It was great to see everyone in the building today for PLP conferences. It is an important moment of reflection for our students as they review their progress on their personal goals for the year. Among the topics of conversation today for some students was daily attendance and tardies. This has been an area of focus statewide, led by the Governor and Secretary of Education. It is obviously essential for students to show up on time and ready to learn every day. We appreciate that many absences are the result of documented health concerns. We take a hands-on and personal approach to attendance, informing and partnering with families across the year. Please talk to your advisors or Carter with specific concerns about your child’s attendance.
Good luck to our Seniors and all students preparing to Gateway at the end of the year. Thanks to those who attended the Support our Seniors potluck this week. To all our students, work hard, reflect, revise and take a few risks. We look forward to a busy and exciting Spring ahead.
Thank you to everyone who welcomed our visitors from Georgia this week, particularly the Parker families who hosted Georgian students in your home. It was fun to learn and share alongside our international guests. Congratulations to the Green team for a huge win at the buzzer in this week’s Student-Faculty Basketball game. The event was immensely fun including when Kafi, our referee, declared herself in charge and decreed Monday to be a school holiday (which it was already scheduled to be).
Have a great (long) weekend!
Brian
A group of students in the Youth Venture community elective is running a donation drive to help animals in need. Drop off sealed, non-expired, canned and bagged dog and cat food in the lobby from April 1 to April 12. Record your advisor’s name and what you donated on the provided sheet so that your advisory can win a pizza party! All donations will go to the Worcester Animal Rescue League. If you have any questions, please reach out to our contact representative, Zephyr Schermerhorn, at [email protected].
Here is a specific list of what the shelter needs: Dog and cat food (both canned and dry) - Purina brand preferred, please no grain-free; Peanut Butter (for enrichment and to hide medication in!); Soft dog treats like Pup-Peroni.
As a school of choice, we ask families each year about their plans to return to Parker for the following school year. You may have seen and completed this information already at your PLP on Friday. If not, please take one minute and complete THIS SURVEY. Each year, we ask families to indicate their plans for each of their enrolled students for the next school year. Most Parker students return to Parker, and every enrolled student has a secured and continuing spot at the school unless/until they withdraw or enroll with another program. However, as a school of choice, it helps with our planning (including setting expectations for students on our waitlists) to know how many students are considering not returning for next year. Please indicate which of the choices on this survey best fits your child for next year. Please do this survey once for each enrolled student. For obvious reasons, you do not need to do this survey for a current senior!
Reminder Division 1 and 2 students will be testing on various days during the months of March, April, and May, following the schedule listed below. Please make every effort to have students in school and on time for these testing days. All students should eat a good breakfast each day and get a good night’s rest the night before – those two things are the best “test-prep” we can recommend! Students who miss any of these testing days will make-up the tests on days following the dates listed here. Students and families will receive more details in an email about ten days before each testing session.
10th Grade:
7th & 8th Grade:
If you have any questions, please contact Deb Merriam ([email protected]). All tests are untimed, and most students finish by mid to late morning. Parents/guardians and students will get grade/test specific emails with more details that will go home as each test date approaches.
All teams are still accepting registrations for the upcoming season, and practices will begin on Monday, March 18th (see schedule below). Sports offered are Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee, and Girls’ Co-op Lacrosse through Bromfield. If you have not registered yet, please do so as soon as possible using this form: Athlete Registration. Parents must provide proof of a current physical exam at the beginning of every season of participation. Sports User Fee of $300 and is due prior to the first game. Click here for more information.
Week of 3/18 Practice Schedule (until fields are open):
Baseball – practice is at Willard Baseball Field (1 Sherman Ave) from 4:00-5:30 PM Tue, Thu, and Fri.
Softball – meet in Room 23 after school on Tue, Thu, and Fri. Pickup is 5:30 at school.
Track & Field – Team will practice Mon 5:00-6:30 PM at Harvard Town Track. Tue (3:40-5:15), Wed (12:00-2:00), Thur (3:40-5:15) will all be at school.
Fri is at Harvard Town Track until 6:30.
Ultimate Frisbee – meet in front of school on Tue, Thur, Fri at 3:50 PM. Pickup is 5:30 PM each day at the P5 parking lot across the street from school.
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: | |
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Mon - Mar 18 | March Holiday - NO SCHOOL |
Sat - Mar 23 | Practice ACT |
Mon - Mar 25 | Spring Sports Begin |
Tue - Mar 26 | 10th Grade ELA MCAS |
Wed - Mar 27 | NOON Dismissal |
Thu - Mar 28 | 10th Grade ELA MCAS |
Fri - Mar 29 | Drag Ball |
Thu-Sat Apr 4-6 | Spring Show |
Looking for help with or concerning: | Please contact: |
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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 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.
Fax: 410-242-8628