November 17, 2023

Weekly Information for November 17th

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Dear Parker families, students and staff,


I hope that you have a terrific Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. There is anxious anticipation and excitement for the break and the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. We are grateful.


Thank you for your help welcoming new students and families to Parker. We just announced a limited lottery for students currently in 7th and 9th grade to enroll this January. We are also accepting applications for next year through our annual February lottery. Most students and families learn about Parker through word of mouth. Thank you for spreading the word.


In the next few days, Parker families, friends and alums will receive a card in the mail announcing our Annual Fund. I wanted to provide additional context as we celebrate and thank our teachers.


Whether your child has been at Parker for two months or six years, they have built strong relationships with their teachers. Who is the teacher who believed in your student, set high expectations and helped them grow? Who is the advisor who welcomed them to school every day and taught your student how to persevere through challenge? Who is the teacher who changed your student’s life?


We thank Parker teachers for their passionate commitment to our students. Parker teachers are exceptional. Parker teachers set high standards, build strong relationships with their students and provide consistent coaching and support. Niche rates Parker teachers #1 in the Boston area and #3 among 355 public schools statewide. We agree!


Yet our faculty and staff earn far less than they would elsewhere. Why?


  1. When the state authorized the creation of charter schools in 1993, they created a funding stream that included the per pupil expenditure from the sending towns, but provided no funding for building maintenance, construction and repair. Unlike traditional public schools, Parker must spend per pupil money on our facility.
  2. Parker prioritizes small ratios, low teacher loads and team teaching. As we all know, our students are known deeply and learn to use their mind well. To do that, we hire more teachers than traditional public schools. This is central to who we are.


We are working hard to increase teacher salaries, pursuing grants and state aid. We continue to recruit new students to maximize enrollment. We turn to the Parker community for additional help through the Parker Fund. Your donation is an essential investment in our students. Please contribute to the extent that you are able. Thank you!


Brian

Click Here to Donate

This week’s topics:
  • November Progress Reports
  • College/Transition Counselor
  • 2024 Student Art Calendars for Sale
  • Vote for Henry!
  • Looking for Substitute Nurses
  • Current Year Lottery Open
  • Signs and Magnets
  • Parker SEPAC
  • Absences Around Thanksgiving
  • Toys for Tots
  • Annual Report
  • Dental Care at Parker
  • Winter Sports Registration
November Progress Reports


Parents/guardians, please note that November progress reports were sent to you via email (with attached pdf) on Wednesday this week. Please take the time to review these reports! More details are in the email. There are two drop-in sessions for parents/guardians who would benefit from a “guided tour” of OneNote, School Connections, and/or an explanation of progress reports: Tues, 11/21 from 8:15-9:00am or Tues, 11/28 from 3:30-4pm. No RSVP required. If you have questions about how to interpret the reports, you can also access several resources linked here and in the email that was sent: Progress Report "Key"; Parker Assessment Continuum.


College/Transition Counselor

We are happy to share with the community that we have filled the College/Transition counselor position. Jinnee Strus will be joining Parker in this capacity in early December. Jinnee has worked as a guidance counselor at all school levels over the past twenty years. Most recently, she has been at Gardner Middle School; in her career, she has worked at the high school level (and doing college readiness work with juniors and seniors) at districts such as Shrewsbury, Fitchburg, and Wachusett. Jinnee’s strengths include building relationships with students and strong organizational skills, both of which will be important in her work as the College/Transition Counselor! We are excited to welcome her to Parker and will create opportunities for Division 3 students to meet her in her first week. Until early December, juniors and seniors (and their parents/guardians) can continue to reach out to Deb Merriam and/or Monique Beganski for support in the college/transition process.

2024 Parker Student Art Calendar


Click here by December 7th to order a fabulous 2024 wall calendar featuring student artwork! Calendars will be available for pick up by December 18th. Proceeds support The Parker Fund. Shown is an image that will be in the calendar. Don’t miss out and order your calendar now!

Vote for Henry!


Vote for Henry Jacobsen for Athlete of the Week! Henry is a senior on the Parker boys' cross-country team and won the Division 3C individual title with a time of 16:28.09 and led Parker to the team championship. Click the following link to cast your vote: https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/high-school/2023/11/14/cast-your-vote-for-the-storm-works-roofing-restoration-athlete-of-the-week/71569242007/


Looking for Substitute Nurses


Are you a registered nurse who might be willing to help out in the Health Office or on a field trip with students? Please reach out to Lisa Zick at lzick@theparkerschool.org if you would like to apply or if you have any questions!


Current Year Lottery Open


Lottery applications are being accepted for current openings in grades 7 and 9 until Friday, December 16th. There are no current openings in grade 8 at this time. If more applications are received than there are available spaces, a lottery will be drawn on December 19 at 4:00 PM. Enrollment offers will be made with an intended start date of January 23, 2024 (second semester). We are also accepting applications for students entering grades 7, 8 and 9 next year until Thursday, February 1st. Please direct interested families to www.parker.school/enroll.


Signs and Magnets


We have a few lawn signs left and would appreciate you hosting one in your yard for a couple of months. Please feel free to grab one from near the school front door. Also, if you’d like a Parker car magnet, ask Monique for one!


Parker SEPAC (Special Education Parent's Advisory Council)


Please join SEPAC for a presentation on the "New IEP" facilitated by Angela Greiner, the Special Education Director at Parker, on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium. A Question-and-Answer session will follow the presentation. If you would like to join remotely, please us this link. Please email Jesse Lowe, SEPAC Chair, at jesselowe7@mac.com, or SEPAC@theparkerschool.org if you would like to join as an additional member of the SY2023-2024 SEPAC Board or would like to learn more about SEPAC.


Absences Around Thanksgiving


If your student is extending Thanksgiving break, remember to contact the main office and let us know when your student(s) will be absent. The attendance line (978-772-3293, ext. 1) is available 24 hours a day and can be called any day/time which is before 9 AM of the affected day(s).


TOYS for TOTS


Help Parker support this great cause by dropping off new, unwrapped toys in the TOYS for TOTS donation bin located in the Front Lobby of our school beginning November 13th until December 8th. Please help our effort to bring a ray of holiday joy to a child in need. The toys, books and other gifts collected and distributed by Marines and volunteers to disadvantaged children offer them recognition, confidence and a positive memory for a lifetime. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.


Annual Report Available


The Annual Report for 2022-23 is available to download HERE.


Dental Care at Parker (Caring for Kids)


Reminder students have an opportunity to receive dental care here at Parker School through the Caring for Kids program on Wednesday, November 29th. Please read about Caring for Kids HERE and complete the documents by clicking HERE and return to Nurse Lisa as soon as possible. The dental program provides a dental examination, x-rays, fluoride treatment, sealants, and teeth cleaning. There is no direct cost to the patient. However, if the child has insurance, the insurance will be billed. If you have any questions, please email Lisa Zick at lzick@theparkerschool.org.


Winter Sports Registration


Reminder to register now for winter sports: Winter Track, Basketball (Middle School, JV, and Varsity), or Boys High School Hockey Co-op with Littleton and Bromfield using this link: https://forms.office.com/r/szqjERZksc All practices begin on Monday, November 27th, and will be held on Monday through Friday that week. For more information click here: https://www.theparkerschool.org/students-parents/athletics

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 - Nov 22 Noon Dismissal
Thu-Fri - Nov 23-24 Thanksgiving Break
Mon - Nov 27 Winter Sports Begin
Tue - Dec 5 Board of Trustees
Fri - Dec 8 Div 1 & 9th Grade Dance
Thu-Sat - Dec 14-16 Fall Show
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PARKER FUND!
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 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.

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