This week’s topics:
- Launching Our Seniors
- Event Parking Reminder
- Sumner Fund Reminder
- Division 2 End-of-Year Trip
- Division 1 AH Activism Roundtables
- Yearbooks
- At-Home Test Reminder
- Tracking COVID-19 Numbers at Parker
- COVID-19 Safety Checks
- COVID-19 Information
- COVID-19 Testing
Launching Our Seniors
Members of the Class of 2022 are looking forward to their last day of classes on Friday, June 3rd, and to their Graduation ceremonies the following week! Seniors are also planning to continue the tradition of a “Senior Prank” for their schoolmates on Friday morning, June 3rd. For example, one year the theme was “Pirates v. Ninjas;” one year the prank theme was “Beach Party.” This year’s theme is still a secret! But the prank is likely to involve performance/engagement during morning drop-off. That could look like squirt guns, pirate ships, or water balloons. We’ve asked the seniors to be safe and respectful (as well as fun-loving) during morning drop-off.
In the past, some parents have been upset by physical contact with their vehicles while on campus during the Senior Prank. If you want to avoid the scene, please consider alternatives to on-campus drop-off for your student next Friday morning (Antietam St or P5 are the best options).
Event Parking Reminder
During school events, our on-campus parking is insufficient for our whole school community. Please remember and join in our community norms by parking in the Museum Lot (P-5), located across Jackson Road, and allowing guests with limited mobility to use the available spaces on campus. Thank you!
Sumner Fund Reminder
Be a “sock star” and get your limited-edition Parker socks by donating $50 or more to The Sumner Fund. Sock on!
Division 2 End-of-Year Trip
On June 14th, Division 2 advisories will be going on our end of year trip to Great Island Common in New Castle, New Hampshire. Great Island Common comprises 32 acres of seaside green space and a beach. On the trip, Division 2 will have the opportunity to spend time relaxing and bonding as we hangout, play games, and celebrate the completion of our year. Students will have the option of a school-provided lunch but are welcome to bring their own. The trip cost is $20 and can be paid by a check made out to the Parker School or online using Unipay. Please do not allow money to be an issue for any student to participate. There is full and partial scholarship money available. You may apply confidentially by contacting Michelle McKenna at [email protected]. If you have a student in Division 2, use this link to complete the permission form by June 10.
Division 1 AH Activism Roundtables
Reminder volunteers are needed for roundtable discussions with Division 1 students on Friday, June 3rd from 10:45 AM-12:25 PM or from 1:00-2:40 PM regarding activism topics including: Animals and animal welfare; Environmental issues; Civil rights and equality – LGBTQ+, gender, race, ableism; Economic/income inequality; School/education-based support/intervention; Mental and physical health; and International conflict/issues.
Please click here for the full description of the activity and use this form to sign up.
Yearbooks
Reminder yearbooks will be distributed to seniors at the Senior Breakfast and to everyone else at the Big End. There are a limited number remaining for purchase. Click here for soft cover or click here for Div 1 only (first 48 pages of full book).
At-Home Test Reminder
Reminder: Please test your student every Sunday with the at-home test that was given to each student. Only report POSITIVE results to Nurse Lisa at [email protected] or call 978-772-3293 x135. If you haven’t opted your student in yet, use this link to opt-in.
Tracking COVID-19 Numbers at Parker
Positive COVID-19 cases in the Parker community are reported to the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) and to the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health, which is our local board of health. The following are positive cases in the Parker community from 5/20/22-5/27/22:
- Staff – 18
- Students – 47
COVID-19 Safety Checks
There are currently less swabs in each tube, and therefore a larger number of pools. Having fewer samples in each tube reduces the number of community members who have to be re-tested when a pool comes back from the lab with a positive or inconclusive result.
Pooled Test Results from 5/20/22-5/27/22:
- # of pools = 70
- # of NEGATIVE pools = 62
- # of POSITIVE pools = 7
- # of INCONCLUSIVE pools = 1
COVID-19 Information
Reminder to please call or email the school nurse if any individual tests positive for COVID-19. Lisa Zick can be reached at 978-772-3293 x135 or [email protected].
Please refer to the following guidlines when an individual experiences illness or is a close contact.
Below is the full list of COVID-19 symptoms to monitor for:
- Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
NO FEVER and MILD SYMPTOMS: Individuals who don't have fever, present with mild symptoms, and test negative for COVID-19 are okay to come to school.
FEVER and/or SYMPTOMS LISTED ABOVE: Individuals who have fever 100.0 or higher and/or the symptoms listed above should test for COVID-19. If test is negative, they should stay home until fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and symptoms are mild.
COVID-19 POSITIVE: Individuals who test positive for COVID-19:
- Self-report to close contacts of their exposure. If help is needed with contact information, please reach out to Monique or Nurse Lisa.
- Self-isolation for a minimum of 5 days after symptom onset or after a positive test, if asymptomatic
- Return to school on day 6 if they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication AND have improving symptoms
- Upon return to school, the individual must wear a mask at all times when around others for an additional 5 days and maintain physical distance of 3 feet at all times
- Return to school is based on time and symptom resolution
- Testing to return to school is NOT required
Close Contacts Who are Exempt from Testing and Quarantine Response Protocols:
- Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated individuals
- Individuals who have had COVID-19 within the past 90 days of their own illness AND remain without COVID-19 symptoms
Out of school close contacts:
Test & Stay is no longer an option due to the new at-home testing program. Those who are unvaccinated and are a close contact to someone outside of school, must quarantine for 5 days, and can return to school on day 6 if they:
- Remain asymptomatic
- Adhere to strict mask use
- Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day 10
- Self-isolate if symptoms develop
Close Contact Testing:
For all those exposed, best practice is to get a PCR or a Rapid Antigen test 5 days after exposure.
COVID-19 Testing
At-Home Testing Program:
At-home rapid antigen tests were distributed to students whose parents opted them in during afternoon advisory on Thursday. This is surveillance testing to be done every Sunday. Only POSITIVE results need to be reported to Nurse Lisa. If you haven’t already done so, and you wish to opt your student in, please click this link: Opt-in Form for Take-home Antigen Tests.
Symptomatic Testing:
Symptomatic testing is available (with consent) for all individuals (including vaccinated, unvaccinated, and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days) that present with symptoms while at school.
COVID-19 Safety Checks:
Pooled testing will continue every Wednesday as usual. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days should not do the pooled testing. Nurse Lisa will notify you when your student can begin with pooled testing after 90 days.
Sports Schedule
Upcoming Dates of Note:
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Mon |
May 30 |
Memorial Day - No School |
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Tue |
Jun 7 |
10th Grade Bio MCAS |
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Wed |
Jun 8 |
10th Grade Bio MCAS |
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Wed |
Jun 8 |
Noon Dismissal |
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Wed |
Jun 8 |
Graduation |
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Fri |
Jun 10 |
Todd Celebrations |
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Tue |
Jun 14 |
Board of Trustees |
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Wed |
Jun 15 |
Noon Dismissal |
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Thu |
Jun 16 |
Last Day of School – Noon Dismissal |
Click HERE for the Online Calendar.
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Looking for help with or information concerning: |
Please contact: |
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a specific class or assignment |
the teacher of that class (see Parker email list) |
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technical support |
email: [email protected] |
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your family’s or student’s health |
email: [email protected] |
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mental health/emotional support needs |
email: [email protected] |
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food insecurity/free and reduced school lunch needs |
email: [email protected] |
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