Dear Baxter Families,

Happy December! I hope this message finds you and your family warm, well, and enjoying the beauty of the season. As I reflect on the past month at Baxter Elementary, I am grateful for the meaningful learning, joyful celebrations, and countless moments that have strengthened our school community. Please be reminded that there will be no school from December 24 through January 5, with classes resuming on January 6.

As we approach the holiday season, I extend my sincere wishes for a peaceful, restful, and joyful break. We deeply value and appreciate every student and family who make up our Baxter School Family. Please continue reading for important updates as we look ahead to a strong and successful second half of the school year in the new year, 2026.

Sincerely,

Our Lost & Found at Baxter has accumulated a large number of items. We kindly ask families to please remind their children to check the Lost & Found prior to winter break to ensure all personal belongings and clothing items are retrieved. Staff will also make every effort to remind students to bring all winter gear home before the break.

We can’t wait to celebrate our Students of the Month when we return from the holiday break! These students will be recognized for demonstrating a growth mindset by persevering through challenges, trying new strategies, and learning from mistakes.

As we move into January, our character trait of the month is responsibility. As we begin the second half of the school year, we will focus on encouraging students to be responsible by coming to school prepared, completing assignments on time, following school expectations, and taking ownership of their choices and learning.

Please mark your calendars for an upcoming author visit at Baxter Elementary! We are excited to welcome author Emily Kilgore on January 15 from 5:30–7:00 PM. Emily is the author of Huck and Loona, The Whatifs, and many other beloved books for readers of all ages.

In celebration of her visit, the Baxter Elementary Literacy Team will host a Family Literacy Night. Our SNOW MUCH FUN Family Literacy Night will include a scavenger hunt, the opportunity to read in a glow room, a game room, and more!

Here is a monthly reminder about our volunteer policies and procedures. This will help ensure that anyone interested in volunteering completes the required paperwork in advance. 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!

Here are a few upcoming important dates to mark on your calendar:

As we close out 2025, I want to extend my sincere thanks for trusting us to support your child(ren) at Baxter Elementary. I am truly grateful to be part of a school community where families and staff work so closely together to create a welcoming, supportive, and engaging place for every child to learn and grow. Our Baxter families play an essential role in our school community, and we thank you for sharing your talents, your time, and your generous donations—we truly appreciate it all. I look forward to continuing our journey together in 2026, and celebrating all the joy, growth, and successes each child brings to our school.