January 5, 2024

Weekly Information for January 5th

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Dear Parker families, students and staff,


I hope that you had a great first week of the new year. Welcome back. We are all getting ready for the first meaningful snowstorm of the year. With the snow coming Saturday night and Sunday, we do not think it will impact school on Monday. We anticipate opening on time on Monday. Thank you to the Devens DPW and our custodial team of John, Greg and James for keeping the driveways and walkways clear around Parker. We appreciate their hard work this Sunday and every time it snows.


I wanted to provide a little context on how decisions on cancelations and delays are made. We try to assess the conditions around Devens as well as our neighboring communities. We communicate with DPW and area superintendents in the evening and early morning. If school is cancelled or delayed, Parker uses an automated phone calling service, the school’s website and voicemail, and local media outlets to inform families. We try to communicate by 6:00 am. On delayed openings, school starts at 10:30 am and all the classes are shortened.


There may be some cases where a storm impacts some communities more than others. Because Parker students come from over forty cities and towns throughout Central Massachusetts, it’s important for families to exercise independent critical judgement, based on observed local conditions, when deciding whether to travel to campus during inclement weather.


Have a great weekend. 


Brian

This week’s topics:
  • Café (Wednesday) New Year
  • COVID-19 Update
  • Yearbooks
  • Parker Annual Fund
  • Don’t Miss the Application Deadline (March 1st)!
Café (Wednesday) New Year

Happy New Year Parker Family! You’ll never guess what is happening on January 10th from 6:30-8:00 PM - that’s right, it’s Café (Wednesday) New Year! Whether it’s playing a musical instrument or singing baby shark over and over again, we are so excited to bring in the New Year with our talented community. Please join us for Café New Year! Questions? Contact rose.marble@theparkerschool.org


Please Note: After-school supervision ends at 3:00 PM on Wednesdays, and students must vacate the building until 6:30 PM. Please plan accordingly


COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Symptomatic testing will no longer be available at Parker as of today, January 5, 2024. As with other illnesses, if your student has a fever, they must stay home until they are without fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. If they are presenting with symptoms that make it difficult for them to be in school, please keep your student home. If your student is presenting with COVID-19 symptoms, please test them before sending them to school. To help assist with COVID-19 testing, Parker was able to procure COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test kits through The Department of Education. These free kits will be distributed to each student to bring home in the next coming weeks. Lastly, we are requesting that staff, students, and families wear masks to protect others while they are ill at Parker. Please reach out to Nurse Lisa at lzick@theparkerschool.org with any questions.


Yearbooks

Click here to order your yearbook from Jostens. Prices will increase by $5 after January 31st.


Make sure to scroll the page to find the correct version of the book you’d like to order. Yearbook ($55) is the hard cover book, while the soft cover ($35) and Division 1 ($15) books are listed lower on the page as Exclusive Offer. Division 1 books contain everything but sections for Division 2, Juniors, Seniors, and senior parent ad pages.

 

Parker Annual Fund

Happy New Year! Did you know that you can support The Parker Fund with a monthly gift? Start off 2024 by investing in Parker's faculty and program by making a recurring monthly gift to The Parker Fund. Recurring giving is an easy, convenient, and sustainable way to show your care and support for the teachers who nurture your students every day! Click here to make a one-time or recurring gift to Parker. Thank you for your support!

 

Don't Miss the Application Deadline (March 1st)!

Parker is currently accepting applications for students entering grades 7, 8 and 9. Siblings of current students planning to attend the Parker School for the 2024-2025 school year MUST complete an application and return it to Parker no later than March 1, 2024. Current students do not need to reapply. You are welcome to call our front office prior to March 1, 2024, to verify your application has been received. You may click here to sign up any of the remaining Information Sessions. The Lottery will be held on Thursday, March 7, at 4 PM. Please send interested friends to parker.school/enroll for more information.

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 - Jan 9 Board of Trustees
Wed - Jan 10 Café Wednesday
Mon - Jan 15 MLK Jr., Day - No School
Thu-Fri - Jan 18-19 Gateways
Mon - Jan 22 Faculty Planning - No Classes
Tue - Jan 23 Second Semester Begins
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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By Cindy Johnson • December 5, 2025
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