January 10, 2026

Weekly Information for January 9, 2026

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,


We had the rare treat of a two-week winter break this year. It was great to welcome our well-rested students back to school on Monday. We have a busy three weeks remaining of the first semester. Students are completing assessments and many are preparing for Midyear Gateways. 68 students will Gateway, in every division and domain, on January 22-23. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our students and their families, teachers and peers. Second semester brings new electives for Division 3 students, new Community Blocks for all students, and the anticipation of end-of-year activities.


We have officially kicked off student recruiting for next year. We have five information sessions scheduled in January and February, we are about to send postcards to prospective students, and we have a terrific group of student and adult Ambassadors. Thank you to everyone who helps to spread the word about Parker and welcome new students and families. Word of mouth has always been the most effective way that we introduce Parker to new families. If you have a neighbor or friend who may be interested in Parker, please share your experiences. We’d love your help boosting our school’s visibility. When you see our posts on Facebook or Instagram, please take a moment to like and share them with your networks. Your support helps us reach more families and celebrate the great things happening in our community.

 

Additionally, 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 appreciate everyone who contacted their legislator and advocated for charter schools this fall. As you may know, there are multiple pieces of legislation under consideration that would lower the cap of charter-eligible students and limit funding for charter public schools. Many families are surprised to learn that students attending charter public schools receive less state funding than their peers in district schools. As lawmakers begin shaping next year’s state budget, we have a critical opportunity to make our voices heard and push for the equitable funding that our students deserve.


We are about to launch Fair Funding Week 2026 led by the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. We hope that you will join us for this virtual week of celebration, advocacy, and collective action from February 2-6, 2026. Fair Funding Week kicks off with an inspiring virtual rally on Monday, February 2nd from 6:00–6:30 PM.


Register now and stand with us


Have a great weekend.

Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • Boys and Girls State
  • 2026-27 Calendar
  • Yearbook
  • Parker Fund
  • Weather Related Text Alerts
  • Lost & Found Pickup
  • Please Don’t Idle
Boys and Girls State

Attention Juniors: Are you interested in civics and democracy? Would you like to participate in a week-long immersive program where you will create and manage your own community and government? If you are interested, please attend the Boys and Girls State information session during lunch on Thursday, January 15th in Jinnee's office. You will get to hear from last year's participants and learn more about the program. See Jinnee with questions or for more information!

https://www.maboysstate.org/   https://www.massgirlsstate.org/


2026-2027 Calendar

The calendar for next school year has been approved by the Board of Trustees and a printable version is available on the Current Families webpage under the online calendar.


Yearbooks – Discounted Price

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.


Parker Annual Fund

Happy New Year!! Did you know that you can support The Parker Fund with a monthly gift? Start off 2026 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!


Weather Related Text Alerts

If you did not receive a text message Wednesday morning informing you of the delayed opening and would like to receive future text messages, text YES to 79041. You may have received an initial text message in September, but you must opt-in by replying YES to receive any future messages from us through BrightArrow.


Lost & Found Pickup

The Lost & Found Closet will be cleared on Friday, January 16, 2026. You are welcome to stop by anytime between January 2 – 16 to check for and claim any items belonging to your loved ones.


Please Don’t Idle

Please be reminded that state law restricts unnecessary idling time and governs the time during which a motor vehicle can idle on school grounds in order to improve and protect school campus air quality. If not in a moving queue, a vehicle should not idle to heat or cool for more than one in fifteen minutes. Thank you for being a caring community member.

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 19 MLK Jr., Day - NO SCHOOL
Thu-Fri; Jan 22-23 GATEWAYS
Mon - Jan 26 Faculty Planning - No Classes
Tue - Jan 27 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 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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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 

Weekly Information for March 13, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • March 14, 2026
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Weekly Information for March 6, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • March 7, 2026
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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