Parker Junior High Newsletter

Ursula Parris, Principal

Thank you for taking a moment to review our events and information for the upcoming week. Please see below:

1st Quarter Report Cards Posted

Parker families can access their child's report card by logging into Skyward [Screenshot] and clicking on the 'Portfolio' tab [Screenshot]. Please access the Parent Report Card Letter for more information.

Trunk or Treat

Thank you for joining us for our 1st Trunk or Treat event. Please see our pictures below.

Veterans Day Assembly

We are having a Veterans Day Assembly on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Parker! Scholars will recognize and celebrate Veterans during during Period 7th, 8th, and 9th period. Parents are welcomed to attend.

Veterans Day will be observed Monday, November 10th - No School - District Closed.

Online Safety Parent Meeting

• Please save the date for an important parent presentation, “Keeping Our Kids Cyber Safe,” on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Parker Junior High School (2810 School Street, Flossmoor).

• Detective Rich Wistocki (RET) from Be Sure Consulting’s Cyber Safe Schools Team will share valuable insights and practical strategies to help parents protect children online and encourage safe, responsible digital habits.

• Please RSVP here by Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

• We hope you can join us for this important event!

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• Reserve la fecha para una presentación importante para padres, “Manteniendo a nuestros niños seguros cibernéticamente”, el martes 11 de noviembre de 2025, de 6:00 a 7:30 p. m. en Parker Junior High School (2810 School Street, Flossmoor).

• El detective Rich Wistocki (RET) del equipo de escuelas cibernéticas seguras de Be Sure Consulting compartirá información valiosa y estrategias prácticas para ayudar a los padres a proteger a sus hijos en línea y fomentar hábitos digitales seguros y responsables.

• Por favor, confirma tu asistencia aquí para el martes 4 de noviembre de 2025.

• ¡Esperamos que puedas acompañarnos en este importante evento!

Transportation

• School Street is one way for Arrival and Dismissal

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

  • No stopping on School Street. Please maintain traffic flow and drop off scholars ONLY on the curb side of 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

2025-26 Fall Assessment Update

Our Fall data discussion identified a number of strengths and opportunities for improvement. This link will take you to the Board report and this link goes to the actual data slide deck. On Thursday, October 30th, a letter was sent to District 161 families with information about the annual school report cards. At the Board meeting on November 17, 2025, we will discuss the summative ratings, the final 2024-25 Illinois Assessment of Readiness [IAR] data, and the current School Improvement Plans.

2026 Construction Scope

We are preparing for stage 2 of our school renovation work. During the summer of 2026, we are planning to renovate Parker Junior High School [paint, lighting, furniture, etc.], with HVAC improvements at Flossmoor Hills and Western Avenue Schools. During the summer of 2027, we will complete our Long Range Construction Plan by renovating Flossmoor Hills and Western Avenue [paint, lighting, furniture].

2025 Property Tax Levy

Discussions began regarding the 2025 property tax levy. It is important to note that the State of Illinois did not fund a Property Tax Relief Grant for the 2025-26 year. The administration presented three levy options to the Board of Education for consideration. The full presentation can be found here. At its next meeting, the Board will receive additional details on each of the options presented and will vote to approve one as a tentative levy.

The first annual Parker Student Council and Flossmoor Education Association Trunk or Treat was a huge success! We had an incredible turnout and collected hundreds of canned goods to donate to a local food pantry. We can’t thank you enough for your generosity and support!

We’d like to give a few special shout-outs:

• Thank you to all SD161 staff members who hosted a trunk, donated candy or funds, and attended with your families. Your creativity and participation helped make the event so much fun!
• Thank you to all our SD161 families who joined in- every trunk was amazing!
• And a big thank you to our local businesses who donated prizes for the trunks: Pop's Italian Beef, D’s Cookie Dough Company, Conservatory Vintage & Vinyl, and Loulou Belle.
• Special Shout-Out: A huge thank you to Akari Turner for designing and creating the Trunk Contest medals! They turned out amazing and were a huge hit!
  

Trunk Contest Winners:

• Spookiest Trunk: Linda O’Dwyer

• Best Trunk: Horta Family

• Most Unique Trunk: Scott Olsson, Deana Erickson, and Cheriff Kemp

• Fan Favorite: Mike Clay

We are so proud of how our school community came together for this event. We’re already looking forward to next year’s Trunk or Treat!

Kaleena Kessling and Janet McKenna

PJH Student Council Sponsors

7th Grade Team WON the Annual Staff Halloween Costume Contest for a 2nd year in a row! Congratulations 7th Grade Teachers - "Sesame Street"

Parker leadership team representing the 1996 Chicago Bulls Championship Team!

Sarah Rudenga- Hermione Granger

6th Social Studies Team - Ms.Meloy, Ms. Hummel, Ms. L. Nicotra

Corn, Peas and Squash

Ms. Volini- Ms. Trunchbull

Ms. Garland & Ms. Marks- 6/7

Matti Schnieder- Princess Peach

Ms. Wallenius- Smores

Social Workers - Beth Maclin and Rebecca Routson

"NFL Coaches" - Tiffaney Washington and Tamika Britten (Parker Instructional Coaches)

• 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 stopping on School Street. Please maintain traffic flow and drop off scholars ONLY on the curb side of School Street.

  
  

• Transportation

• Bus information is available in Skyward for families. If you have any transportation questions, please contact Ms. Wanda Alexander at 708-546-7072.

Upcoming Testing Window

NWEA MAP

• Winter: December 8-12, 2025
• Spring: April 20-27, 2026

Illinois Science Assessment (8th Grade Only)

• April 6 - 10, 2026

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (Math and Reading) (All Grade Levels)

• March 16 - 20, 2026

Classroom Engagement

Ms. Lewis, 8th Grade ELA

Ms. Nicotra, 6th Grade Social Studies

Ms. Garland, 8th Grade ELA

Are you curious about Standards or Assessments provided to your child? Access the SD 161 Learning and Instruction webpage for detailed information specific to Standards Based Grading and Year Long Plans for every grade level content.

Homework Help

Dean Update and Reminders

We have observed an increase in disturbances during transition periods, where students are engaging in pushing and shoving, leading to congestion in the hallways. These bottlenecks hinder students' ability to proceed to their subsequent classes efficiently. We kindly request that our Falcon Parents speak with your children and reiterate the importance of hallway safety. Scholars that do not follow the Parker PBIS way of being respectful in these areas will receive appropriate disciplinary consequences. Please help us in maintaining a safe and thriving learning environment for all of our scholars.

Please remind your children to follow the directions of Parker Staff, especially during arrival and dismissal, on School Street, and in the Bus loading areas. Parker staff are always present to provide reminders, however, parental support is greatly appreciated!

Remind scholars to wear their Student ID everyday! When attending physical education [PE], ID’s can be removed during PE activities, but reworn immediately after changing.

Community Grade Level Meeting

Deans will continue to conduct Grade Level Community Meetings and provide reminders of our PBIS expectations throughout the quarter. Please reference dates and the slide deck below

Physical Aggression is not tolerated at Parker JHS!

Parker scholars are encouraged to be Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn.

We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a positive school culture.

Together, we can ensure that our school remains a safe space for all scholars.

Upcoming Grade Level Community Meetings

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.].

30 day grace period for free and reduced lunch has expired. If parents have not either been confirmed by the state for SNAP/TANF or Medicaid status or have not completed a new free/reduced lunch application in Skyward, their lunch status may be back to paid. Complete a lunch form in Skyward to correct your status!

Text Message Opt-In
Signing up for District 161’s text message alerts is quick and easy. Simply text the word “YES” to 67587 from the cell phone on which you wish to receive text messages. Please make sure that your cell phone number is up-to-date in Skyward. If you need to update your phone number, please contact the office at your child’s school. Click here for more information.

Parker PTO Spiritwear Sale

Pickup will be on Monday, November 3rd

3:30 - 5pm in the foyer (Door A Entrance)

We can’t wait to see you rocking that gold and blue!

Sincerely yours,

- Parker PTO

Falcon Families

We’re excited to launch our first ever PTO Un-Fundraiser — no selling, no buying, no events to attend! Just a simple way to support our school by making a direct donation. Every dollar goes right back into programs and activities that benefit our students and staff.
Thanks to your generosity so far, this school year we’ve been able to fund:

• A back-to-school breakfast for our amazing staff
• PBIS rewards that celebrate positive behavior
• Popcorn for our Halloween festivities
• Gift cards for our Principal and Assistant Principals during Principal Appreciation Month
• Awareness décor to brighten our school
• Fun prizes for the top students who sold Double Good popcorn

Your continued support helps us do even more throughout the year! See the info on the flyer to find ways to help support.

Thank you for helping make our school community such a special place!

Warmly,
Your Parker PTO Board

PBIS October Focus

As we near the end of the month, please remember that our PBIS goal is to lower tardiness to class by a marginal percentage! Scholars are expected to be prepared and walk with a purpose to class. In doing so, the reward will be fruit snacks!

Yondr Bags were distributed to 6th and 7th grade scholars. 8th grade scholars are expected to keep cell phones in lockers and/or out of sight.

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