November 22nd, 2022

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, so be patient. 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 that welcomes everyone with a smile and is always looking to help out and resolve any issue that comes their way. They are the glue that connects parents, teachers, students, administrators 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 leads so many wonderful initiatives at our school and organizes 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 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 that guide our school strategically through challenging times. They help me 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 I 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 17 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 whose school experience and expertise is unmatched anywhere in this area. As a relatively inexperienced administrator, I depend on my team in so many ways to teach and consult me on how to proceed. An independent school has so many different dynamics and I am grateful to be surrounded by a team that cares deeply about this school’s success, and knows what it takes to make it run smoothly and well.

I’m grateful for our awesome students that 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’m going to 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.

 

Thank you to the amazing teachers who have made the first month of school a positive experience for my kiddos! They arrive home from school smiling and excited about learning. The creativity, compassion, and skill that you all bring to the table is unparalleled. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!  

 

I couldn't imagine a smoother transition to middle school/new school - thank you so much for all you're doing to help settle the kids into routines, getting to know one another, and all of the other amazing support you're offering them. We are very appreciative. [Name] is loving Baker so much already!

 

Thank you for making your youngest learners feel comfortable from day 1! This was our daughter’s first full day school experience, and she couldn’t wait to go back to play some more with [Teacher’s names]!

 

The warmth of the Baker community is unparalleled. My son feels like he belongs and knows that he is cared about and supported. It really is his favorite place! 

 

I was looking for a happy and an inclusive school and this is what I have found for my daughter. Such a welcoming school and Baker appreciates my daughter and she feels it and she shows it!

 

I have been wanting to write an email about my P-T conference experience so maybe I can just do it here! There were so many times during my conferences that I had to say out loud, "This is why we came to Baker!" 

 

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

Gratitude Notes

I wrote a book, but yours can be short and sweet - we take gratitude in all shapes and sizes!


Gratitude Notes

Middle School Arts Core Share

Pure Baker Awesomeness. Check out these videos and pics from day 2 of our Arts Core Extravaganza!

New Hot Lunch Parent Survey

We are considering bringing back a hot lunch program at Baker, and evaluating different options.  There would be an additional cost to families that opt into this program. We are trying to understand how much demand from our parents there is in this program. Many of the programs have a minimum of number of sign-ups/day to be able to use their service.  

Hot Lunch Survey

Reminder Fall Family Survey

Many of you have already replied, but please take a moment and let us know how things are going for your students and your family.



Please complete and submit survey by December 2, 2022.

Baker Family Survey

Baker Soccer Celebration

Our Baker Soccer team ended their season in celebration! The team, led by Coach Danny Zamudio, enjoyed a team pizza dinner to celebrate their season and the memories!

Baker Fund Update

We are getting so close to our community goal of 80% family participation rate! I can almost smell the chlorine for the

Gym n' Swim party goal!


Goal: $300,000

Total to date: $249,812

Board participation rate: 100% (Lead by example!)

Staff/Faculty participation rate: 96% (Just crushed it!)

Family participation rate: 70% (10% is only 19 students that we need for splish splash, and gym time!)

Family participation rate goal80%


Keep in mind our other challenge of getting our Family Participation Rate to 80% by Wednesday, November 30th. If we reach that goal, we will all celebrate with a Gym n' Swim party on that Friday, Dec. 2nd. Remember any donation amount qualifies for the participation goal.


The chart below shows each class's participation rate up as of today. The 5th grade hit 100%! The race is really heating up for the next class to hit 100% though. 7th grade has a slim lead with 89%, followed very closely by 3rd (88%), 4th (88%), and 1st (83%). We have only 1 week left, so let's finish strong and hit our goal.

Ways to Give

1. Give through PayPal . You may set up a monthly gift if you would like.

2. Donate via Venmo to @BakerDemSchool

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)


Baker Demonstration School is a 501c3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible. 

Calendar Highlights

November 23-25

Thanksgiving Break- No school/No BASE


November 28

School resumes


December 2

School Spirit Friday

Possible Gym n' Swim 5:00 - 7:00 pm (Need 80% Annual Fund!)


December 6 & 7

Baker Book Fair


You can view Baker's public calendar at bakerdemschool.org/calendar

ESCCA Donation Bin

As you pull out your children's winter clothing this year, please consider passing along any items that your family has outgrown to ESCCA to share with school-aged child/children in need within Evanston/Skokie District 65. You or your children can drop items in the bin to the right of the Baker entrance, near the office. Ideally, donations are dropped off before Thanksgiving and distributed throughout the winter. 


ESCCA CAN ONLY ACCEPT: 

OUTERWEAR: Heavy winter jackets, spring/fall jackets, warm vests 

TOPS: Long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, fleece tops 

BOTTOMS: Sweatpants, fleece pants, track pants, joggers, leggings 

ACCESSORIES: Winter hats, gloves, mittens, warm scarves  


ESCCA is especially in need of the following items: 

  • Scarves
  • Snow pants: grade school age sizes: 5-6, 7-8, 10-12, 14-16 16-18, Adult S & M
  • Sweatshirts: sizes 5-6-7, 8, Adult XL, XXL
  • Sweatpants: 5-6-7, 8; Adult Sm, Med, Lg & XL
  • Hoodies/Fleece: Sizes 10-12, 14-16, teen/adult Sm, Med, Lg and XL
  • Boys shirts: Adult sizes Med, Lg & XL, XXL
  • Girls shirts: Adult sizes Med, Lg & XL, XXL
  • Girls Sweaters: sizes 5-6,7- 8,10-12, 14-16, and Adult Lg-XL
  • Leggings: Adult sizes Sm, Med, Lg & XL


Also, we are still in need of 3 volunteers for the November 29th serve date. Sign up with a friend! High schoolers are also able to get volunteer hours through ESCCA. We would love to see a full (4 spots filled) representation from Baker. Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/ocdEujD

Thanksgiving Resources from Baker Parent EqAT

We welcome the spirit of gratitude that surrounds Thanksgiving, and we recognize that, for many in our country, the Thanksgiving holiday is a day of mourning. To support families in shaping a well-rounded shared understanding of the holiday's past, we offer these resources for you and your family to explore:


This article reminds us that Thanksgiving is a day of mourning for many. 

This tool helps us to learn about the land we live on and acknowledge its history. 

This blog post and this blog post are helpful resources for talking with young kids about the real story of Thanksgiving. 

This collection of opinion writings reminds us that the history of Thanksgiving is much more than a single story.

This blog post tells the truth and at the same time centers the beauty of native prayer/gratitude expressions.  

Middle School Night In

Middle School students enjoyed a Friday night at Baker! A special thanks to our middle school leaders for helping organize a fun evening of pizza, treats, and fun!

Baker Library Help

Hello, Baker Families! 

The library could use your help keeping it up and running! This includes shelving books, assisting with the design of bulletin boards, book jackets, and more! Every hand would be much appreciated!


For more information, contact Charles Jones to coordinate.

Baker Book Fair

Baker's Book Fair is approaching for book lovers of all ages! The fair is scheduled to run from 8:00 am-7:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 6th and 8:00am - 5:00pm on Wednesday, Dec. 7th. Volunteers are needed to help with publicity (can mostly be done from home), running the sale on Dec. 6th and 7th, clean up, and some bookkeeping. Come get involved in this event which celebrates our community of readers and gives back to our school! (We will also have an online book purchasing option for those unable to shop in person).

Sign Up

BPO Coffee Social

November Monthly Coffee BPO Coffee Social



Tuesday, November 29

8:30am - 9:30am- Cafeteria


All are welcome! Socialize and hear short updates from the BPO Teams and learn about the work they are doing.



Email: bpo@bakerdemschool.org for more info.

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