March 30, 2025
Attendance Matters: The Impact of Tardies and Absences on Our School
I would like shine light on an important issue we’ve been noticing at our campus: attendance.
As of Friday, March 28th, our school has accumulated 3,000 tardies. While we understand that occasional absences and late arrivals happen, I want to emphasize just how critical it is for every student to attend school on time and as consistently as possible.
Our goal for daily attendance is 97%, but as of Friday, we are at 95.6%. While this may seem like a small difference, it has a significant impact on our funding. Unfortunately, we have already experienced a year-to-date loss of over $130,000 in funding due to student absences. This is money that directly supports resources and opportunities for our students, including academic programs, extracurricular activities, and support services.
This funding loss will be reflected in the budgeting for next school year, which means that our ability to provide the quality education and experiences our students deserve could be impacted. It is crucial that we work together as a community to ensure that every student is present and on time so that we can continue to thrive as a school.
We understand that there are challenges that can affect attendance, and we are here to support our families. If there are specific concerns you are facing regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can find solutions to help ensure our students are at school each day, ready to learn and succeed.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Let’s make every school day count!
-Principal Carter
Master Schedule Development & Feedback Opportunity
At Parker Elementary, we are committed to creating a Master Schedule that best meets the needs of our students and staff. We are currently in the development stage and invite all staff and parents to review the draft schedule and provide feedback. This process ensures transparency and allows for valuable input as we finalize the schedule for the upcoming school year.
You can access the draft schedule, submit feedback, and find additional resources by visiting our Master Schedule Development Page. We value your participation and thank you for being an active part of our school community!
Seeking Community Feedback on Campus Security Fencing
The Facilities Operations Department has proposed an update to our campus security fencing, in accordance with new TEA required security upgrades across many HISD campuses. This upgrade would add a layer of protection where visitors would first buzz into a gate, and then be buzzed into the front office vestibule, providing an extra level of security. Although our campus already meets the minimum current safety requirements, due to reinforced film on the glass, we recognize that additional fencing could offer improved security should someone attempt to breach the entrance.
We would like to gather your feedback on a proposed update to our campus security measures.
While I initially declined this upgrade, thinking it may not be desired by the community, I believe it is important to seek your input. Would you, as parents and staff members, be in favor of installing this additional fencing to further secure our school?
Your feedback is valuable in ensuring that we make the best decision for the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Please share your thoughts with us below. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and appreciate your continued support in making Parker Elementary a safe learning environment for all.
See photos below of proposed areas of fencing:
Share your thoughts on the upgraded security fencing.
Class Picture Day 2025📸
Literacy Night 2025 📖
Join Us for STEM Day 2025 at Parker! 🔊🔬
We are excited to announce STEM Day 2025 will be hosted at Parker. Presented by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Wipro. We would love for your child to join us for a day of fun and learning!
This event is designed for students ages 8 to 15 and will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Parker. Check-in will begin at 9:30 AM.
STEM Day will feature hands-on activities, exciting competitions, and even prizes—all designed to spark interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Plus, lunch will be provided for all participants!
Free Registration is now available! You can register and find more information about the event by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visiting stemday.ai.
We hope your child can join us for a day full of creativity, exploration, and inspiration!
WRAPAROUND UPDATES
Campus Celebrations 🏆
PTO UPDATES 🥳
Family Night and Book Fair: What an incredible week for our Parker community! Last week, we came together to celebrate and inspire a love for reading among our students with the Scholastic Book Fair. Thanks to your support, we sold over $35,000 in books—nearly $10,000 more than last year! This not only encourages literacy but also helps bring more funds back to our school library, making this the most impactful library fundraiser we have.
A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who filled the more than 150 spots over the last week and a half. Our volunteers generously gave their time, from setting up the Book Fair and restocking shelves to reading to students, assisting shoppers, and packing up on Friday night. Your efforts made this event a huge success. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Stock the Lounge: Join the PTO in stocking the lounge with snacks and drinks to fuel our amazing teachers through their busy days. Sign up on the PTO Volunteers page and drop off your goodies by April 14th in the Community Room, labeled “Lounge.” Link to sign up: https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/145332
Kinder Round-Up is April 8 from 8:30 – 10:00!
We’re giving a big “howdy” to all zoned 2025-2026 Kindergarten students with Kinder Round-Up! We have a fun morning in store for future Lions, where they can hear from our PTO President, meet our Kindergarten teachers, visit the school store, and snap some super-cute photos.
Help us spread the word! We can’t wait to see our future Lions!
🎶 PARKER FRIENDS UPDATE 🎶
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the Advanced Chorus trip to the American Choral Directors Association conference — your generosity helped raise over $19,000, covering the entire cost of the trip!
Meanwhile, music contributions have inched up from 34% to 35% paid. That means nearly two-thirds of families still haven’t contributed. If you haven’t yet, please consider doing your part — every student benefits from the program, and it only works if we all chip in.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Julie@ParkerFriends.org
PARKER CAMPUS GOALS 2024-2025
Upcoming Dates 📅
March 31st
NO SCHOOL - Cesar Chavez Day
April 2nd
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 3rd
Spring Piano Recital (1:30pm)
ESL Class 8
April 4th
School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 7th - April 11th
National Assistant Principal's Week
"Lit for Literacy" Parker Reading Week
April 7th
Strings Recital (3:00pm) *in teacher's classrooms
April 8th
Kinder Roundup (8:30-10am)
Strings Recital (3:00pm) *in teacher's classrooms
April 9th
Class Picture Day
Strings Recital (3:00pm) *in teacher's classrooms
Strings All City Rehearsal (4:30-5:30)
April 10th
Strings Recital (3:00pm) *in teacher's classrooms
Literacy Night (6:00-7:00pm)
PTO: Spirit Night @ Magpies Gifts (10am-6pm)
April 11th
Strings Recital (3:00pm) *in teacher's classrooms
Kinder Field Trip to Houston Zoo (8am-1pm)
April 12
ESL Class (8am)
School Choice Fair @ Yates HS (9am-noon)