June 14, 2025

Weekly Information for June 13, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

Thank you for a great year! We are so proud of our students for your hard work and tremendous growth all year. Congratulations to all the students who Gatewayed over the past two weeks. Gateways are a public exhibition and celebration of learning for our students and our whole community. It is also a terrific way to end the year.

 

We look forward to our last day of school – the Big End – on Monday. We welcome the Juniors back from their retreat and unveil the Essential Question for next year. It is a fun and aspirational way to transition. We also start the front walkway construction project later that day, to be finished in time for the start of school in August. The Main Office will be in Room 28 all summer.


Have a great summer. Take advantage of the break to try something new, read a good book, work a summer job. We will be back together soon enough.


Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • Annual Parent Survey
  • The BIG END
  • Your Input on Phones
  • Medication Pick-ups
  • School Issued Laptops
  • Students NOT Returning
  • Lost & Found – FINAL CHECK!
  • Contact Info Update
  • Communication this Summer
  • Parker Students in Performance
  • Our Gratitude
Annual Parent Survey

We NEED your input! Each year, we ask parents/guardians to complete our Annual Parent/Guardian Survey. It will take about 15 minutes of your time, and your feedback is actively used! Please follow THIS LINK to take the survey. Your feedback is critical to our program – please make time to complete this survey at your earliest convenience.


The BIG END is MONDAY, June 16th!

The BIG END is an event to mark the end of the school year at Parker School – a festive occasion with GATEWAY acknowledgments, the NEW ESSENTIAL QUESTION, YEARBOOKS, and food. Parents should plan to pick up their students promptly at NOON Dismissal. If you forgot to order a YEARBOOK, a limited number will be available for purchase during the BIG END. Hardcovers are $60 and Div 1 only are $20. Soft covers are sold out. Bring cash or a check made out to the Parker School.


Please Share Your Input on Phones at Parker

Reminder we are hoping all parents/guardians will take some time to read this  INFORMATIONAL HANDOUT and then fill out this SURVEY.


Medication Pick-ups

Please make arrangements to pick up your student's inhaler, EpiPen, and any other medication from the Health Office by noon on June 16th. With permission, some medications can be sent home with the student. Please email [email protected] if you would like your student to take their medication home in their backpack. Thank you!


School Issued Laptops

Students will hold on to their devices (laptop, stylus, and power cord) over the summer and continue to use their assigned devices into subsequent years. Students not returning or unenrolling during the summer must return their devices to the Tech Office. Students who are not able to take their devices over the summer (for instance, if you are moving and worried about it getting lost) may store their laptops with Monique. Missing equipment can be purchased online: UniPay Technology Replacement Payment


Students NOT Returning to Parker in the Fall (other than Seniors)

If your students are not planning to return to Parker in the fall, we request you kindly do the following:

  • Complete, sign, and return a Withdrawal Form (Email to [email protected])
  • Return your school issued laptop and related items to Tech Office: Book an Appointment with IT
  • Contact the Business Office to settle any accounts or fees: [email protected]
  • Gather all Library and class issued books (AH & MST) and return them to the school
  • Check with the Main Office regarding any Gateway Binders in the closet and arrange to pick them up

We wish you and your family all the best as you continue your academic journey. As always, please reach out if there are any questions!


Lost & Found – FINAL Check!

You are welcome to check the LOST & FOUND to see if there are any items belonging to you or your loved ones! ALL unclaimed items will be donated after the school year ends.


Communications Coming This Summer

Final Narratives: Next week you will receive an email with your student’s final narratives (“report cards”) for the semester/year. Please be sure to read them!


Summer “Mailing”: In early July, we will send (via email) the Summer “Mailing” (actually a website) which will contain important information about next year. We try to be clear about what items require action versus are “for your information,” so please be sure to pay attention to the details which require action on your part before the new school year. This communication also includes information about summer assignments for students, as well as the survey you would use to make student placement requests for next year (different from the parent survey linked above that we ask you to do as soon as you can!).


Registration: On the Monday before Registration Day (Wednesday, 8/27) you will receive an email with a link to make an appointment for your visit to campus. Parent/guardians should plan to be on campus with their student for about an hour sometime that day, so please put a hold in your calendar on the morning or afternoon of 8/27 for this visit.


Our Gratitude

A HUGE Thank you to all the parents, guardians, alumni, friends, and other volunteers who contributed to Parker’s ongoing program in ANY way this year. We could not have reached the finish line without your support, good humor, and enthusiasm. Many than

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 - Jun 16 THE BIG END - Last Day of School
Mon - Jun 16 NOON Dismissal
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: [email protected]
your family's or student's health email: [email protected]
mental health/emotional support needs email: [email protected]
food insecurity/free and reduced school lunch needs email: [email protected]

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 Cindy Johnson • May 31, 2025
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Weekly Information for May 23, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 23, 2025
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Weekly Information for May 16, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 17, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • May 10, 2025
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Weekly Information for May 2, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 4, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Starting this spring, students in the Multicultural Connections Community Block will host a series of community conversations around issues of importance to our school. The Multicultural Connections Community Block was created earlier this year in response to the multiple instances of antisemitic hate speech that we found on campus. The group provides a safe space for students of different races, cultures and religions to come together for reflection and celebration. We appreciate their proactive leadership and support of one another. To engage their classmates, students in Multicultural Connections are piloting a series of community conversations, by division. We are planning to invite guest speakers to visit Parker once or twice a year, engage in a discussion facilitated by students, followed by Advisory reflections. The first community conversation will focus on antisemitism and hate speech. We are pleased to welcome Rabbi Josh Breindel from Congregation Beth El in Sudbury as our guest speaker. We have been working closely with Rabbi Josh for the past two years. Rabbi Josh has provided invaluable guidance and perspective as we condemned antisemitism and hate speech, supported Jewish students and promoted the physical and emotional safety of all students and staff. Rabbi Josh comes to Parker as a friend, partner and educator. The community conversation will focus on the history and impact of the Nazi swastika, its unique impact on the Jewish community with its association to antisemitism, and its use in the normalization of hate speech more broadly towards other groups. We explore what steps young people can take to stand up and bring hope. The community conversation takes place on Wednesday, May 28. Each division will participate in the discussion and Advisory reflection. We will share additional details and the schedule to come. Next year, we will follow a similar format for community conversations on issues of importance to our diverse student body. We are proud of our students for serving as upstanders and providing leadership to live our values as a loving and inclusive community. With respect, Brian