February 1, 2025

Weekly Information for January 31, 2025

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Dear Parker students, families and members of the Parker community,


Parker is a safe and affirming school community for all students. We have a moral and legal obligation to provide equal access to free public education and a safe and supportive school environment for all students. Today, we restate these values in support of our immigrant students and families, many of whom are feeling threatened in the current climate.


The Parker School’s Ten Common Principles set forth clear and simple goals that apply to all students. Primary among them is the belief that the tone of the school should explicitly stress the values of trust, decency and fairness, with families serving as “key collaborators and vital members of the school community.” We also believe that the school should honor diversity, demonstrate inclusive practices, and explicitly challenge all forms of inequity. These values are summarized as the Tone of Decency and Trust and Democracy and Equity.


In response to concerns expressed by members of our school community, I want to clarify how we protect and support Parker students and families. In short, we will follow the law and the clear guidelines of the Massachusetts Attorney General.


All children have the right to attend public schools regardless of their national origin or immigration status. Any requests from Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) authorities regarding our students or families will be directed to me as the Superintendent. Although we consider it to be unlikely, if immigration officials appear at the school and seek access to a student, both Parker’s legal counsel and the student’s family will be immediately notified. Immigration officials will not be provided with access to students without parental consent or a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Similarly, we will not share personally identifiable information relative to students, which includes information regarding national origin or immigration status, except with parental consent or in response to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena.


In summary, we at Parker 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. We will continue to maintain open and timely communication with our students and families. We are in this together and we are determined to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment for our students and families.


Respectfully,

Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • MCAS Testing 10th Grade
  • Kitchen Assistant Opening
  • Norovirus Information
  • Advocacy Week Kick-off Rally
  • Parker Annual Fund
  • Seeking Creative Donations
  • Join the Dance Team!
  • Substitute Nurses Needed
  • Extending Winter Break?
MCAS Testing 10th Grade Biology

Students in the 10th Grade will take the MCAS Biology test on Tuesday AND Wednesday, February 4th & 5th. Please make every effort to have students in school and on time for these testing days. Students should try hard NOT to stress, but good test taking strategies include getting a good night’s sleep and eating a good breakfast each day. Students WILL NEED their school laptop to test and should be sure to bring those (with charging cord). Electronics/internet enabled devices are NOT allowed in testing situations. Students should be prepared to leave these at home or in their bags for the entirety of the testing periods. Students who miss any of these testing days will make up the tests in following days and will be contacted with details. If you have any questions, please contact Deb Merriam (deb@theparkerschool.org). All tests are untimed, and most students finish in about 90 minutes (for Biology). The MCAS Schedule for SPRING will be posted as the testing dates get nearer.


Kitchen Assistant Opening

Parker is currently seeking part-time help in our kitchen. Click here for more information.


Norovirus Information

Click here for information about norovirus from Nurse Lisa.


Parker will be featured in Monday’s Advocacy Week Virtual Rally!

Next week is MA Charter Public School Advocacy Week! Lianna Condon, Parker alum (’02) and current Parker parent (’27), will be speaking at the kick-off event. Let’s show our support for Parker—and Lianna—by joining Monday’s 30-minute virtual kick-off rally! If you haven’t registered yet, you can register now. Thank you in advance for your support of Parker as we advocate on behalf of our students and Charter Public Schools across the commonwealth!


Parker Annual Fund

We need your help to meet our $225,000 Parker Fund goal! One of the things the Parker Fund supports is student engagement- removing barriers to participation in clubs, activities, sports and field trips. Show your support for Parker with a gift to The Parker Fund today.


Words from current Parker Families:

  • We give to Parker out of gratitude for what the staff and administration do for our daughter. The educational experience, personal relationships, and community culture are what make the school special. We are happy to support Parker in any way we can.
  • Parker teachers have engaged and inspired our kids from day one because they take the time to know their students both as learners and as individual people. Our kids see Parker as a place where they will grow into people with interesting and important things to contribute to the world.


Seeking Creative Donations

As part of Parker's 30th celebration at the Bull Run restaurant on April 5th, we're seeking community-sourced items for the live auction and raffle baskets. Donation ideas are only limited by your imagination! Some ideas: insider access to a special venue—tickets to sports, arts, or music events—vacation home weeks/weekends—chat about your favorite topic over lunch—handmade jewelry, crafts, or art—favorite books—a day out sailing or fishing—lessons or sessions in your “thing” (massage, yodeling, golf, making jelly, writing, knitting - it’s all great!)—power-washing, carpentry, plumbing, etc. Please email your idea with a detailed description to: Dawn Van Patten (hellodawnvp@gmail.com)


Join the Dance Team!

Join Parker’s new dance team! All experience and grade levels are welcome! The season will run through June and the team will develop routines to perform at various school functions. Practices are on Wednesdays from 2:00-4:00 and Saturdays from 9-12. (Saturday practices start on 2/8.) The cost to participate is $100 for the season (need-based assistance is available). Students must register and provide proof of physical prior to the first practice. Please click here to register: https://forms.office.com/r/w9iNsHZbNs. Contact Laurel with questions at lronan@theparkerschool.org.


Substitute Nurses Needed

We are looking for substitute nurses to help in the Health Office and to go on occasional field trips with the students. If you are an LPN or RN, please email Nurse Lisa at lzick@theparkerschool.org if you are interested.


Planning an extended family trip during the WINTER BREAK in FEBRUARY?

Please LEAVE A MESSAGE on the ATTENDANCE LINE: 978-772-3293, x1 - available 24 hours a day. It is important you inform THE OFFICE that your child(ren) will miss additional days, even if you have let the teachers know. Please call and leave a single message with all the affected dates any day or time before the morning of the first affected day.

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:
Tue-Wed; Feb 4-5 10th Grade Biology MCAS
Thu - Feb 13 Board of Trustees
Fri - Feb 14 NOON Dismissal
Mon-Fri; Feb 17-21 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 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.

Recent Posts

Weekly Information for March 27, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • March 27, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Feedback, reflection and revision are central to everything that we do at Parker. As Nancy Sizer wrote in Keeping School, “the emphasis is on growth, on learning from one’s mistakes, cleaning up one’s prose, clearing up one’s understandings.” This requires students to work hard, to be open to feedback and to try again. We are very proud of our students for engaging meaningfully in this iterative process.  We take a similar approach to adult learning at Parker. This week, we welcomed thirty teachers from across the region to join us in professional development called Looking at Student Work. During the session, Parker teachers shared the goals and expectations for standards-based assessments in their class. Participants used protocols to make observations and build meaning, referring to Parker’s articulated Criteria for Excellence, associated rubrics, and the work itself. This represents an essential opportunity to ask for feedback, reflect and revise – just like our students. We recognize that early dismissals can be hard for families. We take this professional development time seriously every week, ensuring that we are prepared to meet the needs of our students. Thank you for your partnership. Have a great weekend. Brian

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 

Weekly Information for March 13, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • March 14, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, It was great to see everyone at PLP conferences today. We are proud of our students for setting meaningful and challenging goals and helping to lead today’s discussion. This is one of the many ways that students drive their learning at Parker and an essential way that we partner with families. Thank you. I want to recognize Ben Benoit, our Athletic Director and Coach, as he prepares to tackle the Appalachian Trail . As you know, Ben will be taking a sabbatical this spring and summer to hike the full length of the AT. This is a lifelong dream and personal challenge for Ben. He starts tomorrow in Georgia and plans to be home in time for the start of the school year in August. That’s 2190 miles over five months, averaging about 15 miles a day! We are excited for Ben and draw inspiration from his passion and determination. And this comes after a year in which the Boys Cross Country team and the Boys Winter Track team both won State Championship and Ben was named Coach of the Year for both seasons. That’s quite a year for our teams and our coach! We look forward to a few reports and photos from the trail. Henry Schrader will serve as the Interim Athletic Director from now until the start of the next school year . Henry will continue as a teacher, Domain leader and Divisional Co-Coordinator in addition to this new role. We appreciate Henry’s strong leadership and the continuity that he provides. Thank you, Henry. We look forward to kicking off the Spring sports season on Tuesday, March 17th. If you haven’t yet registered and you want to play one of the many sports offered, see the details below. Enjoy the long weekend! See you Tuesday, March 17th. Brian

Weekly Information for March 6, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • March 7, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I hope you all are safe and warm on this wintry day. As Brian shared in his last letter: this week, Parker hosted visitors from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) as part of our accreditation process. The group of 7 educators and leaders from around New England included people who have visited Parker before and others who were visiting for the first time. Their work was to get to know our school and to review and evaluate our work on the goals and priorities we as a school identified. They visited classes, they met with different groups of teachers and students, and then they told us what they saw and made recommendations for next steps in our work. It’s a bit like finishing a big assessment, turning it in, and then getting it back with feedback before you revise. They will write a full report on their visit, and when we have it, we will share it with all of you, but they did give us a preview. In a relatively short visit, the team was able to “get” us, and they praised many improvements we have made and celebrated much of what we do well. They were impressed with a lot of what they observed and learned—and the thing they highlighted most in their reflection with the faculty was what they heard from our students, which seems perfectly right. After all, Parker was founded by families who wanted a school that would put their students at the center of their learning. Our visitors heard our students talk about what matters to us as a community (they even passed a pop quiz to name all 10 of the Common Principles!), the hard work they are asked to do, and how they have grown. What the students conveyed was a sense of community and care that supports them to take risks in their learning and grow—and that is just what we hope each and every student will experience. With spring PLPs coming up next week, we hope you too will get a glimpse into what our visitors saw on the individual level with your student/s. We hope the spring PLP conferences will give your students an opportunity to reflect on the hard work they have been doing, what they have learned, how they have grown, and what’s next. Both as individuals and as a school, it’s important to both celebrate progress and set our sights on new challenges. Wishing us all warmer days ahead! Bex

Weekly Information for February 27, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • February 28, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Thank you to everyone who helped to spread the word about Parker. Enrollment applications for next year continue to be strong and the response from families has been very positive. We have two days left! The application deadline is this Sunday, March 1 and the student lottery is Thursday, March 5 . If you have a neighbor or friend who may be interested in Parker, please share your experiences. And remember, younger siblings need to apply to be eligible for admission. There is a sibling preference in the lottery, but you still need to apply. For additional details and a link to the application visit parker.school/enroll . We welcome NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) for their Decennial Accreditation visit next week. Every ten years, we invite NEASC into our school to evaluate teaching and learning, academic achievement, school culture, facilities and more. As a result, Parker will continue to be a NEASC accredited school. They will be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday, March 3 and 4, visiting classes, meeting with students and teachers, and reviewing our self-study. We will share the results of their visit and their final report later this Spring. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this two-year process, particularly Marena and Kris who have done excellent work leading the effort! We are thrilled to launch Parker Giving Week from March 16-20 , a new tradition celebrating the anniversary of our charter application — the milestone that opened the doors to the school our students and families know and love today. This year, your impact will be tripled! Thanks to a few incredibly generous donors who have pledged $20,000, every dollar you contribute during Parker Giving Week will be matched 2:1! That means your gift has triple the power to strengthen our programs and enrich our students’ experience. Every penny raised during Parker Giving Week goes directly to our students, supporting: Small class sizes that allow teachers to truly know each learner More direct attention and academic support to help students thrive Greater access to clubs, sports, and activities that build confidence, community, and joy Thank you for your support. Brian

Weekly Information for February 13, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • February 13, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Wishing you and your family wonderful break! We hope the week off is restful and rejuvenating. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, February 23.  Stay safe and warm! Bex