September 13, 2025

Weekly Information for September 12, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

I love the start of a new school year—not just because the empty building comes back to life with the presence of the students, faculty, and families and not just because it is a chance for a new beginning—though I do appreciate those things. What I enjoy most about the start of the school year is the way it sets the important foundation for everything that comes next.


The thing about foundations is that they are not particularly glamorous, they are rarely the star of the show. Not many of us notice the foundations of buildings we enter or live in—unless there are problems with them. A good, solid foundation does its job without calling attention to itself, and the foundational ideas and beliefs at the core of what we do and believe at Parker is what I am noticing and appreciating in the foundation building I see happening every day.


Here at Parker, the Common Principles are the ideas that matter most to our foundation and the most important work in our classrooms, hallways, clubs, and teams is teaching, practicing, and holding ourselves accountable to the ways we live those out in the day to day work. What does that look like? It looks like extra time in advisory and divisional gatherings in these first few weeks, fostering relationship building with new teachers and new classmates. It looks like learning about the advisory routines for Academic Advising and Academic Block. It looks like reviewing and learning about divisional norms and expectations.

 

When I think about how this translates to classrooms, I am struck by the foundation building in the classes that book-end a student’s academic experience at Parker—7th Seminar which introduces key concepts like the Habits of Learning*, self-advocacy, and the process of revision, and Senior Seminar which challenges students to apply all their Habits and Skills to a year-long independent project they design. Some of what we work really intentionally to build with our students across their years with us is the willingness to try hard things, the perseverance to keep going, and the ability to reflect and revise based on feedback. We intentionally revisit these foundations every year. We intentionally ask our students to apply them to new and more challenging tasks as they progress from division to division. We intentionally shift more and more of the work involved in these tasks to students so that they each build their own solid foundation.

 

Like all good foundations, these might not feel like the most exciting or glamorous work we do. Certainly, big demonstrations of learning like Gateways and Senior Exhibitions get more fanfare—but what I want to celebrate and call to your attention is how every little thing we do now enables those “bigger” things later. So, as we wrap up our first five-day week of the school year, I invite you all to notice and appreciate the foundations you might see being built for the year ahead.


Happy Friday and happy weekend!

Bex


*The eight habits of learning at Parker are Inquiry, Expression, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Organization, Attentiveness, Involvement and Reflection.

This week’s topics: 
  • Back to School Night on September 18th
  • Parker Concert Band Starts Tuesday!
  • Call for Substitutes
  • Donation Request: Electric Dryer
  • Attendance Line Reminder
  • Event Parking Reminder
  • Technology Repair/Replacement Fees Reminder
  • Athletics Schedule
  • Upcoming Dates of Note
Back to School Night is Thursday, September 18

Please plan to join us for Back to School Night activities, as listed below:

6:15—6:45: Divisional Information Sessions:

  • Div 1: Introduction to Division 1 (meet in the Gym).
  • Div 2: Introduction to Division 2 (meet in the Auditorium).
  • Div 3: Program and Graduation Requirements for Division 3 (meet in Room 48).

7:00—9:00: Visit your students’ classes and meet their teachers!

Parents/Guardians will receive their schedule for the evening at 7:00 PM in their child's advisory room.

Please Note: This event is for parents/guardians—not for students. We ask students to stay at home. If your child or children must join you, they must be always with you under your supervision. Thank you!


Parker Concert Band to start Tuesday after school!

This Tuesday 9/16, the Parker Concert band will begin rehearsals! We rehearse Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 in Room 13. Bring your instrument and be ready to play! For students who might have missed the info meeting, no worries — just come on Tuesday and we'll get you set up!


Parker Concert Band is seeking specific donations of percussion instruments for our ensemble! Our wish list includes a concert bass drum and stand, auxiliary percussion (cymbals, triangles, castanets, etc.), and mallets and/or mallet instruments (marimba, xylophone, etc.) We also hope to teach keyboard on full-sized-keys keyboards. If you have one lying around your house, we could use them! Please reach out to Jim and Marena (jdesmond@theparkerschool.org or mcole@theparkerschool.org) if you have anything you might be willing to donate. 


Hourly Substitute Opportunity

Parker is currently seeking responsible, caring adults interested in working with middle and high school students as classroom substitutes and to supervise the library on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30-3:00 PM. Familiarity with Parker’s mission and academic program is preferred. Substitutes will be called on an “as needed” basis based on their availability and will support students in following plans left by classroom teachers. Please contact Gabby at gbrummer@theparkerschool.org if interested.


Donation Request: Electric Dryer

Parker is in need of an electric dryer to replace an old and failing one used by Wellness, the kitchen, and facilities. If you have one you no longer use or know of one which is available for donation, please contact Michelle at mmckenna@theparkerschool.org.


Attendance Line Reminder

Parents/Guardians must notify the school office of any Late Arrivals, Absences, or Early Dismissals by leaving a message on the Attendance Line: 978-772-3293, x1 BEFORE 9 AM of the affected day. If it is AFTER 9 AM, please call the office directly (messages are not cleared after 9 AM). The attendance line is available 24 hours a day, and you can leave a message any day or time prior to the absence and provide all the affected dates with one call. It is important you inform THE OFFICE your child(ren) will be absent, even if you have let the teachers know.


NOTE: Details about your child’s condition should not be shared on the Attendance Line. Please share health details with Nurse Lisa ONLY (x135 or  lzick@theparkerschool.org).


Event Parking Reminder

During school events, our on-campus parking is insufficient for our whole school community. Please remember and join in our community norms by parking in the Museum Lot (P-5), located across Jackson Road, and allowing guests with limited mobility to use the available spaces on campus. Thank you!


Reminder Technology Repair/Replacement Fees

Parker provides a variety of items (such as laptops and related technology, phone pouches, and IDs) to students each year. Students are responsible for maintaining and protecting these items. Loss or damage results in a fee being charged. Please see the Parker Technology Fee Schedule for more information about replacement and repair fees, should they become relevant for your child.

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:
Thu - Sep 18 Back to School Night
Tue - Sep 30 Support Our Seniors Potluck
Tue - Sep 30 Community Connections Night
Wed - Oct 8 School Photo Retakes
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 • November 1, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • October 26, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • October 17, 2025
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By Cindy Johnson • October 10, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I have been spending a lot of my time in Advisory lately—visiting sometimes with 2 or 3 advisories in a day. These visits are helping me to meet one of my goals for the fall which is to get to know all our students—yes, to learn almost 400 names (first names first—last names later…) but also to know our students as more than names and faces. During these visits, I have had the privilege of asking and answering questions about each other like “What is something you are proud of?,” drawing 10 second animals, sharing a meal, playing 4 on a couch, playing reverse charades, and sharing a rose, bud, and thorn for the week. Earlier this year, I talked about building a strong foundation at the start of the year. In that metaphor, the advisory program is a cornerstone of our foundation at Parker, with four important purposes that include academic advising, community service, community conversations, and group dynamics/recreation. It’s a student’s advisor who checks in with them weekly about their academic work and progress. It’s the advisor who coordinates and hosts the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) conferences twice a year. It’s the advisor who supports this small group of students in building community during morning and afternoon advisory each day. Advisory is at the heart of so much of what we do as a school to get to know our students well and foster community. When we have an important issue to discuss or want to learn about something together, we will turn to community conversations and our “Super Advisories,” cross-age constellations of multiple Advisory groups. Advisory is critical not only to how we personalize the experience of school for students but also to the work of fostering a tone of decency and trust in our community, two of our 10 Common Principles. In the last thirty years, more schools have developed and implemented advisory programs. I see this as a sign they are recognizing something we have always believed: that when students feel a sense of safety, belonging, and community, they engage more fully in their learning, and that when at least one adult knows a student well, they are more successful in school. I hope you will get your own glimpse into the special and important work our advisors do through the upcoming PLP conferences—and I hope you will build your own relationship with your student’s advisor so that we can partner in supporting our students as they learn. Wishing you a restful long weekend ahead! Bex

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By Cindy Johnson • October 3, 2025
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