PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Good afternoon Parker Families,

We had a very busy and fun filled week at Parker. The highlight of the week without question was our Second Annual Parker STEM Fair held on Thursday night. We had over 65 students participate in the STEM Fair and the project presentations were truly impressive. It was fantastic to see our students work individually or in teams using the scientific method to explore a topic of their choice. I was so impressed with the student presentations as they explained their hypothesis, procedure, data, and conclusions while making it interactive and fun! The students were able to orally present their findings, answer questions, thoughtfully consider their process, and what they learned. Special thanks go to Kshitija Pandit, Mercy Mwende, and Charles Fidler for organizing this wonderful event. It was so well organized, and each student's project was discussed and celebrated. We hope that we have started a great new Parker tradition! Please see some great phots from last night below!

Second Step - Social Emotional Learning

We continued our SEL curriculum this week with our fifth -grade students continuing a unit on Emotion Management, while our sixth-grade students continued their unit on Bullying and Harassment. Please find a brief summary of this week's lesson along with a conversation prompt to discuss with your child.

Grade 5: What is Stress

Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child will identify signs of stress, situations that can cause them to feel stress, and strategies they can use to manage feelings of stress.

Try This at Home: Ask your child what their body feels like when they’re stressed and what things cause them to feel stress. Share your own experiences with stress and what you do to manage it.

Grade 6: Allies in Action

Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child learned the power of an ally in dealing with bullying and harassment.

Question: Discuss a time with your child when you served as an ally to a friend/co-worker who was being mistreated. Ask them how they would show support to a friend in that situation.

Have a great weekend everyone. Please reach out if you need support!

Warm regards,

Josh

CONGRATULATIONS TO 5TH GRADE STUDENTS: MADELYN GLIDDEN, SOPH HOELL, ADHYA SINGH & ALEXA VASQUEZ AND 6TH GRADE STUDENTS: JOSHUA GEORGE, YOHAAN KAUSHIK, SEAN MCLAUGHLIN (not pictured) & RILEY MURPHY

Spring Track is open to 5th and 6th grade students of all abilities. The team will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:40-3:40. In addition to practices, the team will compete in meets with area middle schools. All students are responsible for their own transportation at the end of practices at 3:40. All students are responsible for their own transportation to and from meets. NO buses will be available for meets. For practices and meets at McCarthy, students will jog over after school with the coaches. Pick up will be at 3:40 at McCarthy in the back parking lot by the track. Late buses will be available for practices at both Parker and McCarthy.

Below you will find a registration link to sign up, a code from Center Sports to order a t-shirt if you want, and the schedule for the season. (The schedule may change as meets are added, and updates will be shared each week.)

Registration link: Sign up by FRIDAY, MARCH 27

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTUstoNEkozavDNxy7WxF6SjFbAxiQW12jl-ofmOZmtNq_Og/viewform?usp=publish-editor

T-shirt order link from Center Sports: Order by FRIDAY, MARCH 27

https://centersportschelmsford.itemorder.com/shop/

CODE: SJSKD

Orders are optional and will be distributed to students at Parker.

Please email Amy Baker at bakera@chelmsford.k12.ma.us with questions.

In order to provide a positive and engaging learning environment it is important that students are freed from unnecessary distractions. Cell phones and smart watches have proven to be a major distraction and source of anxiety and social drama for students.

If students need to contact home, they should see their teacher/administrator to receive permission to use the phone in the classroom or office. Conversely, if a parent needs to speak with a student, the parent should call the school office. All cell phones and/or smart watches should be off while in school. Any student using a cell phone and or smart watch while school is in session will have that cell phone and/or smart watch confiscated by administration. A first offense will lead to a warning and the administrator will return the phone to the student at the end of the day. Second and subsequent offenses will result in the phone being returned only to the parent and/or further disciplinary actions.

We would prefer that all cell phones and smart watches remain at home. If the cell phone and/or smart watch accompanies your child to school then please reinforce the expectation that they BOTH will be stored in their backpacks and powered down. Any communication with your child should be conducted through the main office or will be accessed after school has ended for the day. We appreciate your support for this policy. It is our experience that when freed from the pull of their phones and social media students are able to concentrate, be fully present, and be active participants in their education.

Tuesday - March 31st

Art Club–Ms. Annunziata–Room 4–Grade 6 Today

ASL-American Sign Language - Ms. Hamilton - Room 117

Festival Orchestra - Ms. Tiano - Room 8

Intramurals-Mr. McCarthy, Ms. Hardock, Ms. Olsson-GYM-GRADE 5-GROUP 5A

Jazz Band - Mr. Linsner - Band Room

Mindfulness & Crafts-Ms. Marino–Room 124

RUNNING CLUB will be meeting Today, please dress appropriately.

Wednesday - April 1st

Thursday - April 2nd

Art Club - Ms. Annunziata - Room 4 - Group 5A

Festival Band - Mr. Linsner-Band Room

Game Club - Ms. Baillargeon-Library- GRADE 5 TODAY

Intramurals - Mr. McCarthy, Ms. Hardock, Ms. Olsson-Grade 5-Group 5B-GYM

Stand-Up Parker-Mr. Lee - Conference Room 240A

BEST BUDDIES, DRAMA CLUB, INTRAMURALS & YEARBOOK CLUB-Please check google classroom for schedule. ~THANK YOU

Tuesday, April 7th-Early Release Day-dismissal at 11:10 a.m.

Monday, April 20th thru Friday, April 24th - April Vacation Week

Monday, April 27th-School Resumes

Friday, May 8th - Grade 6 "Spring Fling" Social 2:40-4:00 p.m. more details to follow

Friday, May 15th - Grade 5 "Spring Fling" Social 2:40-4:00 p.m. more details to follow

Monday, May 25th - No School - Memorial Day

Thursday, April 9th & Friday, April 10th - Grade 6 ELA-Session I and II

Monday, April 13th & Tuesday, April 14th - Grade 5 ELA-Sessions I and II

Monday, May 4th & Tuesday, May 5th - Grade 5 Science-Sessions I and II

Monday, May 11th & Tuesday, May 12th - Grade 5 Math-Sessions I and II

Thursday, May 14th & Friday, May 15th - Grade 6 Math-Sessions I and II

REMINDER - PARKER MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS SET A 2:15 p.m. CUT-OFF TIME FOR ALL STUDENT DISMISSALS AS IT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY MEASURE THAT ENSURES A SECURE AND ORDERLY END TO THE SCHOOL DAY.

~THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION WITH THIS POLICY. Please contact the office with any questions or concerns.

We only have about 10 yearbooks left for sale! Order yours before they sell out at https://yearbookforever.com/

No books will be available for sale in June...don't miss out on capturing this year's memories!

🎟️💰 Calendar Raffle: LAST CHANCE FOR GRAND PRIZE - ends 3/31

Buy 10 raffles and your student’s name will be entered into a drawing to win one of 4 GRAND PRIZES! Grand prize is one of these - Apple airpods, cozy UGG blanket or a $200 Amazon gift card. Purchase raffles here. Tickets are $10 each.

Virtual PTO Meeting Thursday, April 9th @ 6:30 pm

Parker & McCarthy PTOs work collaboratively to provide community building activities, provide enrichment programs for our students and families and support our teachers. PTO meetings will be virtual until May. The meeting link will be shared out via email prior to the meeting. Upcoming events, activities and additional information can also be found on our new website: https://pto.chelmsfordschools.org/mccarthy-pto/

⚾🧢Lowell Spinners are BAAACK: Get your tickets here!

Please enjoy this exclusive discount offer as the Lowell Spinners return to LeLacheur Park for their first season since 2019 and defend home turf against the Vermont Lake Monsters! Come support the Parker & McCarthy Middle schools and have a fun night at the ballpark with classmates & friends!! Click here to purchase tickets.

🦁🎤🎶 Lions' Middle School Showboat May 16th You won't want to miss this amazing talent show starring our very own middle school students grades 5-8! The Chelmsford Middle School Showboat talent show is happening on Saturday, May 16th at the CHS Performing Arts Center (PAC), with two shows. Fifth and sixth grade will take the stage from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and seventh and eighth grade will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets link will be available soon! Auditions will happen April 1st- April 9th. Auditions Signup is now OPEN! Click link for more information and to sign up: https://tinyurl.com/showboataudtitions Contact Showboat Director and parent, Karyn Crouthamel at lionsmiddleschoolsshowboat@gmail.com

⚾ Middle School Night at Fenway: Join Chelmsford Middle School Families at Fenway Park on May 26th @ 6:45 P.M. to see the Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased via the following link: https://givebutter.com/BostonRedSox2026 Tickets will be "tossed" to your MLB Ballpark App closer to the game day. Please write down which email address you use to order these tickets as that is the email address we'll use to "toss" you your tickets.

The Box Tops for Education app allows you to earn cash for schools by purchasing participating Box Tops products and scanning your store receipts or digital receipts. You can download the free app for iOS and Android devices, select your school, scan the receipt, and the app automatically identifies and credits your school for the products. Earnings are posted to the school's account and checks are sent to the schools twice a year.

1. Download the App: Get the Box Tops for Education app from your device's app store.
2. Select Your School: Choose a school to support, or find a school in need.
3. Shop: Purchase Box Tops products that have the Box Tops icon.
4. Scan Receipts: Open the app, tap "Scan," and take a clear, well-lit photo of your store receipt to earn cash for your school.
5. Earn: The app automatically identifies the Box Tops products and adds the earnings to your school's account.
6. Receive Funds: Eligible schools receive checks twice a year based on the earnings credited to their accounts.

WAYS TO EARN: Connected Accounts: Connect your account to participating retailers, like Walmart, to automatically earn when you buy eligible products. Bonus Box Tops: Participate in special promotions and sweepstakes to earn extra earnings for your school.

If your student is going to be absent, tardy or dismissed please:

Email: ParkerAttendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Please Send Email: Prior to 9am on the day of the absence. Please Include: Child’s name, Grade, and Reason for absence. We encourage you to use the email option when reporting an absence, dismissal, etc. for efficiency.

**PLEASE READ**

We will continue to send automated emails home when students are absent. You will receive the email whether you notified the school or not. In order for an absence to be marked as "Excused", families will need to provide medical documentation. Please call the office if you have any questions or need clarification. ~ Thank you for your understanding.

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: https://family.onlineordering.linq.com/
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on X2-Student's ID Number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, student's name should appear on page

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)
2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click check-out
7. Select pick-up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/High school pick up location cafeteria.
8. Place order

Tuesday, April 7th

Email: robinsond@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://parker.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 75 Graniteville Road
Phone: 978-251-5133