Family Newsletter

Dear Parker Elementary School Families,

We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing April Break! It will be so wonderful to see our students back in the halls, refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the year. We have had such a fantastic school year together at Parker so far, and we are incredibly proud of everything our students and community have accomplished.

As we begin our "sprint" to the end of the school year, we are looking forward to all of the exciting traditions and end-of-year celebrations that make this season so special. From field trips to final projects and festive wrap-up events, we can’t wait to celebrate a successful year with all of you. Let’s make these final weeks the best ones yet!

Best,

Matt Lutinski

Principal, Parker Elementary School

To ensure the safety of our students and maintain a positive relationship with our local community and residents, we would like to share a few parking reminders.

Please avoid double-parking in our lots and instead utilize the designated spots or the curbing near the front field.
We also ask that you respect our neighbors by avoiding parking on Pages Court and Parker Street, as these areas have posted "no parking" signage.
Finally, please remember that the handicap spaces in the front circle are reserved exclusively for those with valid placards. This applies to all programs, including Early Morning Care and the Boys and Girls Fun Club.

We appreciate your help in keeping our school accessible and respectful for everyone!

**NEW** 2026-2027 School Calendar

April Lunch Menu

Spring 2026 Parker MCAS Testing Dates

Please complete this Google Form if you would like your student to have a school lunch on Friday, June 12th for Field Day. These lunch options will be delivered to classrooms.

https://forms.gle/mxEM1kcsLYKEtJCo7

You must complete this form for each student if you have multiple students who need a school lunch.

Orders are due by Tuesday, June 2nd.

SUN Bucks, the federal food benefit program once known as Summer EBT, is returning for summer 2026. SUN Bucks provides a $120 lump-sum summer benefit per school-aged child for income-eligible families. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with DESE and with assistance from schools.

SUN Bucks income eligibility standards are the same as those for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). As such, all enrolled students identified as meeting the income eligibility standards for free or reduced-price lunch during school year 2025-26, either through an NSLP household paper application or direct certification, are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks. Students identified as homeless, migrant, runaway or participating in Head Start are also automatically eligible. Students who do not meet the aforementioned criteria can apply for SUN Bucks benefits through DTA by visiting www.DTAConnect.com.

This is just a reminder from your friendly nurses that the mobile dentist is returning this Friday, May 1st for students who were not seen in February. As we all know, the dentist can be anxiety provoking for some--especially for kids who have never been to the dentist. If you signed your child up for the dentist, please help us by having a conversation with your child about it. The dentist will use their special light to look at all of the teeth; they will be counting them and painting them--all while your children wear a really cool pair of sunglasses. The children will be leaving with a new toothbrush and brighter smiles. :)

Our 2nd-grade students will participate in a Pedestrian and Bike Safety presentation sponsored by Safe Routes to Schools on Wednesday, April 29th. Since these lessons will take place outdoors on school grounds, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather and wearing comfortable shoes.

Our Annual Spring Picnic is just around the corner on Friday, May 15th!

To make the event even more exciting, we are putting together our grade-level raffle baskets. We would love your help in filling them! Please see the attached flyer for your grade’s specific theme and consider donating an item to the collection.

Deadline: Please drop off all donations to the Parker Office by Tuesday, May 5th.

Thank you for your continued support in making our school community so special!

It’s time to gear up for the end of the year! The Parker PTO is providing a complimentary t-shirt for every 4th-grade student. These shirts will be delivered directly to classrooms for students to wear on their upcoming field trip and Field Day.

https://forms.gle/X9ikP3JVq34vFb3q7

Please submit your size selection by May 4th to ensure your child receives their shirt on time.

Thank you,

Parker PTO

As we approach the end of the school year, we look forward to celebrating the many wonderful accomplishments and milestones our students have achieved. While these celebrations are a highlight for our community, please keep in mind as you plan that our Health and Wellness Policy prohibits food from classroom celebrations. This policy is essential for ensuring the safety of students with life-threatening allergies and maintaining an inclusive environment where every child can participate fully regardless of dietary restrictions or medical needs. We appreciate your partnership in keeping our classrooms safe and healthy.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us finish the school year on a healthy, happy note!

The BMHS Books for Brighter Futures club is hosting a book drive at our school! Books for Brighter Futures is a non-profit organization that helps get kids who may not have the financial resources to purchase books. The goal of the club is to get every kid grades three through five a summer reading book. But, we need your help! The book drive will run from Tuesday April 28th until Tuesday May 12th. The Parker is trying to raise 100 books within the two weeks. We need books that are lightly used or new for grades three through five. We appreciate your help!

A big thank you to all the families who donated to our Cradles to Crayons Drive. This successful event was sponsored by the Project 351 Ambassadors in partnership with the Parker SGA, who led the way in advertising and collection efforts.

Where do I find school information about my child? (Report Card, Attendance)

Aspen : https://ma-billerica.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do

Where can my child find websites the school wants them to use? (Zearn, Google Classroom) Billerica Classlink Launchpad: https://launchpad.classlink.com/billerica

Your child will need their email address (firstnamelastname@billericak12.com) and the password (8 digits) the school gave them to log into the Billerica Classlink Launchpad. Please do not change passwords at home.

If you have questions about…

Email and/or Passwords - email Donna McDonnell dmcdonnell@billericak12.com

Setting up an Aspen Account? - ask portalhelp@billericak12.com

We are currently looking for substitutes and are reaching out to our family network!

If you or someone you know is interested in a rewarding opportunity, please check out the full job posting for all the details and requirements: https://www.schoolspring.com/jobdetail?jobId=5399796.

Thanks for considering! If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Lutinski (mlutinski@billericak12.com).