March 7, 2026

Weekly Information for March 6, 2026

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

I hope you all are safe and warm on this wintry day. As Brian shared in his last letter: this week, Parker hosted visitors from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) as part of our accreditation process. The group of 7 educators and leaders from around New England included people who have visited Parker before and others who were visiting for the first time. Their work was to get to know our school and to review and evaluate our work on the goals and priorities we as a school identified. They visited classes, they met with different groups of teachers and students, and then they told us what they saw and made recommendations for next steps in our work. It’s a bit like finishing a big assessment, turning it in, and then getting it back with feedback before you revise. They will write a full report on their visit, and when we have it, we will share it with all of you, but they did give us a preview.


In a relatively short visit, the team was able to “get” us, and they praised many improvements we have made and celebrated much of what we do well. They were impressed with a lot of what they observed and learned—and the thing they highlighted most in their reflection with the faculty was what they heard from our students, which seems perfectly right. After all, Parker was founded by families who wanted a school that would put their students at the center of their learning. Our visitors heard our students talk about what matters to us as a community (they even passed a pop quiz to name all 10 of the Common Principles!), the hard work they are asked to do, and how they have grown.


What the students conveyed was a sense of community and care that supports them to take risks in their learning and grow—and that is just what we hope each and every student will experience. With spring PLPs coming up next week, we hope you too will get a glimpse into what our visitors saw on the individual level with your student/s. We hope the spring PLP conferences will give your students an opportunity to reflect on the hard work they have been doing, what they have learned, how they have grown, and what’s next. Both as individuals and as a school, it’s important to both celebrate progress and set our sights on new challenges.


Wishing us all warmer days ahead!

Bex

This week’s topics: 
  • Spring PLPs
  • Spring Sports Registration
  • Parker’s Volleyball Club
  • Reminder: Medications at School
  • PPCC Meeting
  • Bags! Bags! Bags!
  • Enrollment Thanks
Spring PLPs

Spring PLPs are on Friday, March 13. See below for more information about how to book your appointment!


On that day, there will be NO CLASSES for students; instead, teachers spend that day in conferences with families/students to check in on student goals, progress, and PLPs. Each family (with their student) will be asked to come to school for a 30-minute appointment. Your child’s advisor has been in touch with more information and details along with a LINK to sign up. These links are customized by each advisor, so you do need to use the specific link that was sent by the advisor to sign up. Email your child’s advisor if you do not have a link from them yet.


If you are not able to make it for an appointment on March 13 (and need another day or time of day), please reach out directly to your child’s advisor to find another day/time that is mutually possible. If (on March 13 or any other day), you need to attend remotely, please reach out to your child’s advisor to request a remote link for the scheduled slot.


Spring Sports Registration

The sports being offered this season:

  • Softball
  • Track & Field
  • ULTIMATE Frisbee
  • Girls' Co-op Lacrosse (through Bromfield)


All practices begin on Tuesday, March 17th, and will be held Tuesday through Friday that week. Please see registration information below and register PRIOR to Sunday, March 15th. ALL student athletes must register by clicking on the following link:

2025-2026 Spring - Parker Sports Registration - Fill out form


  • Parents must provide proof of a current physical at the beginning of EVERY SEASON their student is participating in. A current physical is valid for 13 months from the day of the physical. Students with expired physicals will be ineligible to participate until a current physical form is submitted. Even if you have submitted proof of physical for a previous season, you must submit it for subsequent seasons. Upload proof of current physical to the Health Portal or send it to Nurse Lisa via email (lzick@theparkerschool.org) or via the Main Office (hard copy). Those without a current physical or a completed Student Emergency and Health Form and Athletic Registration will not be eligible to practice.
  • Sports User Fee of $300 and is due prior to the first game. It is preferred that the fee be paid online using an electronic check or credit card at:
    https://unipaygold.unibank.com/transactionInfo.aspx?CustomerID=1093    .
    If writing a check, make it payable to Parker School     and send it to the Main Office. There will be a family cap of $1,200 for the school year. Financial support is available for those who qualify. Please contact Michelle McKenna in the Business Office at mmckenna@theparkerschool.org for more information.

Registration/documentation questions can be sent to Lisa Zick, School Nurse, at lzick@theparkerschool.org.

Parker sports related questions can be sent to Henry Schrader, Interim Athletic Director, at hschrader@theparkerschool.org.


Parker's Volleyball Club

Parker's volleyball club is starting up for its second season! Whether you are brand new to the game or an experienced player, we welcome you to join us! The club will take place on Thursday afternoons from 4:00-5:15 PM in the GYM. Our first practice will be on Thursday, March 19th! We will run 8 sessions, each including drills, skills, and game play. Please fill out the following registration link with a $25 fee to register your student: https://forms.office.com/r/XZkGKRjGZL. Feel free to reach out to coach and Spanish teacher Elly McKenna (emckenna@theparkerschool.org) with any questions. Looking forward to a fun season!


Reminder: Medications at School (OTC or prescribed)

Students should not carry over-the-counter or prescription medications at school. With proper authorization from their medical provider, parents, and the school nurse, some students may carry an epi-pen, inhaler, diabetic supplies, or other emergency medicine. All other medications should be kept and administered by the school nurse. Proper documentation is required for all medications. Email Nurse Lisa at lzick@theparkerschool.org with questions. Please make sure your student isn’t carrying any medication during school, and more importantly, please speak to your student about not ever accepting any medication from other students.


PPCC Meeting – Planning Teacher Appreciation

PPCC is holding a meeting on Monday March 9 at 7PM to start planning Teacher Appreciation Week. We hope you can join us to brainstorm fun ways to celebrate Parker Teachers and Staff. Here is the link to join: (see your email for the link!)


Bags! Bags! Bags!

Hello, we are Bags! Bags! Bags! We are working to raise money to buy hygiene products such as toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, and more. We will then be donating them to homeless shelters such as the one we are partnering with currently, North Star Family Services. We need your help to collect any hygiene products you might already have at home. There will be a bin in the lobby from Tuesday, March 3rd, to Friday, March 13th. We will be taking new and unused; soap, hairbrushes, shampoos and conditioners, body wash, lotion, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, tissues, wash clothes and shower caddy’s/ toiletry bags. Thank you too those who donate! Zoe, Bontu, Dashley, Avery, Norah, Thea, and Lilly!

Enrollment THANKS

MANY THANKS to everyone in the Parker Community for their support during our Annual Enrollment Period, Including our Information Sessions, Classroom Visits, Socials, and Shadow Days.  A special Thank You to everyone who picked up and posted YARD SIGNS! If you still have one up, please take it down and recycle it. The waterproof coated paperboard has done its job for the season. This work is not possible without your help, and we appreciate your time and effort!

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 - Mar 11 Support Our Seniors Dessert POTLUCK
Fri - Mar 13 Spring PLPs - NO CLASSES
Mon - Mar 16 March Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Wed - Mar 18 Café Wednesday
Thu - Mar 19 Board of Trustees
Tue - Mar 14 10th Grade ELA MCAS
Wed - Mar 25 NOON Dismissal
Thu - Mar 26 10th Grade ELA MCAS
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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