December 19, 2025

Weekly Information for December 19, 2025

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday! We had a busy and festive week at Parker – with hard work, holiday parties, and our community coming together for those in need. Thank you to everyone who donated food, toys, or sports equipment to our campus drives. We are proud of the Parker community for always stepping up!

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year. Enjoy the long break with those who you love.

Brian

This week’s topics:

Thanks - Warm Wishes!
Loaves and Fishes Update
EzSports Youth Venture Update
Thank You from PPCC
Yearbook
Parker Fund
Holiday Break Reminder
Resources for Those in Need
Ski and Snowboard Club
Lost & Found Pickup

EZSports Youth Venture Update

The Ez Sports Youth Venture group was able to pass along the donations they collected for the Fitchburg/Leominster Boys and Girls Club this week. The group consists of Preston Wentrup, Hudson Wheeler, Emery Berkhout, and AJ Pietrovito. They ran a donation drive collecting sporting equipment and school supplies for the club, and as usual, the Parker community showed their immense generosity. Thank you to everyone who donated to this worthy cause. They were very appreciative!

Thank You from PPCC

Thanks to everyone in our community who donated in some way to the Staff Holiday Appreciation Breakfast and Supply Drive. Because of your generosity, it was a great success. Happy Holidays from the PPCC!

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.

Support the Parker Fund Before Year’s End

As 2025 comes to a close, we celebrate the incredible achievements of our students and the dedication of our teachers. ✨ Before December 31, we invite you to make a year‑end, tax‑deductible gift to the Parker Fund. Your support ensures that Parker continues to thrive and that our students gain the skills they need to succeed.

👉 Give to the Parker Fund today – because every gift matters, and every gift makes a difference.

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.

Resources for Those in Need

While the holidays are generally filled with cheer, there are those for whom the holidays can be difficult. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, please reach out to one of these resources:

DIAL 911/Go to your nearest Emergency Dept for immediate needs
DIAL 988 - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - 24/7 coverage
National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) - 24/7 coverage
DIAL 211 - For food insecurity help in Massachusetts or contact Project Bread's Food Source Hotline at 800-645-8333 for expert SNAP/HIP guidance and food resource navigation
Text 741741 - Crisis Text Line - 24/ 7 coverage
Text TEEN to 839836 - Teen Line (Teens Helping Teens) – Texts are answered from 9PM-12AM EST/call 1-800-852-8336 from 9pm-1am EST. The teen line is staffed by trained volunteer teen listeners who are supervised by mental health professionals.
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Youth) – 24/ 7 coverage: 1-866-488-7386 (4-U-TREVOR) – please note that you do not have to be in crisis to call this line. The Trevor Project is there to answer questions or support callers with a variety of struggles.
Text “Trevor” to 2023041200 - Monday - Friday, 3pm-10pm (LGBTQ youth)
Samaritans 24-Hour Crisis Hotline – 24/ 7 coverage: 1-212-673-3000
National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) - 24/7 coverage
National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1-800-656-4673 - 24/7 coverage
SAMHSA National Helpline - 24/7 coverage: 1-800-662-4357 - confidential and free help to find substance use treatment and information.
MA Atty. General's Hate Crime Hotline: 1-800-994-3228 - Any Massachusetts resident who has witnessed or experienced incidents of bias-motivated threats, harassment or violence can call this hotline to file a report.

Ski and Snowboard Club

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

Lost & Found Pickup

The Lost & Found Closet will be cleared on Friday, January 16, 2026. You are welcome to stop by anytime between January 2 – 16 to check for and claim any items belonging to your loved ones.

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:
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
Wed - Jan 7	Young Alum Day
Thu - Jan 8	Board of Trustees

Click HERE for the Online Calendar

Click HERE for the FYI Daily Announcements

Click HERE to Support the PARKER FUND

Click HERE for the CC School Store

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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Weekly Information for April 17, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • April 17, 2026

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Wishing you a wonderful spring break with those who you love! We hope the week off is restful and rejuvenating. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, April 27, for a rigorous and celebratory end of the year at Parker. Have a great break! Bex

Weekly Information for April 10, 2026

By Monique Benganski • April 10, 2026

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, There is a classic cartoon that I have been thinking about quite a lot lately. The image has two different drawings under the heading “success.” The first image has a straight arrow moving up to the right at a 45 degree angle which is labeled “what people think it looks like.” The second image has an arrow that also moves up to the right that quickly turns from a straight line into a massive, messy tangle before straightening out for the last little bit. This image is labeled “what it really looks like.” I have a longstanding love-hate relationship with this image. Sometimes I look at it and find it a useful reminder that mistakes, wrong turns, and feeling like I might be going in circles is completely normal and to be expected. Sometimes I look at it and yearn for the clean, clear, simple straight line of accomplishing something as and when I planned. At this point in the school year, I often need the reminder of this image. As a student, this was when at least one of my teachers might realize we were “behind” and then speed through the remaining curriculum. This can also be the time of year when students wonder if they are making progress or when they become convinced they are not making progress. Either of these feelings can make it hard to sustain the energy and attention necessary to get out of the tangled mess. This can be a time when we are sitting in that tangle, on the way to some success, that we can’t quite see yet. It’s a time when we have to really focus, work hard to get through the complex challenges, and be willing to revise our original plans. No matter which image resonates with your current experience, I encourage you to remember that what we think about how things will go, and how they actually go, don’t always line up perfectly. I believe that if we pay attention to those points of discrepancy, that just might be where we can find our richest learning. Best wishes for a restful weekend. Bex

Weekly Information for April 3, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • April 3, 2026

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, We are delighted to celebrate Parker students who were recognized for their outstanding performance at the 45th annual Elizabeth Haskins Mathematics Contest at Fitchburg State University. In the 90-minute competition, students answer 50 challenging math questions written or created by members of the Fitchburg State Mathematics Department faculty. This year, five students from Parker participated in the competition. The high scorers in each grade level were recognized in an awards ceremony at the competition. All five students from Parker were among the top scorers! Three Parker seniors earned Honorable Mention, placing in the top 15% of all scores: Chrys Olsen Dylan Stark Oliver Gillen Two of the three top scorers were Parker juniors. Andrew Roberdeau earned 3 rd place in the 11 th grade division, repeating his performance from last year, when he placed 3 rd in the 10 th grade division. Daniel Hendrickson won 1 st place in the 11 th grade division, earning the highest overall score out of all scores at the entire competition. We appreciate the leadership and coaching of Diane Kruse, MST Domain Leader, and Nathan Soule, MST Teacher. We are very proud of our students and the adults who help them thrive. Have a great weekend. Brian

Weekly Information for March 27, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • March 27, 2026

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Feedback, reflection and revision are central to everything that we do at Parker. As Nancy Sizer wrote in Keeping School, “the emphasis is on growth, on learning from one’s mistakes, cleaning up one’s prose, clearing up one’s understandings.” This requires students to work hard, to be open to feedback and to try again. We are very proud of our students for engaging meaningfully in this iterative process. We take a similar approach to adult learning at Parker. This week, we welcomed thirty teachers from across the region to join us in professional development called Looking at Student Work. During the session, Parker teachers shared the goals and expectations for standards-based assessments in their class. Participants used protocols to make observations and build meaning, referring to Parker’s articulated Criteria for Excellence, associated rubrics, and the work itself. This represents an essential opportunity to ask for feedback, reflect and revise – just like our students. We recognize that early dismissals can be hard for families. We take this professional development time seriously every week, ensuring that we are prepared to meet the needs of our students. Thank you for your partnership. Have a great weekend. Brian

Weekly Information for March 20, 2026

By Monique Benganski • March 22, 2026

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Happy first day of spring! My maternal grandmother was a firm believer in spring cleaning. She would, at the first sign of sunny days warm enough to put a lot of laundry outside to dry, schedule a full day to scrub and wash and clean everything in the house. This was too much to take on herself, so she organized me and my siblings, giving out assignments and supplies and promising TV time or some extra dessert when we finished our lists. Every window was washed. Every curtain came down. Every blanket and comforter went in the laundry. As you can imagine, this was a lot of work, but with dramatic results. The house looked and felt different in a relatively short period of time. This turn of the seasons always makes me think about newness and possibility—maybe because I remember those spring cleanings so vividly and the clean slate they seemed to yield. Spring is also a time in the school year to look ahead with excitement and expectation. Our seniors are looking ahead to Senior Project Expo Night, Exhibitions, and then graduation. Many students across divisions and domains are looking ahead to June Gateways. Spring sports seasons have gotten underway. The spring show is deep in rehearsals. You name it and all around the school, the signs of spring are cropping up as they are in the outside world—and there is still a lot of work to do between here and the end results. These moments of transition are important markers of not just where we have been but also where we are going. Sometimes looking ahead can cause a little nervousness, it can cause excitement, or often a mix of emotions. I think it is important to remember that this is what growth and moving into something new feels like—like spring cleaning, it is a lot of work, it’s easier when we don’t do it alone, and the results can be refreshing and sometimes even dramatic. Wishing you all a bright and promising spring ahead. Bex

Weekly Information for March 13, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • March 14, 2026

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, It was great to see everyone at PLP conferences today. We are proud of our students for setting meaningful and challenging goals and helping to lead today’s discussion. This is one of the many ways that students drive their learning at Parker and an essential way that we partner with families. Thank you. I want to recognize Ben Benoit, our Athletic Director and Coach, as he prepares to tackle the Appalachian Trail . As you know, Ben will be taking a sabbatical this spring and summer to hike the full length of the AT. This is a lifelong dream and personal challenge for Ben. He starts tomorrow in Georgia and plans to be home in time for the start of the school year in August. That’s 2190 miles over five months, averaging about 15 miles a day! We are excited for Ben and draw inspiration from his passion and determination. And this comes after a year in which the Boys Cross Country team and the Boys Winter Track team both won State Championship and Ben was named Coach of the Year for both seasons. That’s quite a year for our teams and our coach! We look forward to a few reports and photos from the trail. Henry Schrader will serve as the Interim Athletic Director from now until the start of the next school year . Henry will continue as a teacher, Domain leader and Divisional Co-Coordinator in addition to this new role. We appreciate Henry’s strong leadership and the continuity that he provides. Thank you, Henry. We look forward to kicking off the Spring sports season on Tuesday, March 17th. If you haven’t yet registered and you want to play one of the many sports offered, see the details below. Enjoy the long weekend! See you Tuesday, March 17th. Brian