Weekly Information for April 5th

Dear Parker families, students and staff,

Dear Parker Students, Families, and Staff,

Thank you for your flexibility and resilience with the delayed opening on Thursday. With students coming from 40 towns, the storm impacted students and families very differently. As always, we encourage you to make the decision that is right for your family based on local conditions. Thank you for your partnership.

A huge shout out to the cast and crew of 13 Roses, Parker’s Spring show that opened Thursday. Join us on Friday or Saturday night for the last two shows. 13 Roses features multiple short vignettes about love, directed and performed by Parker students. It is funny, sweet and wildly entertaining.

Please see two notes below regarding the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th and student attendance at Parker building off a recent NT Times article. Thanks to Diane, Carter and Jon Churchill for their leadership and reflections.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

Solar Eclipse Note

On Monday, April 8, we will have the rare and exciting opportunity to view the solar eclipse. While we will not be in the zone of totality, we will see almost 95% of the sun blocked by the moon. We have ordered eclipse-viewing glasses for every student, which we will distribute on Monday, and we plan to use Monday’s academic advising time from 3:10-3:30 to go to the Outback for viewing. Div 1 MST classes will definitely be spending some time on Monday learning about eclipses as a part of our current space unit!

Because the eclipse will peak at 3:29, this will bump right up against our normal 3:30 dismissal time. Students can depart at 3:30 if they wish, but realistically, we anticipate that many will still be watching and carpool will likely be impacted. Please consider delaying pickup by 10 or 15 minutes, or parking in P5 and joining us at 3:20 in the outback to watch as well.

Diane

Student Attendance Note

Last week, the New York Times ran an article titled, “Why School Absences Have ‘Exploded’ Almost Everywhere.” The crux of the article deals with the claim that the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which schools across the country changed their operations during the pandemic – including remote schooling, changes in how teachers assess learning, and changes in attendance tracking - have “changed families lives and the culture of education.” This article is not the first of its kind in recent months, and it is not saying anything that hasn’t already been in the national discussion, via various media outlets and research centers; it does, however, share some fascinating statistics and anecdotes, and is worth the read if you have a few minutes. In that same vein, here are a couple notes regarding absenteeism at Parker in recent years:

Parker is not special in the context of this national conversation. Our chronic absenteeism numbers (defined in the article as having missed 10% or more of school days to date – 18 days or more over a full school year) have increased as follows: prior to the pandemic, 1 in 8 Parker students missed more than 10% of the year. Following the pandemic, that proportion has grown to 1 in 6 students. What feels most notable is that the change happened over the course of only two school years, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and has held steady since. Though the numbers are not the same in every district in the region – some are lower than ours and others are higher – this pattern of a sharp, significant increase that then holds is consistent everywhere across Massachusetts. The above article suggests it’s consistent just about everywhere in the U.S.

So how do we feel about this, and what should we do? At Parker, our policy on attendance reflects our belief that “regular, timely attendance is vital to ensure academic progress” and “each student’s interaction with her or his classmates and advisory peers on a daily basis is a critical component of the learning process.” Every student and every family faces significant challenges in the course of their lives, and we know that some challenges are so great they unavoidably conflict with a child’s ability to attend school regularly. Yesterday morning, while leading a session with visiting prospective students for next year and group of current Parker “host” students, Carter spoke about our Advisory program and said, “The whole point of Advisory at Parker revolves around the fact that you, the student, are the leader of your own education, but there are a lot of people, including those in your advisory group, who are on your team, backing you up.” Families are, of course, key players on that team, and as your teammates, we want to join you in encouraging your kids to come to school so they can learn with their peers, build and maintain community friendships, and help keep Parker the great place it is.

And, of course, when they have a fever, we hope they get plenty of rest and feel better soon.



-Carter Cox & Jon Churchill 

Senior Project Exhibition Night!

Please join the members of the Class of 2024 on Wednesday, April 10th, from 7-8:30 pm in the Gym as they showcase their Senior Projects!

We encourage all members of the Parker Community (students, parents/guardians, alumni) to come talk with our seniors in this science-fair style event. Seniors will share the learning they have done, the experiences they have had, and the products they have created. This lead-up to Senior Exhibitions is a great opportunity for students and families from Division 1 (come right after Noche Sabrosa!) and Division 2 to see what they will someday be asked to do! 

Upon your arrival, you will be given feedback sheets for at least one senior. We ask that you head over to talk to that senior first, check out their trifold boards, ask them questions about their projects, and then fill out the feedback form. After that, feel free to talk to other seniors and learn about their projects.

Taking a Trip for the Eclipse OR Extending Spring Break?

Remember to inform the front office of any absences by leaving a message on the Attendance Line: 978-772-3293, x1 (available 24 hours a day). You can leave this message any day or time prior to the absence and provide all the affected dates with one call. It is important you inform THE OFFICE your child(ren) will be absent, even if you have let the teachers know.

Parent/Caregiver Social

The Parker Parent/Caregiver Community Group invites you to join us for a Parent/Caregiver Social, happening on Wednesday April 24 from 6:00-8:30 PM, in the library at Parker. This is the same night as the next Café Wednesday (how convenient!). This is an opportunity to connect with other Parker parents and caregivers. We welcome contributions of food and drink and hope to see you there! Questions can be directed to Stephanie Maclary at [email protected] Please use this link to RSVP: https://forms.gle/MFNf1UhcKZ9rjFCi8

Senior Project Exhibition Jurors Needed

Senior Project Exhibitions will occur on May 2, 3, 6 and 7. This schedule lists each senior’s Essential Question along with the date and time of their Exhibition. Current Parker parents are encouraged to join a jury panel with other community members, a faculty member, and a current junior to help assess the presentation using a rubric. More information on what to expect and the rubric can be found in this document. A 2-hour time commitment is required, but no experience with subject matter is necessary. Please note: Immediate family members of this year’s seniors may not serve on jury panels. To sign up for a jury spot, please email Monique ([email protected]). You can let her know specific Exhibitions you are interested in or specific days/times you are available. Thank you for supporting the Class of 2024!

Health Office News

Menstrual product dispensers have been installed and filled in all non-gender and girls' bathrooms. Thank you to those parents who donated products. Additional donations of menstrual products would be very much appreciated to help keep the dispensers stocked.

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

During the week of May 6-10, 2024, help other parents and caregivers celebrate the Teachers and Staff at Parker! Each day that week, teachers and staff will receive tokens of gratitude. Please consider donating specified items, your time or money to make this a memorable week for the folks who make Parker a wonderful place! Questions can be directed to Stephanie Maclary at [email protected]. To sign up to help in various ways, please use this link: https://signup.com/go/oQrDkrT

Youth Venture Shelter Helpers

Reminder the Youth Venture Shelter Helper group is running a donation drive to help animals in need! Drop off sealed, non-expired, canned and bagged dog and cat food in the lobby from April 1 to April 12. Record your advisor’s name and what you donated on the provided sheet for a chance to win a pizza party for your advisory. All donations will go to the Worcester Animal Rescue League. If you have any questions, please reach out to our contact representative, Zephyr Schermerhorn, at [email protected]. Here is a specific list of what the shelter needs - Pet Supplies: Dog and cat food (both canned and dry). Purina brand preferred. Please no grain-free; Peanut Butter (for enrichment and to hide medication in!); Soft dog treats like Pup-Peroni.

Book Collection for CASA

Reminder new or gently used books are still being collected for children in foster care in Worcester County until April 30th. Books can be in any language and for toddlers through teens (non-religious, please). Look for the collection box in the lobby, and email Emily at [email protected] with any questions. Thank you!     

Lost & Found Pickup

The Lost & Found closet (across from Room 28) will be cleared out on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Please stop by before that date to check for and claim any items belonging to you or your loved ones!

MCAS Spring Testing Schedule

Reminder Division 1 and 2 students will be testing on various days during the months of April and 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 21 & 22
• SCIENCE: (already happened in February)

7th & 8th Grade:

• ELA: April 11 & April 24
• MATH: May 8 & 9
• SCIENCE (8th Grade Only): May 13 & 14

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.

Community Congress Fundraising School Store

Click here to view the Community Congress School Store

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.