March 27, 2026

Weekly Information for March 27, 2026

Share Post

Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,


Feedback, reflection and revision are central to everything that we do at Parker. As Nancy Sizer wrote in Keeping School, “the emphasis is on growth, on learning from one’s mistakes, cleaning up one’s prose, clearing up one’s understandings.” This requires students to work hard, to be open to feedback and to try again. We are very proud of our students for engaging meaningfully in this iterative process. 



We take a similar approach to adult learning at Parker. This week, we welcomed thirty teachers from across the region to join us in professional development called Looking at Student Work. During the session, Parker teachers shared the goals and expectations for standards-based assessments in their class. Participants used protocols to make observations and build meaning, referring to Parker’s articulated Criteria for Excellence, associated rubrics, and the work itself. This represents an essential opportunity to ask for feedback, reflect and revise – just like our students.


We recognize that early dismissals can be hard for families. We take this professional development time seriously every week, ensuring that we are prepared to meet the needs of our students. Thank you for your partnership. Have a great weekend.


Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • Drag Ball TONIGHT
  • Div 1 AH Civics Fair
  • Senior Project Expo Night
  • Call for Gardener
  • Composting at Parker (and your home?)
  • Annual “Returning to Parker” Survey
  • MCAS Testing Schedule
  • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Lost & Found Pickup
Drag Ball Rescheduled to TONIGHT

TODAY is the rescheduled Drag Ball! The event will run from 6-8 PM at school tonight, and families are asked to pick their students up promptly at 8:00. This is an annual event run by the Parker Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Thank you to all who bought tickets and supported the group to make this event happen!

 

Division One AH Civics Fair

Division One AH is beginning our annual Civics research project next week. Students will be learning about an issue/problem in the world and advocating ways to address/solve the problem.

On Tuesday, March 31st, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, students will be presenting their learning in a “Civics Fair.” We are looking for guests from our community — families, faculty, and alumni — to visit our classes to learn about students' projects and to ask them questions. You are welcome to come for the entire time or to drop in for part of the time.

If you are interested in and available to attend, please email Matt (matt@theparkerschool.org) and Adeline (ahebert@theparkerschool.org) with your name and connection to Parker.


Parker Senior Project Expo Night: April 15th

Please join the members of the Class of 2026 on Wednesday, April 15th from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Parker Gym as they showcase their Senior Projects!

One of the most defining experiences at Parker is the Senior Project—a culminating capstone project in which seniors pursue a passion through genuine inquiry and authentic learning that results in both intellectual and personal growth. Come talk with them about the learning they have done, the experiences they have had, and the products they have created in this science-fair style event. Arrive any time and bring friends from both inside and outside the Parker community with you!

 

Call for Gardener

Parker is seeking a reliable and enthusiastic part-time Gardener to maintain our school grounds and garden beds. This position requires approximately 4 hours per week, offering a flexible schedule ideal for cultivating a vibrant, welcoming outdoor environment. Primary responsibilities include routine weeding, plant replacement, watering, and general plant care to keep our campus looking pristine. Frequent bending, kneeling, and standing will be required as will lifting in excess of 50 pounds and utilizing typical gardening equipment. The position will be needed during the months of April Through October, or as determined by the weather. If you have a passion for horticulture, attention to detail, and want to make a positive impact on a school community, please send a letter of interest to Sal Monteneri, Facilities Manager at smonteneri@theparkerschool.org by April 6th.


Composting at Parker (and your home?)

Attentional all! Parker’s Community Congress is encouraging community members to support Parker’s sustainability efforts by joining Black Earths composting program. Parker has been using Black Earth to compost from the kitchen and the community for over a year now. Residents of the communities that are served by Black Earth (list of towns here) are invited to sign up or preregister to begin composting at home, with no financial commitment required to pre‑register. By doing this, you would reduce the costs for the shared kitchen and hallway composting systems at Parker because you were referred by Parker while also increasing the community’s overall sustainability. Sign up using our referral here!

If you have any questions, you can contact Matt Smith (Matt@theparkerschool.org) or check out these resources from Black Earth: School_Flyer_Referral.pdf & MA_Commercial_Flyer.pdf


Annual “Returning to Parker” (Super-Quick) Survey!

Reminder, 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!


MCAS Spring Testing Schedule

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:

  • MATH: May 19 & 20

7th & 8th Grade:

  • ELA: April 1 & April 8
  • MATH: April 29 & May 6
  • SCIENCE (8th Grade Only): May 7 & 14
  • CIVICS (8th Grade Only): May 19 & 26

If you have any questions, please contact Deb Merriam (deb@theparkerschool.org). 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.


Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

During the week of April 13, 2026, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review (IMR) at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School. The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school approximately every three years. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation.

  • Surveys: Parents/guardians of special education students will receive an online survey from the Office of Public School Monitoring via mail/email.
  • Interviews: During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview district staff, administrators, and other individuals. Parents/guardians or other individuals may contact Charles Agong, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at 
    (    781) 338-3753 or Charles.O.Agong@mass.gov to request a telephone interview.


Lost & Found Pickup

The Lost & Found Closet will be cleared on Thursday, April 2, 2026. You are welcome to stop by any time before that date to check for and claim any items belonging to your loved ones!

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:
Wed - Apr 1 7th/8th Grade MCAS
Wed - Apr 8 7th/8th Grade MCAS
Thu - Apr 9 Board of Trustees
Thu - Sat; Apr 9-11 SPRING SHOW
Wed - Apr 15 Senior Project Exhibition Night
Fri - Apt 17 Noon Dismissal
Mon-Fri - Apr 20-24 Spring Break
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

Weekly Information for May 22, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • May 22, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, This is a busy and exciting time of year—in schools generally, and certainly here at Parker. On Wednesday night alone, we hosted Noche Sabrosa, where our 8 th graders made and shared an important dish and spoke about their choice and why it was meaningful to them in Spanish, there was an art competition sponsored by Youth Venture and we capped off the evening with the final Café Wednesday of the year. Busy is not bad. There is a sense of excitement and momentum that can come with busy. It means we are still moving forward, that there is progress to make, that we can be productive. At the same time, there are events at this time of year that have us looking ahead to the future; we are planning celebrations for the end of this year and even looking ahead to the start of next. Seniors are in the final days of portfolio piece revisions, reflection writing, and making decisions about their graduation ceremony. On Tuesday afternoon, thanks to the help of the PPCC, incoming students and families to the Parker community joined us for ice cream and had an opportunity to make connections with each other and with current Parker students and families. Finding the ways to both be in the here-and-now and to stay focused on what we are doing, while also looking ahead to what’s next and getting excited to mark accomplishments with meaningful celebrations creates a dynamic tension in the busyness of this season of the school year. These weeks can be about dedication and hard work. They can be about joyful celebration and reflection. They can be everything in between. I hope you each can experience and appreciate the full blend of the “here-and-now” and “what’s next” in the weeks to come. Wishing you all a restful holiday weekend.  Bex

Weekly Information for May 15, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • May 15, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, At last night’s Board meeting, I reflected on the many ways that Parker shares our model and learns from other schools and school leaders. Charter schools were designed to be laboratory schools, pockets of innovation from which others could learn. Every charter school writes a mission statement and does school a little bit differently, so new ideas may flourish. That certainly describes Parker, our Ten Common Principles, and the many ways that we put students at the center of all learning. Last year, Parker went through our sixth Charter Renewal, a process led by the Department of Education to ensure that charter schools are honoring their mission, ensuring student success, and sharing their learning. We did exceedingly well in our charter renewal. Of the many schools that went through the process at the same time, we were the most highly rated school in the state. One of the highlights was our personalized approach to learning and exemplary dissemination efforts. Over the course of the year, we have welcomed Fulbright teachers from twenty different countries and school leaders from the countries of Georgia and the Netherlands. We hosted aspiring teachers from Harvard College and educators from all around New England. We welcomed state representatives and state senators from our 40 towns, sharing our educational model and asking for their support. We presented at conferences and led workshops, focusing on student engagement, portfolio-based assessment, Senior Exhibitions and more. We showcase our students and their work at each of these sessions. We are typically the only school who attends conferences with our students, providing a platform for students to share their portfolios and reflect on their learning. Our students are always the highlight of the day! These are always rich learning experiences for us. As we reflect on our own struggles and success at Parker, and consider how other schools approach similar challenges, we are better able to meet the current needs of our students. Thanks to these efforts, we are never alone in the hard work of educating our students. Brian

Weekly Information for May 8, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • May 8, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I did a little internet digging into the etymology of the word appreciation, having been inspired by the Teacher Appreciation surrounding us at school this week. There’s the meaning I think of as somewhat economic—when something goes up in value—and there’s the meaning I think of as more emotional—when you feel gratitude and recognize the worth of someone or something. This week and every week I am deeply appreciative of the incredibly challenging, time-consuming, and critically important work our teachers do in and out of classrooms. Parker teachers put their time and energy into getting to know students well, supporting and challenging students to develop critical thinking skills and good habits of learning, communicating with families, and working with and supporting each other in their daily work and professional learning. While there might be questions about whether our society understands or appreciates the valuable work of teachers, I am grateful to work at a school where our community recognizes the incredible depth, complexity, and importance of what teachers do. As Brian mentioned last week, Senior Project exhibitions are underway now and these incredible projects and demonstrations of learning are just one beautiful representation of the incredibly powerful work our teachers do and how it supports the important work and learning our students do. Thank you to the PPCC for organizing and coordinating this year’s Teacher Appreciation Week activities. Thank you to all the students and family members who have volunteered their time, ideas, messages of appreciation, and other resources to that project. Thank you to all of the educators and teachers in our community—those of you who work at Parker and those of you who work in other schools. Thank you to our Senior Advisors, the class of 2026, and all the community members who have been Senior Project mentors and who are participating as jurors. I am deeply grateful for the dedication and commitment our teachers bring to their daily work and to our community for the appreciation and support you show our teachers regularly. With appreciation,  Bex

Weekly Information for May 1, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • May 1, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, This is an exciting time of year for our Seniors and their team of supporters. Clearly none of our students do it alone. Thanks to their families, teachers, and friends who shaped the values and aspirations of our students – we share in their success. Tonight is a fitting way to kick off the next few weeks as we head up the street for Junior and Senior Prom. We look forward to seeing our students all decked out, celebrating and enjoying one another. Next Thursday, we host the first of four days of Senior Exhibitions, during which every senior shares their senior project in front of a juried panel. This final OP provides every student an opportunity to “demonstrate mastery and exhibit their expertise before family and community.” It serves as the culmination of six years of authentic engagement, hard work, and exhibitions of learning at Parker. This is also a moment of pride for the institution and our approach to learning. Last year, voters in the state of Massachusetts decided that MCAS would no longer serve as a graduation requirement. That prompted state leaders to engage in a year-long process of considering alternatives that could be used to determine a student’s knowledge, skills and dispositions for graduation. Two of the top three competency determinations come directly from our work - student portfolios and capstone projects. We have increasingly shared our approach and welcomed visitors from around the world who want to see our Senior Exhibitions. I was one of those visitors 15 years ago, my first exposure to Parker. What makes our approach unique is the school-wide commitment to academic rigor, personalization and public exhibition – for all students. We are thrilled to celebrate the success and growth of our students in this public way. It is a celebration for our whole school community!  Brian

Weekly Information for April 17, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • April 17, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Wishing you a wonderful spring break with those who you love! We hope the week off is restful and rejuvenating. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, April 27, for a rigorous and celebratory end of the year at Parker. Have a great break! Bex

Weekly Information for April 10, 2026

By Monique Benganski • April 10, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, There is a classic cartoon that I have been thinking about quite a lot lately. The image has two different drawings under the heading “success.” The first image has a straight arrow moving up to the right at a 45 degree angle which is labeled “what people think it looks like.” The second image has an arrow that also moves up to the right that quickly turns from a straight line into a massive, messy tangle before straightening out for the last little bit. This image is labeled “what it really looks like.” I have a longstanding love-hate relationship with this image. Sometimes I look at it and find it a useful reminder that mistakes, wrong turns, and feeling like I might be going in circles is completely normal and to be expected. Sometimes I look at it and yearn for the clean, clear, simple straight line of accomplishing something as and when I planned. At this point in the school year, I often need the reminder of this image. As a student, this was when at least one of my teachers might realize we were “behind” and then speed through the remaining curriculum. This can also be the time of year when students wonder if they are making progress or when they become convinced they are not making progress. Either of these feelings can make it hard to sustain the energy and attention necessary to get out of the tangled mess. This can be a time when we are sitting in that tangle, on the way to some success, that we can’t quite see yet. It’s a time when we have to really focus, work hard to get through the complex challenges, and be willing to revise our original plans. No matter which image resonates with your current experience, I encourage you to remember that what we think about how things will go, and how they actually go, don’t always line up perfectly. I believe that if we pay attention to those points of discrepancy, that just might be where we can find our richest learning. Best wishes for a restful weekend. Bex