December 8, 2023

Weekly Information for December 8th

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Dear Parker families, students and staff,


We often reflect on the strength of the Parker community and our shared commitment to live our values. This week, we engage in deep and meaningful conversations about hate speech and antisemitism discovered on campus. We stand with our Jewish classmates and colleagues for whom this is painful and present. When one of us is assaulted, we all are. We condemn this cowardly act and explore the important role that we all play as upstanders. We are proud of our students for defending our values and one another.


Parker is committed to creating and nurturing a culture of inclusivity and equity. Common Principal #10: Democracy and Equity reads…

The school should demonstrate non-discriminatory and inclusive policies, practices and pedagogies. It should model democratic practices that involve all who are directly affected by the school. The school should honor diversity and build on the strength of its communities, deliberately and explicitly challenging all forms of inequity.


We are also a school that makes time and space for community service. Whether serving as a mentor or performing service hours, our students give back every day. One of the four pillars of Advisory is Community Service. By dedicating some portion of our day to community service, we look beyond ourselves to promote kindness, generosity and connection. Our world needs more of that.


This was also on display this week as we concluded the Toys for Tots campaign. Thank you to our Parker families for your extraordinary generosity. The donation box was overflowing with new toys for less fortunate children.


Reminder that we are running a midyear lottery for a small number of seats in grades 7 and 9. The deadline for applying for January admission is next Friday, December 16th. Please spread the word. We are also accepting applications for next year. The deadline for applying for August admission is March 1, 2024. Please share the following link with families who may be interested in learning more about Parker.


Enrollment at Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School (theparkerschool.org)


Thank you for making a positive contribution to Parker and beyond.

 

Brian

This week’s topics:
  • Fall Show is Next Week
  • Last Call for 2024 Student Art Calendars
  • Coach of the Year
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • Attention Families of Div2 AH!
  • Health Office Wish List
  • Parent Organized Faculty Appreciation
  • Gift Giving Guidelines
  • Last Week for Current Year Lottery Applications
Fall Show is Next Week

The Fall Show, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, is next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 PM! The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a comedically revolutionary tale about justice, motherhood, and the importance of good cheese. All are welcome! Click here to ticket purchases and for more information!

Coach of the Year


Congratulations to Coach Ben Benoit for being recognized as the Boys' Cross-country Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross-country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Ben started Parker’s Cross Country team 25 years ago and has led the team to numerous victories including this year’s Division III MIAA State Championship. Congratulations to Caleb Hatlevig and Henry Jacobsen for earning all-state honors at the championship meet.

 

Ski & Snowboard Club


Only one week left to register for Ski and Snowboard Club! Check here for details and to register. Registration Closes on December 15th, and six-week program begins Wednesday, January 3rd.

 

Attention Families of Division 2 AH!


Save The Date – Tuesday, February 13, 2023 – 6:30-7:30 PM. Division 2 AH students have worked hard this semester to complete Civic Action Projects. For their projects, students chose a civic issue they are passionate about, researched their issue, and engaged in civic action to address their issue. On the evening of Thursday, February 13th, we would like to invite families and students to Parker for Division 2 Exhibition Night! This night will allow Division 2 AH students to present their civic action projects, exhibit their learning, and share their actions with other Parker students, families, and staff. If you have questions, please contact your student’s Division 2 AH teacher.

 

Health Office Wish List


The Health Office would appreciate donations of tissues, fabric Band-Aids (all sizes), cough drops and healthy snacks. These particular supplies are distributed throughout the school on a regular basis. Thank you in advance for your donation that helps care for our Parker students and staff!

 

Parent Organized Faculty Appreciation

'Tis the season to show appreciation for the Parker teachers and staff. There are two efforts underway to celebrate the wonderful staff this holiday season.

  1. A supply drive to stock the staff break room will start on Monday 12/11 and run throughout the week. We are seeking donations such as K cups, hot chocolate, tea, snacks, etc. You can send these things in with your student, and they can be placed in the bin in the lobby. No time to shop? Feel free to Venmo (info below) a donation and supplies will be purchased and delivered to the break room.

  2. There will be a continental breakfast provided to teachers and staff on Wednesday 12/20. Monetary donations to support this breakfast can also be sent via Venmo.


Questions can be directed to Stephanie Maclary at stephaniemmac@gmail.com. Thank you for considering this opportunity to add some cheer to the Parker Community. Happy Holidays!


https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2997385634512896271


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.


Last Week for Current Year Applications

Reminder lottery applications are being accepted for current openings in grades 7 and 9 until Friday, December 16th. There are no current openings in grade 8 at this time. If more applications are received than there are available spaces, a lottery will be drawn on December 19 at 4:00 PM. Enrollment offers will be made with an intended start date of January 23, 2024 (second semester). We are also accepting applications for students entering grades 7, 8 and 9 next year until Friday, March 1st. Please direct interested families to www.parker.school/enroll.

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 - Dec 8 Div 1 & 9th Grade Dance
Thu-Sat - Dec 14-16 Fall Show
Fri - Dec 22 Noon Dismissal
Mon-Fri - Dec 25-29 Holiday Break
Mon - Jan 1 New Years Day - No School
Tue - Jan 2 Faculty Planning - No Classes
Wed - Jan 3 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 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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Weekly Information for October 10, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • October 10, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I have been spending a lot of my time in Advisory lately—visiting sometimes with 2 or 3 advisories in a day. These visits are helping me to meet one of my goals for the fall which is to get to know all our students—yes, to learn almost 400 names (first names first—last names later…) but also to know our students as more than names and faces. During these visits, I have had the privilege of asking and answering questions about each other like “What is something you are proud of?,” drawing 10 second animals, sharing a meal, playing 4 on a couch, playing reverse charades, and sharing a rose, bud, and thorn for the week. Earlier this year, I talked about building a strong foundation at the start of the year. In that metaphor, the advisory program is a cornerstone of our foundation at Parker, with four important purposes that include academic advising, community service, community conversations, and group dynamics/recreation. It’s a student’s advisor who checks in with them weekly about their academic work and progress. It’s the advisor who coordinates and hosts the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) conferences twice a year. It’s the advisor who supports this small group of students in building community during morning and afternoon advisory each day. Advisory is at the heart of so much of what we do as a school to get to know our students well and foster community. When we have an important issue to discuss or want to learn about something together, we will turn to community conversations and our “Super Advisories,” cross-age constellations of multiple Advisory groups. Advisory is critical not only to how we personalize the experience of school for students but also to the work of fostering a tone of decency and trust in our community, two of our 10 Common Principles. In the last thirty years, more schools have developed and implemented advisory programs. I see this as a sign they are recognizing something we have always believed: that when students feel a sense of safety, belonging, and community, they engage more fully in their learning, and that when at least one adult knows a student well, they are more successful in school. I hope you will get your own glimpse into the special and important work our advisors do through the upcoming PLP conferences—and I hope you will build your own relationship with your student’s advisor so that we can partner in supporting our students as they learn. Wishing you a restful long weekend ahead! Bex

Weekly Information for October 3, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • October 3, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • September 27, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • September 19, 2025
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Weekly Information for September 12, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • September 13, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I love the start of a new school year—not just because the empty building comes back to life with the presence of the students, faculty, and families and not just because it is a chance for a new beginning—though I do appreciate those things. What I enjoy most about the start of the school year is the way it sets the important foundation for everything that comes next. The thing about foundations is that they are not particularly glamorous, they are rarely the star of the show. Not many of us notice the foundations of buildings we enter or live in—unless there are problems with them. A good, solid foundation does its job without calling attention to itself, and the foundational ideas and beliefs at the core of what we do and believe at Parker is what I am noticing and appreciating in the foundation building I see happening every day. Here at Parker, the Common Principles are the ideas that matter most to our foundation and the most important work in our classrooms, hallways, clubs, and teams is teaching, practicing, and holding ourselves accountable to the ways we live those out in the day to day work. What does that look like? It looks like extra time in advisory and divisional gatherings in these first few weeks, fostering relationship building with new teachers and new classmates. It looks like learning about the advisory routines for Academic Advising and Academic Block. It looks like reviewing and learning about divisional norms and expectations. When I think about how this translates to classrooms, I am struck by the foundation building in the classes that book-end a student’s academic experience at Parker—7th Seminar which introduces key concepts like the Habits of Learning* , self-advocacy, and the process of revision, and Senior Seminar which challenges students to apply all their Habits and Skills to a year-long independent project they design. Some of what we work really intentionally to build with our students across their years with us is the willingness to try hard things, the perseverance to keep going, and the ability to reflect and revise based on feedback. We intentionally revisit these foundations every year. We intentionally ask our students to apply them to new and more challenging tasks as they progress from division to division. We intentionally shift more and more of the work involved in these tasks to students so that they each build their own solid foundation. Like all good foundations, these might not feel like the most exciting or glamorous work we do. Certainly, big demonstrations of learning like Gateways and Senior Exhibitions get more fanfare—but what I want to celebrate and call to your attention is how every little thing we do now enables those “bigger” things later. So, as we wrap up our first five-day week of the school year, I invite you all to notice and appreciate the foundations you might see being built for the year ahead. Happy Friday and happy weekend! Bex *The eight habits of learning at Parker are Inquiry, Expression, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Organization, Attentiveness, Involvement and Reflection.

Weekly Information for September 5, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • September 7, 2025
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