September 19, 2025

Weekly Information for September 19, 2025

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Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff,

It was great to see everyone at Back-to-School night last evening. Thank you for joining us and experiencing Parker as your child does. It was a positive and affirming night for all of us. Parker was founded in 1995 by local parents who wanted to do school differently. They imagined a school where their child was challenged to use their mind well, where they would be known deeply by their teachers in a community with a culture of decency and trust. We are proud to have lived that mission, in partnership with Parker families.


We look forward to seeing you at PLP conferences on Friday, October 17th. Your child’s advisor will send details and an opportunity to sign up for a 30-minute session soon. Fall PLP conferences are an essential opportunity for the student to create their own learning goals for the year, with support from their family and advisor. These goals are often aligned to the Parker Habits of Learning including inquiry, organization, collaboration, reflection and perseverance. Students prepare their plans and prep for the meeting in Advisory across the next month. It is a productive and iterative process with meaningful results for our students. Thank you for your help.


We appreciate the leadership of the Parker Parent and Caregiver Community (PPCC), founded two years ago to foster an involved and inclusive community. All families are welcome to join the Facebook group at Parker Parent and Caregiver Community | Facebook. Thank you to the PPCC for everything that they do to build and sustain our community, including the warm welcome you extended to new students and families across the spring and summer. We are all better for it.


Please join us for a coffee with Bex on Wednesday, October 1st at 8:30 AM in Room 40. As our new Principal, Bex welcomes your perspective and feedback.
Join us to say hi.


Thank you for your partnership!


Brian

This week’s topics: 

  • Academic Communication with Families
  • Register for the Parker Fun Run
  • Upcoming Communications Test
  • SEPAC Meeting
  • Support Our Seniors Potluck
  • Community Connections Night
  • Family in Need
  • Spring AP Exam
  • 2024-25 Annual Report
  • Call for Substitutes
  • Donation Request: Electric Dryer
  • Attendance Line Reminder
  • Athletics Schedule
  • Upcoming Dates of Note
Academic Communication with Families

Please visit this page on our website to understand more about how and when Parker communicates with families about student academic progress. This document is a good starting place, and then you can explore the other documents link on this webpage. In particular, if you would like to be able to access information about your student’s nightly homework, you can learn more here. [Note: for parents who were using the Microsoft ‘School Connection’ app, Haldor is the new software/app to use for this purpose – Microsoft stopped supporting the prior software we were using.]

Registration Open for 2025 Parker Fun Run

Registration is now open for the 2025 Parker 5K Fun Run, which will be held on Saturday, November 22 (rain date 11/23). This will be a fun community event. Come run, walk, skip, or jump the 5K—in turkey attire or not! Don’t miss out on this year’s shirt: sign up by November 1 to be guaranteed a race shirt. To register or find out more, visit http://www.parker.school/funrun.

Communications System Test

We will be conducting a test of our communication systems on Wednesday, September 24, around 1:55 PM. The purpose of this test is to survey our community about messaging efficacy (that is, do you get the messages) and preferences regarding the various communication methods. This Wednesday, we will text, call, and then email families and staff and provide the link to a short survey soliciting your feedback. Thank you in advance for your help with this test.


Parker Pac (SEPAC) Meeting

Please join other parents for an informal meeting to ask questions and express interests/needs for SEPAC presentations this year. Join the meeting on Thursday, September 25, at 7 PM using this link:(see your Parker email for the link!)

  • Meeting ID: 869 6016 0314
  • Passcode: 704909


Support Our Seniors Potluck on September 30

Seniors and their families are invited to join in conversation around the expectations, excitement, and challenges of the year ahead on Tuesday, September 30, from 5:30-7 PM in the Gym. Senior Seminar teachers/advisors will provide an overview of the senior year, Senior Project, and the graduation requirements along with this year’s installment of “Dear Diary”—a not-to-be-missed crowd favorite! Please bring a dish to share!


Community Connections Night on September 30

We invite all members of the Parker community to meet with the Class of 2026 and learn about their Senior Projects on Tuesday, September 30, from 7-8:15 PM in the Gym! We hope you will offer suggestions for:

  • resources they could access
  • people/organizations with whom they might collaborate
  • experiential opportunities they could pursue
  • product ideas they might consider.

PLEASE BRING GUESTS from inside and outside the Parker community—the more people who come to talk to our seniors, the better!


Family in Need

There is a Parker family facing significant financial hardship well beyond their control. We are doing everything that we can to support the students and family through this difficult moment. As a community, we would like to help by collecting gift cards in the Front Office so that they may buy essentials. Gift cards to grocery stores, retail stores and Visa gift cards would be appreciated. We share this request out of great concern for the family. We are grateful for any support you can provide to these members of our community.


Spring AP Exam

Attention Div3: If you're interested in taking an AP exam in the spring, please see Jinnee before Friday, October 3rd!


Annual Report Available

Parker’s 2024-25 Annual Report is now available: FWPCES 2024-25 Annual Report.pdf


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).

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:
Tue - Sep 30 Support Our Seniors Potluck
Tue - Sep 30 Community Connections Night
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
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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Weekly Information for January 16, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • January 16, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I often find this time of year provides a reminder to me to have hope amidst the short, dark, cold winter days we endure. By mid-January, I can start to see signs of more light, and sometimes we experience an unseasonably warm day or two—and these changes, though small or temporary, remind me that little by little, every day, tangible things are changing. The Winter Solstice had 6 hours and 12 minutes less daylight than the Summer Solstice. That’s a pretty dramatic difference—but it happened a little bit at a time. Going the other direction works the same way; first we gain only a few seconds of light each day, but by early January, we are gaining a minute of light each day, and by early February, several minutes a day. Change is funny like that—sometimes it happens so gradually we don’t see or feel its impact right away and sometimes it barrels in so we are acutely aware of it. The physical shock of greeting students at the front door this morning in much colder temperatures than yesterday morning is a fine example of the latter. This was a change not to be ignored, and even though I knew to expect it, that didn’t mitigate the jarring effects. Still, that brief respite of days edging toward 50 degrees can fuel my hope that warmer days are coming. Learning is rarely a predictable increase like the amount of light we gain daily moving from winter to summer, but it is often an incremental shift. Sometimes the slow building of skills starts to become evident only with what feels like a lot of effort and time. If you have a student about to complete a mid-year Gateway, you will soon see this sort of change and growth in their work right before your eyes. If your student is working toward a June gateway, or even a gateway next January or June, I would encourage you to look for those small, incremental changes between here and there. Those sometimes-tiny changes are like the extra moments of light in a winter day; they are adding up to something bigger that will be well worth the wait, and I hope that can give us all a little hope this time of year. Best wishes for a restful weekend and a meaningful celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on Monday, January 19. Bex

Weekly Information for January 9, 2026

By Cindy Johnson • January 10, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, We had the rare treat of a two-week winter break this year. It was great to welcome our well-rested students back to school on Monday. We have a busy three weeks remaining of the first semester. Students are completing assessments and many are preparing for Midyear Gateways. 68 students will Gateway, in every division and domain, on January 22-23. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our students and their families, teachers and peers. Second semester brings new electives for Division 3 students, new Community Blocks for all students, and the anticipation of end-of-year activities. We have officially kicked off student recruiting for next year. We have five information sessions scheduled in January and February, we are about to send postcards to prospective students, and we have a terrific group of student and adult Ambassadors. Thank you to everyone who helps to spread the word about Parker and welcome new students and families. Word of mouth has always been the most effective way that we introduce Parker to new families. If you have a neighbor or friend who may be interested in Parker, please share your experiences. We’d love your help boosting our school’s visibility. When you see our posts on Facebook or Instagram , please take a moment to like and share them with your networks. Your support helps us reach more families and celebrate the great things happening in our community. Additionally, remember, younger siblings need to apply to be eligible for admission. There is a sibling preference in the lottery, but you still need to apply. For additional details and a link to the application visit parker.school/enroll . We appreciate everyone who contacted their legislator and advocated for charter schools this fall. As you may know, there are multiple pieces of legislation under consideration that would lower the cap of charter-eligible students and limit funding for charter public schools. Many families are surprised to learn that students attending charter public schools receive less state funding than their peers in district schools. As lawmakers begin shaping next year’s state budget, we have a critical opportunity to make our voices heard and push for the equitable funding that our students deserve. We are about to launch Fair Funding Week 2026 led by the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. We hope that you will join us for this virtual week of celebration, advocacy, and collective action from February 2-6, 2026. Fair Funding Week kicks off with an inspiring virtual rally on Monday, February 2nd from 6:00–6:30 PM. Register now and stand with us Have a great weekend. Brian

Weekly Information for December 19, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • December 19, 2025
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday! We had a busy and festive week at Parker – with hard work, holiday parties, and our community coming together for those in need. Thank you to everyone who donated food, toys, or sports equipment to our campus drives. We are proud of the Parker community for always stepping up! We look forward to seeing you in the New Year. Enjoy the long break with those who you love.  Brian

Weekly Information for December 12, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • December 12, 2025
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Weekly Information for December 5, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • December 5, 2025
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Weekly Information for November 21, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • November 22, 2025
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