQAT (Equity Action Team) will be attending and discussing upcoming EQAT events and ways to support the work the Faculty EQAT Team is doing. We will also have time to socialize with other parents and hear short updates from the other BPO Teams. No RSVP is needed, just drop in. We would love for you to attend.
February AM BPO Coffee Meetup
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Baker Cafeteria
Questions contact bpo@bakerdemschool.org.
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Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being
February 29, 2024
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
ON ZOOM
SUE VARMA, MD
Psychiatrist, cognitive behavioral therapist, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University Langone Health
TARA LIPINSKI
1998 Olympic gold medalist in figure-skating, actress, sports commentator, documentary film producer, and philanthropist
Sue Varma, MD, the first medical director treating first responders and civilians for PTSD, depression, and anxiety at the World Trade Center Mental Health program (WTC MHP), made a fascinating discovery: she realized that fostering an optimistic mindset firmly grounded in reality is crucial for making wise and reasonable decisions. In her debut book, Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being, Dr. Varma blends philosophy, personal experiences, and the latest research in psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and neuroscience to guide readers on a path toward resilience and personal growth.
Optimists tend to achieve more success, report higher incomes and job satisfaction, adopt healthier habits, build stronger relationships, and experience greater overall life satisfaction, ultimately leading to increased happiness. Practical optimists are resourceful, realistic, and thoughtful problem solvers who possess something of rare value: the inner resources to cope during a crisis and to use as fuel to flourish. Practical optimism is a transformative approach to experiencing greater meaning, mastery, and acceptance.
Dr. Varma is a distinguished psychiatrist and cognitive behavioral therapist based and holds the position of Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University Langone Health. Her accomplishments have been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, where she was named a Distinguished Fellow, the highest honor bestowed upon its members.
Dr. Varma will be in conversation with Tara Lipinski, the internationally acclaimed American figure skater. At the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, Lipinski became the youngest female to capture the Olympic gold medal in figure-skating. She now has new roles as a sports commentator, an actress, a documentary film producer, a philanthropist, and more.
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