Tampa Catholic High School
October 25, 2024

Weekly Information for October 25, 2024

Share Post

Dear Parker families, students and staff,

It has been a busy and successful fall for the 132 students playing a fall sport. We are very proud of the teamwork, sportsmanship and competitiveness of all our teams.


The Girls Varsity Soccer team begins the CMass playoffs today (4pm at home) and it resumes next Monday (6pm at Crocker Field, Fitchburg), with hopes of qualifying for the state tournament. This team continues to work hard and play until the final whistle in every game. Highlights include a spirited senior night celebration, great team culture (weekly team dinners playing a big role) and scoring 2 goals in the final 4 minutes to come back and beat Monty Tech 2-1! The JV/Middle School's team growth has been awesome and culminated with some nice late-season wins. The team has incorporated several first-time players who ventured outside their comfort zone to learn something new, with many experienced players, and the result was a solid foundational team for the program. All told, 32 girls participated in Parker soccer.


This year the Parker Charter Boys Soccer program has seen a surge in participation across the whole school. Over 50 players took part in either Varsity, JV, or Middle School laying the groundwork for a stronger program. Our younger teams were in a unique position as most players were new to Parker, and the season provided a great opportunity for them to make new friends as they got used to their new school. Season highlights ranged from a fun and competitive varsity senior night game earlier this week, a last-second 4-3 middle school win over Applewild, and more goals and highly competitive games as the season progressed. Perhaps most important is the level of participation across all levels, which resulted in the boys having fun and improving their soccer knowledge and skills.


The 44-member Cross Country team is heading into Districts and State Finals season. The boys finished undefeated in the regular season and major wins include their League Championship meet and the Twilight invitational. The boys have been undefeated in the league since 2007 which is the current longest winning streak in Massachusetts. The girls completed a near-perfect regular season, a runner-up finish at the League Championships and their highest placing at Ocean State and Twilight in many years.


Thank you to the families, peers and coaches for supporting our student athletes. Go Parker!


Brian

This week’s topics: 
  • School Meal Information
  • Winter Sports Registration
  • COVID-19 Test Kits Available
  • Health Office Wish List
  • Wellness Policy Information
  • COMAP is Back
  • Call for Student Artwork
  • School Nurse Substitutes
  • Caring for Kids Program in November
School Meal Information

A REMINDER THAT SCHOOL MEALS ARE FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR:


Four different meal components are offered each morning for breakfast: Grain, fruit or vegetable, milk and a food item from the Meat and Meat Alternate component, or one additional food item from the previous components. Students must select at least a half cup of fruit or vegetables along with two other items to meet the free meal requirement.


Five components are offered daily as part of lunch service: meat/meat alternate, vegetable, grain, fruit and milk. Students need to take three with one being at least a half cup of fruit or vegetable to meet the free meal requirement.


Student accounts will be charged for any additional items selected beyond one free meal per service time. If the items selected do not qualify as a free meal (meet the requirements above) student accounts will be charged.


Winter Sports Registration

Winter Sports will include Boys and Girls Middle School and High School Basketball, Winter Track, Boys Ice Hockey (hosted by Littleton) and Girls Ice Hockey (hosted by Acton-Boxborough). The teams will start practicing on Monday, December 2nd. Registration Deadline is Sunday, December 1st.

Please click here to register: Athlete Registration


COVID-19 Test Kits Available to Families

COVID-19 Test Kits are available to students and their families. There are 5 tests in each individual box. A large box will be located in the lobby by the main office window.


Health Office Wish List

The health office would appreciate donations of tissues and menstrual products to distribute throughout the school.


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 Parker’s current Wellness Policy 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 [email protected].


COMAP is BACK!

Students seeking challenges in Math and Science should consider trying COMAP's Middle School/Level Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MidMCM) and High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM), international contests designed to provide students with the opportunity to work as team members to engage in and improve their math modeling, problem solving, and writing skills. Each team of up to four people submits a team paper that will be judged by a diverse group of educators and professionals from fields including mathematics, education, science, and industry.


Students who are interested in being on a team of students engaged in solving a complex, open-ended problem together should talk with Diane or their MST teacher to learn more! You can also contact Diane at [email protected] for more information and a registration form. The cost to register is $25 per student, and Diane will help students form a team if they are interested! The deadline to sign up with Diane is Wednesday, October 30. 

   

Call for Student Artwork!

We are excited to be creating a 2025 wall calendar featuring student artwork. Artwork submitted by students will be selected by a jury and included in the calendar which will be available for purchase before the new year! For more information, see this flyer. Submit your artwork online here by November 6th. Contact Katrina, Marena or Sheila with any questions!


Looking for School Nurse Substitutes

Reminder Nurse Lisa is looking for nurses who are willing to substitute for field trips, help with state mandated screenings, and substitute so that Lisa can attend school nurse regional meetings. Please have interested individuals email Lisa at [email protected].



Coming in November – Caring for Kids

Students have an opportunity to receive dental care here at Parker School through the Caring for Kids program in November. The date is to be determined. Please read about Caring for Kids HERE and complete the documents by clicking HERE and return to Nurse Lisa as soon as possible. Hard copies were also sent home with students. The dental program provides a dental examination, x-rays, fluoride treatment, sealants, and teeth cleaning. There is no direct cost to the patient. However, if the child has insurance, the insurance will be billed. If you have any questions, please email Lisa Zick at [email protected]. 

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 30 Café Wednesday
Fri - Nov 1 Div 1 & 9th Grade Dance
Wed-Fri; Nov 6-8 Div 1 Nature's Classroom Trip
Mon - Nov 11 Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
Thu - Nov 14 Board of Trustees
Wed - Nov 27 NOON Dismissal
Thu-Fri; Nov 28-29 Thanksgiving Break
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.

Recent Posts

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
Dear Parker students, families and members of the Parker community, Parker is a safe and affirming school community for all students. We have a moral and legal obligation to provide equal access to free public education and a safe and supportive school environment for all students. Today, we restate these values in support of our immigrant students and families, many of whom are feeling threatened in the current climate. The Parker School’s Ten Common Principles set forth clear and simple goals that apply to all students. Primary among them is the belief that the tone of the school should explicitly stress the values of trust, decency and fairness, with families serving as “key collaborators and vital members of the school community.” We also believe that the school should honor diversity, demonstrate inclusive practices, and explicitly challenge all forms of inequity. These values are summarized as the Tone of Decency and Trust and Democracy and Equity. In response to concerns expressed by members of our school community, I want to clarify how we protect and support Parker students and families. In short, we will follow the law and the clear guidelines of the Massachusetts Attorney General. All children have the right to attend public schools regardless of their national origin or immigration status. Any requests from Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) authorities regarding our students or families will be directed to me as the Superintendent. Although we consider it to be unlikely, if immigration officials appear at the school and seek access to a student, both Parker’s legal counsel and the student’s family will be immediately notified. Immigration officials will not be provided with access to students without parental consent or a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Similarly, we will not share personally identifiable information relative to students, which includes information regarding national origin or immigration status, except with parental consent or in response to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena. In summary, we at Parker are committed to ensuring that students and families may come to school without fear and will comply with all applicable state laws to ensure the protection of our students and families. We will continue to maintain open and timely communication with our students and families. We are in this together and we are determined to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment for our students and families. Respectfully, Brian

Weekly Information for January 24, 2025

By Cindy Johnson • January 26, 2025
Dear Parker students, families and staff, Congratulations to all the students who Gatewayed the past two days. It has been a joyful and celebratory week at Parker. We are proud of the hard work, perseverance and accomplishment of our students! Second semester begins on Tuesday, January 28th. Reminder that Monday is professional development day for Parker staff, so no school for students. Best of luck to the many students with new classes starting on Tuesday. That includes all Division 3 students, those who recently Gatewayed and a few new 7th graders joining Parker. As you may know, we celebrate our 30th Anniversary this year. Parker opened the doors in 1995 on the idea that we could put students at the center of all learning, challenge students to use their minds well, prioritize depth over coverage, demonstrate mastery and support one another with a tone of decency and trust. Thirty years of student success proves that the idea works. To celebrate, we are hosting a 30th Anniversary Gala and fundraiser on Saturday, April 5th at the Bull Run in Shirley. Please join us as we honor three decades of excellence and look forward to a bright future together! For more information and to buy tickets, please visit www.parker.school/gala . Finally, the Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association (MCPSA) hosts Advocacy Week starting Monday, February 3rd at 6:00 PM on Zoom. Join us! Every year the MCPSA brings families, teachers, leaders and trustees together to speak with one voice in support of charter public schools on Beacon Hill. The experiences of families and students are particularly meaningful. This work has led to significant increases in facility aid, educator diversity, charter expansion and more. We are proud to support the effort and celebrate the tremendously positive impact of charter schools like Parker. To sign up, please visit MA Charter Public School Advocacy Week Kick Off Rally — Massachusetts Charter Public School Association .  Brian

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
Share by: