November 22, 2025

Weekly Information for November 21, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,


We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. 


I had this quote on the whiteboard in my office several years ago, and every time I thought about erasing it and putting up different words of wisdom, someone would ask about it, refer to it, connect it to something they were doing or seeing or working on and I would decide to keep it up, feeling anew its pervasive relevance to the life of a school and the work of teaching and learning. I think what I appreciate about these words is that they acknowledge the connection between practice and performance, between the daily work we must do behind the bigger, public moments that showcase our work. Certainly, for our students these ideas are present in their classes with Parker’s emphasis on practice, feedback, and revision as the path to demonstrating mastery, but if you have ever trained at something—academic, athletic, musical, etc.—you likely know this relationship well from your own experience too.

 

I admit I also find something a little unsatisfying about this quote in that it doesn’t seem to recognize the importance of celebration in this practice to performance loop. If we don’t take time to notice, acknowledge, and appreciate the work we do and the progress we make, we lose something important in the process. Research says not only should we celebrate the performances that go well, but we can stay motivated and make more progress when we pay attention to the places where our daily practice is demonstrating and contributing to growth. 


The importance of the practice-to-performance loop has been really clear in the close of the fall sports season and there are some notable athletic accomplishments to celebrate! Congratulations to Senior Emma Petricca who was selected to the 2025 Central MA Senior All-Star soccer team whose game will take place this Sunday (see additional info below). Last Saturday, the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams wrapped up their seasons with impressive performances. The girls’ team finished 11th in the MIAA State Championships and the boys’ team won the MIAA State Championship! In addition to the team’s accomplishments, Parker senior Nathaniel Henshaw won the race and became the first individual champion in school history.

 

Please join me in celebrating these students’ accomplishments—and take a moment to think about one of your own to celebrate too. 



Wishing you a restful weekend, 

Bex 

This week’s topics: 
  • 5K Fun Run This Saturday
  • Senior All Star Soccer Game
  • Save the Dates!
  • Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
  • Noon Release on Wednesday
  • Absences Around Thanksgiving
  • Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders
  • Winter Sports Registration
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • Robotics Club
  • TOYS for TOTS
5K Fun Run

It’s not too late to join the fun! The run/walk will be held at Parker this Saturday, November 22, at 10 AM (rain date is 11/23). Register online until Friday or at the event on Saturday. Cost is $20 for students and $30 for others, and all proceeds from the race benefit the school. Thank you to our sponsors: Gourmet Donuts, City Music, Anytime Fitness, Endeavor Films, Play It Again Sports, Catania Cares, and Marx Running, Sterling Street Brewery, and Clover Road Brewing Company. To register or find out more, visit http://www.parker.school/funrun.


Senior All Star Soccer Game

Come out and cheer on Parker senior Emma Petricca in the 2025 Central Mass Senior All-Star Soccer Game this Sunday, November 23 at 9 AM. The game will be held at Ayer/Shirley High School and is free to attend. It will also be available on HUDL for live stream and post-game viewing.

 

From the College Counselor - Save the Dates!
  • December 2 @ 7 PM - Navigating College Testing Workshop with Open Door (zoom link will be sent to all sophomore and junior families)
  • December 3 @ 6:30 PM - MEFA Financial Aid Night (link will be sent to senior families)
  • December 10 @ 6 PM - Junior Planning Night (in person for all juniors and their adults)


Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy

Parker has made recent updates to our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan. The current draft is available for review here:  BPIP November 2025 Draft for Public Comment.pdf All community members are invited to read through the changes and offer feedback using our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan (BPIP) Public Comment Form


Noon Release on Wednesday

Reminder that we will have a noon dismissal on Wednesday, November 26. Please be sure to pick up your student at noon, as the building will close at that time.


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).


Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders

Parker offers before- and after-school supervision for students during set times only. Please review our schedule below and be sure to pick up your student before our staff leave.

  • In the morning, the building opens at 7:30. Students arriving before 8:00 go to the library, which is supervised. After 8:00, students may access the rest of the building and pick up breakfast.
  • After school, students may study in the library during our set, supervised times.
  • On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, families should pick up no later than 4:30 PM.
  • On Wednesdays, families should pick up no later than 3:00 PM.
  • After school help with teachers occurs on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and ends at 4:15 PM. Students may wait for a ride in the library until 4:30 PM after attending after school help.
  • Students who participate in after school activities, such as athletics, theater, and clubs will be supervised during designated activity times and should be picked up at the end of scheduled activities.


Winter Sports Registration

Reminder to register for Winter Sports: Winter Track, Girls and Boys Basketball (Middle School and High School), Boys Ice Hockey (Co-op with Littleton) and Girls Ice Hockey (Co-op with Acton-Boxborough). All practices begin Monday, December 1st, and will be held Monday through Friday that week. To register your student for a winter sport, click here: 2025-2026 Winter Parker Sports Registration – Fill out form


Ski and Snowboard Club

Reminder, there will be a $30 price increase on 12/1, so be sure to sign up before then. Check here for details and to register. Program begins 1/7.


Robotics Club

The Parker Robotics club is starting back up! In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, the Robomingos (FIRST team 3623) is ready to accept new members who are interested in building a robot, engaging in engineering projects, and competing on alliances of 3 robots against other teams in a to-be-announced competition. Meetings will start on Tuesday, November 25 and run from 4-6 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the remainder of the off season - with pick up at the Boys & Girls Club. Questions? Want to know more? Reach out to Anna (asolon@theparkerschool.org).


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 November 12th until December 10th. Please help us 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.

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:
Sat - Nov 22 Parker 5k Fun Run!
Wed - Nov 26 NOON Dismissal
Thu-Fri; Nov 27-28 Thanksgiving Break
Thu-Sat; Dec 11-13 FALL SHOW
Wed - Dec 17 Café Wednesday
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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Copy of Weekly Information for November 9th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • November 6, 2026
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Weekly Information for October 30th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • November 2, 2026
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Weekly Information for October 26th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • October 26, 2026
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Weekly Information for October 16th, 2026

By Xalli Gordon-Chavez • October 20, 2026
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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
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