May 24, 2026
An End of an Era - We Will Miss You!!
As we prepare for the close of another incredible school year, I also want to take a moment to recognize two extraordinary leaders who will be transitioning from Parker Elementary at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year: Mr. Bryan Berry and Ms. Gina Garcia.
There are few words that truly capture the impact these two leaders have had on Parker, our students, our staff, and on me personally as a principal and leader.
Ms. Garcia has faithfully served Parker Elementary for the past four years as Assistant Principal. During her time here, she has helped lead our campus through growth, change, achievement, and continuous improvement with grace, professionalism, and heart. As she transitions into a new Assistant Principal role in Pearland to be closer to her new home and continue prioritizing her beautiful family, we celebrate this exciting new chapter with her. While we will deeply miss her leadership and daily presence, we are grateful for the countless ways she has poured into Parker and helped shape the culture and success of this campus.
Mr. Berry’s transition marks the end of an incredible 12-year chapter of service as Assistant Principal at Parker Elementary. His dedication, consistency, relationships, and commitment to students and staff have left a lasting legacy that will continue to be felt for years to come. As he steps into a new role as Assistant Principal at Pin Oak Middle School, we proudly celebrate this well-earned promotion and the opportunity for him to begin a new era of leadership and service in a new community. Pin Oak is gaining an exceptional leader, and Parker will forever be better because of the years Mr. Berry invested here.
Together, Mr. Berry and Ms. Garcia have been far more than assistant principals to me. They have been trusted thought partners, sounding boards during moments of reflection, accountability partners, and leaders who continuously embraced growth, feedback, and the pursuit of excellence. We challenged one another, supported one another, and worked side-by-side through every success, obstacle, celebration, and transition.
Over these two years, we have shared countless laughs, inside jokes, and silly moments that made even the hardest days lighter. We have also shared difficult moments, disappointments, frustrations, and tears. Through all of it, we remained committed to one another, to this work, and most importantly, to the students and families we serve. Those experiences created not just a leadership team, but genuine relationships and a bond that I will always treasure.
Quite honestly, “TP4” will never truly feel like “TP4” without them. (TP4 is our nickname for the admin team 😋"The Parker Four")
I shared during Assistant Principals Week how much I value and appreciate both of these leaders, and I meant every word. They have been one of the greatest blessings and best parts of my experience as principal at Parker. I truly could not have asked for better partners in this work.
On behalf of the entire Parker community, I want to thank Mr. Berry and Ms. Garcia for their unwavering service, leadership, commitment, and love for this campus. We wish them continued joy, abundant blessings, and tremendous success in their new endeavors.
And no matter where their journeys take them next, they will always have a home at Parker.
Parents please have a chat with your students about this transition. Some of the students are still unaware and we want them to have those conversations in the comfort of your homes in case they have big feelings. Be sure they show Mrs. Garcia and Mr. Berry some love in these last couple of days of school.
-Principal Carter
End of the Year Class Celebrations
We are excited to celebrate the End of the Year season with our students! Each homeroom will hold a class celebration on June 3 and June 4.
Donations
If you would like to donate snacks or activities, please check with the room parent(s) for the needed items and amounts.
Celebration Time Limits
Each class celebration will last one hour. Please check with your child’s teacher to confirm when parents may arrive, set up, or decorate before the celebration begins.
Parent Attendance
To ensure celebrations are enjoyable and safe for all students, we have a limit to the number of adults who may attend in person:
- Pre-K: up to 2 parents per student only
- Kindergarten: 2 room parents + up to 6 additional parents
- 1st–5th Grade: 2 room parents + up to 4 additional parents
Please note:
- Parent names must be submitted in advance and will be turned into Ms. Rowe for celebration badge preparation and VIPS verification.
- Parents may not bring additional children to celebrations, including infants and toddlers. T
- This is especially important for PreK parents the space is very limited to accommodate additional guest. Teachers would like for you to be fully engaged with students during activities.
- Students in other grade levels will not be permitted to check out of class to attend another grade level’s celebration
Celebration Dates & Times
Wednesday, June 3
- 4th Grade: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Kindergarten: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- 2nd Grade: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Thursday, June 4
- Pre-K: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- 1st Grade: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- 3rd Grade: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Thank you for helping us make this a joyful and memorable experience for our students. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to celebrating together!
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher.
ATTEN-DANCE Challenge – Final Week!
This is the LAST week for students to earn their invitation to Parker’s end-of-year ATTEN-DANCE!
Students with no unexcused absences and no more than 3 tardies between May 11–29 will earn a spot at our glow-in-the-dark dance celebration on June 2!
We are so proud of the amazing attendance and punctuality our students have shown during this challenge. Let’s finish strong, Parker Lions!
Help your child arrive at school every day and every day on time this week so they do not miss their chance to celebrate!
-Jennifer Mills, Assistant Principal
-Yaneth Milan, Registrar
Annual Student Update Due June 4th
It's that time of year! We're asking all HISD families to complete the Annual Student Update (ASU) — your chance to verify and update your contact information and complete important districtwide forms before the new school year begins.
Completing your ASU now means a smoother, stress-free start to the school year for your family.
The Priority deadline to complete is June 4th!
To begin, click on the link below and follow the "Current Student" pathway.
https://apps.hisd-survey.org/surveys/enrollment
The ASU includes:
- Updated family and emergency contact information
- Beginning-of-year districtwide required forms
- Other important information to support your student
It only takes a few minutes — don't wait! Families who complete the ASU early are set up for a seamless first day of school.
Thank you for partnering with us to make the 2026-2027 a great year! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the front office at 713.726.3634.
Upcoming Awards Ceremonies
As we prepare for our end-of-year Awards Ceremonies, please take a moment to review the following important information:
Some general awards presented at ceremony will include:
- Parker Proud Certificate
- Parker Honor Roll Certificate
- Principal’s Honor Roll Certificate
- Perfect Attendance Certificates
- NWEA Growth Certificate
Special Awards
- Safety Patrol
- Student Council
- GT Expo Finalists
- Music Awards
- 5th Grade Diplomas
- Lions of the Month
Performance Hall Logistics
- Balloon Reminder: Balloons are not permitted in the Performance Hall.
- Stroller Parking: Strollers must be parked in the main hallway.
- Food/Drink: No food, drinks, sippy cups, baby bottles, or candy are allowed inside the Performance Hall.
PreK & 5th Grade Ceremony Specifics
- Each student will receive 4 tickets for guests. Infants seated in laps do not require a ticket.
- Reserved Seating: Designated for PTO auction winners.
- Tickets will not be reissued if lost.
Kinder-4th Grade Ceremony Specifics
- Each student may receive 2 tickets for guests. Infants seated in laps do not require a ticket.
- Reserved Seating: Designated for PTO auction winners.
- Tickets will not be reissued if lost.
Dismissal Procedures
- Sign-Outs: Parents may sign students out before the ceremony on a class roster provided by the front office. After the ceremony, students will return to their classrooms and be released once called over the intercom.
- Sibling Checkout Policy: If a parent chooses to sign out a sibling not involved in the ceremony, the sibling must be checked out after 9:30 a.m. (ADA time) and must go home for the remainder of the day. Students may not attend an award ceremony for a grade level they are not part of.
- Seating Notice: Due to limited seating and fire code compliance, additional seating in aisles or walkways is not permitted.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in making these celebrations memorable and safe for our students and families. Let’s finish the year strong!
🎓 5th Grade Middle School Spirit Day – Tuesday, June 2nd 🎓
As we celebrate the final week of school for our amazing 5th graders, we are inviting all 5th grade students to wear a t-shirt representing the middle school they will attend next year on Tuesday, June 2nd!
This special day is a fun way to build excitement, celebrate their next chapter, and honor the incredible journey our students have had at Parker. We cannot wait to see our future middle school scholars proudly representing their new campuses!
Once a Parker Lion, always a Parker Lion! 🦁
Gifted & Talented
Summer School Reminder!
Families, this is a friendly reminder to check your child’s summer school notification. If your child is required, recommended, or invited to attend, you should have received a physical letter and a survey link to confirm attendance, campus assignment, and transportation needs.
Please take a few minutes to review the information and complete the survey as soon as possible to secure your child’s spot.
Summer school runs June 10 through July 17, Monday through Friday, with holidays on June 19 and July 2–3. Keep in mind that campuses are hubbed during the summer, so your child’s assigned site may be different from their home campus. Contact your home campus if you need support!
5th Grade Transition Meeting
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.
Can’t make it?
The session will be streamed on Teams, recorded and made available for later viewing. Click here to register for the virtual session.
any questions
Have 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.
2026 Food Systems Summer Camp
Houston ISD Nutrition Services is offering a free Food Systems Summer Camp for students in grades 3–8, running from June 10 through July 17. Campers will get hands-on experience learning how food moves from farm to table through gardening, cooking, and sustainability projects.
The program also includes field trips across Houston, where students can meet chefs, explore urban farms, and discover careers in food and agriculture. Camp runs from 8:00 AM to 2:40 PM, with breakfast and lunch provided at multiple locations serving up to 40 students per site. This is a fun, interactive way for students to build real-world skills and connect with food in a meaningful way. Get Registered Here!
SUMMER SWIM SAFETY
Chromebook Summer Checkout
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 Day at The Children's Museum
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
PTO & PARKER FRIENDS UPDATES
📌 PTO To Do This Week:
Tuesday, June 2: 👕 Free Dress Day for students who purchased the $25 Free Dress Package
🙋♀️ Parent volunteers are needed to help with the Atten-Dance on June 2nd. Please sign up if you can.
https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer
Thursday, June 4:🍧 Celebrate the last day of school with the Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Truck! Truck will be there from 2:45–4:45 PM
📍 Parked outside the front of the school
🎓 5th Grade Families
Please submit your 5th grade contributions if you have not already done so. These help cover:
• Fun Friday celebrations
• Field Trip ($12 fee)
• End-of-Year Bash
• Memory Book and more!
Field Trip Fee:
https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/fieldtrips
📚 School Supplies
Order teacher-approved school supplies by July 1:
https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/104115
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Jeanette Mueller
President, Parker Elementary PTO
832-978-2052 (PTO)
🎵 It takes all of us to keep the music playing.
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