Weekly Information for January 17, 2025

Sibling Applications for Next Year

Parker is currently accepting applications for students entering grades 7, 8 and 9 next year. Siblings of current students planning to attend the Parker School for the 2025-2026 school year MUST complete an application no later than March 1, 2025. Current students do not need to reapply. Click here to complete an application: https://forms.rediker.com/FPCES. You are welcome to call our front office prior to March 1 to verify your application has been received. The lottery will be held on Thursday, March 6, at 4 PM. Please send interested friends to parker.school/enroll for more information.

Gardening Community Block is Looking for Unwanted Containers!

Winter is in full swing, so outdoor gardening has stopped until spring starts again. While in winter, the gardening community block is taking the opportunity to grow some houseplants! We do not have enough containers to put all the baby plants into, so we're accepting donations of small containers you and your family do not want anymore. These containers can be mugs, cans, mason jars, glass bottles, vases, and actual plant pots. Really anything that can hold a plant is welcome! Bring them by and drop them in the donation bin found in the lobby. We'll work to repurpose the unwanted containers by decorating and jazzing them up, so they are suitable for our plants at a future plant sale. This collection will run from Tuesday, Jan 21st through Friday, Jan 24th. Any donations are greatly appreciated and will benefit the community block and the future plant sale.

Penny Wars Fundraiser

Hello Families & Advisories of Parker! As many of you have seen on the news, there have been very devastating wildfires in LA County over the past week, leaving more than 10,000 families without homes and belongings. We are hoping to raise money for World Central Kitchen, which is a non-profit organization that collects funds to help provide meals to people who have experienced natural disasters and humanitarian crises. They currently have teams helping U.S. communities, both in the South from hurricanes this fall and now in California. This is a PENNY WARS fundraiser! Each Advisory has been given a JAR in which you can collect coins and cash. Pennies and cash are POSITIVE POINTS towards your advisory's total, and silver coins SUBTRACT from your total points (Hint: put bills/pennies in YOUR advisory's jar, and silver coins in ANOTHER advisory's jar.) The advisory that has the most points by January 24th will get CUPCAKES! Thank you in advance for your donations. ~Sarah's advisory

Faculty and Staff Valentine Appreciation Book Love Event Organized by PPCC

Valentine’s Day is in a few weeks, and it's time for the annual Faculty and Staff Book Love Appreciation Event! The Parker Parent and Caregiver Community (PPCC) invites you to show our Parker staff a little love. The idea is simple - we are hoping to gift a book or gift card to every staff member. If you would like to participate, you will randomly be assigned a staff member and given information on their book preferences. You would then purchase a book or gift card as a gift from the Parker community for that staff member and drop it off or have it mailed to Parker. Gifts should be delivered before the February break begins on the 14th. If you're ready to sign up or have questions, please complete the form at this link: https://forms.gle/t4FekkQ8tvYUUGSp6. Thank you for helping to celebrate and appreciate Parker’s stellar staff!

Parker Concert Band is accepting new members for the Spring Semester!

Parker’s Concert Band is beginning to rehearse for our next concert. We had a rousing performance at Café Holiday last month, and we plan TWO more concerts this coming semester. Even though the second semester hasn’t started, new students can join us now to get a head-start on our next program. The band rehearses after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM. The Activity Fee for each semester is $100 and need-based assistance is available. Need an instrument? Parker has many instruments available for loan at no charge - just ask us! If you have learned the basics of any band instrument, please join us this spring! No auditions are necessary: you just need to have learned the basics of playing your instrument. Students who are interested should Teams chat, email, or visit Jim Desmond (Room 13) or Marena Cole (Room 43).

Attention Juniors!

We are offering school-based SAT and ACT in April. See your email for more details. To register, see Jinnee before the end of the month.

Please Call the Attendance Line BEFORE 9 AM!

Parents/Guardians must notify the school office daily of any Late Arrivals, Absences, or Early Dismissals. Please let the office know 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 with Nurse Lisa ONLY (x135 or [email protected]).

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.

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.