Parent Handbook 2023-24
Save the Date!
August 21 - Upper School Fall Athletic Preseason Begins
August 22 – 24 - Middle School Lewars Academic Preseason and Optional Fall Athletic Preseason
August 23 – 24 - Upper School Lewars Academic Preseason
September 5 - Classes Begin for Grades 6 - 12
September 6 - Classes Begin for Grades Pre-K - 5
September 14 - Lower School Academic Evening
September 21 - Upper School Academic Evening
September 25 - Yom Kippur, No School
September 26 - Middle School Academic Evening
Welcome to Baldwin
Congratulations on enrolling your daughter at Baldwin! We are thrilled that you have made the decision to become part of our community. At Baldwin, we live our mission each and every day, developing talented girls into confident young women with vision, global understanding and the competency to make significant and enduring contributions to the world. We view this as a shared endeavor, partnering with you in your daughter’s education. We promise to work as hard as you do to help her achieve her full potential.
As you prepare your family to join our School, I am sure you have a number of practical questions about life at Baldwin. With that in mind, I am excited to share this Parent Handbook, which covers major things you need to know to start your family’s Baldwin journey. We also have many online resources that you will become familiar with in the weeks and months ahead and will share any updates with our families via email, should they be necessary.
On behalf of The Baldwin School, I welcome you to the Baldwin community.
Go Bears!
Lynne Macziewski Head of School
Parent Handbook 1
Mission & Core Values
OUR MISSION
The Baldwin School, an independent college preparatory school, develops talented girls into confident young women with vision, global understanding and the competency to make significant and enduring contributions to the world. The School nurtures our students’ passion for intellectual rigor in academics, creativity in the arts and competition in athletics, forming women capable of leading their generation while living balanced lives.
At Baldwin, there are five core values that guide us in pursuing our mission.
LEARNING
RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY COMPASSION HONESTY
These words adorn plaques in classrooms and common spaces so that all members of our community are reminded of these important principles every time they traverse our campus.
2 The Baldwin School
School Policies
Arrival
Lower School: School begins at 8:20 a.m. Parents and caregivers can drop off students between 8-8:20 a.m.
Middle and Upper School: School begins at 8:30 a.m. Please be advised there is no classroom supervision before 8 a.m.
Dismissal
Times are staggered for a more efficient car pick-up system. The pick-up times are:
q Pre-K - 2:35 p.m.
q Kindergarten - 2:40 p.m.
q Grades 1 and 2 - 2:45 p.m.
q Grades 3 and 4 - 2:55 p.m.
q Grade 5 - 3:05 p.m.
q Middle School - 3:30 p.m.
q Upper School - 3:30 p.m.
Inclement Weather and Emergency Closings
In case of a closing, an emergency or other significant event, the School uses an automated telephone, text and email alert system. The alert will contain pertinent information, such as the nature of the event and specific instructions for parents. It is important, therefore, that families keep the School informed whenever their contact information changes. The School will also post a notice on its website, Facebook page and on ABC, CBS and NBC news programs.
If morning school buses pick up students late due to a public school district delay, students should wait for and ride their usual bus and they will be greeted warmly even if the school day has already begun.
Illness
A student should stay home from school for the following reasons:
q Temperature > 100 0 F within the previous 24 hours
q Vomiting within the previous 24 hours
q Frequent cough that requires medication to suppress
q Copious nasal secretions
In the event of an illness, please contact the division office before 8:30 a.m. Please include your name, the student’s name and grade and the time of your call. If a student is absent for more than three consecutive days, she must provide a note from her physician upon her return. If a student is absent during the day, she may not attend after-school activities.
Please avoid scheduling medical or dental appointments during the school day. If this cannot be avoided, please contact the division office to alert them of the appointment.
Parent Handbook 3
Connecting with Baldwin
Baldwin has several publications and resources that will keep you informed of events, important dates, programs and new initiatives.
Every Day
q The Parent Portal – a passwordprotected area on the Baldwin website that contains items such as:
c The online family directory
c Registration, medical and other required forms
c The Student Handbooks
c Report cards
c Links to SmartTuition and MyKidsSpending accounts
c And more!
Weekly
q The Lower School Tunic Times enewsletter to Lower School families from the Lower School Director
q The Lower School Thursday Folder containing flyers and other announcements
q The All-School Bulletin enewsletter containing information important to all families
4 The Baldwin School
facebook @baldwinschool @baldwinalumnae Twitter @baldwinschool @TheBaldwinBears Instagram @the.baldwin.school @thebaldwinschoolathletics
Bi-Weekly
q The In the Middle enewsletter to Middle School families from the Middle School Director
q The Upper Story enewsletter to Upper School families from the Upper School Director
Monthly
q The Grade Page emails from your class parent representatives highlighting grade-specific happenings
Twice
q Echoes magazine for all members of the School community that summarizes key news articles and events
Parent Handbook 5 YouTube baldwinschool Alumnae Group ow.ly/cdGas SmugMug baldwinschool.smugmug.com
per Year
Connecting
The Magazine for Alumnae, Students, Families and Friends of The Baldwin School Echoes SPRING 20 22 Comprehensive Campaign Will Benefit Baldwin Into the Next 130 YEARS
with Baldwin
Getting Started
So your daughter is officially a Baldwin girl!
What’s next?
6 The Baldwin School
HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL CHECKLISTS TO GET YOU STARTED.
For All Students:
Log in to the Parent Portal to access forms and billing information and to confirm your contact information
c Complete all forms: a Physical Form
a Dental form (Kindergarten and Grades 1, 3 and 7 only)
a Parent Contact Form
a Medication Permission Form
a Transportation
c Mid-summer, review textbook ordering and what summer work will need to be completed by your daughter(s)
c Check out our online school store for Baldwin branded merchandise, school supplies, spirit gear and more! Visit www.baldwinschool.org/ schoolstore
For Middle and Upper School Students:
c Fall athletic practices begin mid-August. Exact times and locations will be provided by the coaches for each sport closer to the starting date. Additional forms and paperwork will be available in midsummer.
c Be on the lookout for information about our Lewars Academic PreSeason. This program serves as an orientation for new students, while offering an opportunity to meet faculty and returning students.
c Placement tests are required for all incoming Middle and Upper School students. The Admissions Team will be reaching out with more information.
c Contact the division administrative assistant to schedule a meeting with the Division Director for course planning. Please note: allow two weeks after placement testing before scheduling your course planning meeting.
Parent Handbook 7
Getting Started
Dress Code
Lower School
q Plaid tunic (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
q Blue tunic with embroidered “B” (Grades 1 – 5)
q Navy blue shorts with Baldwin logo (worn under tunic every day)
q White shirt with collar
q Navy blue or gray leggings or tights
q Navy blue, gray or white knee socks or short socks
q Navy blue or gray sweater or sweatshirt (no hoods)
q Shoes with back, covering heel (no sparkles, characters or lights)
Required for Swimming
q Bathing suit: one piece or surf shorts and top
q Swimming cap*
q Footwear: flip-flops or waterproof slippers
q Supplies: towel*, brush, comb
q Goggles*
*Available at the School Store
Other
q An old shirt is suitable to use as a smock for art
Middle School
q Dark blue kilt and light blue kilt
q White or navy blue shirt with collar; white, gray or navy blue tank tops may be worn under collared shirt; white turtleneck or mock turtleneck shirt; blue and white Baldwin rugby shirt; shirts with logos sold by student organizations, School Store or Parents’ Association
q Athletic shorts must be worn under kilt (may not be visible)
q White, gray, black or navy blue leggings, tights or socks
q Navy pants
q Navy blue, gray or white sweater (white required for Baldwin Blue Days)
q Baldwin monogrammed sweatshirt in navy blue, gray or white
q Low-heeled shoes, boots or athletic shoes; sandals and opentoed shoes with a back; closedtoed shoes required for science labs; clogs are not permitted; slides should only be worn in the Athletic Center
Upper School
q Dark blue kilt, light blue kilt and plaid kilt
q White or navy blue shirt with collar
q Athletic shorts to wear under kilt (may not be visible)
q Plain (no patterns) gray, navy or black leggings, socks, stockings or tights; no athletic leggings. Socks below the ankle (of any color)
q Navy pants
q Navy blue, gray or white sweater or sweatshirt (white required for Baldwin Blue Days)
q Low-heeled shoes made with a back
q Sandals and open-toed shoes (must have backs; before Thanksgiving and after Spring Break only)
q Boots
For more details on the dress code, please visit the Student Handbook on the Parent Portal.
8 The Baldwin School
Holiday and Break Calendar
2023
SEPTEMBER
4 Labor Day
25 Yom Kippur
OCTOBER
9 Fall Break (No School)
10 Professional Development (No Classes)
NOVEMBER 22-24 Thanksgiving Holiday
DECEMBER
15 Winter Vacation Begins (Early Dismissal)
2024
JANUARY
2 Professional Development (No Classes)
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
FEBRUARY
16 Professional Development (No Classes)
19 Presidents’ Day
MARCH 22-29 Spring Vacation
APRIL
1 Professional Development (No Classes)
MAY
27 Memorial Day
Please visit the full calendar at www.baldwinschool.org/calendar
for more details and class-specific events.
Parent Handbook 9
Early Dismissal School Closed No Classes
Morris Avenue Radno MontgomeryAvenue Upper Field Middle Field ECC Playground 1 6 5 7 8 2 10 The Baldwin School
Campus
1. The Residence
2. Schoolhouse
3. Lower School
4. Athletic Center
5. Art Wing
6. Passageway
7. Science Building
8. Red Gym
9. Simpson Center
10. Innovation Center
11. Krumrine House
12. Radnor House
Lower School Student Drop Off
ECC and Middle School
Student Drop Off
Upper School Student Drop Off
or Street Tennis Cour ts Lower Field Back Field Lower School Playground 9 11 3 4 Tennis Cour ts 10 12 Parent Handbook 11
NewGulphRoad Fisher’sRoad
Traffic
Patterns
Map
Parent Group
Baldwin School Parents’ Association
The Baldwin School Parents’ Association (BSPA) is the parent body of The Baldwin School. The BSPA is led by an Executive Board, which is elected at the end of each school year. The committees organize community building and fundraising events to benefit our families, support our amazing faculty and staff and provide funding to further improve our School. All parents are automatically members of the BSPA and are welcome to attend and volunteer for any BSPA events. Examples of BSPA events include:
q Middle School Family Event
q Homecoming
q Halloween Fair
q Book Fair
q Father-Special Person/ Daughter Event
q Parents Trivia Night
q Mother-Special Person/ Daughter Event
q Community Auction and Dinner
Parent Group
Early Childhood Center and Lower School
Quenby Frimet, Director of Lower School (610) 525-2700 x267 | quenby.frimet@baldwinschool.org
Megan Rybas, Assistant Director of Lower School (610) 525-2700 x698 | mrybas@baldwinschool.org
Caryn Sucharski, Lower School Administrative Assistant (610) 525-2700 x266 | csucharski@baldwinschool.org
Middle School
Dr. Shauna Carter, Director of Middle School (610) 525-2700 x490 | shauna.carter@baldwinschool.org
Tracy Stevens, Middle School Administrative Assistant (610) 525-2700 x242 | tstevens@baldwinschool.org
Upper School
Christie Reed, Director of Upper School (610) 525-2700 x264 | creed@baldwinschool.org
Susie Choitz, Upper School Administrative Assistant (610) 525-2700 x254 | susannah.choitz@baldwinschool.org
Athletics Office
Meg Glascott-Birch, Director of Athletics (610) 525-2700 x270 | mbirch@baldwinschool.org
Alison Schickfus ’88, Assistant to the Director of Athletics (610) 525-2700 x478 | aschickfus@baldwinschool.org
Wellness Center
Kerrie Snead, Assistant Athletic Director for Health and Wellness, (610) 525-2700 x390 | ksnead@baldwinschool.org
Christine Kuzmick, School Nurse, (610) 525-2700 x173 | christine.kuzmick@baldwinschool.org
Diane Lacing, School Nurse, (610) 525-2700 x174 | dlacing@baldwinschool.org
Business Office (610) 525-2700 x432
Reception and Transportation
Crystal Johnson (610) 525-2700 x0 | cjohnson@baldwinschool.org
BRYN
(610) 525-2700
701 MONTGOMERY AVENUE
MAWR, PA 19010
