Turkey Trot 2019

Physical Education teacher John Pastyrnak planned the first annual Baldwin School Turkey Trot. He, along with our other Physical Education Teacher, Mr. Gladu had the entire school running. Thank you to Mr. P. and Mr. Gladu, along with Ms. Heidi and Mr. Roderick, all decked out in festive turkey attire. There were so many fun activities thanks to Ms. Isun, Ms. Della Calce, Ms. Lilli, Ms. Leonard, and Ms. Curry. Thanks to our teachers, students, staff and families for a joyful morning. We have so much to be thankful for and this was a great way to celebrate. We are looking forward to this new annual tradition. Thanks Mr. P.!

School

At the Chandler Gallery, every student has art on display. The title of the show is School. This is the description of the show. A motley mixture of coincidence and deliberation united all of us, three hundred thirty-seven individuals, into a school. So many variables played out: families found themselves in this city (for a little or a long time), a district lottery aggregated individuals into a building, and dates of birth placed us into grades and classrooms. Like a school of fish, Maria L. Baldwin School’s students come together at a time and in a place that encourages unity and forward movements. On any given day, our school is a myriad of actions. We are twists and turns and loop-de-loops, we are jumps and jolts and dodges. Read more >>

Celebrate Coding

In December, we celebrate coding! The non-profit Code.org, has created the Hour of Code, a challenge to all students across the world to complete one hour of coding during Computer Science Education Week. Technology teacher, Mr. Beucler engaged students in grades K-2 with an introduction to the world of computer science and doing some coding activities such as Scratch Jr. with students.

3D Space Colonies

These are a few examples of the space colonies created by the fourth grade students in Library Technology class. They were asked to think about solutions for energy, water, and food sources. They designed their colonies using Tinkercad, a 3D design software. Read them >>

Virtuoso

Fifth grader Anna K. wowed the first graders with a mini-concert showcasing her amazing violin talents. She stopped by as part of National Violin Day, and answered questions in addition to playing three wonderful selections. The students of room 208 thoroughly enjoyed the performance by our very own Baldwin Virtuoso!

Library News

Some wonderful learning has been happening in the library this fall!
Kindergarten students did an author study on Margaret Wise Brown. We learned that Margaret Wise Brown was an author, but she had different illustrators make the pictures for her books. We read The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett and learned some interesting things about her life. Did you know that Margaret Wise Brown had pet rabbits as a child? Did you know that Good Night Moon was not popular when it was first written? Read more >>

Welcome Marcy

Look who came to the art show opening! Our longtime staff member, Ms. Curry was recently matched with a service dog, Marcy. Marcy is a NEADS trained dog. NEADS is an organization that provides service dogs directly for people with a disability, but they also train assistance dogs for schools, hospitals, religious ministries and courthouses. The assistance dogs for schools are “...trained in specific tasks that teachers can incorporate into their classroom teaching. The training also ensures that they are always under the control of the handler...” Read more >>

Author Visit for Staff

Author Kathleen Weiler came to a recent faculty meeting to discuss her latest book, Maria Baldwin’s Worlds: A Story of Black New England and the Fight for Racial Justice. She spoke about what a truly remarkable woman Ms. Baldwin was. She was definitely a woman before her time. Ms. Baldwin was a highly regarded educator. She was the first black female school principal in the northeast, and in a predominantly white, middle class school. She was not widely recognized in African American history but she was very instrumental in racial equity during that time. She was an activist in the Boston area fighting for justice in a deeply divided time. W.E.B.Du Bois called her “quiet courage” in everyday life. She was a living example of the capabilities of leading. Throughout her life, she navigated the different worlds humbly and with elegance and purpose. She became a teacher in 1881 and then a principal in 1889. She was named master in 1916, the only African-American in New England to hold that position. One of her students, e. e. cummings said of Ms. Baldwin, "from her I marvellingly learned that the truest power is gentleness."

2020 Curiosity Challenge

Calling all 5 - 14 year olds! Are you curious? Take a photo, write an essay or poem, or draw a picture about what makes you curious. Enter by Friday, February 7, 2020.

Submit your entries at any Cambridge Public School, Cambridge Public Library branch or mail to:
The Curiosity Challenge
c/o MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Community Connections

Makergirl
Baldwin students Liliana and Georgia working with Harvard engineers to learn about computer modeling and 3D printing at Makergirl.

Kindergarten Registration

Do you have a younger child who is ready to start school in Cambridge? Cambridge Public Schools holds the Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Lottery in January.

Sibling families register at school in December.

If you currently have an older child attending this school (grades JK - 4), you receive “sibling preference” but only if you apply during the January Lottery. To make the process easier, JK/K families are able to submit an application at the school during the month of December, rather than at the Family Resource Center.

Please contact Susan to get the forms that are required for registration.

Baldwin Events & Reminders

In Our District & Community