Weekly Information for May 16, 2025

Dear Parker Families, Students, and Staff,

I’m writing to invite your participation in an ongoing conversation in the Parker community about the presence and impacts – both positive and negative – of phones and other “smart” devices in school. As you may be aware, the Massachusetts State Legislature is considering a bill – co-sponsored by State Attorney General Andrea Campbell – in its current legislative session that would require public schools in the state to restrict student phone use during school hours. You may also be aware New York recently passed a similar bill, joining dozens of states who have either already passed or, like Massachusetts, are in the process of considering new legislation regarding phones in schools. They are doing this in response to the growing rate of concern about the impact phones can and do have on learning.

In conversations at school over the last month, teachers and students agree: phones are distracting, and they impact class. Students appreciate the connection phones provide to their families, and faculty understand phones are an important logistical tool in everyone’s lives, so it feels like a dilemma our current practices do not acknowledge. This should not seem surprising if one knows our current phone/device practice, as described in the Community Handbook, was last revised in 2012. The capabilities, applications of, and cultural embeddedness of phone and other smart technology have evolved immensely in the United States since then.

So this is an important and perhaps overdue conversation for the Parker community to be having. Since its founding, Parker has been committed both in mission and in daily practice to moving students to the center of the learning process with Ted Sizer’s 10 Common Principles as our guiding philosophy, and over the last thirty years, students and adults have consistently cited strength of community as the strongest, most positive indicator of that mission in action. Students will have continued opportunity in the coming weeks to engage in conversation about how the presence of personal devices factors into the strength of our community, and we want to hear the voices of parents, guardians, and caregivers as well. To that end, we will be holding a discussion forum on Thursday, June 5, at 6:30 for adults to hear about the discussions going on at school this spring and contribute their own thoughts and questions to the dialogue. As a kicking off point and shared experience, part of our discussion will be reacting to two articles we encourage you to read in advance:

• Jonathan Haidt’s article from 2023 in The Atlantic, “Phones in School Are a Disaster”
• Natasha Singer’s article from 2024 in The New York Times, “Why Schools are Racing to Ban Cell Phones”

If you can’t access the above links, pick up a hard copy in the front office. Reading the articles is not necessary for attendance! Please RSVP - we very much hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Carter

What: Adult discussion about phones in school
When: Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 6:30-7:30 PM
Where: In-person at Parker
RSVP HERE

Prom Tickets - LAST CALL!

Today is the deadline for Division 3 Families to buy prom tickets and complete health forms! Email questions to Julie: [email protected].

• Tickets & Information
• Health Form (REQUIRED)

From the Health Office

Now that the nice weather is upon us, we are seeing seasonal allergies, ticks, mosquitos, and sunburns!

Seasonal Allergies: If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, please be proactive and give your student allergy medication/allergy eye drops to help alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms. If needed, seek assistance from your child's primary care physician. The pollen count can be monitored at Pollen.com at National Allergy Forecast & Info About Allergies | Pollen.com

Sunburn per the CDC: Sun Exposure | Travelers' Health | CDC

Tick season in Massachusetts typically lasts from April to November. Please see tick information HERE.

Prevent Mosquito Bites: Simple steps to protect you and your family from mosquito bites can be found HERE.

MCAS Spring Testing Schedule

Reminder Division 1 and 2 students will be testing on various days during the month of May, following the schedule listed below. Please make every effort to have students in school and on time for these testing days. All students should eat a good breakfast each day and get a good night’s rest the night before – those two things are the best “test-prep” we can recommend! Students who miss any of these testing days will make-up the tests on days following the dates listed here. Students and families will receive more details in an email about ten days before each testing session.

10th Grade:

• MATH: May 20 & 21

7th & 8th Grade:

• CIVICS (8th Grade Only): May 20 & 27

If you have any questions, please contact Deb Merriam ([email protected]). All tests are untimed, and most students finish by mid to late morning. Parents/guardians and students will get grade/test specific emails with more details that will go home as each test date approaches.