Parker JHS Newsletter

Thank you for reviewing our important updates and information below:

School ID Policy

In order to maintain a safe and secure learning environment, all students and staff are required to wear their school ID badges during school hours. This ensures quick identification of people in the building and fosters accountability.

Parker ID Policy Guidelines:

1. IDs must be visible at all times, worn on your Parker issued grade level lanyard.

2. Students are responsible for keeping their IDs in good condition and bringing them to school EVERY day.

3. Lost or damaged IDs must be replaced; replacement fees may apply. Request a replacement ID using this google form ONLY if your ID is lost and not if you’ve FORGOTTEN it somewhere else.

4. Scholars will be issued temporary sticker IDs in the event that they do not have their ID.

5. Scholars with their IDs and barcodes are called first for lunch to accommodate the lunchroom scanning process; scholars without IDs must wait and are unable to purchase ala carte items.

6. IDs are required for entry to all after school activities and sporting events.

See consequences for not wearing a school ID in the Dean's section of this newsletter.

Quarter 1 Report Cards

The Quarter 1 report cards are available in Skyward Family Access for parents to review. This marks the first report cards reflecting our shift to standards-based instruction and grading in the following grade levels and subjects:

• 6-8 English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social studies

Standards-based instruction and grading focuses on the essential Illinois Learning Standards for each grade level. Please view the Understanding Your Child's Report Card video and visit the SD161 Website for additional information on Standards-based grading.

How can I help my child if they are not meeting the standards?

• Contact the teachers: Discuss specific areas of difficulty and get recommendations for support.

• Provide extra practice: Use resources provided by the school including tutoring opportunities to supplement classroom learning.

• Encourage effort and resilience: Help your child understand that improvement is possible with effort and persistence.

Transportation

School Street is one way for Arrival and Dismissal

• Please assist with maintaining proper traffic safety procedures.

• 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. NO STOPPING ON SCHOOL STREET!

Flossmoor SD 161 Elementary School Access

Parker JHS scholars are not permitted on FSD 161 Elementary School grounds until classes have been dismissed at 3:30 pm. If scholars are meeting or picking up a sibling, they must adhere to this procedure. Please reiterate this to your children as we strive to maintain safety for all schools of Flossmoor SD 161.

Educationally Yours,

Ursula Parris, Principal

Parker Junior High School

12.2.24

• Boys Basketball Game vs Huth - 3:30 p.m. - North Gym

• Green Team Meeting - 3:05 p.m. - Room 12

• Cheer Performance at Boys BBall Game - North Gym

12.3.24

• Boys Basketball Game vs Brooks - 3:30 p.m. - Brooks MS

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

• 6/7th Grade Volleyball Tryouts - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

• Cheer Practice - 3:30 p.m. - MUR

12.4.24

• Student Council Volunteer Field Trip to Feed My Starving Children

• Lego/STEAM Lab - 2:40 p.m. - Room 20

• 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Tryouts - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

• Dance Practice - 3:05 p.m. - MUR

• Jazz Band Clarinets Sectional - 3:05 p.m. - LGI

• Chess Meeting - 3:05 p.m. - Room 10

• Boys Basketball Game vs Colin Powell - 3:30 p.m. - CPMS

12.5.24

• Student Council Meeting - 3:05 p.m.

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

• Anime Club - 3:05 p.m. - Media Center

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

• Cheer Practice - 3:30 p.m. - MUR

• 8th Grade Voyage to Excellence - 5:30 p.m. - H-F High School

12.6.24

• 6/7/8th Grade Girls Volleyball Tryouts - 3:05 p.m. - North Gym

• (TBA) Dance Practice - 3:05 p.m. - MUR

We are noticing a large number of late arrivals and early dismissals happening recently. Every. Lesson. Counts! Learning takes place every single day, every single lesson at Parker Junior High. With that said, please be sure to schedule appointments outside of school hours or during school breaks. Please limit picking your child up early from school unless it is due to illness or an emergency.

Graduation 2025 planning has begun!

Graduation Ceremony

Tuesday, May 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM

HF High School

H-F High School Class of 2029 Voyage to Excellence

Dear HF Incoming Freshmen and Families,

You are invited to attend the Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s annual Voyage to Excellence Open House on Thursday, December 5, 2024. This event for incoming freshmen showcases the curricular and extra-curricular programs offered at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Information will be on display throughout the North Building Fieldhouse and Turf Room. Administrators, Department Chairs, Athletic Coaches, and Activities Sponsors will be available to answer questions about school support systems, academic offerings, athletic programs, activities

programs, and other opportunities.

Attendees will enter through the North Building Atrium. Shuttle buses will be running between the buildings to transport families to and from the parking lots. The session assignments are listed below.

Thursday, December 5, 2024

HF North Building

7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Session 2: 8th Graders from Parker and Infant Jesus of Prague

School ID Policy

Community Grade Level Meeting

Deans conducted Grade Level Community Meetings and provided reminders of our PBIS expectations and criteria to participate in End of the Quarter Activity. Each grade level will provide an opportunity for scholars to participate in End of the Quarter activity based upon making positive decisions. Please reference important links below:

Grade Level Community Slide Deck

Criteria for Participation in End of the Quarter Activity

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.].

Scholars are expected to follow Student Conduct and Dress Code as noted in the Parent Student Handbook. See both sections by accessing the link below (p. 34-39).

Our PBIS goal for December is wearing our school IDs. We as adults know the importance of school safety for all scholars and staff; wearing IDs is only ONE PART of safety at Parker. Please check in with your scholar to ensure they have a school ID on their grade level lanyard.

Capturing Kids Hearts (CKH)

Our CKH theme of December is RESPONSIBILITY. Scholars will be learning about responsibility for themselves and their choices throughout the month of December. This aligns with our PBIS goal of wearing our IDs as well! Talk to your scholar about responsibility using the prompts below.

Upcoming NWEA Math and Reading Testing Dates

Winter Testing Dates

December 10th

December 11th

December 12th and 13th Makeup Testing

Spring: Testing Dates

April 23 - 30, 2025

Upcoming AIMSWEB Testing Dates

Winter Testing Dates

December 17th

December 18th

December 19th and 20th Makeup Testing

Testing Tips

• Get a good night's rest

• Charge Chromebook the night before

• Eat a healthy breakfast

Homework Help is available Tuesday - Thursday from 2:35 pm - 3:05 pm. Please make sure your child has transportation home. Bus Transportation will not be provided.

Please remind scholars to utilize the 3 Ring Binders and Tab Dividers for their classes. Parker teachers are providing lessons to help our scholars with organization and these tools are required for academic success of our scholars.

The Flossmoor Public Library has incredible events and programs coming up for children of all ages! View the calendar and sign up for the library newsletter at https://www.flossmoorlibrary.org.

• 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. Wanda Alexander at 708-647-7001.
• Please prepare to arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled pick up time on the first day of school.

Girls Basketball

Our 7th grade girls lost their regional game against Colin Powell 26-25. Our lady Falcons finished their season with a record of 15-5. Our 8th grade team plays in their first regional game 4pm Monday 11/25/24 at Chicago Heights Middle School. Our ladies will play against Mokena Junior High for the regional championship game at Chicago Heights Middle School on 11/26/24. If 8th grade wins, they move onto the sectional championship on 12/11/24 at Romeoville Lukancic in Romeoville. Good luck ladies!

Boys Basketball

The boys played against Chicago Heights Middle school on Wednesday 11/20/24. Both teams lost their games 19-40 and 49-54 respectively. Their next game is Monday 12/2/23 against Huth. Good luck!

Girls Volleyball

Tryouts begin the week after Thanksgiving break. Scholars must have a sports physical on file in order to try out.

Scholars be sure to check the Media Center Canvas page for additional announcements!

There is a fee for admittance to all home games.

$2 for Adults

$1 for All Students and Seniors

Kids 5 and under FREE

Cash only please, no cards are accepted!

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.

Eligibility for all activities is pulled every Friday. 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. Parents will receive an email if their scholar is failing a class.

Parker Junior High School will be a phone-free space. Scholars will be required to use the Yondr Pouch while in school. All scholars have been issued a Yondr pouch and are expected to place their cell phone inside the Yondr pouch every day upon arriving to school.

Transfer/new students to PJH must present a 6th grade physical. It is the parent's responsibility to provide a copy of the physical/immunization forms from previous school records. Out of state transfers must have a physical on the Illinois form.

Medications - The only 2 medications (over the counter or prescription) that a student can have in their possession (including backpack, purses, etc.) is an inhaler or epi-pen with authorization. An epi-pen requires physician and parent authorization on the required forms. An inhaler requires parent authorization on the District form and the inhaler prescription box. Students may not have any over the counter or prescription medications at school at any time without the required district authorization forms.

Action Plans - An annual updated action plan is requested for all students with allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes and other medical conditions.

This is asthma season with weeds and the fall coming, from now until probably mid November a lot of asthma issues coming up. So keep taking allergy meds daily if you take them. Use your inhaler if you need it, drink plenty of water.

Bug bites- we have been seeing a lot of bug bites at the urgent aids. Usually bites are from mosquitoes or some type of mite that is out there. So be mindful at dawn and dusk times those are when those bugs like to come out. If you’re outside, wear appropriate clothing or use appropriate sprays.

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