June 18, 2026

Weekly Information for June 18, 2026

Share Post

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

Today we hosted the Big End for the 2025-2026 school year. We gathered in the gym for the final time, and we put a punctuation mark on who we have been and what we have done this school year. It’s important that we mark the ending of each year and that we pause to celebrate what we have accomplished, to notice how we have grown, and to reflect on what we have learned. Congratulations to the 214 Parker students who completed 329 gateways this year! Completing a gateway takes a tremendous amount of dedication, commitment and time and these students deserve to be celebrated for their accomplishments.


Soon enough, we will find ourselves at the next Big Beginning—and we will focus on a new essential question and set new goals and take on new challenges as a community. In the meantime, it feels important that we take the time to celebrate and appreciate this year’s accomplishments for just a little longer.


We will be here over the summer if you need anything, but please note that the main office has different hours than during the school year. Those are listed below for your reference and will be on the school website as well.


I wish each of you a restful, restorative summer filled with what you hope for. We look forward to seeing you in August for Registration.



Best,

Bex

This week’s topics: 
  • Main Office Summer Hours
  • State Senator Visit
  • Update from Ben Benoit
  • Community Thank You
  • Sun Bucks
  • Summer Blast at BGCFL
  • Students NOT Returning
  • Contact Info Update
  • Communication this Summer
  • Special Education Progress Reports
  • Our Gratitude
Main Office Summer Hours

Our main office will remain open throughout the summer with modified hours: Mon-Thurs 8:30 am -2:30 pm and Friday 8:30 am - noon. The office will be closed on the following Fridays: 6/19, 7/3, 7/24, 7/31, and 8/7. When summer school is in session (from July 6 through July 17), the main office opens at 7:45 am. Please feel welcome to be in touch for any questions or needs which arise this summer.


State Senator Visit to Active Minds

State Senator Jamie Eldridge and his District Director, Bianca DeSousa, visited Parker on June 12 to meet with Active Minds at Parker, the school's mental health advocacy group and a chapter of the national non-profit organization. During the visit, students shared their work promoting mental health awareness at Parker and advocated for legislation and initiatives that support the mental health and well-being of youth across Massachusetts. 


Update from Ben Benoit on the AT

We were all surprised and thrilled to see Ben Benoit in school this week. Ben has been hiking the Appalachian Trail for the past two and a half months. Starting in Georgia in March, Ben has covered 1100 miles thus far. He has 1700 miles remaining. We are all amazed and impressed by his accomplishments. Students on the track and cross-country teams gave him the trail name, Suffer Landrian (Suf for short). He is taking a couple of weeks off to recover from a shin injury that he sustained on the four-state challenge, covering 44 miles in four states over an 18-hour period. See his amazing photos, including a hand-written list of “why” he embarked on this incredible physical and mental challenge. We look forward to welcoming Suf back to school in the Fall.


Community Thank You

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Community Social on June 5th! It was a wonderful evening celebrating the Parker community, and we’re thrilled to share that our raffle baskets raised over $2,500, thanks to your enthusiasm and generosity. A special thank you to Sterling Street Brewery for hosting us so graciously, and to the many local businesses whose donations made the raffle baskets truly extraordinary. We are so grateful for your support!


Sun Bucks

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) is a federal program providing $120 per child ($40/month for June-August) to low-income families to buy groceries during summer break. Eligible families with school-aged children receive a physical card to use at authorized retailers. It is available in over 35 states, tribes, and territories, with automatic enrollment for many receiving SNAP or TANF


Reminders if you received SUN Bucks in 2025: You can use your same SUN Bucks card for 2026! If you receive information that you are approved for benefits for 2026, your benefits will be issued to the same SUN Bucks card as last year. If you need a replacement card, visit DTAConnect.com and create an account to get a replacement SUN Bucks card, or contact the SUN Bucks hotline at 855-425-8770.


SUN Bucks FAQs

How do I know if my child is eligible for SUN Bucks?

Your child is eligible, if:

  • They are school-age and your household already participates in benefits like SNAP, FDPIR, or TANF
    Or,
  • Your child attends a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, and your household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals.


How do I create a PIN for my SUN Bucks card?

To set a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for your SUN Bucks card, call the number on the back of the card (1-800-997-2555) and follow the prompts. You will need your case number (which begins with the numbers 8 and 0) from the approval notice from DTA and the birthday of the person whose name is on the SUN Bucks card. For students in foster care, you need the student's birthday.


How Do I Apply For SUN Bucks?

Many children will get SUN Bucks automatically if their household receives other income-based benefits like SNAP or TANF, but some will need to apply. To apply online or download a paper application follow this link Apply for SUN Bucks you will be asked to provide information such as your child’s name and date of birth, school, home address, and household income. Families can also request paper applications from the food service director.


Where can I use SUN Bucks?

Many grocery stores, farmers markets, convenience stores, and online retailers accept SUN Bucks. Often, these are the same places that accept SNAP and WIC. Use the SNAP Retailer Locator to find stores near you.


What can I buy with SUN Bucks?

You can use SUN Bucks to pay for:

  • fruits and vegetables
  • meat, poultry, and fish
  • dairy products
  • breads and cereals
  • snack foods and non-alcoholic drinks

You cannot use SUN Bucks to purchase:

  • hot foods
  • pet foods
  • cleaning or household supplies
  • personal hygiene items
  • medicine


Summer Blast at Boys & Girls Club

Registration is open for the 2026 Summer Blast program at the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster. See flyer for more information: Summer Blast Flyer ENGLISH.pdf


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:

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!


Contact Info Update

Do we have your CURRENT email address, cell phone number, home phone number, and mailing address? If you have changed any of your contact information, please send an update to Monique (mbeganski@theparkerschool.org). We appreciate your time!


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, 8/26) 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 8/26 for this visit.


Special Education Progress Reports

Special Education progress reports will be emailed on June 23rd through Frontline Education. Please contact Kristin Bakke at kbakke@theparkerschool.org if you do not receive that email as your account may need to be refreshed. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kristin if you have any questions or need assistance.


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 thanks!

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

Recent Posts

Copy of Weekly Information for November 9th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • November 6, 2026
Dear Parker students, families, and staff, As you know, we began the school day with advisory discussions about the hate speech that we found in the boys’ bathroom on Thursday. We are sad, angry, and determined to condemn antisemitism in our community. We appreciate our students and staff engaging meaningfully in conversation about the values that make Parker a safe and welcoming school for all students. We are all in this together. We are a strong, unified, and vibrant community. That was on full display last evening with opening night of Puffs, Parker theatre’s fall show. It was fun, funny and incredibly well performed. Bravo to our actors, stage crew, directors and the audience for a great show. There are two more shows – tonight and Saturday night at 7:00 pm. Buy your tickets HERE . Thank you to everyone who has helped to welcome new students and families to Parker. Our enrollment continues to be strong with 393 students from 40 different cities and towns. We continue to extend offers to students on the waitlist to meet our chartered enrollment of 400 students. We currently have a few open seats in 9 th grade, the one grade without a waitlist, so we are going to do a small midyear lottery in early December. Please spread the word to families with current 9 th graders who may be interested in Parker. The deadline to apply is December 7 th for January admission. We are about to launch our family Ambassador program, a small group of parents and guardians who want to help share their story about Parker. If you are interested in joining us, please email Brian or Monique. We will have our first meeting of the year next Thursday, November 12 th at 6:30 pm on Teams. We will meet a few times (always remotely) to plan and host school events. We appreciate your input and help with those events as we recruit and welcome our newest students. We look forward to the third annual Parker Fun Run and Walk on Sunday, November 22 nd . Join us for a 5k run or 1 mile walk. This is always a fun and meaningful fundraiser for our community and a great kickoff to Thanksgiving week. Sign up HERE . Gabe Jojatu brought down the house with a world-class cello performance for the whole school. It was a truly extraordinary performance to a standing ovation. Thank you, Gabe, for sharing your music with all of us. We will share video clips next week. Finally, thank you to the Senior class for hosting Applefest this afternoon. It is a long-standing fall tradition to host a school-wide event to enjoy apple crisp and our Parker community. Thanks to the Hatlevig family and Shelburne Farms for donating the apples again this year. It was a lovely way to end the week. With gratitude for our community,  Brian

Weekly Information for October 30th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • November 2, 2026
Parker Weekly Family Email for Friday, October 30, 2026 Dear Parker students, families and staff, What a community does together, when and why we gather, and how a group notes and celebrates accomplishments not only reflects what we value but also shapes who we are. It probably goes without saying that as a school, we focus significantly on the learning our students do and the aspects of the program that support intellectual growth. We showcase and celebrate the academic work and learning of our students in many ways—and I would argue that it is just as important that we celebrate and recognize the athletic and artistic accomplishments of our community and that we make regular efforts to build relationships and have fun together. Recently we held the annual 4 square tournament, anticipated yearly by students and faculty alike. This tradition always garners players and fans from throughout the community from Div 1 to the faculty. This past Wednesday featured another fun tradition: the Division 1 Advisory Halloween Party. This event is possible because every advisory takes some ownership for the event. Each group, with the support of their Peer Mentors, hosted a “booth” and students took turns facilitating and playing a series of games. People had fun together guessing the amount of candy in a jar, bowling, spinning wheels of fortune, and racing to unwrap objects from a ball of saran wrap. Events like these demonstrate the value of weaving joy and fun into the serious work and learning we do together in this community. As the fall sports seasons close out or move into post-season, we also have several additional athletic accomplishments to share: the boys’ varsity soccer team celebrated their seniors this week after a final game where all 3 senior members of the team scored goals. Congratulations to the team and seniors San Marshall, Will Schneider, and Connor Wentrup! Our girls’ varsity soccer team has qualified for the state tournament for the 7 th year in a row. Congratulations to the team and their seniors: Keira Collins, Gracie Condon, Fiona Connelly, Elsie Mitchell, Ellen Moriarty, Bontu Piazza, and Delaney Rezac! Turning our eye toward the cross country teams, who ended the regular season undefeated with the middle school boys’ and girls’ teams winning their respective championships, both JV cross-country teams finishing first, and both varsity teams finishing as runners up. Congratulations to all our runners and especially to seniors Elsa Pierpont, Heidi Lewis, Cy Lance, Danny Garrison, Nathan Davis, and Liam Mullen. Looking ahead, we invite and encourage you to join in supporting and celebrating the passions and hard work of our community members in the weeks ahead. Next week, our theater crew will be putting on their production of Puffs. See below for more details and please join the audience for one of the performances. Additionally, the cross-country middle school state finals are November 7 and high school state championships are November 21. Please consider being a spectator and supporter at either or both events. Wishing you all a sunny and safe weekend. Best, Bex

Weekly Information for October 26th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • October 26, 2026
Parker Weekly Family Email for Friday, October 23, 2026 Dear Parker students, families and staff, We want to recognize and celebrate three students who received Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program this week. We are very proud of Arlo Taylor, Chrys Olsen, and Andrew Roberdeau who were in the top 2% of all high school students who took the PSAT last year. We celebrated their accomplishment with a lovely breakfast with their family and friends. Thank you to those who joined us. It felt like a Gateway celebration, with everyone sharing reflections and words of support for Arlo, Chrys, and Andrew. It is a moment of pride for all of us. It was also an opportunity to reflect on Parker, a school committed to intellectual rigor, depth over coverage, and personalization. By challenging our students to use their minds well and engage deeply in real problems, Parker students develop live-long skills. They learn how to learn, not merely what to learn, and develop the habits of learning that set them up for an ever-changing world. We measure these skills through authentic assessments and public exhibitions, not standardized tests. That doesn’t take away from the success of our students on tests like the PSAT. It shows that we can do both – use our mind well and excel at external measures at the same time. One of our goals is to further measure student outcomes directly related to the Parker experience. For example, we are looking at revision data to better understand the rate and efficacy at which students revise their assessments. As you know, our teachers provide extensive feedback on student work with the hope and expectation that students revise. How often do students revise their work and what is the impact when they do? We are committed to telling that story as well. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the proven success of our students.  Brian

Weekly Information for October 16th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • October 20, 2026
Parker Weekly Family Email for Friday, October 16th, 2026 Dear Parker students, families and staff, There’s a “slow hobby” movement that seems to have reached a saturation point in my online media algorithms. Some examples of slow hobbies are knitting, gardening, and reading, but there are many others. At this point, I feel like I see references to this topic or the benefits of slow hobbies relatively routinely, and it got me thinking differently about the upsides of taking time and slowing down, something that is actually quite counter cultural in our fast moving, technology-oriented world. One thing I have learned through all this recent exposure to slow hobbies and their benefits is that there are actually two kinds of dopamine, a key reward chemical in our brains that relates to not only motivation but also aspects of our physical health such as sleep regulation or immune system functioning. There is fast dopamine and there is slow dopamine—and these slow hobbies release slow dopamine, which results in longer lasting, positive effects. To get these longer lasting results though, we have to be willing to put in some time and effort. We have to stick with something and sustain it. As students and advisors wrap up their work documenting Personal Learning Plan (PLP) goals and strategies after last week’s conferences, it occurred to me that this goal setting work is an exercise in slow dopamine release. Students take time to identify real things they want to work on throughout the year, and they develop clear plans and strategies. These goals have the potential to help shape a student’s focus and attention on not just what they are doing in school but how they are developing as a person and learner through that process. At the end of the year, being able to achieve a long-term goal like those our students have just spent time setting in their PLPs also helps release slow dopamine. Along with that, we hope focusing on and achieving these big goals will also help students discover some personal reward in their learning experiences and the accomplishments that can only happen over time. Best wishes for a restful weekend.  Bex

Weekly Information for October 9th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • October 9, 2026
Parker Weekly Family Email for Friday, October 9th, 2026 Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Thank you for joining us for today’s PLP meetings. We appreciate the hard work that students and advisors put into the day, creating goals and strategies for the year ahead. Many of our students were both nervous and excited to lead their PLP meetings. Congratulations on this important milestone. Why do Parker students write Personal Learning Plans and why do we dedicate one day in October and another in March to review PLPs with families? PLPs are an essential component of our personalized education, in direct partnership with families. PLPs provide a structured opportunity for students to develop the Habits of Learning – skills such as perseverance, organization and reflection. PLPs help students develop agency in their own learning, authoring their own goals and strategies that they personally embrace. Our mission is “to move the child to the center of the education process and to interrelate the several subjects of the curriculum in such a way as to enhance their meaning for the child” (Charter, October 1994). Thank you for helping us to do just that. We want to commend all the students and teachers who attended Nature’s Classroom this week. It was a tremendous opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zone and learn in a different setting. We are proud of you for embracing this opportunity. As Kalista and Matt wrote to Division 1 families upon their return, “we were really impressed by the resilience, good humor, and positive middle school energy our students demonstrated here.” Welcome home. Finally, thanks to teachers Anna, Alec, and Gale and students Lana, Lindsay, and Freddie for representing Parker at the CLEE Fall Meeting this week. They shared their work with educators from around the country, presenting our hands-on and reflective approach to learning. We appreciate the many ways that our students and teachers help to disseminate our work. We were recently rated by DESE as “exemplary” at dissemination, a responsibility of charter schools to serve as laboratories and share our learning with others. We are always proud to share our work and learn from others. Have a great weekend. Brian

Weekly Information for October 2nd, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • October 5, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Dear members of the Parker community, The start of something new often feels quite busy to me. Part of that is, I think, the very real number of logistics that need to be managed and the time it takes to get into a routine, and part of it is the emotion that comes with settling in—sometimes excitement, sometimes nervousness, sometimes other feelings—as we get used to how this new thing works and it moves toward familiar. This September has held true to that idea as we all settled into the new school year together and it has felt busy. This past Tuesday, we hosted three different events—Parker 101 for our new families, an event focused on explaining the way assessment and feedback works at Parker as well as how PLP conferences work; Support our Seniors Night, where families share a potluck dinner and hear about the important components of the Senior Project, Senior year, and the path to graduation; and Community Connections Night, where our Seniors share information about and gather resources from community members to support their year-long, individually-designed Senior Projects. In Parker 101, several of our students shared work from their Division 1 gateway portfolios and explained the assignment, what skills they worked to demonstrate, how the revision process works and what they learned by engaging in the work they did. They also talked about the Habits of Learning and how reflecting on their work and learning helped them to learn about themselves and grow. Some of our student presenters’ parents and guardians joined us as well to reflect on their own experiences as they have supported their students through learning at Parker, including helping new families understand how PLP conferences work and the important role families play in that process. As we closed out our Parker 101 session, families were invited to cross the hall and see what their students will be doing when they are seniors—designing a year-long, independent project that includes research, experiential learning, collaboration, developing a product, and presenting their work. I can’t think of a better way to explain what learning at Parker looks like than to let our students speak for themselves and show their real work. It was a gift to hear students reflecting on their learning in Div 1 and to see how all of the Skill Areas and Habits of Learning come together to help students work through their Senior Projects. We always hope that the pieces will come together in the end as we get things started, and this week reminded me not only that the pieces do come together quite nicely, but also of the many different ways they can do so here. That, I believe, is one of the strengths that help us as a school to support students as individual learners and that allows us to balance the Common Principles of goals applying to all students and personalization. Wishing you all the best as we move into October.  Bex