December 12, 2025

Weekly Information for December 12, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

One of the magical things about working in schools is the chance to get to know students as whole people. Yes, of course, we can come to know our students well as learners because this is the work we spend much of our time on together, but the ways we get to see our students as leaders, as curious young adults with big questions, passionate interests, and developing understanding of themselves and their world is also an important part of knowing our students well. The process of watching someone grow and change over the course of their years in a school is both humbling and inspiring to me.


I have been appreciating the way that each milestone in the progression of the school year and each new experience I have at Parker showcases and gives me another way to get to know our students as whole people, individually and collectively. Seeing the student leaders of the Youth Venture club introduce and facilitate the Q+A with our all-school speaker, Maria Milagros, on Wednesday is just one recent example. The students who bravely asked questions in the whole group or stayed to ask an individual question also demonstrated their interest in learning about and understanding the experiences of others and their puzzling through how the experiences of others might or might not resonate with their own.


This isn’t the only example of course. I think about the Division 2 students and their Civic Action Projects. Some students shared about their work and learning in our all-school gathering last Friday—but everyone had to identify something that mattered to them, learn about the issue and the context, and then take some action to improve what they thought needed improvement. I can’t wait for you to be able to see this work from our students later this spring!


These are two examples from this week—but there are many others. What do you learn about students when you see them in the school play? (Opening Night was amazing! There are additional performances tonight and Saturday at 7pm.) What do you learn about students when you see them coaching younger students about their choices in the hallway? What do you learn about students by watching them play a basketball game? I can definitively say that all of what I learn in these moments has led to new understanding and greater appreciation of both individuals and the Parker community.


As we head into the final school week of 2025, I hope you have an opportunity to join us for at least one of the games, meets, plays, and presentations that happen at this time of year—and I hope you can see the magic of our students and your student/s as they grow and change right in front of our eyes each day.


Best wishes,

Bex

This week’s topics: 
  • Noon Dismissal Next Friday
  • Fall Show
  • Food Drive for Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
  • PPCC Teacher Appreciation
  • Café Holiday
  • Yearbook
  • Parker Fund
  • Gift Giving Guidelines
  • Call the Attendance Line
  • Holiday Break Reminder
  • Toys for Tots Thank You!
  • Winter Sports Registration
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
Noon Dismissal Next Friday

Reminder that we will have a noon dismissal next Friday, December 19. Please be sure to pick up your student at noon, as building will close at that time and there will be no after-school activities.


Fall Show – Tickets on Sale

The Fall Show is here! Parker Theatre is proud to present a double-header of Greek Tragedy: Governing Alice and Eurydice. The first play adapts Sophocles' Antigone and asks what happens when doing the right thing means breaking the rules. The second play adapts the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, a tragic story about music, words, love, and loss. There will be artwork, live music, tricycles, a house made of string, and busy, busy stones! Shows are tonight (Fri 12/12) and tomorrow (Sat 12/13), at 7 PM. Tickets are $13 at the door or $10 online beforehand: https://www.ticketstage.com/T/PARKERTHEATER


Food Drive for Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry

Parker is holding a food drive through Monday, December 15th to benefit Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry located here on Devens. Loaves & Fishes provides food for over 1,000 families/3,000 individuals in Central Mass every year. Food insecurity is a growing concern, especially as we approach the holiday break when school is not in session. If you're able to donate, please bring in unexpired, non-perishable food items and place them in the donation box located in the lobby. Let's see if our school can fill an entire car with food in just two weeks! We'll be delivering the food to Loaves & Fishes on Tuesday, December 16th, so let's show our Parker spirit while helping the local community during the holiday season. Questions? Please see Sheila, Henry, or Jinnee. Many thanks to Henry/Jinnee's advisory for their support!


Most Needed Items: Coffee, Tea, Cocoa (no K cups), Snacks (such as crackers, etc.), Condiments, Flavored Rice, Hearty Soups and Condensed Soups, Albacore Tuna and Light Tuna, Mac & Cheese, Cereal, Dry Beans, Baking Mixes, Canned Tomatoes & Tomato Sauce


Holiday Items: Brownie mix/cookie mix, Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Canned Pineapple


PPCC Teacher Appreciation

The holiday season is upon us and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the teachers and staff at Parker. Please consider sending a monetary donation to support the appreciation breakfast that will be held on Monday 12/15. Donations can be sent via Venmo to @Stephanie-Maclary. An Amazon Wish List was created for supplies and already fulfilled through the generosity of our community. If you have questions, please contact Stephanie at stephaniemmac@gmail.com. Happy Holidays!


Café Holiday

Good news, Parker community! The holidays are fast approaching, so get into the spirit just in time for Café Holiday. On December 17th at 6:30 PM, we will hold our annual Holiday rendition of Café Wednesday and it’s going to be amazing! Our students are putting on their performing hats and preparing a variety of acts that you don’t want to miss. No tickets are needed, just show up ready to have a fun time.


Yearbooks – Discounted Price

Order your 2025-2026 yearbook by January 31st for $5 off regular prices. Hard cover and soft cover books all have the same content while the Division 1 books contain the same whole school and Division 1 sections but not the sections for Division 2, Juniors, Seniors, and senior parent ad pages. Currently, hard cover books are $55, soft cover books are $35, and Division 1 books are $15.


Parker Fund

Whether you're an alum, parent, grandparent, or friend, you know that Parker is more than a school—it's a home where lasting connections transform lives. Advisors and faculty provide personalized instruction. Classmates become lifelong friends. These are the deep, supportive ties that bind our community, and your gift keeps them strong for every student. When you support the Parker Annual Fund, you ensure our community, rooted in decency and trust, thrives for generations to come. You're not just donating to a school; you're a vital partner, investing directly in the relationships, values, and people that make the Parker experience extraordinary. Make Your Impact Today. parker.school/giving


Gift Giving Guidelines

As the holidays approach, please be reminded of the following guidelines on gift giving from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission that apply to all public employees in Massachusetts.

  • Gifts where the combined value is $50 or more may not be accepted. Whether gifts are given for the holidays, end of year, or other occasion, a public-school employee may not accept a gift or gifts from a current student or a parent over the course of an entire year (365 days) with the combined value of $50 or more.
  • Gifts which have a value under $50 are permitted under the law but may be subject to reporting to the State Ethics Commission on a disclosure form to prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest. Generally, any item of monetary value gifted during the year, including the holiday period, is subject to disclosure.

A teacher may accept a gift to the classroom that is to be used for the class, and it will become the property of the school district and not the property of the teacher. Gifts from individual students, parents, classes, or other groups and entities are allowed so long as the gift is to the school. These gifts are not subject to disclosure. Parker will maintain a record of the gift. Such gifts must be in accordance with Parker’s policies.


Please Call the Attendance Line BEFORE 9 AM!

Parents/Guardians must notify the school office daily of any Late Arrivals, Absences, or Early Dismissals by using the Attendance Line at 978-772-3293 x1 BEFORE 9 AM. If it is AFTER 9 AM, please call the office directly (messages are not cleared after 9 AM). NOTE: Health details should not be shared on the Attendance Line. Please share health details ONLY with Nurse Lisa (lzick@theparkerschool.org).


Holiday Break Reminder

Classes will resume for students on Monday, January 5, 2026. If your student will miss additional days, please leave a message on the Attendance Line (available 24 hours a day) at 978-772-3293, x1, giving the dates your child will not be in school.


TOYS for TOTS Thanks You!

You've proven again what an amazing and generous community we have at Parker. MANY thanks for supporting the effort to bring a ray of holiday joy to a child in need!


Winter Sports Registration

It’s not too late to sign up for a winter sport: Winter Track, Girls and Boys Basketball (Middle School and High School), Boys Ice Hockey (Co-op with Littleton) and Girls Ice Hockey (Co-op with Acton-Boxborough). To register your student for a winter sport, click here: 2025-2026 Winter Parker Sports Registration – Fill out form


Ski and Snowboard Club

Check here for details and to register. Program begins 1/7. 

Parents of Athletes

Do you know how to find your way to Parker’s playing locations? We have a GREAT feature on our website with interactive Google maps - just enter your address to receive directions to any of our game and meet locations. Find this feature by clicking HERE.

Upcoming Dates of Note:
Fri-Sat; Dec 12-13 FALL SHOW
Wed - Dec 17 Café Wednesday
Fri - Dec 19 NOON Dismissal
Mon-Wed; Dec 22-31 Holiday Break
Thu - Jan 1 New Years Day - NO SCHOOL
Fri - Jan 2 Faculty Planning - NO CLASSES
Mon - Jan 5 Classes Resume
Looking for help with or concerning: Please contact:
a specific class or assignment the teacher of that class (see Parker email list)
technical support email: helpdesk@theparkerschool.org
your family's or student's health email: lzick@theparkerschool.org
mental health/emotional support needs email: skelly@theparkerschool.org
food insecurity/free and reduced school lunch needs email: mmckenna@theparkerschool.org

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 race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, gender identity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability, in the operation of the educational programs, activities, or employment policies

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