September 27, 2026

Over the past several weeks, we have heard from families who want more context about what their child is learning in class and how they can reinforce those same skills at home. We hear you, and we have been working on a resource to help bridge that gap.

Rather than creating another system for teachers and families to manage, we are refining a process that Parker teachers were already using internally. Our goal is to give families access to the same instructional context and resources our teachers use so that practice at home feels connected to what students are actually learning in class.

This week, our teachers will continue testing and refining the process so we can work through the kinks and make sure it is useful, manageable, and consistent. We anticipate rolling out the parent-facing resource at the end of Week 9.

One resource you already have access to is the student activity packet work that comes home each week. Think of these materials much like a traditional workbook: they provide opportunities for students to revisit and practice skills connected to what they are learning in class.

It is important to understand that these materials are interactive instructional tools, not simply worksheets students complete independently. During a lesson, teachers may use selected problems or activities for modeling, guided practice, partner discussion, writing, independent practice, or reteaching. Teachers also make instructional decisions based on how students are responding in real time.

Because the curriculum intentionally provides multiple opportunities to practice a skill, students may not complete every page or problem during class. An unfinished activity does not necessarily mean something was missed. A teacher may have slowed down to spend additional time on a concept, selected the practice opportunities most appropriate for the lesson, or saved additional practice for another time.

Those remaining opportunities can become great reinforcement at home.

As materials come home, families can use unfinished or additional practice pages to review skills, talk through learning, and give students another opportunity to practice. The resource we are developing will provide additional instructional context so families can better support students using approaches that are aligned with what they experienced in class.

If your child would benefit from an at-home binder to organize these materials and build a collection of resources for continued practice, please let us know. We can support families with that at the campus level.

Additionally, some teachers may offer end-of-cycle extra credit opportunities connected to students using designated activity pages for additional skills practice at home. Teachers will communicate those opportunities directly with students and families when applicable.

Our goal is to connect school and home without creating another complicated system for families or an additional workload for teachers. We want you to have a clearer understanding of what your child is learning and practical tools to help reinforce that learning at home.

More information and our new family resource will be coming at the end of Week 9!

-Principal Carter

Please ensure you have completed socioeconomic form for your student(s) for the 2026-27 school year. Some parents completed the Annual Student Update (ASU) before the Socioeconomic (Soc-Eco) Form became available. The Soc-Eco section was added to ASU on August 10, 2026, the first day of school.

This form is critical to our campus budget so it is imperative that it is submitted by Monday!!!

Parents who completed the ASU before August 10 must log back into the system and complete only the Soc-Eco section. Once submitted, please allow up to two business days for the information to be coded in PowerSchool and for the student’s name to be removed from the outstanding list.

You may also, complete paper form and return it to the front office by the end of this week.

There is an option in Step 4 where you can choose to not provide this information, but for compliance we do need a returned form for all students.

The web-application is mobile friendly! If you need assistance, feel free to contact me at evelyn.olivares@houstonsid.org or visit our new Family Connections Corner in the Community Room. It is a designated space where families can easily access important information and services, including signing up for ParentSquare and completing the Student Assistance Form (SAF).

https://apps.hisd-survey.org/surveys/enrollment

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pOBv4R9eOgZehORc-p-5LHFilb16ObLA/view?usp=sharing

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- Evelyn Olivares, Wraparound Specialist

On September 25, Parker celebrated Dolly Day (9 to 5 Day) in honor of the incredible Dolly Parton! Our Lions joined in the fun while celebrating Dolly’s amazing legacy and her continued advocacy for education, literacy, and a love of reading. It was a great day to celebrate an icon who made a difference for children and families!

Please be aware that we had a system error on Friday running report cards. Most teachers did not receive their report cards until about 2:45pm Friday. If your student is missing their physcial report card they will receive it on Monday. However, grades can be viewed live in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

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Yaneth Milan, Assistant Office Manager

A huge thank you to everyone who came out Saturday to support the Parker Strings Department’s Annual Play-A-Thon Fundraiser! We are grateful for our Parker families, staff, students, and community members who showed up to support our young musicians and our amazing Strings program. Your continued support helps keep the arts thriving at Parker!

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Ashley Kolb, Magnet Coordinator

Shirts are going on sale tomorrow and will only be sold for two weeks.

👕Class Shirts – Thank you to everyone who has already placed an order! If you haven’t ordered yet, there’s still time (DEADLINE OCTOBER 1st-this Thursday!), but please do so as soon as possible so we can make sure your student is included. Shirts are expected to arrive in mid-October.

Before you order, make sure to update your student’s homeroom teacher and grade level so we can get the right shirt to the right class. Head to your membership toolkit account to place your order.

📌Did you know that each class has a room parent? You will soon start receiving emails from your room parent. If you haven't received anything from them by October 19th, please email volunteervp@parkerpto.org.

📢Fall/Winter Socials. Set your clocks! September 28th at 7:00 p.m. socials go on sale! Some socials sell out quickly.

• To preview which socials you are super excited about and to order go here: https://parkerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/socials

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Crystal Laurie

President, Parker Elementary PTO

www.parkerpto.org

832-978-2052 (PTO)