January 24, 2026

Weekly Information for January 23, 2026

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

Congratulations to all the students who Gatewayed over the last two days. It is always a joyful and celebratory moment for our students and a testament to their hard work and perseverance. We appreciate all the friends, family and teachers who helped to make this possible. Congratulations to our whole community.


We are all bracing for a big winter storm coming this weekend. As you know, Monday is a professional development day for our faculty. We will work remotely on Monday so that we are ready for the start of second semester on Tuesday. Depending on the timing of the storm and the cleanup, Tuesday morning may be impacted as well. We will communicate by text, email and through local media outlets if so.


Given recent news about immigration enforcement across the country, I wanted to share the letter that I wrote a year ago. We follow the law and clear guidelines from the Massachusetts Attorney General, prioritizing student safety and parental rights. As I write in the letter, we are “committed to ensuring that students and families may come to school without fear and will comply with all applicable state laws to ensure the protection of our students and families.”


January 31, 2025 letter.docx


Thank you for helping to make Parker an inclusive, safe and affirming community for all our students and families. We look forward to welcoming five new students to Parker on Tuesday. We also hosted over 100 visitors at our first information session of the year last night. The energy and student questions were terrific! If you have any neighbors or friends who are considering Parker, invite them to apply for the lottery and attend one of our upcoming information sessions. See our website for more details.


Enrollment at Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School


Respectfully,

Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • Monday Faculty Planning
  • Fair Funding Week
  • SAT and ACT
  • Parker Concert Band
  • Valentine’s Appreciation
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Yearbooks – Prices Increase Soon!
Monday Faculty Planning

Monday is a faculty planning day, and students should not come to school as there are no classes. Our second semester will begin on Tuesday.


Fair Funding Week

MA Charter Public Schools Fair Funding Week 2026 is coming up- February 2nd – 6th! Did you know that kids attending charter public schools receive less funding for their school buildings than kids attending traditional public schools? As lawmakers get ready to build our state’s annual budget, we have an opportunity to make a difference. Fair Funding Week starts with an inspiring virtual event on Monday, February 2nd from 6-6:30 PM. Register now to join us, along with charter public school families from all across Massachusetts! Thank you, as always, for being a champion for our children!


SAT and ACT

Attention Juniors! If you are interested in taking the school-based SAT or ACT, payment is due to Jinnee by Friday, January 30th. Details are in your email and on Jinnee's bulletin board.  It is highly recommended that you take one of these exams.  If you have any questions, see Jinnee.


Parker Concert Band

Parker Concert Band is accepting new members for the Spring semester! 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. 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 questions or want to join, you can email Jim Desmond jdesmond@theparkerschool.org or Marena Cole mcole@theparkerschool.org or just show up at first rehearsal on Tuesday at 3:30 in room 13!


Faculty and Staff Valentine Appreciation Event sponsored by PPCC

Valentine’s Day is in a few weeks, and it's time for the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Book Love 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 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 February break begins on the 14th. If you're ready to sign up or have questions, please complete this form. Thank you for helping to celebrate and appreciate Parker’s stellar staff! https://forms.gle/z8GNYDjJ3kpHWcaL9


Restaurant Gift Cards

As we look ahead to Parker’s End‑of‑Year Community Celebration on June 5th at Sterling Street Brewery, we’re planning a fun raffle basket filled with gift cards to local restaurants. If you have a gift card you’re willing to donate, it would be a wonderful way to support our community and add some excitement to the event. Thank you for helping make this celebration extra special! Gift cards can be put in an envelope and given to the front desk with Raffle Contribution written on it. Please include your name so we know who to thank!


Yearbooks – Discounted Price

One week left until prices increase. 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.

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 - Jan 26 Faculty Planning (no classes)
Tue - Jan 27 Second Semester Begins
Thu - Feb 12 Board of Trustees
Fri - Feb 13 NOON Dismissal
Mon-Fri; Feb 16-20 WINTER BREAK
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
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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
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Weekly Information for March 27, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • March 27, 2026
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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