Parker JHS Newsletter

Greetings Parker Students and Families,

We have officially wrapped up another week of school! It has been so wonderful getting to know your children and establishing our classroom routines. As we head into Week 3, we have a few important events, standardized assessments, and community activities coming up. Please see the important information included in this Newsletter and reach out if further questions or guidance is needed.

Remembrance & Community

On Friday, September 11th, our school will hold a brief moment of silence with a morning announcement to observe the anniversary of September 11, 2001. Our goal is to honor the history of this day with care, empathy, and respect, while keeping all activities age-appropriate. Rather than focusing on the details of this tragic event, our discussions and activities will center heavily on community unification, resilience, and the heroic efforts of first responders, volunteers, and everyday citizens who came together to support one another.

Safety Drills

All District 161 schools practice various safety drills throughout each school year including: fire, bus evacuation, earthquake, tornado, and Code Red drills. These drills are crucial to ensure our students and staff are properly prepared to react if the need arises.

• We will conduct a Tornado Drill on Monday, September 14th.
• Wednesday, September 23rd, our school will partner with local officials to practice a Code Red drill. This drill is completed annually so all students and staff are aware of emergency procedures in a lockdown situation. Teachers will be talking to students prior to the drill to explain procedures and answer any questions.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.

Save the Date: Open House

We invite you to join us for our annual Open House to meet your child's teachers, tour the classrooms, and learn more about our curriculum and goals for the year.

• Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Location: North Gym and Individual Classrooms

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

9.7.26

• Labor Day - No School

9.8.26

• PTO Clap-In for Testing

• NJHS Meeting - 3:05 p.m.

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

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

• Boys Baseball Game vs CHMS - 4:15 p.m. - CHMS

• Beginning Band Sign-Up (Virtual) - 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

9.9.26

• PTO Clap-In for Testing

• Boys Golf Sectional H - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Minne Monesse Golf Course

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

• XCountry Meet vs Colin Powell - 3:45 p.m. - Marya Yates Elementary School *behind the school*

• Boys Baseball Regional - 4:30 p.m. - CHMS - Grant School Softball Field

• Girls Softball Game vs CHMS - 4:15 p.m. - Memorial

• Begin Orchestra Sign Up - 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Parker

9.10.26

• Girls Golf Sectional F - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Lincoln Oaks Golf Course

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

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

• Boys Baseball Game vs Hart - 4:15 p.m. - Mustang Field

9.11.26

• Boys Baseball Practice - 3:05 p.m. - Mustang Field

9.12.26

• Hidden Gem - 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m - Flossmoor

• (TBD) Girls Softball Sectional - 11:00am - CHMS - Grant School Softball Field

Mr. Shereyk, 6th Grade Math

(Learning Topic: Absolute Values)

Ms. Perez, 6th Grade Science

(Learning Topic: Planets, Ecosystems, Force, Light and Sound)

Mr. Daley, Health

(Learning Topic: Classroom Social Contracts)

• 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.

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.

Cross Country

Congratulations to all new members of our Cross Country Team!

Baseball

Our Boys Baseball Team has been doing great! They will continue with games next week as they prepare for regionals.

Softball

The Lady Falcons have been flying high and will begin playing in the Regional on September 9th! Keep up the great work ladies!

Golf

Our Golf Team will compete in their Regional in the upcoming future! Excellent work Falcons!

NWEA MAP Test - ELA - September 8th

NWEA MAP Test -Math - September 9th

NWEA MAP Test - Science - September 10th

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

• 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.].

The Student Council is a great opportunity to make a positive impact on our school. Throughout the year, we'll plan fun events, organize fundraisers, support service projects, and work together to make Parker an even better place for everyone.

This is a reminder that Student Council permission slips are due by Friday, September 11th. Please make sure your permission slip is signed and turned in by the deadline.

We're looking forward to a great year!

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