Weekly Information for March 10th

Dear Parker students, families and staff,

The month of March has an anticipatory feel. We are looking forward to the coming of Spring and the longer days, aided of course by the start of daylight savings this weekend. We are getting ready for PLP conferences next Friday, March 17th, an opportunity to check in on PLP goals, successes and challenges. Seniors are making progress on their Senior Projects and final portfolio pieces as they anticipate graduation and life after Parker. We are planning end-of-year activities in every Division. We have an exciting few months ahead of us.

There are several fun and meaningful student events upcoming, including the GSA Ball this Saturday evening at Parker. It will be a fantastic event for our whole community. We are also looking forward to the start of Robotics competition next weekend. Best of luck to our Robotics team in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Leominster and Fitchburg. We are ten days away from the start of Spring sports. If any Parker students are interested in participating in Softball, Baseball, Ultimate Frisbee, Track & Field or Girls co-op Lacrosse with Bromfield, sign up now. Finally, we can’t wait to see Parker Theater’s production of Working. Please come out to support and celebrate our talented artists!

We look forward with pride and anticipation.

Brian

This week’s topics:

•   Spring Show: Working
•   Spring PLP Conferences
•   Enrollment Thanks
•   Div 2 MST Wants Your Recycling!
•   Health Office Donations
•   Teacher Appreciation Thanks
•   Sign-up for Spring Sports
•   COVID-19 Information

Artwork by Jae Daly

WORKING: The Musical

Working 2012 is a newly-revised version of the original 1977 musical by Stephen Schwartz, with some additional material by artists like James Taylor and Lin-Manuel Miranda. WORKING adapts Studs Terkel’s famous set of interviews about what ordinary Americans say about their jobs.The show highlights a variety of professional experiences while underlining the elements of shared humanity revealed by the everyday lives of real people.

The show is Thursday April 6 at 7 PM, Friday April 7 at 7 PM, and Saturday April 8 at 7 PM. Tickets are $12 online or $13 in person. Click here to buy tickets and for more information about the show and cast.

Spring Conferences (PLPs) on March 17th

Reminder Spring PLP Conferences will be held on Friday, March 17th. Each Division leads the Spring Conference a little differently. For some it is a time to reflect on progress students have made toward their PLP goals. For others it is also a time to check in on the status of portfolios and/or academic standing.

Please remember there are no classes this day and it is specifically set aside to have these important conversations. Each family (with their student) will be asked to come to school for a 30-minute appointment, and families should make every effort to schedule their conferences on the 17th.

Click HERE to access the booking page for Spring PLPs. [Please note that you have to SELECT March 17, then your child’s DIVISION, and then your child’s ADVISOR to successfully make an appointment!] You should make an appointment for each child you have in the school. If you are not able to make it for an appointment on March 17, please reach out directly to your child’s advisor to find another day/time that is mutually possible. If you can meet on March 17 but someone needs to attend remotely, please go ahead and book an appointment and then reach out to your child’s advisor to request a remote link.

Student at front of class, gesturing to chalkboard listing semester goals and objectives.

Enrollment THANKS

MANY THANKS to everyone in the Parker Community for their support during our Annual Enrollment Period, Including our Information Sessions, Classroom Visits, Socials, and Shadow Days. A special Thank You to everyone who picked up and posted YARD SIGNS! This work is not possible without your help, and we appreciate your time and effort.

Div2 MST Wants Your Recycling!

For an upcoming engineering design project, Div 2 MST is collecting materials from the Parker community. We need: plastic bottle caps (small ones from seltzer and soda bottles), cardboard (specifically NON-corrugated, like cereal boxes), flat plastic (like from salad containers, milk jugs, etc.), and aluminum cans. Before throwing these in the recycling bin think “Wait! Div 2 MST needs this!” This can be dropped off in the big bin in the lobby labeled “Div 2 MST Recycling here!” from now until next Friday, March 17 (bring them on PLP day!)

Health Office Donations

To those parents who have generously donated to the Health Office, I can’t thank you enough. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and allows me to better care for students and staff at Parker. ~Lisa

Currently Needed Items: tissues (the Health Office provides tissues to the whole school), fruit bars, liquid ibuprofen, and Gatorade Zero (small bottles).

Teacher Appreciation Thanks

Our thanks to the Isaac, Stark, Woodard, Kurth, Tscherne, and Spirn families for their generosity these past few weeks! ECO has organized a way for families to show their appreciation of Parker teachers by bringing treats to the school for them. Please click here to learn more and to sign-up.

Sign-up NOW for Spring Sports!

Reminder all practices will begin on Monday, March 20th, and will be held Mon-Fri that week. Sports offered are Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee, and Girls’ Co-op Lacrosse through Bromfield. If you have not registered yet, please do so as soon as possible using this form: Athlete Registration. Parents must provide proof of a current physical exam at the beginning of every season of participation. Sports User Fee of $300 and is due prior to the first game. Click here for more information.

COVID-19 Information

The following are positive cases in the Parker community from 3/3/23-3/10/23:

Staff – 0
Students – 2

Please click here for Current Health Office COVID-19 Protocols and Information.

Upcoming Dates of Note:

SAT	Mar 11	Drag Ball
TUE	Mar 14	Board of Trustees
WED	Mar 15	Support our Seniors Potluck
FRI	Mar 17	Spring PLPs (No Classes)
WED	Mar 22	Noon Dismissal – Faculty Planning
TUE	Mar 28	10^th Grade ELA MCAS
WED	Mar 29	10^th Grade ELA MCAS

Click here for the online calendar.

Click here to learn more.

Click here to support Parker teachers today!

An illustration of a rock with the words

Looking for help with or information concerning:	Please contact:
a specific class or assignment	the teacher of that class (see Parker email list)
technical support	email: [email protected]
your family’s or student’s health	email: [email protected]
mental health/emotional support needs	email: [email protected]
food insecurity/free and reduced school lunch needs	email: [email protected]

The Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School is committed to equal employment and educational opportunity for all members of the school community and prohibits discrimination on the basis of the basis of race, color, gender, pregnancy or pregnancy status, religion, gender identity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability, in the operation of the educational programs, activities, or employment policies.