May 4, 2025

There are few words that can fully express the deep admiration and gratitude I have for each and every one of the teachers at Parker. As we step into Teacher Appreciation Week, I want you to know just how truly seen, valued, and celebrated you are—not just this week, but every single day.

From the classrooms to the hallways, offices to stages, small groups to lunch duty—you show up with heart, courage, brilliance, and unmatched dedication. You do so much more than teach. You ignite dreams, lift spirits, and shape lives. You are the reason Parker is the exceptional place that it is.

We actually kicked off our celebration early with a Gentle Flow Yoga session and calming sound bath during our May PD Day last Friday—just one of the many ways we’re helping our team feel grounded and appreciated during this busy season.

That’s why we couldn’t possibly fit all the celebration into just one week! With so many upcoming field trips and workshops, we are working in collaboration with our amazing PTO to spread the love across six special days:

🗓 May 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15

This year’s theme—“Our Teachers and Staff are WICKED Oz-Some!”—is the perfect tribute to the magic you create every day. Over the next two weeks, you'll be showered with treats, themed t-shirts, lunches, coffee, and other tokens of appreciation. While the PTO is spearheading these beautiful gestures (thank you, PTO!), know that behind every act is a community that sees the impact you make and stands in awe of your dedication.

Want to help our PTO celebrate these amazing humans?
➡️ Make a donation here
➡️ Write a note of thanks, send a treat, or check out staff favorites on the PTO website

So let’s take this time to lift one another up, smile a little more, and receive the gratitude you have more than earned. Parker wouldn’t be Parker without you—and I couldn’t be prouder to serve as your principal.

Let the celebration begin!

–Principal Carter

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who made me feel so loved and appreciated on Thursday for National Principal’s Day. Your thoughtful gifts, beautiful banners, heartfelt cards, sweet treats, songs, and surprises truly meant the world to me.

I’m still in shock that my first year as Principal of Parker is already coming to a close—it feels like just yesterday I was standing in the performance hall, introducing myself to the community at our Meet and Greet. Time has flown by, and what a journey it has been.

This year has been filled with unforgettable moments, all rooted in our shared commitment to putting students at the center of everything we do. I truly love our Parker students, staff, and community—there is nothing else like it.

Being the leader of such a unique and esteemed school is an honor I do not take lightly. Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your unwavering support.

Even through the challenges, I wouldn’t trade this year for anything. After all, there is no testimony without a test.

From the bottom of my heart—thank you, Parker.

-Principal Carter

Do we expect everything to go perfectly? Nope. But with teamwork, flexibility, and the Parker spirit, we’ll make it a great day—together.

This full campus test run of our 2025–2026 Master Schedule is a major step toward ensuring a smooth transition for next school year. It’s also the result of incredible hard work and planning by our staff, teachers, and support teams behind the scenes—thank you for helping us prepare every detail with care.

🔔 Key Information:

🎶 Magnet Schedule

• Tuesday magnet classes will be held from 2:00–3:00 PM.

• Students with magnet classes on Tuesdays should still bring their instruments.

• Have questions? Please reach out to your child’s music magnet teacher.

🚪 Arrival

• Students must be inside the building before 7:30 AM.

• Car pool gate will close at 7:25pm to all staff to transition students to class.

• Instruction begins promptly at 7:30 AM in all classrooms. Students will be considered tardy at 7:31am.

🕒 Dismissal

• All students will dismiss at 3:00 PM – there will be no 3:40 PM dismissal.

• Instruction ends at 3:00 PM, and students will begin walking out at that time. Expect them to exit by 3:05 PM.

• Dismissal procedures remain the same. Please continue using your regular method (car rider, walker, walk-up, etc.).

• Make sure your vehicle window tag (for carpool) or walk-up tag is clearly visible.

📌 Additional Notes

• Campus will be closed to visitors during the school day.

• All scheduled ARD meetings will proceed as planned.

• Only parents invited for strings lessons may enter. Contact your child’s strings teacher if you’re unsure.

• No lunch visits with students on this day.

• PTO after-school care and clubs will continue as normal.

📄 Click here or image below to view the full Master Schedule

Thursday was a jam-packed day of events at Parker, and one of the most memorable highlights was the Chorus Season Finale Concert. This culminating performance featured beautiful selections from our 1st and 2nd Grade Singers, our Beginning Chorus (3rd Grade), and our Advanced Chorus (4th & 5th Grades).

A very special thank you goes out to our amazing staff, chorus volunteers, and to chorus parent Tammy Mermelstein for helping organize such a successful and seamless event.

This concert also marked a deeply meaningful moment in Parker’s history—the farewell performance for Ms. Marianna Parnas-Simpson, who is retiring after 25 remarkable years as our beloved Chorus Director.

The evening was a moving tribute to Ms. Simpson’s legacy, filled with joy, gratitude, and music. It was especially touching to see the large turnout of alumni who returned to celebrate her impact and join the current Advanced Chorus in the final number, “Come and Sing” by Wallace Hornady—a fitting anthem for a life dedicated to music and community.

Thank you, Ms. Simpson, for the generations of voices you’ve nurtured and the hearts you’ve inspired. Your legacy will echo through Parker for years to come.

As we approach the end-of-year concert season, please remember that students must be in full concert uniform in order to perform.

The required performance attire includes:

• Red Parker performance shirt (tail tucked in)
• Black slacks (no jeans)
• Black socks
• Black dress shoes (soles must be black)

IMPORTANT NOTE:::

Please send your students DRESSED in full uniform on the day of their performance. If they have PE they can change shoes for class. We don't want students to loose instruction time to be changed.

If students do not come dressed in their uniform, they will not be allowed to perform.

Thank you for helping our performers look sharp and professional on stage!

This week we also, gave a huge shoutout to the heart of our cafeteria—our incredible nutrition team—for School Lunch Hero Day!

These five amazing ladies serve up more than just meals—they serve up kindness, care, and smiles every single day. Whether it’s breakfast or lunch, they work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our students are fed, fueled, and ready to learn.

Help us celebrate our Parker Lunch Heroes:
💫 Lizbeth Roman – Cafeteria Manager
💫 Laura Carrizal
💫 Bridgett Ngandu
💫 Calia Pizano
💫 Minerva Sanchez

Thank you for everything you do for our students, staff, and school community. Parker is a better place because of you!dia caption?

The PE Expo—our very own Parker Field Day—was a tremendous success!

Our students had an incredible time rotating through stations, staying active, and proudly demonstrating the skills they’ve learned in PE this year. From locomotor movements and muscle-strengthening activities to rolling, throwing, catching, putting, and showcasing outstanding sportsmanship, they truly shined.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our amazing staff, dedicated volunteers, and our PTO for helping make this day so special. We truly couldn’t have done it without you!

Most of all, an enormous shoutout and job well done to Coach Chili for organizing and hosting such a phenomenal, educational, and fun experience for our students. This event should truly be the exemplar of what Field Day can and should look like across the district. We are incredibly lucky to have her talent, vision, and expertise here at Parker.

And of course, thank you to Chris Hokanson for being the ultimate Field Day chair—your problem-solving, positivity, and planning made a huge impact.

Go Parker Lions!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Literacy Week and attended Literacy Night—your enthusiasm made it a huge success!

As a campus, we read a total of 18,328 minutes throughout the week—more than tripling our original goal of 5,000 minutes!

As promised, Mr. Carter and the Assistant Principals dressed up as babies on Thursday, and made surprise classroom visits. The students loved every second—special shoutout to our amazing teachers for tolerating all the “baby tantrums”! 🎉👶

📸 See photos below for some fun moments!

—Heather Grosso, Title Coordinator

You're Invited: Final Title I Meeting of the Year!

Join us next week for our final Title I meeting of the school year! We’ll be sharing affordable summer opportunities and fun, engaging activities/resources to keep kids learning all summer long.

In addition, we’ll review and gather your input on two important items:

-The School-Parent Compact
-The Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Choose the time that works best for you:

Thursday, May 8 at 6:00 PM
or
Friday, May 9 at 8:15 AM
Both meetings will be held in the cafeteria.

We value your voice and hope to see you there!

For questions, contact Heather Grosso at hgrosso@houstonisd.org

May-June Character Education Theme: Integrity

Week 1 - 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.

Week 2 – 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.

Week 3- Having integrity means keeping your promises. This week, keep the promises you make.

Week 4- 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.

Week 5-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.

Teacher Appreciation

Parker PTO loves our staff. Please visit https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/teacherappreciation to learn how PTO is celebrating our teachers and how you can support.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

🌟Special Art Project on May 8th! Got an SUV? We need help loading and hauling art materials to the El Dorado Ballroom. Sign up to volunteer and meet at Parker by 8:30 AM.

Sign up here: https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/146589

PTO Spirit Day with CoffeeTrend is May 6

Local favorite coffee shop and PTO Sponsor, CoffeeTrend, is back for another Spirit Day with Parker PTO! Head on over to 4042 S Braeswood Blvd, mention "Parker PTO” and 10% of all sales will go back to the Parker PTO! You can order ahead (and even earn free coffee with every 9 orders) using the Clover app. Check out their menu here: https://coffeetrendhtx.com/menu/

Afterschool Care Registration

Registration is currently closed for returning Afterschool Care Families. If you have additional questions or concerns about the program, registration, or tuition, please email Robin Gibson at rgibson@houstonisd.org AND the PTO ASC Chair at afterschoolcare@parkerpto.org.

For families who are new to Afterschool Care with Parker PTO, registration opens Wednesday, May 7 at 8:00 PM. Set your alarm because spots fill up quickly.

Full step-by-step instructions, plus tuition, days, hours, and FAQs are on the PTO website's Afterschool Care page: https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/afterschoolcare

Join the PTO leadership team and make a difference in our school community! We’re looking for passionate, dedicated parents to serve as board members and committee chairs. This is an excellent opportunity to support our students, collaborate with teachers, and help plan exciting events. No experience is needed—just a willingness to contribute your time and ideas! Get involved, make connections, and directly impact our school’s success.

Please fill out this form and let us know you are interested, even if you aren't sure what you want to do. If you have already expressed interest, a board member will contact you soon.

Complete the PTO Interest Survey Here

Job Description of PTO Leadership

PTO Organizational Chart

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Jeanette Mueller

President, Parker Elementary PTO

www.parkerpto.org

832-987-2052 (PTO)

Music Contributions Update

Thank you to everyone who has already paid—43.7% of student music contributions have been received so far! Your support plays a vital role in keeping our music program strong.

If you haven't already done so, you can pay your student's music contribution here.

If you received a reminder letter but have already paid, I apologize. Thank you for your patience as Parker Friends and the school, work to improve the process for sending out reminder letters.

Feel free to email me at: julie@parkerfriends.org if you'd like payment confirmation or have any questions

May 2025

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 5th

**Birthday Alert** - Ms. Priscilla Quiocho (5th Grade Science Teacher)

May 6th

25/26 Master Schedule Pilot Day

SDMC Meeting (3:45-4:45)

Kinder Fire Truck Visit (1:30-2:30)

SDMC Meeting (3:45-4:45)

May 7th - May 9th

Band Workshop 2025

May 8th

Emergent Bilingual Party (1:30-2:30)

Piano students at St. John’s (10am-1pm)

Title I Meetings (6pm-7pm)

May 9th

5th Grade Fun Friday (8am-8:30)

Title I Meetings (8:15-9:15)

May 10th

**Birthday Alert** - Ms. Amanda Miller (1st Grade Teacher)

May 12th -16th

IRT #4 Window

May 12th

Chat & Chew w/ Principal Carter (8am & 5pm)

Performing Strings Concert (6pm-7pm)

May 13th

Youngest and Oldest Rehearsal (8:15 - 9:15am)

Elements of Music Concert (1:30pm-2:30pm)

Beginning Strings Concert (4pm-5pm)

May 14th

2nd-5th Grade Guitar Concert (6pm-7pm)

May 15th

4th Grade Piano Concert (1:30-2:30)

May 16th

8th Grade Fun Friday (8am-9:30)

PTO General Meeting (6pm)