Tampa Catholic High School
December 8, 2023

Weekly Information for December 8th

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Dear Parker families, students and staff,


We often reflect on the strength of the Parker community and our shared commitment to live our values. This week, we engage in deep and meaningful conversations about hate speech and antisemitism discovered on campus. We stand with our Jewish classmates and colleagues for whom this is painful and present. When one of us is assaulted, we all are. We condemn this cowardly act and explore the important role that we all play as upstanders. We are proud of our students for defending our values and one another.


Parker is committed to creating and nurturing a culture of inclusivity and equity. Common Principal #10: Democracy and Equity reads…

The school should demonstrate non-discriminatory and inclusive policies, practices and pedagogies. It should model democratic practices that involve all who are directly affected by the school. The school should honor diversity and build on the strength of its communities, deliberately and explicitly challenging all forms of inequity.


We are also a school that makes time and space for community service. Whether serving as a mentor or performing service hours, our students give back every day. One of the four pillars of Advisory is Community Service. By dedicating some portion of our day to community service, we look beyond ourselves to promote kindness, generosity and connection. Our world needs more of that.


This was also on display this week as we concluded the Toys for Tots campaign. Thank you to our Parker families for your extraordinary generosity. The donation box was overflowing with new toys for less fortunate children.


Reminder that we are running a midyear lottery for a small number of seats in grades 7 and 9. The deadline for applying for January admission is next Friday, December 16th. Please spread the word. We are also accepting applications for next year. The deadline for applying for August admission is March 1, 2024. Please share the following link with families who may be interested in learning more about Parker.


Enrollment at Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School (theparkerschool.org)


Thank you for making a positive contribution to Parker and beyond.

 

Brian

This week’s topics:
  • Fall Show is Next Week
  • Last Call for 2024 Student Art Calendars
  • Coach of the Year
  • Ski and Snowboard Club
  • Attention Families of Div2 AH!
  • Health Office Wish List
  • Parent Organized Faculty Appreciation
  • Gift Giving Guidelines
  • Last Week for Current Year Lottery Applications
Fall Show is Next Week

The Fall Show, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, is next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 PM! The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a comedically revolutionary tale about justice, motherhood, and the importance of good cheese. All are welcome! Click here to ticket purchases and for more information!

Coach of the Year


Congratulations to Coach Ben Benoit for being recognized as the Boys' Cross-country Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross-country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Ben started Parker’s Cross Country team 25 years ago and has led the team to numerous victories including this year’s Division III MIAA State Championship. Congratulations to Caleb Hatlevig and Henry Jacobsen for earning all-state honors at the championship meet.

 

Ski & Snowboard Club


Only one week 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.

 

Attention Families of Division 2 AH!


Save The Date – Tuesday, February 13, 2023 – 6:30-7:30 PM. Division 2 AH students have worked hard this semester to complete Civic Action Projects. For their projects, students chose a civic issue they are passionate about, researched their issue, and engaged in civic action to address their issue. On the evening of Thursday, February 13th, we would like to invite families and students to Parker for Division 2 Exhibition Night! This night will allow Division 2 AH students to present their civic action projects, exhibit their learning, and share their actions with other Parker students, families, and staff. If you have questions, please contact your student’s Division 2 AH teacher.

 

Health Office Wish List


The Health Office would appreciate donations of tissues, fabric Band-Aids (all sizes), cough drops and healthy snacks. These particular supplies are distributed throughout the school on a regular basis. Thank you in advance for your donation that helps care for our Parker students and staff!

 

Parent Organized Faculty Appreciation

'Tis the season to show appreciation for the Parker teachers and staff. There are two efforts underway to celebrate the wonderful staff this holiday season.

  1. A supply drive to stock the staff break room will start on Monday 12/11 and run throughout the week. We are seeking donations such as K cups, hot chocolate, tea, snacks, etc. You can send these things in with your student, and they can be placed in the bin in the lobby. No time to shop? Feel free to Venmo (info below) a donation and supplies will be purchased and delivered to the break room.

  2. There will be a continental breakfast provided to teachers and staff on Wednesday 12/20. Monetary donations to support this breakfast can also be sent via Venmo.


Questions can be directed to Stephanie Maclary at [email protected]. Thank you for considering this opportunity to add some cheer to the Parker Community. Happy Holidays!


https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2997385634512896271


Gift Giving Guidelines

As the holidays approach, please be reminded of the following guidelines on gift giving from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission that apply to all public employees in Massachusetts:

  • Gifts where the combined value is $50 or more may not be accepted. Whether gifts are given for the holidays, end of year, or other occasion, a public school employee may not accept a gift or gifts from a current student or a parent over the course of an entire year (365 days) with the combined value of $50 or more.
  • Gifts which have a value under $50 are permitted under the law, but may be subject to reporting to the State Ethics Commission on a disclosure form to prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest. Generally, any item of monetary value gifted during the year, including the holiday period, is subject to disclosure.
  • A teacher may accept a gift to the classroom that is to be used for the class and it will become the property of the school district and not the property of the teacher. Gifts from individual students, parents, classes, or other groups and entities are allowed so long as the gift is to the school. These gifts are not subject to disclosure. Parker will maintain a record of the gift. Such gifts must be in accordance with Parker’s policies.


Last Week for Current Year Applications

Reminder 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 Friday, March 1st. Please direct interested families to www.parker.school/enroll.

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:
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: [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.

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Weekly Information for February 14, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • February 16, 2025
Dear Parker Community: I am writing to introduce changes to the leadership structure at Parker, changes designed to ensure that we continue to provide an exceptional education for every student who is lucky enough to attend Parker. Please know that the Board of Trustees, school leadership, faculty and staff have all weighed in on the decision with their own perspectives. We generally agree on the need to invest in our long-term sustainability and growth. We look forward with excitement and confidence. Parker was founded 30 years ago on the belief that students need to be known, valued and challenged as learners and human beings. Students need to use their mind well, mastering a limited number of essential skills and areas of knowledge, in a culture of decency and trust. These Common Principles are as important today as ever. Looking forward to our next 30 years and beyond, we ask ourselves “who do we want to become.” We appreciate the Senior Class for crafting such an important and timely Essential Question this year. The preface to our Strategic Plan envisions the future of Parker this way… With students at the center of everything that we do - Parker will share its voice, partner with others, and grow as a celebrated leader in progressive education. To meet these lofty goals, the Parker Board of Trustees voted last night to approve the creation of a new leadership structure, with two major changes for the 2025-2026 school year. First, we are changing my role from Head of School to Executive Director, a leadership model employed by most charter public schools in the state. As the Executive Director, I will focus externally on the growth and long-term viability of Parker. I will establish partnerships to ensure healthy enrollment, philanthropic support, and business opportunities in progressive education. I will continue to lead the organization and be a regular presence on campus. Second, we are hiring a Principal to serve as the primary instructional leader for Parker and lead the day-to-day life of the school. The Principal will serve as the main contact for students, families and staff. While Deb Merriam already provides outstanding leadership and would be an excellent Principal, she is not interested in the new role. Deb will continue to serve as the Academic Dean and will mentor the new Principal. We imagine the new Principal will be someone with personal experience learning and/or working at Parker or a school like ours. We plan to post the position this week and start interviewing candidates in March. Please join us on Tuesday, March 4th for a discussion about the ideal qualities and characteristics of the new Principal and the evolution of leadership at Parker. The session will be hybrid, in-person and online, from 6:30-7:30 PM in Room 40. Please see the login information below. By the end of March, we hope to invite 2-3 finalists to visit Parker to meet students, families and staff. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your support throughout the process. Principal Discussion March 4 th , 6:30-7:30 PM, Hybrid, In-person and Online Remote: (see weekly email for link) Meeting ID: (see weekly email) Passcode: (see weekly email) In-person: Room 40 Brian

Weekly Information for February 7, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • February 8, 2025
Dear Parker students, families and members of the Parker community, I hope you enjoyed our first snow day of the year. With our busy lives and fast pace, snow days give us an unscheduled day off to hopefully unplug and enjoy time with family. I hope you went outside and played in the snow! Thank you to our custodians John, Greg and Ben for their hard work all year, particularly on snow events. We appreciate their early mornings to ensure a safe return to school. When there is snow in the forecast, John and I connect throughout the night and early morning to determine if it is safe to open. While we were able to make the call the evening before, that will not always be the case. We will try to communicate no later than 6:00 am. Closings and delays will be posted on the website, shared with local news outlets and communicated by an automated phone call. With students coming from 40 towns and cities, we recognize that your local conditions may vary. Please make the best decision for you and your family, including if that means staying home on a snowy day that we have school. We are very proud to be celebrating our 30th Anniversary this year. We are among the first five charter schools in the state to reach this milestone. It is a testament to hard work, community support and thousands of students, families and staff who wanted to do school differently and better. A lot has changed in the world over the last thirty years, but Parker’s commitment to putting students first, challenging them to use their minds well and supporting one another with a tone of decency and trust has not wavered. We all share this accomplishment. Please join us for our 30th Anniversary Gala and fundraiser on Saturday, April 5 th , at the Bull Run in Shirley. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.parker.school/gala . We are expecting over 200 attendees, with half of the tickets already sold. Thank you for joining us. Respectfully, Brian

Weekly Information for January 31, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • February 1, 2025
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Weekly Information for January 24, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • January 26, 2025
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Weekly Information for January 17, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • January 17, 2025
Dear Parker students, families and staff, We are looking forward to Midyear Gateways next Thursday and Friday, January 23-24, 2025. This is an exciting time for our students to share their learning and celebrate a very significant accomplishment. We have over 60 students scheduled to gateway across every domain and division. Gateway Exhibitions provide students an opportunity to showcase their learning and document the process of feedback, reflection and revision towards meeting standards. Students present their portfolio before a small audience that includes their advisor, teachers, family, peers, and members of the community. It is a moment of reflection and celebration for the students and everyone who played a role. Upon the successful completion of this exhibition, students gateway into the next division. Good luck to all our students! This also marks the end of first semester and the half-way point in the year. Please note that Monday, January 27th is a professional development day for teachers and staff. Students return on Tuesday, January 28th for the start of second semester. This Monday, January 20th we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a federal holiday and national day of service. Dr. King wrote and spoke powerfully about the importance of education and service… “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” “The time is always right to do what is right.” We are proud of our students for thinking intensively and critically, for doing what is right and for serving others. Have a great weekend, Brian

Weekly Information for January 10, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • January 10, 2025
Dear Parker students, families and staff, It has been a cold and productive week at Parker. We have settled back into the swing of a full week of school and are excited about Midyear Gateways and the start of the new semester at the end of this month. There is anxious anticipation of changing classes, new community electives and new schedules for many students. We are also excited to start meeting students and families who are considering Parker for next year. Please join us in spreading the word and welcoming new students to our school. Word of mouth is always the most effective way to recruit new students. How can you help? Join us as a Parker Ambassador – email Brian or Monique if you are interested or want to learn more Grab a lawn sign and display it at your home Follow us on our Facebook page and share our messages Join us for an information session or parent coffee to share your story Tell your friends about Parker Reminder that younger siblings need to apply to be admitted to Parker . The charter law allows for sibling preference, but they need to apply like all other applicants. The deadline for applying for next year is March 1, 2025. Parker is a strong and vibrant community, made better every year with the addition of new students and families. Thanks to Parker Ambassadors, the Parker Parent and Caregiver Community (PPCC) and everyone who helps welcome newcomers. Brian
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