December 5, 2025

Weekly Information for December 5, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,


Winter came very early this year. There is always something special about the first snow day of the year – a rare unscheduled day in our otherwise hectic lives. Thanks to our custodial crew of Sal, Greg and Ben for working hard through the day so that we could reopen safely on Wednesday.


Calling a snow day or delayed opening can be tricky, as it was in this case. We monitor weather forecasts and assess the conditions on Devens and our neighboring communities. There may be some cases where a storm impacts some communities more than others. Because Parker students come from over forty cities and towns, it’s important for families to exercise personal judgement, based on local conditions, when deciding whether to travel to campus during inclement weather.


If school is cancelled or delayed, we inform students and families using an automated text, email, local media, and our website. We will try to communicate by 6:00 AM. On delayed openings, school starts at 10:30 AM and all the classes are shortened. We heard that a few families received the email but not the text message announcing the cancelation early Tuesday morning. If you did not receive a text message, and you would like to receive future messages, please text YES to 79041. You must opt-in to receive these messages through BrightArrow.


Next Wednesday, December 10th, we are delighted to welcome Maria Milagros to speak with Parker students and staff in an all-school meeting. She will share her story of transformative perseverance and deliver an empowering message to our students, “Transform your story, transform your life.” For more information, visit Maria’s website at https://www.mariamilagros.net/.


Following Maria’s presentation, advisors will lead an activity whereby students reflect on her message and express gratitude and affirmations. Thank you to Emilie Shannon and Youth Venture for sponsoring and hosting this important discussion. They have provided extraordinary leadership and voice in creating this program, one of the many ways that Youth Venture serves our community.


We can’t wait for opening night of the Fall Show. Parker Theater 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! Tickets are available at TicketStage - Parker Theater Tickets. Shows are on December 11th, 12th, and 13th at 7:00 PM. See you at the theater.



Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • Fall Show
  • 2026 Calendar Sale
  • Food Drive for Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
  • Yearbook
  • Text Alerts
  • Parker Fund
  • Gift Giving Guidelines
  • Junior Planning Night
  • Call the Attendance Line
  • Holiday Break Reminder
  • Winter Sports Registration
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • TOYS for TOTS
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 on next Thursday-Saturday, December 11-13, at 7 PM. Tickets are $13 at the door or $10 online beforehand: https://www.ticketstage.com/T/PARKERTHEATER


Order 2026 Student Art Calendars

Click here by December 11th to order a fabulous 2026 wall calendar featuring Parker student artwork! Calendars will be available for pick up by December 16th. Proceeds support The Parker Fund. Don’t miss out and order your calendar now!


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


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.


Weather Related Text Alerts

If you did not receive a text message early Tuesday morning informing you of the snow day and would like to receive future messages, text YES to 79041. You must opt-in to receive these messages from us through BrightArrow.


Parker Fund

The Parker Fund is counting on you! Every penny donated goes directly to our students – in the form of small class sizes, more direct attention and academic support, and greater access to clubs, sports, and activities. Click here to make your gift this year.


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.


Junior Planning Night

Attention Junior Families! Junior Planning Night is Wednesday, December 10th from 6 PM – 8 PM in the auditorium. All juniors and their adult(s) should attend. We will talk about Parker transcripts and planning for the post-Parker years.


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.


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.


TOYS for TOTS

Wednesday (December 10th) is the last day to drop off new, unwrapped toys in the TOYS for TOTS donation bin located in the Front Lobby of our school. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org. 

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:
Thu-Sat; Dec 11-13 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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By Cindy Johnson • March 7, 2026
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By Cindy Johnson • February 28, 2026
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By Cindy Johnson • February 13, 2026
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By Cindy Johnson • February 7, 2026
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