October 3, 2025

Weekly Information for October 3, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

It was a busy and exciting week at Parker. We have certainly hit our stride a month into the new school year.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Community Connections Night at Parker. Our Seniors did a terrific job describing their Senior Projects and welcoming ideas, connections, opportunities and resources as they launch. We appreciate all the families and friends who joined us. You provide invaluable guidance to our students! If you were unable to join us but still want to share your suggestions, please review the students’ topic areas in the document linked below, and then you may contact the Senior Seminar teacher.


Class of 2026 Senior Project Declarations of Interest


On Wednesday, we spent a lovely day at Mirror Lake on Devens with our Division 1 students. We do this trip every two years, providing a unique opportunity for Div 1 Advisories to work and play together. The highlight is always the cardboard boat race. After careful planning and team construction, one member of each Advisory captains their boat on a short course. Thank you to all the Division 1 students and Peer Mentors who tried something new and learned about teamwork and engineering.


Congratulations to our Boys Cross Country team for winning the Ocean State Cross Country Invitational for the first time in school history. Our Boys Varsity team finished first out of 55 of the best schools from the region. We also placed 5th in the Boys JV race, 2nd in the Boys Freshman race and had three medalists in the Girls Freshman race. Outstanding showing at a very competitive meet.


Finally, this week we welcomed students from Sophianum, our sister school in the Netherlands. We are delighted to host this exchange program for the second time, hosting ten Dutch students at Parker in October and then sending ten Parker students to the Netherlands in April. We are very proud of all the students and families who stepped towards this opportunity, sharing their homes and culture with students from across the world. This is a fun and important exchange for all of us.

We look forward to seeing you in two weeks, Friday, October 17th for PLP day. Have a great weekend.


Brian

  • This week’s topics: 
  • School Photo Retakes
  • Class of 2026 Senior Projects
  • PLP Conferences on October 17th
  • PLP Day Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
  • PLP Day Blood Drive
  • Attention Sophomores and Juniors
  • Lost & Found Pickup
  • ParkerPac Coffee Meetup
  • Updated Carpool List
  • Parker 101 Resources
  • Parking Lot Etiquette
  • Girls Cross Country Team Fundraiser
  • Join our WOCOMAL Team!
  • From the Health Office
  • Wellness Policy
  • Athletics Schedule
  • Upcoming Dates of Note
School Photo Retakes

Students who missed having their photo taken on registration day and those wishing for a redo should visit the photographers in the library next Wednesday, October 8, in the morning starting at 8 AM. These photos are used on school IDs, in Office 365, and in the yearbook, so please make sure you’ve had your photo taken this year. See Gabby with questions.


Class of 2026 Senior Projects—offer your ideas, resources, contacts!

Thanks to everyone who was able to join us at the Class of 2026’s Community Connections Night. If you weren’t able to attend, please spend a few minutes listening to the Senior Project topics that students plan to pursue this year. The link below will give you access to each senior’s “elevator speech” and provide a space for you to offer ideas, resources, contacts or other helpful information that can push their projects forward.

Parker Senior Project Community Connections: Share your ideas, resources, contacts!

Respond with ideas for a few seniors or all. Remember to click submit at the bottom of the form when you are done. And share the link with others!

Thanks! The Senior Seminar Teachers (Debbie, Jim, Ryan and Henry)


PLP Conferences on October 17th

Families will soon hear from their child's advisors to set up a meeting time for PLP Conferences (Personal Learning Plans) – expect an email from advisors early next week. This is a student/family/advisor conference – if you are new to Parker, your child’s advisor will give you a longer introduction to the process! PLP Conferences are one of the traditions that help us to know our students well and support them in being at the center of their own education by setting their own goals for the year. Please look for the email with a booking link from your child’s advisor and select an appointment time on Oct 17. The appointment links are advisory-specific, so be sure to use the link sent in an email by each your child’s advisors if you have more than one student at Parker. If you cannot make any of the times on 10/17 and/or if you need to attend remotely, please email your child’s advisor to set that up. There are no regular classes scheduled on PLP day and your student’s attendance is based on attending the conference.


PLP Day Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Parker is hosting a Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinic through CVS on Friday, October 17th (PLP Day) from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Click Here to Register

Things to know:

  • If you are feeling sick, schedule a new appointment when you are better. Mildly ill with no fever is okay!
  • Bring your health insurance card.
  • Don't forget to wear short sleeves or layers that allow access to your upper arm.

Please reach out to Nurse Lisa at lzick@theparkerschool.org with questions!


PLP Day Blood Drive

Attention families and Parker students 16 and older! In partnership with Mass General Hospital, Parker's future nursing students are hosting a blood drive on PLP day! Did you know that your one blood donation can save up to three lives?! In addition, all donors will receive a glow-in-the dark t-shirt and snacks. Our goal is to schedule fifty appointments and make this drive a regular part of PLP day, but we need your help to do it! To sign up for a donation appointment, use this link: https://bit.ly/ParkerMGH  If you have any questions, contact Jinnee Strus. Thanks for donating!


Attention Sophomores and Juniors

If you're interested in taking the PACT, please register with Jinnee by October 17th. See your email for more details.


LOST & FOUND Pickup

Reminder the Lost & Found Closet (across from Room 28) will be CLEARED OUT on Monday, October 20th. Please stop by before that date (perhaps on PLP Day) to check for and claim any items that belong to your loved ones!


ParkerPAC (SEPAC) Parents Informal Coffee

Please join ParkerPAC parents for coffee after morning drop off on Wednesday, October 8. This informal gathering will be an opportunity to meet other parents in the SEPAC. We will meet at Marty's Corner Cafe, 176 Jackson Road in Devens, at 8:30 AM.


Updated Carpool List

A copy of the updated Carpool List may be picked up at the front office (hard copy only).


Parker 101 Resources and Materials

Thank you to all who attended our Parker 101 session earlier this week. Whether you were able to join us or not, we wanted to share some resources and materials from the event. These provide some important information about the academic program, how we assess student learning, and how we support students in taking responsibility for their own growth and goal setting each year. 

Presentation slides

Assessment at Parker

Spanish at Parker

Parking Lot Etiquette

While waiting in the after-school pick-up line for your student, please be mindful to leave adequate space between cars for those parked in the student lots to exit. We hope to reduce blockages and backups in the student parking lots as much as possible to make the end-of-day run more smoothly.


Lady Panthers Against ED

Hi! We’re the Parker Girls Cross-Country Team! We’re currently working on a fundraising campaign for the National Eating Disorders Association to help raise money and awareness against eating disorders. As female athletes we have faced the impacts of eating disorders like the nearly 70% of female cross-country runners across the United States. We would love your support in our fight!

 

We are raising money on our fundraiser page and are also holding a bake sale to raise money at our Senior Night on October 7th from 4PM at Willard Park. Come support our seniors Rayna Ferlin and Nathaniel Henshaw during their final cross country race on our home course as well as our campaign. If you would like to learn more or keep up with our fundraiser follow us @parkergirlsxctf on Instagram!


Seeking Mathy Students to Represent Parker by Joining our WOCOMAL Team!

What is WOCOMAL? WOCOMAL (The Worcester County Math League) is a series of regional math competitions on Wednesday afternoons. We are actively recruiting students interested in participating in this event. This is a great opportunity to try some challenging math problems with friendly people.

There are two levels of competition:

  • FRESHMAN competition: Open to students in grade 9 or below
  • VARSITY competition: Open to students in grade 12 or below

Students can join practice sessions after school on Thursdays or during Community Block on Fridays. There is an activity fee of $100 to cover the costs of the program. For more information, students should talk to Diane Kruse (dkruse@theparkerschool.org) or their MST teacher.


From the Health Office - Unauthorized Medications at School

Reminder that 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 EpiPen, inhaler, diabetic supplies, or other emergency medicine. All other medications should be kept and administered by the school nurse. Proper medical documentation is required for all medications.

 

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. Email Nurse Lisa at lzick@theparkerschool.org with questions.


Wellness Policy Information

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  Wellness Policy.pdf and Parker’s current WellSAT 3.0 score. As outlined in the policy, our current school meals program complies with state and federal standards and requirements. Additionally, our policy encourages all members of the school community to consider healthy and nutritious foods when they bring food into school, and alternatives to food for fundraising and other events. The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition provides a tool for assessing a packaged food’s compliance with state and federal nutrition standards and a comprehensive list of approved snacks. Some examples of acceptable snacks from the list are:

  • Air Fried, Kettle Cooked Chips (Himalayan Salt)
  • Popchips (sea salt)
  • Baked Cheetos Whole Grain Rich Crunchy
  • Baked Lay's Original Potato Crisps
  • Baked Tostitos Scoops
  • Lay's Kettle Cooked 40% Less Fat Potato Chips
  • Reduced Fat Cheetos Puffs
  • Reduced Fat Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips
  • Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain
  • Nature Valley Crunchy Bar, Oats 'n Honey
  • Cheez-It made with whole grain

This year’s Wellness Committee will be meeting soon. If you’re interested in attending the meeting, please email Nurse Lisa at lzick@theparkerschool.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:
Wed - Oct 8 School Photo Retakes
Thu - Oct 9 Board of Trustees
Mon - Oct 13 Fall Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Fri - Oct 17 PLP Conferences - NO CLASSES
Wed - Oct 22 SATs/PSATs
Tue - Oct 28 ACTs
Wed - Oct 29 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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By Cindy Johnson • September 19, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • September 13, 2025
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