Thank you for taking the time to review our updates for this week:

PTO Virtual Meeting

Please join us for our Virtual PTO Meeting - Monday, April 15th at 6:00 PM

PTO Virtual Meeting Link

8th Grade Virtual Parent Meeting

Thank you to our 8th Grade Families that attended our 8th Grade Virtual Parent Meeting last week. If you were unable to attend, the recording is included in the 8th Grade Update section of this newsletter. Updates will be provided in our weekly newsletter. Please contact our Main Office with any additional questions or concerns regarding 8th Grade End of the Year Activities.

MAP Assessment

Our MAP Assessment is scheduled the week of April 22nd. Please review the Testing Section of our newsletter for each Grade Level Testing Schedule.

SD161 Spring Reading Challenge

​​The Flossmoor School District 161 Spring Reading Challenge has started! Grown-ups and students throughout the district can complete a BINGO sheet to be entered to win our Spring Reading Challenge prizes! Students can stop by the Media Center to pick up a copy of the BINGO sheet! For each BINGO you achieve you will get an entry! Turn in a sheet and get a new one right away.

Spring Reading Challenge Bingo Sheet

2023-2024 Parker Yearbook

Click on the link below to order a Parker Yearbook! It’s not too late!

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015288184163831

Reminder for Morning Drop Off Procedures:

• Please do not drop off or pick up your scholars in the front circle of Parker

• Do not block the entrance for buses when dropping off your scholar in the morning. This creates a backup of traffic

Please be sure to follow Parker Facebook for real time updates: https://www.facebook.com/PJHS161

Best Regards,

Ms. Ursula Parris, Principal

Congratulations to Parker 6th Grade Scholar Leah Lucas!

She competed in the USA Gymnastics State Championship and won 1st place in the Bronze Xcel Division with an overall score of 38.50.

Bars- 9.450

Vault- 9.65

Balance Beam-9.65

Floor -9.75

NWEA Spring MAP Assessment will begin April 22nd

6th, 7th, 8th Grade Scholars (See Schedule Below)

AIMSWeb Assessment will begin May 7th

Selected Scholars (based upon assessment data)

If there are any questions regarding our Testing processes or procedures, please contact Mario Ford, Assistant Principal - Testing and Accountability at mford@sd161.org.

• Access the Panoramic Order Form to place your order. Panoramic Photo was taken April 10th with Parker 8th Grade Scholars.
• Monday, April 15th - Grade Level Community Meeting with 8th Grade Scholars

• Wednesday, May 22 - Great America Trip, Permission slips and payment due April 19. Great America Permission Slip

Graduation Rehearsal - Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Graduation Rehearsal - Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Graduation Ceremony - Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at HF High School- 6:00 PM (Graduates must be present no later than 5:30 PM)

Community Grade Level Meetings

6th- 8th grade scholars will participate in 4th quarter grade level meetings and receive updates for end of the year academic and behavior expectations. Presentation will be shared in future newsletters.

Saturday Detention

Parents, please be aware when your child is scheduled for Saturday Detention, the hours are 8:00 am - 11:00 am. If you arrive after 8:15, you will need to reschedule with your grade level Dean. Also, TWO No Shows/No Calls for Saturday Detention will result in your scholar being assigned an ISS. Thank you for your support and please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Please see the Dress Code Policy below:

6.20 - School Dress Code We expect all students to be dressed appropriately and comfortably for school each day. Students are expected to be reasonably dressed and prepared to participate in a professional and hard working school environment. Any student whose dress is deemed to be inappropriate will be provided with a shirt or shorts that will appropriately cover the dress code violation. Clothes must be worn in such a way that the genitals, buttocks, stomach, sides, back and chest area are fully covered with opaque fabric. All undergarments must be fully covered. The following apply to all student attire:

a) Shirts must have opaque fabric in the front, back and on the sides under the arms that extends to the waistband,

b) Pants/sweatpants/shorts/ skirt/dress/leggings must be worn at waist level and in such a way that genitals, buttocks, undergarments are fully covered with opaque fabric, and,

c) Shoes must be worn at all times.

The following guidance is intended to illustrate implementation of the above requirements for students, parents, and school personnel while on school property:

1. Jackets, coats, hats, hoods, gloves, and other forms of outerwear apparel are not to be worn in school. Fleece and sweatshirts may be worn in school as long as a hood is not covering a student’s head.

2. No head covering or cap may be worn in the school unless for religious or health reasons.

3. Only prescription glasses may be worn in school.

4. Attire, earrings, jewelry, pins, or any other type of wearing apparel or accessories that advertise, promote, or depict alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, drugs, gangs, weapons, nudity, obscenity, or profanity are not to be worn in school.

5. Students are not permitted to wear or advertise in any manner drug, alcohol, weapons, or any controlled substance paraphernalia.

6. Pajama attire is not to be worn in school, unless given special permission [PBIS reward, etc.]

Mr. Small, 6th Grade Dean

Ms. Bennett, 7th Grade Dean

Mr. Metanias, 8th Grade Dean

AVID 2024-2025

The AVID program is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Scholars new to the AVID program can pick up applications in the main office or outside of room 61. Scholars continuing in the AVID program will need to complete an application as well. Applications are available in our classroom. If you have any questions, please email Dewey at adewey@sd161.org.

Spring Musical

Tickets for the Spring Musical go on sale Monday, April 22nd. Tickets can be purchased during all 3 lunch periods, from the main office, or from Mrs. E. Nicotra. The performance dates are Friday, April 26th at 7 pm and Saturday, April 27th at 3 pm.

Soccer

Boys and Girls soccer had their first games on Tuesday April 9, 2024 against Chicago Heights Middle School. The boys lost 3-0 while the girls won 3-2! Thursday April 11, 2024 the teams played against Columbia Central. The girls won 5-1 and the boys lost 3-1. Congratulations Falcons! Their next games will be Tuesday April 16, 2024 against Kankakee.

Athletic Eligibility

For all IESA activities, athletic as well as non-athletic, passing work shall be checked weekly. Eligibility will be applied to the Monday through Saturday following the week that was checked. Students must be passing each subject each week to be eligible. Grades will be pulled every Friday. Emails will be sent to parents/guardians of those scholars who are not passing their classes.

SPECTATORS

Per South Suburban Junior High School Association (SSJHSA), students MUST be accompanied by THEIR parent/guardian to attend any home or away athletic events in the conference. Parents/guardians MUST remain with their scholar during the entire game.

Transfer/new students to PJH must present a 6th grade physical. It is the parent's responsibility to provide a copy of the physical/immunization forms from previous school records. Out of state transfers must have a physical on the Illinois form.

Medications - The only 2 medications (over the counter or prescription) that a student can have in their possession (including backpack, purses, etc.) is an inhaler or epi-pen with authorization. An epi-pen requires physician and parent authorization on the required forms. An inhaler requires parent authorization on the District form and the inhaler prescription box. Students may not have any over the counter or prescription medications at school at any time without the required district authorization forms.

Action Plans - An annual updated action plan is requested for all students with allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes and other medical conditions.

COVID-19. Please report all positive COVID cases to the Nurse (708- 647-5437).

Homework Help is available Tuesday - Thursday from 2:35 pm-3:05 pm. Please make sure your child has transportation home. Bus Transportation will not be provided.

Email: uparris@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/parker-junior-high

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJHS161
Location: 2810 School Street, Flossmoor, Illinois 60422