Parker Post

We had a wonderful first week at Parker! Our amazing staff was eager to welcome students back, and it was great to see the hallways once again filled with energy, laughter, and enthusiasm as students settled into their new routines.

Assistant Principal Simpson and I held grade-level meetings with all Parker students to welcome them back and help set the stage for a successful school year. We introduced students to our office and student support staff, reviewed important daily routines and expectations, and revisited our core values of Kindness, Community, and Personal Best.

We also reviewed key school expectations, including being on time, keeping personal devices secured in lockers, using appropriate language, caring for school technology, and making responsible choices online. Students also reviewed lunchroom routines and expectations that help ensure lunch is a safe, respectful, and enjoyable time for everyone.

We are excited to begin the year together and look forward to a fun and fabulous year at Parker!

Students will be receiving their laptops in school this week. Prior to laptop distribution, teachers will review the Acceptable Use Policy and students will be required to sign a form acknowledging their understanding and acceptance of this policy. Caregivers must also complete the RPS Pupil Information form, the Parent/Guardian Insurance & Technology Agreement, and the Contact Info Update Form. These forms can be found under the "Forms" tab in the portal. We strongly encourage families to consider the RPS Laptop Insurance Program. For $50 for the entire school year, insurance covers accidental damage and power adapter replacement with no deductible for up to two incidents. Without insurance, repair costs can include $150 for keyboard damage, $200 for a damaged display, or up to $600 to replace a laptop. The insurance program covers lost or stolen laptops with a $100 deductible.

A reminder that there is no school on Monday, September 7th, due to Labor Day. The Parker PTO's Family Fun Night will be held this Friday, September 11th, on the back field along King Street beginning at 5:30pm. We look forward to an appearance by Dr. Turner! Hope you see you there!

In Partnership,

Jill Story

Principal

THIS WEEK:

Monday, September 7 - No School: Labor Day Weekend

September 8 - School Reopens

September 11 - PTO Parker Family Fun Night, 5:30 - 7pm

September 11 & 12 - Rosh Hashanah

ON THE HORIZON:

September 14 - PTO Meeting, 7pm (on Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/4164851110)

September 21 - Yom Kippur

September 24 - Early Release (dismissal @12:30pm); Back to School Night, 6-7:45pm

September 25 - Early Release (dismissal @12:30pm)

September 30 - October 2 -7th Grade Outdoor Classroom Overnight Field Trip

To access the 2026-2027 District Calendar, click here.

For the daily rotation and a list of important Parker dates, click here.

By now, you have likely heard from your child's Team Leader. The Team Leader is the primary point of contact for academic questions or concerns throughout the year. See below for contact information for each Team Leader.

TEAM LEADERS:

Team Synergy - Jane Costa (jane.costa@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Unity - Elisabeth Bean (elisabeth.bean@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Justice - Andrew Spinali (andrew.spinali@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Integrity - Steve Olivo (steve.olivo@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Inspire - Julie Merrill (julie.merrill@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Endeavor - Ryan Maloney (ryan.maloney@reading.k12.ma.us)

Here is who to contact for questions related to the following:

• For questions about a specific class or subject, reach out to the teacher.
• To set up a meeting with the team, reach out to the team leader.
• For questions related to your child's IEP, reach out to the case manager.
• For more general special education related questions, reach out to Team Chair Victoria Ryan (victoria.ryan@reading.k12.ma.us).
• For 504 related questions, reach out to 504 Coordinator Beth Simpson (beth.simpson@reading.k12.ma.us).
• If you have a social-emotional concern, reach out to one of the school adjustment counselors (Ms. Creighton - sarah.creighton@reading.k12.ma.us or Ms. Quevedo - katherine.quevedo@reading.k12.ma.us).
• To report an absence, tardy, or dismissal, email WSPAbsences@reading.k12.ma.us.
• If you have a logistical question, please call the main office (781-944-1236).

Reading is beyond excited to bring Unified Sports to the middle school level for a third year. Across Massachusetts, middle school students have been participating in three seasons of unified sports including fall bocce (think beach bowling), winter strength and conditioning and early spring basketball. Last year we were able to offer all three, and it was amazing for those who participated. We too plan to officially partner with Best Buddies of MA to bring some fun offerings to promote further inclusion throughout the year.

Bocce will begin on Monday, 9/21. We will meet Mondays and Thursdays, 2:45-3:30 in the Coolidge multipurpose room. Our season will end with a league jamboree. We will be assigned a date to attend the jamboree at the end of October or the beginning of November. We have hosted this wonderful event for the past two years which was a lot of fun for everyone. We encourage all interested students to meet in the Coolidge MPR after school on Monday, 9/21 for our initial session.

Any questions or if interested in signing up, please reach out to:

Tara Herlihy (Coolidge Special Education teacher/Reading MS and RMHS Unified coach)

tara.herlihy@reading.k12.ma.us

See here for additional information about Unified Sports in Reading!

During the school year, the building is open to students beginning at 7:15 a.m. each day. From 7:15 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. students will report to the cafeteria. At 7:40, they will be allowed into the corridors of the school. If a student needs to see a teacher prior to 7:40, they may do so by signing in at the main office desk (if the teacher is available). All students should be in homeroom by 7:50 each morning and will be considered tardy if not present in homeroom at that time. Caregivers will receive an auto-generated email when students are marked tardy or absent.

Drop off will occur both on Temple and King Streets starting at 7:35 a.m. Only staff may enter the school parking lots, so please do not pull into either of the school parking lots to drop off or pick up students. When you are dropping off your child, please pull over along the right side of the road to drop off, keeping traffic along the left side moving forward. Do not drop off your child without pulling over, as this creates an unsafe situation for students once they exit the vehicle. Please also be mindful of staff who are pulling into the school driveways. Adherence to these guidelines will ensure a smooth and efficient drop off.

The school day ends at 2:30 p.m. Students exit via the front, side, or rear doors of the building and may be picked up on Temple Street or King Street.

Many students ride their bicycles to school. Please remind your children that they should not ride their bicycles through the parking lot or driveway due to vehicles entering and exiting the school parking lot. Students will be reminded to walk their bicycles along the sidewalk until they have reached Temple Street.

For students who take the bus, please note that the bus is an extension of school; therefore, all Parker MS behavior expectations apply. Students should be seated and respectful on the bus to ensure a safe ride to and from school. Your support in reinforcing this message is appreciated.

Student schedules are available in the portal. Please see this document for instructions on how to access schedules. The creation of student schedules is a collaborative effort, with considerable time and deliberation involved in placing students on teams and in groups. The placement process takes all aspects of students' academic, social, and emotional development into account, with each student being assigned to a team where they can learn and grow.

At Parker, we follow a waterfall schedule, with classes meeting at a different time each day in a predictable rotation. Each class meets for fifty minutes a day, with a twenty-six minute Advisory occurring once a week on Wednesdays. In addition to the core academic classes of ELA, math, science, and social studies, sixth graders will take art, music, P.E./health, as well as band, chorus, band and chorus, or an art elective. Sixth graders will also take one quarter of Spanish exploratory and one quarter of French exploratory. The world language exploratory courses will enable students to learn about the history, culture, and traditions associated with Spanish and French languages, better informing their 7th grade world language selection, which will be made in the spring. Seventh graders will have world language, art, music, and P.E./health, as well as band, chorus, band and chorus, art elective, introduction to coding, or media literacy.

Pathways Exploratory Courses

In an effort to align with RMHS and expose students to more academic and career options, eighth grade students are all enrolled in Computer Science, Digital Ethics & Leadership, Financial Literacy, and Information Literacy. They also will be taking P.E./health, and band, chorus, or an additional elective each semester. Eighth graders will also rotate through various pathways exploratory offerings: Art Exploratory, Civic Action, Clean Energy, Engineering, Fitness, Public Health, Sculpture, and Walking for Wellness. English and math interventions and enrichment will also occur during this time.

Free and Reduced Price Meals and benefits are available to families who believe they may qualify. If your family chooses to apply please complete a "Free and Reduced Meal Price Application Form." Meal applications are now available online at LINQ Connect.

Forms are also available in PDF Format and can be obtained on this page or requested from school officials. Applications should be returned (completed) to any school office. You will be notified by mail of your child's status. Until notification you must provide your child with a lunch or lunch money.

Only complete one application per family. The information you give will be used to determine or prove your child's eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. This information may also be used for other state or federally funded school benefits. This information is also used to provide families with financial scholarships for After School Activities, field trips, and extracurriculars.

Factors considered in the application process are household size and total household income. HOUSEHOLD SIZE is considered all persons, related or unrelated: Including parents, children, grandparents who live in your home and share living expenses. The TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME is the income each household member received last month before taxes - this includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income.

Please see the attachments below for instructions to set up your LINQ account and the application forms.

As you complete your student's Annual Forms Packet in PlusPortals, please take a few minutes to review the Reading Public Schools Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) with your student. Students must complete and sign their required annual forms before they can pick up their district-issued laptop.

This year, we added clarification to the AUP about caring for district-issued laptops and the difference between normal wear and tear and damage. We understand that laptops used every day will show signs of normal use. Minor scratches and scuffs, normal wear on the keyboard or touchpad, and normal battery aging are expected and are not considered damage. Cracked screens, broken or missing keys, damaged cases or hinges, liquid damage, and damage caused by drops or improper handling are not considered normal wear and tear and may result in repair charges.

We also strongly encourage families to consider the RPS Laptop Insurance Program. For $50 for the entire school year, insurance covers accidental damage and power adapter replacement with no deductible for up to two incidents. Without insurance, repair costs can include $150 for keyboard damage, $200 for a damaged display, or up to $600 to replace a laptop. The insurance program covers lost or stolen laptops with a $100 deductible.

Please complete the forms in PlusPortals before laptop distribution so your student is ready to receive their laptop. While completing the forms, we encourage you to review the AUP together and consider enrolling in the Laptop Insurance Program for the school year.

Thank you for helping us keep our students' technology protected and ready for learning!

Need assistance logging in to the Parent Portal? Locked out of Google Classroom? Can't get into your school email account?

For all technology questions related to the portal, school email, or Google Classroom, please reach out to Parker's Technology Integration Specialist, Linnea Frye (linnea.frye@reading.k12.ma.us).

The PTO will host Parker's Fall Family Fun Night on Friday, September 11th from 5:30-7pm on the King Street Lawn. Stop by for pizza, cotton candy, snacks, lawn games, and music. We are also pleased to welcome Dr. Henry Turner, the new Reading Public Schools Superintendent, who will be joining the event from 6-7pm.

Attend our first PTO meeting of the school year on Monday, September 14th at 7pm on Zoom (https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/4164851110). This meeting is open to all caregivers. We hope to see you then!

We are looking for volunteers throughout the year who can help our existing team bring to life programs and funding for our community. It's a meaningful way to directly impact our school — and a great opportunity to connect with other Parker families. If you're interested in volunteering, or simply want to learn more, please reach out to Monica and Dennis at parkerptopres@gmail.com, join us at a PTO meeting of the year, or click here to fill out a volunteer interest form

Save the date for our first Restaurant Night of the school year – EMPOWER, 9/25. Details and an event flyer will be coming soon.

Please consider supporting your PTO by sending in your family donations. We can accept donations via credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and ACH payments. Checks are also welcome (payable to Parker PTO). Pay online: https://givebutter.com/parker-pto-dues-donation-2026-2027 (On Apple iPhones, use Safari to access the Venmo option. On Android devices, use Chrome. On desktop computers, use any browser.)

Double Your Impact with Matching Gifts – Your employer might offer matching gift programs, which means your contribution could be doubled (or even tripled!) at no extra cost to you. Check with your company to see if they participate in matching donations.

It's not too late to order your school supplies! The PTO has partnered with School Tool Box to make ordering school supplies a breeze! Online ordering continues through the first month of school.

This is a PTO fundraiser and 10% of all sales go back to the Parker PTO!

• Email: parkerptopres@gmail.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParkerPTO
• Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO, www.instagram.com/parkermspto
• Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage
• Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO, www.instagram.com/parkermspto
• Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage

Join Reading METCO for our Salsa Night Thursday 10/15/26.

This event is open to all Reading/Boston resident families and RPS staff.

Hispanic Heritage Month Salsa Night
Date: Thursday, October 15 | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Coolidge Middle School Cafeteria

Celebrate Hispanic culture with us!
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Enjoy Spanish-inspired food and mingle with students, parents, and faculty.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Beginner-friendly Salsa dance class—no experience needed!

Come ready to eat, dance, and have fun!

Sign up below!

Maria J. Diago Ferroni, ADHD and Executive Function Parent Coach and the founder of Avanti Parenting, will be holding a parenting workshop on September 10th. See the flyer below for information about how to register.

Workshop Overview:

Homework can often become one of the most stressful parts of the day for families, especially when children struggle with ADHD, executive functioning, organization, motivation, or learning differences. What begins as a simple reminder can quickly turn into frustration, power struggles, and conflict.

During this workshop, parents will learn practical strategies to help shift homework time from a daily battle into an opportunity to support independence, problem-solving, and connection. We will explore ways to:

• Reduce power struggles and conflict around homework
• Better understand the executive function challenges that can make homework difficult
• Support children without taking over
• Encourage independence and responsibility
• Use communication strategies that protect the parent-child relationship
• Create more calm and connection during homework time

If you need to connect with your child's teachers, please reach out to the Team Leader as the primary point of contact. Team Leaders will be communicating regularly with families throughout the year.

TEAM LEADERS:

Team Synergy - Jane Costa (jane.costa@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Unity - Elisabeth Bean (elisabeth.bean@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Justice - Andrew Spinali (andrew.spinali@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Integrity - Steve Olivo (steve.olivo@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Inspire - Julie Merrill (julie.merrill@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Endeavor - Ryan Maloney (ryan.maloney@reading.k12.ma.us)

On Wednesdays, students will have Advisory. During Advisory, students meet in smaller groups with an assigned Advisory teacher. The goal is to foster a sense of belonging for all students through the implementation of curriculum that is designed to reinforce Parker's core values of kindness, community, and personal best.

Access to the portal can be found on the Parker website (https://parker.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US) by clicking on the PlusPortals button. Your username should be your personal email. If you have questions about your account, please contact Linnea Frye: linnea.frye@reading.k12.ma.us

Jill Story, Principal

Email: jill.story@reading.k12.ma.us

Beth Simpson, Assistant Principal

Email: beth.simpson@reading.k12.ma.us

Website: Walter S. Parker Middle School
Location: 45 Temple Street