December 2, 2023

Weekly Information for December 1st

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Dear Parker families, students and staff,


We are often asked to describe a typical day at Parker. That is a hard question, because no two days are ever the same. But the values and principles that define the education and community of Parker are the same every day. Our students solve problems, think creatively, work together and persevere in the face of challenge. We use our minds well, we take risks and we foster a community where students are known and valued. We know all that. What does it look like in our classrooms?


AH students are developing research, writing, listening and media analysis skills through units on Native American nations in Division 1 and institutional racism in Division 2. Students are connecting Jim Crow-era policies to issues that we face today. The Common Principle “student-as-worker, teacher-as-coach” defines many of these lessons as students engage as researchers and writers. They approach their work with intellectual curiosity and rigor.


MST students are adding integers and combining like terms in Division 1, working in small groups facilitated by their co-teachers. In Division 2, students are gathering and analyzing evidence of the evolution of skin color, prompting authentic discussions about the biology and social construct of race. Throughout MST, students engage as serious mathematicians and scientists challenged to engage real problems.

 

In Wellness, movement classes have moved to indoor activities such as badminton and basketball and health classes are focused on nutrition. Students are designing and analyzing the nutritional elements of a three-course meal. Wellness students are challenged to explore health and fitness in meaningful and engaging units for lifelong impact.

 

Spanish classes are fully immersive and proficiency-based as students engage with the language and one another. Classes are fun, collaborative and hands-on as students grapple with their new language in authentic ways.


Parker students work very hard – mostly joyfully – as they engage in their work. Our classes are fun, loud, collaborative and real. Thank you to our students and teachers for making that typical every day.


Brian

This week’s topics:
  • Cross Country in the News
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • Fall Show Tickets on Sale
  • Parker Annual Fund
  • 2024 Student Art Calendars for Sale
  • Parker Lit Mag
  • Looking for Substitute Nurses
  • Current Year Lottery Open
  • Toys for Tots – Final Week!
  • Winter Sports Registration
Cross Country in the News

Parker Charter Boys’ Cruise to State D3 Cross Country Title


Ski & Snowboard Club

Only two weeks left to register for Ski and Snowboard Club! Check here for details and to register. Registration Closes on December 15th, and six-week program begins Wednesday, January 3rd. 


Fall Show Tickets on Sale

Tickets for the Fall Show, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, are now on sale! The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a comedically revolutionary tale about justice, motherhood, and the importance of good cheese. All are welcome! Shows are on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of December at 7 PM. Click here to visit the show website for ticket purchases and more information!

Parker Annual Fund

Earlier this week, on GivingTuesday, Parker's Alumni stepped up and showed their dedication to Parker! One alumnus said she gave because “I have so much genuine love for Parker! Thank you for building my strong foundation. I credit all of my success as an adult to Parker…and my mom!”


We are grateful for her and others’ generosity. If you would like to join our alumni in showing support, you can make your 2023-2024 donation by donating here.

2024 Parker Student Art Calendar


Click here by December 7th to order a fabulous 2024 wall calendar featuring student artwork! Calendars will be available for pick up by December 18th. Proceeds support The Parker Fund. Shown is an image that will be in the calendar. Don’t miss out and order your calendar now!

Parker Lit Mag


Do you have writing or art pieces you would like to publish? You should submit your creations to the Parker Art & Literary Magazine: Paper Flowers! We will accept personal essays, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenplays, comics, art (drawings, paintings, photography), and more! Students with submitted work receive a copy of the magazine once it is professionally printed. Submissions are due by WEDNESDAY December 6th at midnight - send your work to Sarah Leandro (sleandro@theparkerschool.org), or talk to her in Room 26. We look forward to seeing your work! – Parker Lit Mag & Creative Writing Community Block.


Looking for Substitute Nurses


Are you a registered nurse who might be willing to help out in the Health Office or on a field trip with students? Please reach out to Lisa Zick at lzick@theparkerschool.org if you would like to apply or if you have any questions!


Current Year Lottery Open


Lottery applications are being accepted for current openings in grades 7 and 9 until Friday, December 16th. There are no current openings in grade 8 at this time. If more applications are received than there are available spaces, a lottery will be drawn on December 19 at 4:00 PM. Enrollment offers will be made with an intended start date of January 23, 2024 (second semester). We are also accepting applications for students entering grades 7, 8 and 9 next year until Thursday, February 1st. Please direct interested families to www.parker.school/enroll.


TOYS for TOTS - Final Week!


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 until December 8th. 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.


Winter Sports Registration


Winter sports practices have started, but it’s not too late to join a team! Register now for winter sports: Winter Track, Basketball (Middle School, JV, and Varsity), or Boys High School Hockey Co-op with Littleton and Bromfield using this link: https://forms.office.com/r/szqjERZksc

For more information click here: https://www.theparkerschool.org/students-parents/athletics

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 - Dec 5 Board of Trustees
Fri - Dec 8 Div 1 & 9th Grade Dance
Thu-Sat - Dec 14-16 Fall Show
Fri - Dec 22 Noon Dismissal
Mon-Fri - Dec 25-29 Holiday Break
Mon - Jan 1 New Years Day - No School
Tue - Jan 2 Faculty Planning - No Classes
Wed - Jan 3 Classes Resume
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 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.

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By Gabby Brummer • August 28, 2026
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By Gabby Brummer • June 18, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, Today we hosted the Big End for the 2025-2026 school year. We gathered in the gym for the final time, and we put a punctuation mark on who we have been and what we have done this school year. It’s important that we mark the ending of each year and that we pause to celebrate what we have accomplished, to notice how we have grown, and to reflect on what we have learned. Congratulations to the 214 Parker students who completed 329 gateways this year! Completing a gateway takes a tremendous amount of dedication, commitment and time and these students deserve to be celebrated for their accomplishments. Soon enough, we will find ourselves at the next Big Beginning—and we will focus on a new essential question and set new goals and take on new challenges as a community. In the meantime, it feels important that we take the time to celebrate and appreciate this year’s accomplishments for just a little longer. We will be here over the summer if you need anything, but please note that the main office has different hours than during the school year. Those are listed below for your reference and will be on the school website as well. I wish each of you a restful, restorative summer filled with what you hope for. We look forward to seeing you in August for Registration.  Best, Bex

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By Gabby Brummer • June 12, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, It has been a joyful and celebratory week at Parker. 187 students successfully Gatewayed in every division and every domain. The students showcased their learning, reflected on their growth, and celebrated the demonstration of learning that defines Gateways – and as the Common Principle concludes, “the emphasis is on the students’ demonstration that they can do important things.” Congratulations to our students for doing important things at Parker, all year and this week. We are heading towards the Big End next Thursday, June 18th. That is a long tradition of saying goodbye for the summer, signing yearbooks, and having a little fun as a community. Reminder that we have Noon dismissals on both Wednesday and Thursday next week. Junior retreat starts on Monday. Div 1 and Div 2 field trips are on Tuesday. We are pleased to announce that Parker will be helping with the summer camp at the Boys and Girls Club of Leominster and Fitchburg. The camp runs for six weeks for students entering grades 1-8. Parker will be running a series of science exploration sessions. See the attached flyer below for details. We value our terrific partnership with the BGCFL. We will send the final newsletter of the school year next Thursday. Thank you for helping to make Parker a very special place.  Brian

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By Gabby Brummer • June 5, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, I don’t always think about the origin of that word “milestones”, but likely because I have been using that word frequently lately, I have been thinking about its history. The word originally (and sometimes still) referred to large stones that were placed on roads to help travelers find their way and mark their progress in ancient times. Of course, transportation was different then. People traveled in slower ways and without the many devices we have which tell us how fast or how far we have gone, how to get where we are going, and if there are any dangers ahead. When we are on familiar journeys, in addition to the mile markers and signs customary on our roads, we also have all the familiar sights to help us understand our progress. Given Parker’s educational philosophy and unique academic program, many of our milestones are similarly distinctive. We spend a lot of time helping students understand and prepare for their milestone moments. It starts as early as 7th grade when students go to see Senior Project Exhibitions and the gateways of friends moving into division 2—or even earlier when they complete oral presentation assignments (OPs) is class. It happens when we include the Juniors in the graduation ceremony, not only to acknowledge the transition from one class to another, but also so that they know what to expect at a Parker graduation. They hear different examples of student speeches, and we hope they can start to think about if they want to speak and what they might say at their own graduation. Milestones, whether literal or metaphoric, help us to understand and recognize where we are on our path and to think about the next bit of progress we want to make. That is as true of the Division 1 and 2 gateways that will start next week as it is for the Graduation of the Class of 2026 which we celebrated on Wednesday evening. I hope you have had and will have an opportunity to celebrate and witness some of these important milestones with us in these last few weeks of the school year. I would also invite you to join us in celebrating the last Parker milestone for our most recent graduates. Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2026! We are excited for you and so proud of what you have already accomplished. Wishing you a restful weekend, Bex

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By Gabby Brummer • May 29, 2026
Dear Parker Students, Families and Staff, The last month of the school year brings a mix of emotions for all of us. We are excited, tired, and hopeful. We are busy preparing for Senior Exhibitions and Gateways, authentic demonstrations of learning that are both celebratory and stressful. We are so proud of all our students for whom this is a major milestone and capstone experience. We just set up the tent and staging for graduation, the final milestone on their Parker career. Congratulations to our Seniors and their friends, family and teachers who supported them. Graduation is a celebration for our whole community and an important moment to say thank you. This will be our 27 th Commencement exercises on Wednesday, June 3 rd . We will miss our Seniors as they head off to life after Parker. Thank you for making us proud. Many times across the school year, we have asked our students to represent Parker to the outside world. Whether welcoming prospective students and families, competing in athletics, robotics, math team or other co-curriculum competitions, speaking at conferences, or welcoming visitors – our students show the value of a Parker education. We are sad to say goodbye, but honored to share our graduates with the rest of the world! Later next week, we welcome everyone to join us for an end-of-year celebration. There will be live music, fundraiser raffle baskets, and good cheer for families and friends of Parker. Join us on Friday, June 5 th at 4:30 pm at Sterling Street on Devens. Please RSVP here so we know you’re coming. Thank you for celebrating our students!  Brian

Weekly Information for May 22, 2026

By Gabby Brummer • May 22, 2026
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