May 10, 2026

We are incredibly proud to share the tremendous literacy growth our Parker students made this school year through our DIBELS reading assessments in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade!

This year, Parker placed a major focus on foundational reading skills through intentional small group instruction, targeted intervention, frequent progress monitoring, and Science of Reading aligned practices. The hard work of our students, teachers, interventionists, and instructional leaders is clearly reflected in the data.

At the beginning of the year, 31% of Parker K-2 students were reading Above Benchmark. By the end of the year, that number grew to an incredible 56% of students performing Above Benchmark in foundational reading skills!

Even more exciting, the percentage of students performing Well Below Benchmark decreased from 23% at the beginning of the year to only 9% by the end of the year.

This growth means more Parker students are entering the next school year reading stronger, decoding more confidently, and building the literacy foundation needed for long-term academic success.

We are especially proud of the growth within our bilingual program. Our bilingual teachers worked tirelessly to ensure students grew in both literacy and language development in English, and their efforts truly paid off for students.

This success did not happen by accident. It happened because of the partnership between teachers, families, intervention staff, administrators, and most importantly, our amazing students who showed grit and perseverance all year long.

Strong readers become strong learners, and we are excited about what this foundation will mean for our students as they continue growing and achieving at high levels.

-Principal Carter

As we begin preparing for the 2026-2027 school year, we also want to take a moment to recognize and thank several members of the Parker family who will be transitioning to new opportunities and chapters in their journey.

Ms. Desiree Slack, Mr. Dale Harrison, Ms. Katina Gaddison, Mr. Tramane Munks, Ms. Lisa Vosdoganes, Ms. Fanisha Jordan, Ms. Katherine Bascom, and Mr. Lindsay Harris will not be returning to Parker next school year for reasons including career advancement, retirement, relocation, and transitions to new districts and opportunities.

Each of these individuals has contributed to the Parker community in meaningful ways, and we are grateful for the time, care, and dedication they poured into our students and campus. We thank them for being part of the Parker story and wish them continued success and happiness in their next chapter.

Additional staffing updates, including new staff and program changes, if any, will be shared in upcoming Parker Pulse editions and during the Chat & Chew sessions on May 18th.

As many families may have seen through recent Houston ISD communications and media updates, the district is implementing updates connected to the new SPED Success Programs model for the 2026-2027 school year. These changes are designed to provide more concentrated expertise, streamlined resources, and high-quality instruction for students whose Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) require more intensive specialized support services.

At Parker, these changes will primarily impact our SLC-Standard programming. For the vast majority of Parker students receiving Special Education services, there will be little to no impact. Many of our students are served in the least restrictive environment and participate in the general education setting for 50% or more of the instructional day.

These district changes specifically affect a small number of students whose IEP services require specialized support outside of the general education setting for more than 50% of the school day, which is typically within a more self-contained instructional environment.

Letters were sent home on Friday to all SLC families directly impacted by these changes, including students who will remain at Parker as well as students who may be reassigned to a campus designated to continue housing specific self-contained programming aligned to their IEP services.

As a result of these program shifts, there will also be some impacts to staffing connected to SLC programming and support services at Parker. At this time, the district is still finalizing guidance and next steps related to staffing reassignments and program implementation. We will continue to keep families informed as additional information becomes available.

Families wishing to learn more about the district’s SPED Success Programs may visit the HISD Special Education webpage: HISD SPED Success Programs

As we approach the close of another incredible school year at Parker, I want to make sure our families continue to feel informed, supported, and connected during a time of several district-level changes that may impact schools across Houston ISD, including Parker. Change can sometimes bring uncertainty, and I never want our families to feel left in the dark or unsure about what is happening.

For that reason, the final Chat & Chew of the school year on May 18, 2026 will now include both the morning and evening sessions. While the calendar originally only reflected the morning session, I felt it was important to create an additional opportunity for families who may have questions or simply want to hear the most current updates directly from me.

At this time, some district details are still being finalized, and I expect to receive additional clarity and guidance by May 15. My goal is to ensure that when we meet, I am able to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information possible for our Parker community.

As always, families are still welcome to reach out to me directly by email with questions or concerns.

-Principal Carter

This past week, we had the opportunity to celebrate our incredible school nurse, Nurse Laurie, for National School Nurse Day on May 6th!

Nurse Laurie is truly one of the heartbeats of Parker. Every single day, she cares for our students with compassion, patience, professionalism, and love. Whether it is comforting a nervous student, supporting families, managing medications and health plans, responding to emergencies, or simply greeting students with a smile, Nurse Laurie does it all with grace and dedication.

One of the things we appreciate most about Nurse Laurie is how deeply she cares about the overall well-being of our students and staff. She goes far beyond the responsibilities of her role to ensure Parker remains a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for everyone.

Please join us in thanking and celebrating Nurse Laurie for the tremendous impact she makes on our campus community each and every day. Parker is better because of her!

May 13th is National Receptionist Day, and we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate two incredible members of the Parker front office team, Ms. Monica De Luna and Ms. Julie Navarro!

Ms. Monica has faithfully served the Parker community for over 10 years, and alongside Ms. Julie, they work tirelessly every single day to keep our front office running smoothly. From nonstop phone calls, door buzzing, violin lesson visitors, lunch visitors, volunteer management, campus events, field trips, and countless questions and requests throughout the day, they handle it all with professionalism, patience, and a smile.

What many people may not realize is that the front office carries an incredible amount of pressure. They are often the very first and very last interaction someone has when entering our building. That experience matters deeply. Their ability to remain calm, welcoming, helpful, and positive under constant pressure helps shape the culture and experience of Parker for our students, staff, families, and visitors.

There are many moments where they are asked questions they may not yet have answers to or situations they may not have the authority to resolve on their own, yet they continue to serve our community with grace, care, and professionalism every single day.

Thank you, Ms. De Luna and Ms. Navarro, for all you do for Parker Elementary. We appreciate you more than words can express!

As we head into the final 4 weeks of the school year, we know dismissal and arrival procedures can become more challenging as excitement for summer begins to build, so we want to take a moment to reset and reinforce a few important campus expectations to help keep everyone safe, efficient, and respectful during these last weeks of school.

Please take a moment to review the following expectations:

For safety reasons, parents and guardians should never exit their vehicle to approach another car in the pickup line. This creates unsafe conditions for both adults and students and disrupts the flow of traffic.

If an issue arises in the carpool line, please report it directly to campus administration and allow us to address it appropriately.

Additionally, drivers should remain attentive and actively moving with traffic. Distracted driving, including cell phone use, often creates large gaps in the line. This causes confusion for other drivers who may assume a vehicle is parked or no longer part of the queue, creating a chain reaction of unsafe movement as others attempt to close those gaps.

We have recently seen an increase in drivers attempting to bypass the established carpool route.

Please remember:

• The carpool line begins on Mullins and turns right onto Willowbend.
• Drivers traveling west on Willowbend should not attempt to make a left turn directly into the carpool lane.
• Vehicles on Stillbrooke may not turn directly into the carpool queue and bypass cars waiting on Mullins.

At times, traffic gaps may appear because administrators are directing traffic flow at intersections. A visible opening does not mean a driver may enter the line ahead of waiting vehicles.

Any vehicle observed intentionally bypassing the line, cutting traffic, or making illegal U-turns may be directed by administration to exit and re-enter at the end of the line. Repeated violations may also be reported to HPD due to posted traffic signage and safety concerns.

While we appreciate parents looking out for one another, no parent should direct traffic or instruct other drivers in the carpool line. Campus staff and administration will manage traffic flow and address concerns as needed.

We love our furry Parker friends, but dogs are not permitted on campus property.

Families walking students to school with dogs must:

• Keep dogs leashed at all times
• Remain on the public sidewalk areas
• Not bring dogs onto campus grounds or walkways

We have recently received multiple concerns regarding this expectation and appreciate everyone helping us maintain a safe environment for all students.

Thank you again for your continued partnership and support as we finish the school year strong. Our goal is always to ensure Parker remains safe, organized, and welcoming for every student and family.

-Parker Leadership Team

Parker Elementary Finish Strong Attendance Challenge begins tomorrow!

Beginning May 11th through Friday, May 29th, Parker students are invited to participate in our Attendance Challenge! Students with no absences and no more than 3 tardies during the challenge period will earn an invitation to our end-of-year “Atten-Dance!” celebration on June 2.

We are excited to celebrate students for showing commitment, responsibility, and strong attendance as we finish the school year. Thank you for helping us ensure students are at school, on time, and ready to learn each day.

Every day counts at Parker!

- Jennifer Mills, Assistant Principal

- Yaneth Milan, Registrar

I wanted to remind everyone that concert season is in full swing, and it is important that your child has the correct uniform to be able to perform! It is also important to make sure your child wears this uniform to school on the days they have a during school performance, as we do not include time to change in our rehearsal and prep schedules.

Parents will not be allowed to drop off uniform items in the front office for concerts, so please make sure your child wears their uniform to school if they have a daytime performance.

This uniform includes:

• Red Parker Performance Polo (New logo required for advanced performing violins, advanced performing cellos, advanced guitar, advanced chorus, and advanced band; all others may wear the new or old logo design)
• Black dress slacks (No jeans, leggings, or other athletic wear pants)
• Long black socks
• Black dress shoes (No tennis shoes)

Examples of our uniform can be found below, as well as a list of our upcoming concerts to remind you of when they are needed.

Please make sure to order your performance polo from the online school store as soon as possible if you have not done so already: https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/spiritstore as stock is limited and orders take time to be fulfilled and delivered by our wonderful PTO volunteers.

If you need assistance with obtaining any of the performance uniform pieces, please reach out to your music teacher or me (Ashley Kolb) as soon as possible so we can support you ahead of your concert!

-Ashley Kolb, Magnet Coordinator

• Performing Strings Concert - May 11, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
• Guitar Spring Concert - May 12, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
• Youngest and Oldest Strings Concert (Kinder and 5th) - May 13, 2026 @ 8:00 AM
• Singers and Chorus Spring Concert - May 14, 2026 @ 1:30 PM (Parker) and 6:00 PM (WBC)
• Piano Recitals (Group A) - May 18, 2026 during CCR
• Piano Recitals (Group B) - May 22, 2026 during CCR
• Elements of Music Spring Concert - May 26, 2026 @ 1:30 PM
• Band Spring Concert - May 28, 2026 @ 4:00 PM (Grades 1&2) and 5:30 (Grades 3-5)

Join us Friday, May 29th from 7:40-8:05 in the cafeteria for our Middle School Transition Meeting. This will be an informative session with parent representatives from MPVA, Pin Oak, Baylor College of Medicine Academy, and Pershing as we discuss the transition from elementary to middle school. Learn what to expect, how to prepare, and how to support your child through this exciting next step. The panel will discuss general topics and answer questions, so no matter where your child is going to middle school, you'll get some good information.

There will be concurrent parent and student sessions. This meeting will conclude before the 5th grade field trip.

The session will be streamed on Teams, recorded and made available for later viewing. Click here to register for the virtual session.

any questions

To accommodate parents who can't be here in person, we're collecting questions in advance to ensure everyone gets their questions answered. Click here to submit your questions.

Let’s get ready for middle school—together!

Reach out to Heather Grosso at hgrosso@houstonisd.org if you have any questions.

Parker will be loaning Chromebooks to returning students to support summer learning.

It’s important for students to practice skills this summer to prevent learning loss. We don’t want lack of available technology to keep students from using HISD online resources this summer.

This program is only available to returning Parker students.

There are a limited number of Chromebooks available. If you’re interested, please use this link to register by May 29th.

Ms. Grosso will contact families the week of June 1st to schedule technology pick up.

HISD’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team is inviting the HISD families to HISD Day at Children’s Museum on Monday, June 8. HISD Day will be between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a day filled with hands-on exhibits, interactive play zones, and endless fun for both children and adults from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your HISD student to play, learn, and be with their friends to kick off the summer.

FACE asks families to register and attend during one of the following time slots:

• 10 a.m. to noon
• Noon to 2 p.m.
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  
  Families must Sign up for your preferred time slot Children's Museum Houston (blackbaudhosting.com). Space is limited, so don’t delay! Families who register will receive a digital ticket and should bring it with them for entry to the museum.

May-June Character Education Theme: Integrity

May 4-8 - Having Integrity is about telling the truth, even when no one is watching. This week, be honest with yourself and others. When you have integrity, people trust you, because they know you are truthful and honest.

May 11-15 - Having Integrity is doing the right thing, even when it's hard. This week, choose to do what is right. When you have integrity, people trust you, because they can rely on you to do what is right.

May 18-22 - Having Integrity means keeping your promises. This week, keep the promises you make.

May 25-29 - Having Integrity is taking responsibility. It’s about owning up to your mistakes and making things right. It's being brave and fixing what went wrong. This week, take responsibility for your actions and use what you learned to do better next time.

June 1-4 - Having Integrity is being fair. It is treating everyone the same, no matter how they look or where they come from. It's like wearing fairness as a superhero cape. This summer, make it a goal to be fair and kind to everyone you meet. Whether you're playing games, spending time with friends, or meeting new people, aim to treat everyone equally and create a positive and friendly environment at home, in your school and in your community.

-Susan Carlock, School Counselor

👉RSVP for the PTO Meeting

We would love to see you at our last PTO meeting for 2025/2026! We'll be sharing the latest updates, and also take a moment to celebrate and say thank you to our current board members whose terms are ending this year. Getting involved with PTO is a great way to support our school, meet other families, and help make all the fun and meaningful things at Parker happen.

Whether you work full time, part time, stay at home, or can only volunteer occasionally, there is a place for everyone in PTO. Every bit of help makes a difference!

👉 RSVP Here:
https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/88504

Interested in getting involved or learning more? Reach out to our President-Elect at president-elect@parkerpto.org.

🎓 5th Grade Families

Don’t forget to pay your 5th grade fee to help support all of the fun Friday events planned for our students:

https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/5thgrade

🌮 Los Tios Spirit Event

Join us on the 12th for our Los Tios Spirit Event! Grab dinner with family and friends while supporting Parker PTO.

📅 Upcoming Events

Stay in the loop and see what’s coming up at Parker:

https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/events

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Jeanette Mueller

President, Parker Elementary PTO

www.parkerpto.org

832-978-2052 (PTO)

Thank you to everyone who has paid, we are up to 41% of music fees paid!!! If you still need to pay, you can pay online here or download a paper form here!

If you received a music fee reminder letter and have any questions about your payment status, please email me at julie@parkerfriends.org.

Thank you for supporting Parker’s music program! 🎶

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Julie Doyle-Madrid

Executive Director, Parker Friends