Parker Back to School Newsletter

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នេះជារបៀប!

នៅផ្នែកខាងស្តាំនៃព្រឹត្តិបត្រព័ត៌មាននេះមានប៊ូតុងបកប្រែ សូមចុច និងជ្រើសរើសភាសារបស់អ្នក ហើយព្រឹត្តិបត្រព័ត៌មាននឹងត្រូវបានផ្លាស់ប្តូរ!

Dear Parker Families,

Welcome to the start of the new school year! We are looking forward to welcoming all of our students in grades 1 through 4 back to school on Wednesday, September 2nd. Our Kindergarten families will join us the following morning for Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday, September 3rd at 9:30 AM. The beginning of the school year is always a special time, and our staff is ready to welcome both returning students and new faces as we begin a fresh chapter of learning, growth, and new friendships.

To help your child have a successful start, we ask families to focus on establishing strong daily routines and expectations right from day one. Setting consistent sleep schedules and organized morning habits will help students feel confident and prepared each day. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to make this a wonderful school year for our students.

Best,

Mr. Lutinski

Principal

4.5 Cellphone / Electronic Devices
Cellphones, smart watches or any other electronic communication devices are not permitted to be used during the school day, or on the buses. In the event that it can be demonstrated that the use of a device is a necessity during the day or on the bus the Principal/Assistant Principal may waive this policy to accommodate the needs of a particular student. All phone calls to or from students should be made through the main office, parents are requested to refrain from calling or texting their child during the school day.

Students are discouraged from bringing cellphones to school at all. Students who bring cellphones to school must keep them off and in their backpacks. Cellphones that are taken out of backpacks can be confiscated and released only to parents. The school is not responsible for the loss of electronic devices and or cellphones. Click HERE to read the full policy: JICI - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices.

Keep up with school updates in one convenient place! Download the Parker School App from your app store to easily manage:

• Absence reports & medical notes

• Dismissal change requests

• Urgent alerts (bus delays, early release reminders, and other updates)

⚠️ Don't forget: Turn on notifications so important alerts reach you right away!

Please check your child’s GREEN homework/communication folder for two essential forms that need to be completed and returned to school as soon as possible:

• Emergency Contact Card (Half Sheet): Kept in the main office, this form lists backup contacts we can reach if parents or primary guardians are unavailable.

• Medical Form (Double-Sided): Helps our school nurse update records to ensure we have the necessary health information to keep your child safe.

Promptly returning these forms is vital for student safety and well-being. Thank you for your quick help and partnership!

Dear Parker Families,

I hope you're enjoying a wonderful and relaxing summer! As we prepare for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, it’s time to update your child’s health records with the nurse’s office.

Required Health Documentation:

All students entering Kindergarten, Grade 3, or transferring from another school or town must submit a recent physical exam and up-to-date immunization records. The physical must be dated September 2025 or later to be valid for the start of school.

Medication at School:
If your child will require medication during school hours, we must have a signed physician’s order and parent/guardian consent. This includes medications for asthma, allergies, or any other emergency needs.

Per Billerica Public Schools policy:

• All medications must be delivered by an adult directly to the school nurse.
  

• Medications must be clearly labeled and accompanied by the appropriate forms.
  

Required Forms:
Please use the links below to access and complete the necessary documents:

• BPS Request for Medication Administration.pdf
  

• Massachusetts Asthma Action Plan.pdf
  

• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan.pdf
  

• Allergy Medication Administration Request Form.pdf

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to help ensure a safe and healthy school year for your child.

Warm regards,

Erin Burcham, BSN, RN, NCSN

eburcham@billericak12.com

Kate Inzenga, BSN, RN
kinzenga@billericak12.com

We are so excited to welcome our students and families back into our school community for another incredible year of learning, growth, and friendship. As we kick off the year, we want to warmly invite all of our fourth grade students and ACCESS and MSS students across all grade levels to consider joining our Best Buddies program!

Best Buddies creates meaningful, lasting friendships between our students and peer leaders, fostering an inclusive community where every child feels connected and celebrated. Here are a few key details about how the program will work this year:

• Fourth Grade Peer Leaders: Our fabulous 4th-grade peer leaders will be joining the events to engage, play, and build friendships with our ACCESS and MSS students.

• Fully Staffed & Supported: Events will take place after school and will be fully supported by a dedicated team of both Special Education and General Education staff members.

• First Event Date: Mark your calendars for our very first Best Buddies event on Thursday, September 24th, right after school!

Official signup forms, event details, and specific timings will be sent home shortly, but we wanted to get this date on your radar early. We are looking forward to a fantastic year filled with fun, connection, and new friendships. If you have any immediate questions about the program, please don't hesitate to reach out to any member of our team.

Kristen Ryan - klryan@billericak12.com

Jenni Graff - jgraff@billericak12.com

Liz Litwin - elitwin@billericak12.com

Julie Fraser - jfraser@billericak12.com

Lori McLaughlin - lamclaughlin@billericak12.com

All students need an active Best Buddies registration in order to participate.

Parking is limited at the school so we ask that all families attending orientation only bring one vehicle to the school if possible.

ENGLISH Kindergarten Orientation Letter

HAITIAN CREOLE Kindergarten Orientation Letter

PORTUGUESE Kindergarten Orientation Letter

SPANISH Kindergarten Orientation Letter

TELUGU Kindergarten Orientation Letter

THAI Kindergarten Orientation Letter

TURKISH Kindergarten Orientation Letter

This year, Mr. Lutinski will be accompanied to school by, Cooper. Cooper, a 4.5 year-old miniature goldendoodle, is a certified therapy dog through Dog B.O.N.E.S, Therapy Dogs of Massachusetts. Therapy dogs are not service dogs, and as such work with their handler to provide support and comfort to other people (students and staff).

This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community. Research has shown that therapy dogs support psychological growth and increase social skills and self-esteem in children and adolescents. Therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support, positively impacting reading progress, emotional functioning, and communication skills. They help student learn compassion, empathy, responsibility, respect, and self-discipline as well as decrease levels of anxiety.

Cooper will be on a leash at all times and will not enter the cafeteria. He will be used in counseling sessions, 1:1 support, and in classrooms/groups. All contact with Cooper is voluntary. If your child has allergies or has a fear of dogs, please indicate on the attached form to opt-out.

If you DO NOT want your child to have contact with a therapy dog, please complete this GOOGLE FORM by Friday, September 11th. If you have any questions or concerns or would like more information, please contact Matt Lutinski, Principal, at 978-528-8610 or mlutinski@billericak12.com.

If you do not want your child’s name, photograph, or video to be released to news media or on the School/District website, please complete the form below.

2026-2027 Parker School Photo Opt-Out Form -- DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026

As we kick off the new school year, we want to share a quick reminder about the importance of school attendance. Simply put: our students can't learn if they aren't here!

• Did you know? Missing just 2 days of school a month (about 18 days a year) is considered chronically absent. These missed days quickly add up and can impact your child's academic and social progress.

• We’re in this together: Our school attendance team meets regularly to check in on how our students are doing and to offer support to families who might be facing hurdles.

Please check out the handout below for practical tips on establishing great attendance routines at home. Let’s make it a wonderful, high-attendance year of learning together!

• Students who arrive at school by car will be allowed in the building beginning at 8:25 a.m.

• Students arriving to school by car are asked to enter the parking lot through the Parker Street entrance and follow the road towards the athletic field.

• Cars should enter in a single file and not attempt to pass the car in front of them.

• Parents/guardians are asked to pull up all the way to allow the maximum number of cars to enter the driveway.

• Please keep the flow of traffic moving safely by staying in your car.

• Students should be dropped off from the curb-side or passenger side door.

• Parents/guardians who drive their child to school should be aware of and respect the traffic pattern that is established for the safety of our students and staff.

• ***NEW VIDEO***If you choose to drive to school in the morning, please view this video to review the “Rolling Drop-Off” Procedures.

• Students who walk will be allowed in the building beginning at 8:25 a.m.

• Please help your student practice parking lot safety by using the crosswalks and/or sidewalks.

• Students who walk to school can enter through the main entrance.

• Parking – CLICK HERE

1. Bus students are not permitted to leave a bus to go home on foot or with an adult unless the parent/guardian has come into the office to have their child dismissed.

2. Parents/guardians must notify the school in writing or using our Parker Elementary School Dismissal Change Form of any changes to their child’s home transportation routine. The note should specify the means by which the student will return home and the person who will accompany them, if any, from school. Each child must take the assigned bus to and from school. Switching of buses is not allowed.

3. Emergency changes to a child’s dismissal schedule may be made after 1:00 p.m. by phone only. This will allow time to notify the student and supervising staff. We request that you do not email your child’s teacher with day-of or last minute changes. Supervising staff may not be able to access their email prior to dismissal.

4. If you plan to stay on school grounds after dismissal, please do not use the back playground or front lawn area as these spaces are used by Fun Club. Students must be supervised at all times.

5. With the safety of your child in mind, unless it is their normal routine, students will not be allowed to walk home or take a bus without a parental note. Students will not be dismissed early to walk or bicycle home.

6. Parking – CLICK HERE

• Please enter the parking lot via Parker Street and follow the curbing to the field.

• We ask that cars park in a single file line along the curb only at dismissal.

• Once that lane is filled, please park in an available parking spot. If no spot is available, park on the left side of a parking lane facing the school.

• Parents/guardians should walk up the sidewalk and down the access road that leads to the big playground. Parents/guardians should wait for their students near the cones that are labeled by grade level. If you have students in more than one grade level, please pick up your youngest child first. Please see the image below of where parents/guardians should plan on meeting their child(ren).

Kindergarten and 1st Grade students will exit out of "Door 1" as labeled on the map above.

Students in grades 2-4 will exit through "Door 2" as labeled on the map above.

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to share the MCAS Family Portal with you. This online tool lets you see your student’s MCAS test results. The MCAS Family Portal replaces paper reports that were previously mailed to families.

Preliminary MCAS results from spring 2026 are currently available. You will also see your student’s results from past years (2023–2025), if available. The Family Portal will be updated in September when final results are ready.

How to Get Started

Go to https://mcasfamilyportal.emetric.net

To create an account, you will need the following two pieces of information:

1. Your student’s date of birth.

2. Your student’s registration code. This 12 character code can be found in the family account in Aspen. Each student will have their own code.

For mobile view of Aspen: Log in to your Aspen account, click on the menu icon (the three stacked lines in the upper left hand corner) and click “Family.” The code will be listed under Demographics with the label “MCAS Registration Code.” If you have more than one child in your household, you can use the dropdown menu in the upper left hand corner to switch between students.

For desktop view of Aspen: Log in to your Aspen account, click on the “Family” top tab, and choose your student. The code will be listed under the Demographics tab with the label “MCAS Registration Code.” You will see it in the lower left hand corner. If you have more than one child in your household, you can use the forward and backward arrows in the upper right hand corner to switch between students.

Need Help?

Resources can be found at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/family-portal.

As a first time user of the MCAS Family Portal, you can view the Quick Start Guide to set up your account. Note that the Quick Start Guide states your student’s registration code can be found in a letter from the district; however, for Billerica students, the registration code can be found on Aspen as explained above.

The MCAS Family Portal Help Guide shows you step by step how to create an account; add your student to your account; and view your student’s test results.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your school building administration.

Thank you,

Mr. Lutinski

Wednesday, September 2 -- First Day of School (1st - 12th Grade)

Thursday, September 3 -- Kindergarten Orientation (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

Friday, September 4 -- No School

Monday, September 7 -- No School -- Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8 -- 1st Day of Kindergarten

Wednesday, September 9 -- PTO Meeting in Library @ 6:30 PM

Wednesday, September 9 -- Preschool Orientation

Thursday, September 10 -- 1st Day of Project Support Preschool

Thursday, September 17 -- Back to School Night (6:00 - 8:00 PM)

Wednesday, September 30 -- Early Release -- Dismissal @ 12:40 PM

Monday, October 12 -- No School

Tuesday, October 13 -- School Picture Day

Wednesday, October 14t -- PTO Meeting in Library @ 6:30 pm

Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30 -- Book Fair

Thursday, October 29 -- Early Release -- Parent Teacher Conferences

Parker Elementary School

Principal: Mr. Matt Lutinski

Asst. Principal: Ms. Katie Cochran

Special Education Coordinator: Ms. Kristen Ryan

Main Office: Ms. Judy Butler, 978-528-8610

Attendance: 978-528-8610

Nurse: 978-528-8620
Website: https://www.billericak12.com/schools/parker-elementary
Location: 52 River Street, Billerica, MA 01821