November 10, 2024

Weekly Information for November 8, 2024

Share Post

Dear Parker families, students and staff,


The events of the past few weeks point to the importance of community, decency and respect that defines Parker. The rhetoric and outcome of the presidential election highlight profound areas of disagreement and division in our country. Our students need the space to process these issues, ask hard questions and rely on trusted adults as they struggle. We respond by coming together, in support of one another, to reflect on this moment.


Many advisories read Maya Angelou’s poem, Human Family. After noting “the obvious differences in the human family,” the poem ends with the repeated refrain, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” We discussed the meaning of that last line, punctuated with the phrase, “my friends,” in the context of our Parker community. The students engaged in a beautiful reflection of friendship and our shared humanity.


We immediately put that into practice with our Division 1 trip to Nature’s Classroom. Thank you to families for sharing your children with us for three days, an opportunity to build community in nature. This was the first time away for many of our students. We are proud of you for taking a risk. Thank you to the Division 1 teachers and Nurse Lisa, as well as Division 3 mentors, who helped to make this tradition possible.


I also want to thank and extend an invitation to Parker families to join the Ambassador program. Ambassadors help welcome new students and families to Parker and spread the word online, in person and through events at Parker. We appreciate the camaraderie and commitment of Parker families through the PPCC, the Ambassador program and so much more. The first meeting will be Tuesday, November 19th from 6:30-7:30 pm virtually on Teams. Please let us know if you would like to join us.

To all our students, families and staff, thank you for being part of and contributing to the Parker community. Thank you for your friendship. We are lucky to have one another.


Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • TOYS for TOTS
  • Absences Around Thanksgiving
  • Nature’s Classroom Reflection
  • Wellness Committee Meeting
  • Junior Planning Night
  • Last Call for Student Artwork
  • Caring for Kids Program in November
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • Winter Sports Registration
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 12th until December 6th. 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.


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).


Nature's Classroom Reflection

Division 1 students, faculty, and our Division 3 peer mentors are finishing up two and a half days in the woods with surprisingly warm weather, and we did it with a smile!


The goals of our every-other-year trip to Nature’s Classroom include Division 1 community building, advisory bonding, and “challenge by choice” risk taking. To do this, students participated in low ropes courses, exploration and discovery of flora and fauna, and the ever popular night hike and Thursday Night Live skits. Students learned new things, both about the world around them and what they are capable of.

 

Throughout all of these activities, the Division 3 peer mentors were exactly that- mentors. They provided guidance, wisdom, maturity, and empathy to the younger kids, from helping Div. 1 students write letters to their future selves, to helping the group come together as a team, to performing a skit during last night’s Thursday Night Live in which they impersonated Div. 1 teachers with hilarious accuracy.


We will return home in a few hours a little tired, a little fragrant, and excited to tell you stories. (Ask about the night hike, what classes your student took, and living in the dorms!) We are ready to return to school on Tuesday with new and deepened friendships, next steps as a closer advisory, and as our emerging and evolving Division 1 community.


Have a great weekend; be sure to rest up!

Kalista and Matt


Wellness Committee Meeting

The Wellness Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 12th, at 3:30 PM, in conference room 3A (in the library). We will meet to evaluate the current Wellness Policy and make changes as necessary. A wellness policy is a written document that guides schools to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn. Click to view Parker’s current Wellness Policy and Parker’s current WellSAT 3.0 score. If you would like to be part of the Wellness Committee, please reach out to Lisa Zick at [email protected].


Junior Planning Night

Junior Planning Night is Tuesday, November 12th, at 6 PM in the Auditorium. Juniors and their parents/guardians should attend to learn more about transcripts, the college application process, and things to keep in mind during junior year. Students should check their email for more information.

 

Last Call for Student Artwork!

Reminder to submit student artwork for the 2025 Parker Calendar by November 12th. Artwork will be selected by a jury for inclusion in the calendar, and the calendar will be available for purchase beginning in November and delivered before the holiday break! For more information, see this flyer. Submit your artwork online here. Contact Katrina, Marena or Sheila with any questions!


Coming in November – Caring for Kids

Students have an opportunity to receive dental care here at Parker School through the Caring for Kids program on Tuesday, November 19th. Please read about Caring for Kids HERE and complete the documents by clicking HERE and return to Nurse Lisa as soon as possible. Hard copies were also sent home with students. 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 [email protected].   

 

Ski & Snowboard Club

Registration is open for Parker Ski and Snowboard Club! Check here for details and to register. Price increases after 12/1. Program begins 1/8. Chaperones are needed!

 

Winter Sports Registration

Winter Sports will include Boys and Girls Middle School and High School Basketball, Winter Track, Boys Ice Hockey (hosted by Littleton) and Girls Ice Hockey (hosted by Acton-Boxborough). The teams will start practicing on Monday, December 2nd. Registration Deadline is Sunday, December 1st.

Please click here to register: Athlete Registration

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:
Mon - Nov 11 Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
Tue - Nov 12 Wellness Committee
Tue - Nov 12 Junior Planning Night
Thu - Nov 14 Board of Trustees
Wed - Nov 27 NOON Dismissal
Thur-Fri; Nov 28-29 Thanksgiving 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: [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.

Recent Posts

Weekly Information for May 23, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 23, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, The next few weeks will be very busy and meaningful for our school. Students, work hard, ask for help and finish strong. As we approach Graduation, Gateways, Junior Retreat and much more, take a moment to thank all your teachers, family and friends who have supported you and contributed to your success. We don’t do it alone. We are looking forward to tonight’s prom at Wachusett. We appreciate the Parker teachers and families who help to make prom a safe and fun evening for our students. It is one of the many ways that we come together to celebrate and build memories as a community. Next Wednesday, May 28th, we welcome Rabbi Josh Breindel as our guest speaker for a community conversation on antisemitism and hate speech. The community conversation will focus on the history and impact of the Nazi swastika, its unique impact on the Jewish community with its association to antisemitism, and its use in the normalization of hate speech more broadly towards other groups. We explore what steps young people can take to stand up and bring hope. Thank you to the Multicultural Connections student group for hosting this important discussion. We end the day with Advisory reflections and an activity. Thank you to the Parker Parent and Caregiver Community (PPCC) for hosting yesterday’s Ice Cream Social for new students and families. We had over 100 attendees. We will be hosting a series of events over the spring and summer to welcome new students and families, including a potluck dinner the night before registration day on Tuesday, August 26th. Details to come. I hope that you enjoy the long weekend with your family and friends. On Monday, May 26th we observe Memorial Day, a solemn remembrance of the 1.3 million Americans in the military who died serving our country. We appreciate the men and women in uniform for their service and ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedoms. We pause on this day in remembrance and gratitude. Brian

Weekly Information for May 16, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 17, 2025
Dear Parker Families, Students, and Staff, I’m writing to invite your participation in an ongoing conversation in the Parker community about the presence and impacts – both positive and negative – of phones and other “smart” devices in school. As you may be aware, the Massachusetts State Legislature is considering a bill – co-sponsored by State Attorney General Andrea Campbell – in its current legislative session that would require public schools in the state to restrict student phone use during school hours. You may also be aware New York recently passed a similar bill, joining dozens of states who have either already passed or, like Massachusetts, are in the process of considering new legislation regarding phones in schools. They are doing this in response to the growing rate of concern about the impact phones can and do have on learning. In conversations at school over the last month, teachers and students agree: phones are distracting, and they impact class. Students appreciate the connection phones provide to their families, and faculty understand phones are an important logistical tool in everyone’s lives, so it feels like a dilemma our current practices do not acknowledge. This should not seem surprising if one knows our current phone/device practice, as described in the Community Handbook, was last revised in 2012. The capabilities, applications of, and cultural embeddedness of phone and other smart technology have evolved immensely in the United States since then. So this is an important and perhaps overdue conversation for the Parker community to be having. Since its founding, Parker has been committed both in mission and in daily practice to moving students to the center of the learning process with Ted Sizer’s 10 Common Principles as our guiding philosophy, and over the last thirty years, students and adults have consistently cited strength of community as the strongest, most positive indicator of that mission in action. Students will have continued opportunity in the coming weeks to engage in conversation about how the presence of personal devices factors into the strength of our community, and we want to hear the voices of parents, guardians, and caregivers as well. To that end, we will be holding a discussion forum on Thursday, June 5, at 6:30 for adults to hear about the discussions going on at school this spring and contribute their own thoughts and questions to the dialogue. As a kicking off point and shared experience, part of our discussion will be reacting to two articles we encourage you to read in advance: Jonathan Haidt’s article from 2023 in The Atlantic, “Phones in School Are a Disaster” Natasha Singer’s article from 2024 in The New York Times, “Why Schools are Racing to Ban Cell Phones” If you can’t access the above links, pick up a hard copy in the front office. Reading the articles is not necessary for attendance! Please RSVP - we very much hope to see you there. Sincerely, Carter What: Adult discussion about phones in school When: Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 6:30-7:30 PM Where: In-person at Parker RSVP HERE

Weekly Information for May 9, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 10, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Thank you to the entire Parker faculty for sharing your time, expertise and passion. Our students are very lucky! We are nearing the end of Teacher Appreciation Week. We have been treated to gifts and goodies all week from members of the Parker Parent and Caregiver Community (PPCC). Thank you for the generosity and thoughtfulness of Parker families. This weekend, we celebrate and thank our moms. To all the moms who provide selfless love and support, in ways that only a mother can provide, we appreciate you! We turn our attention and affection towards our moms this weekend. Have a very Happy Mother’s Day. Finally, congratulations to all the Seniors who presented their Senior Exhibitions this week, with two final days next week. Senior Exhibitions have always been a celebration of our Seniors and our whole program. Visitors from the Utah Board of Education joined us this week to serve as panelists, visit classes and meet with students. At the end of their visit, they reflected that Parker strikes an appropriate balance between personalization and transferable skills with academic rigor. They were beyond impressed by our school and our students! Have a great weekend. Brian

Weekly Information for May 2, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • May 4, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Starting this spring, students in the Multicultural Connections Community Block will host a series of community conversations around issues of importance to our school. The Multicultural Connections Community Block was created earlier this year in response to the multiple instances of antisemitic hate speech that we found on campus. The group provides a safe space for students of different races, cultures and religions to come together for reflection and celebration. We appreciate their proactive leadership and support of one another. To engage their classmates, students in Multicultural Connections are piloting a series of community conversations, by division. We are planning to invite guest speakers to visit Parker once or twice a year, engage in a discussion facilitated by students, followed by Advisory reflections. The first community conversation will focus on antisemitism and hate speech. We are pleased to welcome Rabbi Josh Breindel from Congregation Beth El in Sudbury as our guest speaker. We have been working closely with Rabbi Josh for the past two years. Rabbi Josh has provided invaluable guidance and perspective as we condemned antisemitism and hate speech, supported Jewish students and promoted the physical and emotional safety of all students and staff. Rabbi Josh comes to Parker as a friend, partner and educator. The community conversation will focus on the history and impact of the Nazi swastika, its unique impact on the Jewish community with its association to antisemitism, and its use in the normalization of hate speech more broadly towards other groups. We explore what steps young people can take to stand up and bring hope. The community conversation takes place on Wednesday, May 28. Each division will participate in the discussion and Advisory reflection. We will share additional details and the schedule to come. Next year, we will follow a similar format for community conversations on issues of importance to our diverse student body. We are proud of our students for serving as upstanders and providing leadership to live our values as a loving and inclusive community. With respect, Brian

Weekly Information for April 18, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • April 18, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I hope that you have a terrific April break with those who you love. Get outside, read a book, take a nap, dig in the garden, play a game, take a trip – these are some of the plans our students have for the week ahead. Whatever your plans, come back ready for a rigorous and celebratory end of the year at Parker. Have a great break! Brian

Weekly Information for April 11, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • April 11, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, We had an extraordinary 30th Anniversary Gala last weekend. We shared the following 30th Anniversary video that evening, showcasing the growth of Parker from 1995 to today. It is an incredible story of innovation, community and putting students first. Take a look: https://youtu.be/tecvqBwFNtA Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the celebration. We raised over $45,000 at the Gala, every penny of which went directly to our students. We would be unable to keep class sizes small and provide individual attention to our students without the generosity of our community. Charter schools receive significantly less funding than neighborhood public schools, even though we are all public schools. We appreciate your support in addressing this inequity. Donate to Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School We were delighted to welcome our two Principal finalists, Bex and Hannah, to Parker this week. Thank you to all the students and families who joined us, asking terrific questions and sharing your feedback. We have one final interview, today at 6:00 PM virtually with Hannah. See the link below. We will review all the feedback and announce our new Principal later this month. Hannah Kehn Family/Community Q&A, Friday, April 11, 6-7 PM Join the meeting now Finally, please join us on Wednesday, April 16th for an evening of student exhibitions , including Noche Sabrosa , Division 2 Exhibitions, and Senior Exhibitions . As you know, Parker students demonstrate mastery and learn from your feedback through public exhibitions. This year, we are hosting the three events on the same evening to increase the community support for our students. While visiting with our Seniors, consider serving on a panel for their Senior Exhibitions the end of the year. Please see sign-up information below.  Brian