PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Good afternoon Parker Families:

I hope that this message finds you all doing well amidst all the hustle and bustle of the season! We had a tremendously busy week at Parker as students continued working hard, building skills, and developing independence.

The Parker Be the Change Project

This week marked the culmination of our month-long service project where we used the words of Gandhi to inspire our service, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Each 4 person team chose their service project, planned their activities, and made it happen!

Team 5A Explorers - Birthday Cake Boxes for Chelmsford Food Pantry

Team 5B Voyagers - Kindness Coupon Books

Team 5C Navigators- "You Rock" Student Recognition Rocks

Team 5D Innovators-Kindness Ambassadors for the rest of the year and monthly projects.

Team 6A Entrepreneurs-Meals of Hope:students packed meal kits for families in need.

Team 6B Engineers-Table of Plenty placemats and jewelry

Team 6C Inventors - Birthday Cake Kits

Team 6D Architects-New/Gently used children book drive and making book marks to be donated to a local organization

It is our hope that this project kindled a love of service and the benefits it gives not only to those who receive the service but for the students performing the service. We seek to empower our kids to see the impact they can have on their community. I am so proud of their efforts under the guidance of our amazing staff. The spirit of giving was palpable in our hallways and classrooms this month. It is inspiring to see the good we can do when we concentrate our collective efforts!

Parker Winter Concerts

This week was a favorite of many in our school because of our annual winter concert in school. Yesterday our entire school community walked to the Chelmsford High School Performing Arts Center for a concert featuring the Chorus, Band, and Orchestra ensembles under the direction of Martha Robertson and Jodi Richardson, Eric Linsner and Vincent DeStefano, and Lisa Tiano and Luke Miller respectively. Nearly 600 students performed in front of their peers who cheered on each other with enthusiasm and joy. As the ensembles changed on stage, the students were treated to sing along seasonal favorites. It was truly a fun and festive concert, and I was incredibly proud of all of our students. They have come so far in a few short months!

On Tuesday night, the Chorus ensembles performed to a packed house of parents, grandparents, and friends at the CHS PAC. On Thursday night our Orchestra ensembles put on their Winter Concert as well. Both concerts put a spotlight on the amazing talent being honed by our amazing teachers while developing skill, discipline, and self confidence in our students. The students clearly relished the opportunity to perform in front of their family and friends!

Parker STEM Fair

We are excited to announce that Parker will be hosting a STEM (Science, technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Fair on Thursday, March 26, 2025. We are still organizing a parent volunteer committee to help organize this event. If you are interested in helping out please reach out to me. Look for more specific details including structure, guidelines, and registration upon our return from break.

Pride PAW Winners for December

We are excited to announce our December PRIDE Paw winners:

Grade 5: Ishaan Badola, Kaleb Danielson, Bella King, Julia Maxwell

Grade 6: Zoey Blackwood-Pazmino, Jemma Bombaci, Karthik Ganti, Ava Padalia

These students were randomly chosen out of all those students who were recognized by a staff member this month for demonstrating our PRIDE values: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy. These students serve as role models to their peers!

We will embark on our winter vacation after two more days next Monday and Tuesday. I hope that you and your families are able to spend time together with family and friends enjoying the season! Please encourage your child to read at least one book over the break. I am thankful to work in a such a supportive school community. Your support of our service project was instrumental in its success. Best wishes and Happy New Year!

Warm regards,

Josh

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BRRR!!! It's cold outside!! Parker students will still be going outside for recess/outside break every day, weather permitting. Please BUNDLE UP!! Remember to wear appropriate clothing, sweatshirts, warm coats, hats and gloves are recommended.

PARKER MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS SET A 2:15 p.m. CUT-OFF TIME FOR ALL STUDENT DISMISSALS AS IT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY MEASURE THAT ENSURES A SECURE AND ORDERLY END TO THE SCHOOL DAY.

Why the 2:15 p.m. cutoff is crucial for safety

• Minimizes disruption: A cutoff prevents a continuous stream of parents from pulling students out of class at various times, which can interrupt academic instruction and cause confusion.

• Maximizes supervision: A standardized and predictable dismissal routine allows staff to focus their attention on the safety of all students leaving school. Having staff pulled away to process late requests can leave other students under-supervised.

• Reduces traffic hazards: Managing traffic flow is a major safety concern at dismissal. A firm deadline helps control congestion in and around the school. Late requests force parents to navigate a heavy flow of buses and carpool traffic, which increases the risk of accidents.

• Prevents unauthorized pickups: A clear policy ensures that all pickup requests are processed through the main office before the afternoon rush. Staff can verify the identity of authorized individuals without pressure, preventing any unauthorized releases of students.

• Prepares for emergencies: In the event of a school emergency, a strict dismissal protocol allows for a more organized and effective response. School staff will know the exact location of all students, preventing a chaotic search.

~THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION WITH THIS POLICY. Please contact the office with any questions or concerns.

The lost and found racks are overflowing with your student's stuff! There are sweatshirts, coats, lunch boxes, water bottles galore and a lot more. Please ask your students to check for any lost or missing items. All unclaimed items will be donated or disposed of over the winter break in December. ~Thank you.

DRAMA: The cast list is out and we have had a successful first rehearsal. Check schedule weekly for updates: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bkuEEpcdfAKv7FGLqdZp5EKnc6IKpymJmRHEf1-cKmE/edit?tab=t.0

SELECT CHORUS:The official roster is out and we have also had a successful first rehearsal. See the Fall/Winter schedule here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a9Sa7k8JvjQ53aaZi0qA30pR6OBp4P3cG2-SuDQybTI/edit?usp=sharing

Clubs & Activities run from 2:40 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. Late buses will be provided on those days.

The Activity Fee is $50 per student. To pay PLEASE CLICK ON LINK My School Bucks preferred method of payment (SEE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW). The activity fee allows students to take full advantage of any clubs they wish to attend. The after-school activities run from 2:40-3:40 on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday throughout the year. Students also have the option of taking a late bus home. The routes are posted in the school and will not be posted publicly. We will work with students and the drivers to be sure students take the correct bus home. Since we only have 8 late buses, for both McCarthy and Parker the stops tend to be more spread out than the “regular” bus runs. After activities, students who are not taking a bus will exit the school into the Crooked Spring Road lot and can be picked up there.

Please SEE UPDATED BROCHURE for more details: Parker Middle School Clubs & Activities Brochure 2025-2026

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Yearbooks are now on sale! Emails have been sent by our yearbook company (Walsworth) with an ordering link, but you can also order at https://yearbookforever.com/

No books will be available for sale in June...don't miss out on capturing this year's memories!

Check out the below upcoming PTO activities. You can always reach us at ptoParker@gmail.com. Parker & McCarthy PTOs work collaboratively to provide community building activities, provide enrichment programs for our students and families and support our teachers. Upcoming events, activities and additional information can also be found on our new website.

👕🦁 Pridewear

All pridewear is available in the office for pickup. If you would like it sent home with your student contact the front office.

❄️⛄🎶 Winter Socials

Every January we have a social for each of the two grades. There is music, games, snacks, and activities in the gym. The kids LOVE it and have a blast. We are looking for some help planning entertainment, logistics and staffing. Contact Sarah at sayholland@gmail.com with interest and ideas. Save the below dates!

• Grade 5 Social - Friday, January 16th - 2:40 to 4:00 PM
• Grade 6 Social - Friday, January 23rd - 2:40 to 4:00 PM

Join us via the Zoom link - We encourage any middle school parent/guardian to join us to learn about upcoming events and activities throughout the school year. PTO meetings will be virtual until May 2026.

Calendar Raffle

We hold a winter fundraiser where families sell raffle tickets and then we choose a daily winner of a variety of fun prizes. We are beginning our outreach to local businesses and beyond for donations. Please reach out to us if you are any of the below.

• You have a business and would like to donate.
• You know of a great business that would like to donate.
• You would be happy to send some emails, go on websites, or visit local businesses to get donations.

🏒 Riverhawks Hockey:

UML Riverhawks will be hosting Chelmsford Middle Schools. Meet all your middle school friends at the Tsongas for two great nights of hockey!

• Sunday, December 28th @ 3:30 PM Click link to order tickets
• Saturday, February 21st @ 6:05 PM Click link to order tickets

🏀 Harlem Globetrotters:

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team founded in 1996 in Harlem, New York, known for their combination of elite athleticism, entertainment, and comedic showmanship. Support the PTO as $5 of each ticket will be donated back to the Middle Schools PTO.

• Saturday, February 14th @ 2:00 PM Click link to order tickets

Thank you!

The Box Tops for Education app allows you to earn cash for schools by purchasing participating Box Tops products and scanning your store receipts or digital receipts. You can download the free app for iOS and Android devices, select your school, scan the receipt, and the app automatically identifies and credits your school for the products. Earnings are posted to the school's account and checks are sent to the schools twice a year.

1. Download the App: Get the Box Tops for Education app from your device's app store.
2. Select Your School: Choose a school to support, or find a school in need.
3. Shop: Purchase Box Tops products that have the Box Tops icon.
4. Scan Receipts: Open the app, tap "Scan," and take a clear, well-lit photo of your store receipt to earn cash for your school.
5. Earn: The app automatically identifies the Box Tops products and adds the earnings to your school's account.
6. Receive Funds: Eligible schools receive checks twice a year based on the earnings credited to their accounts.

WAYS TO EARN: Connected Accounts: Connect your account to participating retailers, like Walmart, to automatically earn when you buy eligible products. Bonus Box Tops: Participate in special promotions and sweepstakes to earn extra earnings for your school.

https://chelmsfordschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Family-and-Student-Handbook-2025-2026-FINAL.pdf

If your student is going to be absent, tardy or dismissed please:

Email: ParkerAttendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Please Send Email: Prior to 9am on the day of the absence. Please Include: Child’s name, Grade, and Reason for absence. We encourage you to use the email option when reporting an absence, dismissal, etc. for efficiency.

**PLEASE READ**

We will continue to send automated emails home when students are absent. You will receive the email whether you notified the school or not. In order for an absence to be marked as "Excused", families will need to provide medical documentation. Please call the office if you have any questions or need clarification. ~ Thank you for your understanding.

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: https://family.onlineordering.linq.com/
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on X2-Student's ID Number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, student's name should appear on page

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)
2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click check-out
7. Select pick-up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/High school pick up location cafeteria.
8. Place order

Early Release Dates:

Tuesday, January 13th

Thursday, February 5th

Wednesday, March 11th

Tuesday, April 7th

Email: robinsond@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://parker.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 75 Graniteville Road
Phone: 978-251-5133