December 21, 2024

Weekly Information for December 20, 2024

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Dear Parker families, students and staff,


Wishing you and your family very happy holidays! Enjoy some holiday treats and spend quality time with those who you love. We are grateful to learn, grow and connect in our extraordinary community of Parker. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!


Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • Thanks, and Warm Wishes!
  • Holiday Break Reminder
  • Rose Bowl Parade
  • Parker Annual Fund
  • Spirit Wear
  • Yearbooks
  • COVID-19 Test Kits Available
Thanks and Warm Wishes!
How thoughtful you were to think of us!
All the goodies and treats; you made such a fuss!
Our thanks for your kindness and we wish you the best.
Have a wonderful break and enjoy an earned rest!
~
Parker extends the warmest wishes of the season to you and your loved ones.
Enjoy the break - see you in 2025! Happy New Year!


Holiday Break Reminder

Classes will resume for students on Friday, January 3, 2025. 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, any day/time before 9 AM of the affected day(s).


Tournament of Roses Parade

If you happen to watch the parade on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, keep an eye out for current junior Anneliese Carlson who will be marching in the color guard with other members of the New England Honor Band. While there, the band will help with the parade float construction, visit Universal City Walk and Santa Monica Beach, and march down Main Street in the Disneyland parade on New Year's Eve. Congratulations, Anneliese! Learn more about this event here:

https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2024/09/15/fitchburg-leominster-high-musicians-to-march-in-rose-parade/


Parker Annual Fund

This week saw the holiday season of giving continue—as of December 20th, we have received over $95,000 from Parker's Board of Trustees’ members, staff, current families, ALUMNI, parents of graduates, and friends of Parker. Thank you! During this last busy week of the holiday season, please consider a year-end, tax deductible gift to Parker by clicking here - EVERY GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT MATTERS AND MAKES AN IMPACT!


Spirit Wear

If you’re interested in purchasing Parker gear for the new year, use promo code PSAS15 until January 2nd for 15% off. A portion of sales goes to Parker’s Community Congress student group. https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/parker-charter-1576254



Yearbooks

Remember to order your 2024-2025 yearbook by January 31st for $5 off regular prices. Hard cover and soft cover books have all 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.


COVID-19 Test Kits Available

Reminder: COVID-19 Test Kits are free and available to students, staff, and families. They are in the main lobby to the right of the office window.

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-Tue; Dec 23-31 Holiday Break
Wed - Jan 1 New Years Day (No School)
Thu - Jan 2 Faculty Planning (No Classes)
Fri - Jan 3 Classes Resume
Fri - Jan 10 Board of Trustees
Mon - Jan 20 MLK, Jr. Day (No School)
Thu-Fri; Jan 23-24 GATEWAYS
Mon - Jan 27 Faculty Planning (No Classes)
Tue - Jan 28 Second Semester Begins
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 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.

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By Gabby Brummer • May 29, 2026
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By Gabby Brummer • May 22, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, This is a busy and exciting time of year—in schools generally, and certainly here at Parker. On Wednesday night alone, we hosted Noche Sabrosa, where our 8 th graders made and shared an important dish and spoke about their choice and why it was meaningful to them in Spanish, there was an art competition sponsored by Youth Venture and we capped off the evening with the final Café Wednesday of the year. Busy is not bad. There is a sense of excitement and momentum that can come with busy. It means we are still moving forward, that there is progress to make, that we can be productive. At the same time, there are events at this time of year that have us looking ahead to the future; we are planning celebrations for the end of this year and even looking ahead to the start of next. Seniors are in the final days of portfolio piece revisions, reflection writing, and making decisions about their graduation ceremony. On Tuesday afternoon, thanks to the help of the PPCC, incoming students and families to the Parker community joined us for ice cream and had an opportunity to make connections with each other and with current Parker students and families. Finding the ways to both be in the here-and-now and to stay focused on what we are doing, while also looking ahead to what’s next and getting excited to mark accomplishments with meaningful celebrations creates a dynamic tension in the busyness of this season of the school year. These weeks can be about dedication and hard work. They can be about joyful celebration and reflection. They can be everything in between. I hope you each can experience and appreciate the full blend of the “here-and-now” and “what’s next” in the weeks to come. Wishing you all a restful holiday weekend.  Bex

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By Gabby Brummer • May 15, 2026
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By Gabby Brummer • May 8, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I did a little internet digging into the etymology of the word appreciation, having been inspired by the Teacher Appreciation surrounding us at school this week. There’s the meaning I think of as somewhat economic—when something goes up in value—and there’s the meaning I think of as more emotional—when you feel gratitude and recognize the worth of someone or something. This week and every week I am deeply appreciative of the incredibly challenging, time-consuming, and critically important work our teachers do in and out of classrooms. Parker teachers put their time and energy into getting to know students well, supporting and challenging students to develop critical thinking skills and good habits of learning, communicating with families, and working with and supporting each other in their daily work and professional learning. While there might be questions about whether our society understands or appreciates the valuable work of teachers, I am grateful to work at a school where our community recognizes the incredible depth, complexity, and importance of what teachers do. As Brian mentioned last week, Senior Project exhibitions are underway now and these incredible projects and demonstrations of learning are just one beautiful representation of the incredibly powerful work our teachers do and how it supports the important work and learning our students do. Thank you to the PPCC for organizing and coordinating this year’s Teacher Appreciation Week activities. Thank you to all the students and family members who have volunteered their time, ideas, messages of appreciation, and other resources to that project. Thank you to all of the educators and teachers in our community—those of you who work at Parker and those of you who work in other schools. Thank you to our Senior Advisors, the class of 2026, and all the community members who have been Senior Project mentors and who are participating as jurors. I am deeply grateful for the dedication and commitment our teachers bring to their daily work and to our community for the appreciation and support you show our teachers regularly. With appreciation,  Bex

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By Gabby Brummer • May 1, 2026
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By Gabby Brummer • April 17, 2026
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