Weekly Bulletin

Hello Parker Community,

We had a fantastic week at Parker. The students are working hard at staying focused on their studies as excitement for the coming winter break and holidays grows daily. The highlight of the week was the combined Parker/McCarthy Winter Chorus Concert on Thursday December 14. The Performing Arts Center was filled to capacity and our students rose to the occasion! Our students sang with harmony, beauty, and hope that was inspiring. There is so much strife in our world today and to see our community embrace and celebrate our kids reaffirmed the power of coming together. Ms. Martha Robertson, the Chorus Director, created a program that was inclusive and focused on the importance of hope and love. The musicality of this performance was beyond their years!

I would also like to highlight our December Artists of the Month Averey Stanichuk (grade 5) and Kenny Brown (Grade 6). Their artwork is being proudly displayed in the front lobby for the month of December. Many thanks to Ms. Anta Adler and Ms. Dawnmari Annunziata for supporting this program.

We have another busy week ahead of us at Parker.

SPIRIT WEEK

The Student Council has organized a spirt week ahead of the winter vacation. The students made it a priority that all the themed days were inclusive to all. I hope everyone embraces the excitement and has fun this week (see flyer below)

Second Step

We will be continuing our social emotional curriculum using Second Step. Grade 5 will be continuing their unit on Empathy and Kindness while Grade 6 will be engaging in culminating activities on the Bullying and Harassment Unit.

Grade 5 - Lesson 12: What’s the Problem?

Summary

In this lesson, your child will use empathy to identify problems in their school community and think about how these problems might affect other people. This is an important first step toward making positive change in the community.

Try This at Home

Ask your child what problems they see in your neighborhood that affect other people. Point out how empathy helped them notice those problems.

Grade 6 - Bullying and Harassment

This unit will wrap up with some culminating activities, The challenge going forward is to implement the skills and strategies learned to combat bullying and harassment. Our goal is to make Parker a safe and inclusive school for all.

December 21 In School Concert

We will be celebrating the over 500 students involved in the performing arts program at Parker by having an in school concert at the CHS Performing Arts Center on Thursday December 21. We will be walking over to CHS together as a school leaving at 8:25 and returning by 10:25. Be sure to sign and return the permission slip if you have not already done so. It is important that all students arrive to school on time. Any tardy students will remain at Parker with a staff member until we return.

I hope everyone has a festive and fun weekend!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Monday December 25th-Monday January 1st-Winter Break

Tuesday, January 2nd - School Resumes

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12TH - 5TH GRADE SOCIAL - 2:40 to 4:00 p.m. and FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th - 6th GRADE SOCIAL - 2:40 to 4:00 p.m. - MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.

Our after-school programs will start on Tuesday, October 17th. The Activity Fee is $50 per student. PLEASE CLICK ON LINK My School Bucks or send in cash or check made payable to Chelmsford Public Schools and turn into your child's homeroom teacher. 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.

Tuesday - December 19th

Art Club - Ms. Annunziata-Room 4 - Grade 6 today

Book Club- Ms. Beaudoin - Room 124

Drama Club-Ms. Robertson/Mr. Chase/Ms. Sparks - Room 230

Intramurals-GYM-Mr. Sullivan/Ms. Clark/Mr. McCarthy-Check Google Classroom

Homework Club-Ms. Larrabee/Ms. Morse - Library

Jazz Band-Mr. Linsner-Band Room

Running Club-Mr. Felzani, Ms. Figucia, Ms. Baker

Stand-Up Parker - Ms. Cranney - Room 110

Yearbook Club - Ms. Flanagan & Ms. Lococo - Room 219

Wednesday - December 20th

Fitness Room (Health & Wellness)-Ms. Wilson-in the Fitness Room

INTRAMURALS GYM-Mr. Sullivan/Ms. Clark/Mr. McCarthy-Check Google Classroom

Homework Club-Ms. Larrabee/Ms. Morse - Library

Yoga Club/Mindfulness-Ms. MacAllister-Room 123

Thursday - December 21st

Art Club - Ms. Annunziata-Room 4 - Grade 5 today

Drama Club-Ms. Robertson/Mr. Chase/Ms. Sparks - Room 230

Fitness Room (Health & Wellness)-Ms. Wilson-in the Fitness Room

Game Club - Ms. Baker - Library

Intramurals-GYM-Mr. Sullivan/Ms. Clark/Mr. McCarthy-Check Google Classroom

Order your 2024 Parker School Yearbook today and help your student remember the year forever. For ordering information click on link: www.yearbookforever.com

Happy December Parker Parents!

Thank you to all that have donated to our Cookie Stroll staff appreciation event. We are just 3 dozen cookies away from our cookie goal! We can't wait to transform our teacher's dining room into a cookie shop for our staff. Pictures will be posted on Parker Parents Facebook page. Check out the fun activities coming up over the next few weeks.

Cookie Stroll: Do you love baking and decorating? Parker PTO will be putting together a cookie stroll for our December staff appreciation. The teacher's room will be transformed into a cookie shop with delicious treats from our families. Each staff member will be able to take 6 cookies home to their families. This activity will occur the week of December 20th. Parker PTO is looking for donations of homemade and/or store bought cookies and volunteers to decorate. Donations can be dropped off to Parker on Tuesday, December 19th. Please sign up here: https://signup.com/go/iCNFtYx

UML River Hawks Hockey Game: UML Riverhawks will be hosting Chelmsford Middle School night Friday, February 9th. Puck drop is at 7:15 P.M. Meet all your middle school friends at the Tsongas for a great night of hockey. Tickets are $10 each. Click link to purchase tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Parkermiddle4

Harlem Globetrotters: Join Middle School families as we watch the Harlem Globetrotters at the Tsongas Center in Lowell on Monday, February 12th at 7 p.m.! Be prepared to see amazing basketball talent mixed in with crazy comedy, great choreography, and audience participation - great family friendly entertainment! Tickets can be purchased via the following link:

https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Parkermccarthymiddle?r=8

Giving this as a holiday gift? Reach out to PTOparker@gmail.com for a gift bag filled w/basketball filled trinkets. Gift bags are first come, first serve...we have 18 in total up for grabs.

Middle School Night at Fenway Park: Join Chelmsford Middle School Families at Fenway Park on Thursday, May 30th @ 7:00 P.M. to see the Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased via the following link: https://givebutter.com/gMsmi9 Tickets will be "tossed" to your MLB Ballpark App closer to the game day. Please write down which email address you use to order these tickets as that is the email address we'll use to "toss" you your tickets. Giving this as a holiday gift? Reach out to PTOparker@gmail.com for a gift bag filled w/baseball filled trinkets. Gift bags are first come, first serve...we have 18 in total up for grabs.

If you have any questions, please reach out to: PTOparker@gmail.com

As always, thank you for your continued support of our Parker Middle School community!

Reminder to Parker Families - BRRR!!! Cold weather is rolling in....Parker students will still be going outside for recess/outside break. Please remember to BUNDLE UP, warm coats, hats and gloves are recommended.

To report a Student Absent:

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.

Thank you for your understanding.

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