As we approach the middle of October, it’s hard to believe how quickly the school year is progressing. Walking through the hallways and visiting classrooms, it’s clear that our students are engaged in meaningful learning and growing each day. I’ve also truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with so many of our wonderful Baxter families.

Please take a few moments to review this newsletter, as it includes important information about upcoming events at Baxter Elementary. As a reminder, there will be no school on October 16 and 17. We look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday, October 20.

Sincerely,

At Baxter Elementary, we are committed to fostering strong character in our students by highlighting a positive character trait each month. In September, we recognized students who exemplified what it means to be respectful members of our school community. Respect is a foundational value that we will continue to emphasize throughout the school year, as it influences how we treat ourselves, others, property, and the learning environment. Congratulations to all of our outstanding Students of the Month for demonstrating this important trait!

For the month of October, our focus is on the character trait of being an Upstander. Upstanders are students who advocate for themselves and others, and who seek support from a trusted adult when faced with challenging or uncomfortable situations. I’m excited to celebrate the many students who consistently demonstrate this important quality in their daily actions.

I am excited to announce the launch of the Baxter Elementary Student Council for the 2025–2026 school year. Our 4th grade students recently had the opportunity to apply for student council by preparing and presenting speeches to their classmates. We look forward to offering a second opportunity for additional students to join the council as representatives during the second half of the school year.

Our student council plays an important role in shaping the culture of our school. As members, students will take part in a variety of activities, including:

All visitors to Baxter Elementary will be asked to present a government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport card) upon entering the building. This is part of our Raptor security system, which quickly scans IDs and checks them against a national database to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

The term “visitor” includes parents/guardians and community members who come for school events, classroom parties, dropping off materials, or other large-group activities. Classroom visits and field trip support will always be coordinated directly through your student’s classroom teacher.

We love our volunteers! To participate as a classroom volunteer, working in the classroom, field trip chaperone, book fair helper, or in any other volunteer role, the district requires two important steps each year.

Step 1: Complete the Volunteer Application

Step 2: Read the Volunteer Guidelines and complete the Verification Form.

Please note: Applications take 5–7 business days to process. Be sure to plan ahead if you’d like to help with an upcoming event or field trip. 

Thank you for supporting our students at Baxter!

We are excited to welcome families to our upcoming Donut Days at Baxter Elementary, taking place on October 28, 29, and 30. To help ensure a comfortable experience for all attendees, we have designated specific days based on the first letter of your child's last name.

Students are welcome to bring Halloween costumes on Friday, October 31st. If your child chooses to bring a costume it must be sent in a bag and labeled with your child's name.

❌ No masks, weapons, clown costumes, or violent/inappropriate themes.

❌ No aerosol sprays (e.g., hair paint, glitter) in school—these can trigger asthma. If families choose, students may apply these before coming to school.

❌ All make-up, face paint, or hair styling should be done at home to save time at school.

These guidelines are in place to help us to ensure that we have a safe and positive environment for all students while we celebrate.

We are pleased to announce that Parent/Guardian Conferences will be held on the evenings of Wednesday, November 20 and Monday, November 25. These conferences offer a valuable opportunity to strengthen our partnership in supporting your child’s academic growth and ensuring a successful and memorable school year.

Conference sign-ups will be available soon through ParentSquare. You will be able to schedule a meeting with your child’s classroom teacher at that time. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher directly.

We look forward to seeing you at Baxter Elementary soon!