Parker JHS Newsletter

Greetings Parker Students and Families,

Please see important information below:

Erin's Law Presentation

Social Workers will facilitate Erin's Law Presentation with 6th, 7th , and 8th grade scholars. Please access the Erin's Law Parent Letter (Spanish Version) with more information. Erin's Law Presentation will be provided to your child on one of the following dates below:

October 19th

October 26th

October 28th

November 2nd

November 4th

***If you do NOT want your child to participate in the Safer, Smarter Teens curriculum, please

complete the form provided in the link above and return it to your child’s advisory teacher no later than Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Campus Safety: Middle School After-School Supervision

We love seeing our community interact, but we must address a growing safety concern regarding our neighboring elementary school campuses. Please remember that middle school students are not permitted on elementary school campuses after the middle school dismissal bell unless they are under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian.

Because elementary schools dismiss later than the middle school, unsupervised older students on these campuses create safety hazards and disrupt elementary dismissal procedures. After dismissal, middle school students must immediately head home, report to an official after-school program, or be picked up. Thank you for partnering with us to keep all students in our district safe.

• Students entering preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, and students who are new to the District must provide proof of the required Illinois State physical examination and immunizations.

• All required health documentation must be submitted by October 15, 2026 to the school nurse. Students who have not met these requirements by this date will be excluded from school beginning October 15, 2026, in accordance with Illinois requirements, until the necessary documentation is received.

• Please note: A sports physical does not meet the Illinois school physical examination requirement.

• Vision and Hearing Testing is scheduled October 26th and 27th. Additional information will be provided soon.

We value your partnership and look forward to working closely with you to support your child's education. Thank you for your continued support of our school community.

Educationally Yours,

Ursula Parris, Principal

Parker Junior High School

Supporting Our Students at Parker Junior High School

A note for our families about peer mediation

Dear Parker Junior High School families,

At Parker Junior High School, supporting our students is one of our top priorities. That support extends beyond helping students excel academically. It also means helping every student feel a sense of belonging and feel welcome in our school. Our grade-level deans, social workers, assistant principals, our schoolwide expectations, and our advisory program are all part of that work.

Another part of that support is helping students build healthy relationships with their peers, and giving them the skills to resolve the conflicts that come up between them. Most conflict between students is ordinary: a misunderstanding, something said in a group chat, a falling out between friends. Without a clear process to follow, a disagreement can go unresolved and affect a student's friendships and their focus in class. Peer mediation gives every student a structured way to work through those everyday disagreements with a classmate.

What peer mediation is

When two students have a disagreement, they sit down with student mediators, trained by our staff, who guide the conversation. Each person shares their side. Each person listens. Together they work out a resolution that both of them agree to. Taking part is each student's choice: a student who would rather not can say no, and our staff will support them another way. A staff member is always present, and staff review every request before a mediation takes place.

Where peer mediation fits

Peer mediation works alongside our other supports, not in place of them. Bullying, harassment, discipline issues, or anything else that should be handled by an adult will still be handled by our counselors and administrators. Peer mediation is for the everyday disagreements between classmates.

What stays private

Our mediators commit to keeping what students share private, and they state that rule out loud at the start of every mediation. That rule has limits: an adult is present for every mediation, and anything that needs adult attention, such as a safety concern, is brought to our staff.

How mediators are chosen

Our teachers nominate mediators based on qualities they see displayed day to day, so there is no application or sign-up. The family of every student selected as a mediator is asked for permission before that student serves.

What this means for your student

If your child has a disagreement with a classmate, peer mediation is a resource that can help them reach a win-win outcome with the other student, while learning valuable communication and conflict resolution skills.

Questions

If you have any questions about peer mediation at Parker Junior High School, please contact Habeeba Pasha, 7th Grade Dean, at hpasha@sd161.org. We are glad to talk it through.

Thank you for partnering with us in supporting your student.

Ursula Parris, Principal

Parker Junior High School

Important Dates

• 10.12.26

  • Indigenous Peoples' Day - No School

  10.13.26

  • Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week - La Loteria Day

  • Fall Play Rehearsal - 3:05 p.m. - MUR

  • XCountry Practice - 3:05 p.m. - Parker

  • NJHS Meeting - 3:05 p.m. - Room D14

  • Gold Jazz Band Practice - 3:05 p.m. - LGI

  • Girls BBall Game vs Hart - 3:30 p.m. - HF High School

  10.14.26

  • H-F Late Start Day

  • Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week - Traditional Hispanic Attire

  • Cheer Practice - 3:05 p.m. - South Gym

  • Fall Play Rehearsal - 3:05 p.m. - MUR

  • XCountry Practice - 3:05 p.m. - Parker

  • Blue Jazz Band Practice - 3:05 p.m. - LGI

  • Girls Basketball Practice - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

  • Golf End of Season Pizza Party - 3:05 p.m. - Room B9

  10.15.26

  • Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week - Flag Colors Day

  • Blue Jazz Band Practice - LGI

  • Fall Play Rehearsal - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

  • XCountry Practice - 3:05 p.m. - Parker

  • Girls Basketball Practice - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

  10.16.26

  • Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week - Mexican Icon Day

  • Fall Play Rehearsal - Tech Week - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

  
  

7th and 8th Grade Humanities Annual Field Trip to Cantigny Park

This trip includes the 1st Division War Museum Tour and educational activities such as the American Revolution, WWI, and D-Day.

• Entrance and Exit - Parker Staff will be available to escort scholars to Grade Level Entrance

  • 6th Grade Scholars - Door B

  • 7th Grade Scholars - Door G

  • 8th Grade Scholars - Door J

  
  

• School Street is one way for Arrival and Dismissal

  • Braemar Street to School Street to Douglass (Optional right or left turn)

  • No Parking on School Street. Please maintain traffic flow and drop off scholars from Braemar Street!

  
  

• Transportation

• Bus information is available in Skyward for families. If you have any transportation questions, please contact Ms. Alma Gonzalez at 708-546-7072.
• Please prepare to arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled pick up time on the first day of school.

🎃 Parker Trunk or Treat is Back! 🎃

Academic eligibility

Per IESA guideline 2.043 For all IESA activities, athletic as well as non-athletic, passing work shall be checked weekly. Eligibility will be applied to the Monday through Saturday following the week that was checked. Students must be passing each subject each week to be eligible.

Scholar attendance for after school activities

SSJHSA conference rule: ALL Scholars MUST be accompanied by THEIR PARENT in order to attend any home games. Parents must stay with their scholar for the duration of the game. If the parent leaves the game, so does the scholar.

"Good Night" Rule

Please be advised that at the conclusion of all games and competitions held at Parker, families and scholars are required to exit the building within 15 minutes of the event ending.

Cross Country

Our Cross Country Team is doing great and performed beautifully at the conference meet! Our 7th Grade Boys and 8th Grade Girls placed 1st and our 8th Grade Boys placed 2nd! Great Job Team!

Cheer

Our Cheer Team has been finalized! We look forward to great energy, enthusiasm and amazing cheers!

Their first performance will be on October 26th at the Girls Basketball Home game!

Girls Basketball

Our Girls Basketball Season is off and running! Both teams were victorious over Kankakee on Thursday night's game with a score of 33-31 (7th Grade) and 40-38 (8th Grade)!! We look forward to more wins! Play hard Ladies!

Veterans Day Assembly

We are looking for a Guest Speaker who served in the U.S. Military to speak at our upcoming assembly on Tuesday, November 10th. If you are interested please email Mr. Small at csmall@sd161.org for additional details.

FRIGHT CLUB

Can you scare someone in just 100 words?

A knock at the door. A figure in the dark. A curse. A missing person. A ghost who's having the time of their afterlife...

Fright Club challenges students to create an original ghost story in just 100 words. Creepy, mysterious, funny, or truly terrifying, the story is theirs.

Write it. Enter it. Get published.

A 100-word story could turn a student into a real author.

Give your students the thrill of becoming published writers, with the opportunity to see their Fright Club stories published in a Young Writers anthology.

And, there's more to play for:

3 STUDENT WINNERS

Their 3 favorite published writers will each win a $50 Amazon gift card.

TOP SCHOOL

The school with the best set of entries will receive the Young Writers Award of Excellence.

For questions and more information, see Mrs. E. Nicotra in room E5 or email enicotra@sd161.org

October we continue showing Empathy towards our fellow classmates

All scholars who fall within a certain range on their NWEA FALL testing in mathematics or reading will be taking the AIMSWEB+ assessment during WIN class this week. AimsWeb is an assessment tool used by D161 to monitor and evaluate students' progress in fundamental skills in Reading and Mathematics.

While viewing your child’s report card, take note of the standards in each quarter. This will allow you to have a clear understanding of the standards and concepts that your child is working on in class. From there, students can work on standards using IXL.com or Achieve3000.com

Important Reminders

• Please reinforce with your student the importance of maintaining appropriate physical boundaries and respectful conduct toward their peers. This expectation is fundamental to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all members of our school community.
• We encourage you to review the school's comprehensive policies and procedures with your student, emphasizing their responsibility to adhere to all established guidelines (See link access above). This collaborative approach to accountability supports both academic success and positive school climate.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students' growth and development.

• The expectation is that scholars come to school wearing their ID's everyday and throughout the entire school day…NO EXCEPTIONS!
• ID Replacement will begin next week. Students should access the "ID Replacement Link" located on the Media Center Canvas page.

• Please encourage your scholar to adhere to locker times per grade level. Failure to do so, will result in a consequence.

• Headphones are NOT permitted at Parker. Please speak with your child and remind him/her not to bring headphones to school. Review our handbook for all dress code expectations (See Link Above).

• Please remind scholars of our Parker expectations to be RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE AND READY TO LEARN: upon arrival, during transitions, dismissal and in every class. Our goal is to provide a safe and structured environment where all scholars can thrive. Thank you for your support!

6.20 School Dress Code

We expect all students to be dressed appropriately and comfortably for school each day. Students are expected to be reasonably dressed and prepared to participate in a professional and hard working school environment. Any student whose dress is deemed to be inappropriate will be provided with a shirt or shorts that will appropriately cover the dress code violation.

Clothes must be worn in such a way that the genitals, buttocks, stomach, sides, back and chest area are fully covered with opaque fabric. All undergarments must be fully covered.

The following apply to all student attire:

a) Shirts must have opaque fabric in the front, back and on the sides under the arms that extends to the waistband.

b) Pants/sweatpants/shorts/ skirt/dress/leggings must be worn at waist level and in such a way that genitals, buttocks, undergarments are fully covered with opaque fabric.

c) Shoes must be worn at all times.

The following guidance is intended to illustrate implementation of the above requirements for students, parents, and school personnel while on school property:

1. Jackets, coats, hats, hoods, gloves, and other forms of outerwear apparel are not to be worn in school. Fleece and sweatshirts may be worn in school as long as a hood is not covering a student’s head.

2. No head covering or cap may be worn in the school unless for religious or health reasons.

3. Only prescription glasses may be worn in school.

4. Attire, earrings, jewelry, pins, or any other type of wearing apparel or accessories that advertise, promote, or depict alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, drugs, gangs, weapons, nudity, obscenity, or profanity are not to be worn in school.

5. Students are not permitted to wear or advertise in any manner drug, alcohol, weapons, or any controlled substance paraphernalia.

6. Pajama attire is not to be worn in school, unless given special permission [PBIS reward, etc.].

Staff Supporting Twin Day for Spirit Week!

PBIS preparing for the upcoming PJH Color Wars on 10/31/26!

Students who purchase items from the School Store will be able to pick up purchased items during their grade level lunch period every Friday.

Show your school spirit by wearing Parker colors/gear on Fridays! Your name will be placed in a drawing to win a prize!

Show your Falcon Pride!!!

Congratulations to our 6th, 7th and 8th Grade scholars who won Amazon gift cards for our attendance rally! Keep up the good work!

Admin has been positively recognizing staff for being ALL IN!!

This week we acknowledged Mr. Smith, Mr. McKinney and Ms. Perez!

Hi Falcons Families!!

We’re selling Double Good’s award-winning popcorn and earning 50% of every sale.

Visit our fundraising page to learn more on how to get started.

popup.doublegood.com/event/45602586-b515-11f1-b1f6-23b0dff9a67e

Parker Junior High School will be a phone-free space. Scholars will be required to use the Yondr Pouch while in school. 6th , 7th and 8th Grade scholars will receive a Yondr pouch the 1st week of school. Scholars new to FSD 161 and PJHS will receive a Yondr pouch.

Email: uparris@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/parker-junior-high
Location: 2810 School Street, Flossmoor, Illinois 60422