Dear Baker Elementary Families,

Thank you for your continued partnership as we support our scholars in taking flight. ✈️

Because of your support and the dedication of our staff, Baker Elementary continues to grow both academically and socially. Together, we are building a school where every child feels valued, challenged, and inspired to reach new heights. We are proud of the progress our scholars are making and look forward to continuing this important work alongside you.

As we move into the spring season, our students in grades 3–6 will be participating in state testing. This is an important opportunity for scholars to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year. Your support is key to our success.

Daily attendance is critical during this time. Each day of instruction builds toward their readiness, and consistent attendance ensures they feel prepared and confident.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and commitment to your child’s success. Together, we will help our scholars finish the year strong.

With Charger Pride,

Principal

On Friday, March 6, Baker Elementary rolled out the red carpet to celebrate the incredible achievements of our 4th-6th-grade scholars on last year's 2024-25 CAASPP state test.

Students who achieved proficiency were awarded special medals in recognition of their academic success, while students who came close to meeting proficiency were celebrated as Rising Stars and received certificates to honor their hard work and growth.

To add excitement to the celebration, music filled the air as our kindergarten scholars served as the paparazzi, cheering and taking “photos” as honorees walked the red carpet. The event created a joyful and encouraging atmosphere that not only honored our scholars’ accomplishments but also sparked motivation for the upcoming 2025–26 CAASPP testing season.

With families, staff, and students in attendance, the message was clear: Baker believes in its scholars—and we are committed to helping every student reach and exceed proficiency.

This March, Baker Elementary hosted a 4-week Early Literacy Parent Academy focused on supporting our youngest readers at home.

A total of 18 parents participated in the workshops, where they learned simple, engaging strategies to build strong reading foundations, including:

Families explored the importance of oral language, the power of read-alouds, and hands-on literacy games they can easily use in daily routines. Parents left with practical tools, resources, and a deeper understanding of how reading develops, along with materials to continue supporting their children at home. The series strengthened our home-school connection and empowered families to play an active role in their child’s literacy journey.

Our Family Picnic on April 2nd was a wonderful way to kick off the beginning of Spring Break!

Over 250 families joined us for an afternoon filled with quality time, strengthening family-school connections, and building a strong sense of community. Charger scholars connected with friends, enjoyed music, and played board games with their families, creating a joyful and welcoming atmosphere.

Thank you to all of our staff for making this event possible, with special appreciation to Ms. Borrayo, Ms. Lomeli, and our dedicated parent volunteers for their time, effort, and commitment to creating such a meaningful experience for our Baker families.

Our scholars in Kindergarten, 1st, and 5th grade are actively participating in the UCI Math Project, which focuses on building strong math foundations and fluency. As part of this work, students are engaging in the Math Ninja Club, where they build their skills through consistent practice and demonstrate mastery of key math concepts. As highlighted in the program, students earn their way into the Ninja Club by showing accuracy, effort, and growth in their math fluency, making learning both motivating and fun. This initiative is helping our scholars develop confidence, automaticity—meaning the ability to solve math problems quickly and accurately without having to think through every step—and a positive mindset toward mathematics.

Our upper-grade scholars recently participated in an exciting AVID NCAA Basketball Elite 8 Tournament! Students formed their own teams of four, selected a university to represent, and even practiced on their own to prepare for the games.

The tournament brought great energy, fun, and school spirit to campus. It also served as a strong motivator, as students worked hard in class to earn their teacher’s permission to participate. This was a great example of how positive incentives can promote both engagement and responsibility.

Building on this success and continuing to support student engagement during CAASPP state testing, we are excited to close out the month of May with a FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament! Students will form teams, represent countries, and compete in fast-paced games, promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and continued focus on academic success.