I hope everyone had a nice long weekend! There's so much happening in October. Please read on for an overview of upcoming events at Parker and in the Reading community.

In Partnership,
Jill Story

Principal

School Site Council - 10/15, 5:30 p.m.

PTO Meeting - 10/15, 7:00 p.m.

8th Grade Boston Field Trip - 10/17

Math Meet @ Parker - 10/17

Reading Marching Band Home Show - 10/19

Picture Retakes - 10/21

7th Grade Nature's Classroom Field Trip - 10/23-10/25

Early Release Day (dismissal at 12:30 p.m.) - 10/25

2nd Act Play: "I'll Never Do That" - 10/30, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

6th Grade Teams: Health related donations including band aids, first aid kits, sunscreen, wet wipes/tissue packs, deodorant, chapstick, disposable razors, shaving cream, baby powder

7th Grade Teams: Personal hygiene items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, body lotion, combs and brushes, washcloths

8th Grade Teams: Adult socks, disposable ponchos, mini bottles of water, snacks including jerky, trail mix, granola bars

Items Not Accepted: Mouthwash

**travel size items are best since they can fit nicely in our kindness bags :)

Thank you for your generosity in support of this cause!

Grade 8 Boston Field Trip: October 17, 2024

Students will head to Boston for a scavenger hunt followed by a lunch cruise on the Spirit of Boston. We will be departing for Boston after homeroom and arriving back at Parker at approximately 3:00 p.m. Students will receive a Reading t-shirt (to be worn the day of the field trip), drawstring bag, and water bottle. Students will be allowed to bring their cell phones; however, responsible use of technology is expected and students should not be recording videos or posting photos of others without their consent. Violations of the acceptable use of technology policy will be subject to disciplinary consequences.

Grade 7 Nature's Classroom Field Trip: October 23-25, 2024

A Zoom Family Presentation hosted by the Nature's Classroom Program Coordinator was held on October 8th. Here is the recording if you were unable to attend. Please enter the following passcode when prompted in order to view: 7EPurB^Y

Medication drop off for students attending Nature's Classroom will be Monday, October 21st, and Tuesday, October 22nd, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. If you have questions or are unable to drop off during this window, please contact Nurse Kate Shmulsky (kate.shmulsky@reading.k12.ma.us)

Parker Middle School will be honoring veterans at an all-school assembly on Friday, November 8, 2024. At this assembly, we would like to recognize in two ways any veterans or current military personnel who are close relatives of our students:

1. If you have a photo of a close relative who is present or past military and would be willing to email it to us, we will include it in our slide show presentation. Please submit any photo to Mrs. Peterson via email (kimberly.peterson@reading.k12.ma.us) no later than Friday, 10/25. Make sure to include the F/L name of the veteran, their service branch, and the student’s name (& relationship to the vet).
2. We would also like to honor veterans in person, so if you or a family member is a veteran and would be able to attend the assembly on November 8th, we’d be honored by your presence. Please contact Mrs. Peterson at the address above. Also, if you know of a Reading neighbor or friend who may be interested in attending, please reach out and invite them as well, & let us know if they will be attending. We've contacted the Reading American Legion to invite their members, but we’d appreciate your help in spreading the word.

What is the Children’s Cabinet?

The Children’s Cabinet is a group of about 25 community stakeholders (including school staff, town and community leaders, parents, and students) who work together to brainstorm solutions and leverage existing resources to address challenges that our youth are facing.

What would my role be as a student?

Your role would be to represent the student body as a whole. This requires the ability to take a broad view and consider all perspectives and experiences. We are looking for innovative and out of the box ideas!

What is the time commitment?

1. Three in person meetings. These meetings will be held at the Reading Public Library and are zoom optional. The dates are as follows:

• November 6th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
• February 5th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
• May 7th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

2. Additionally, 2-3 Hours per Month. Outside of the meetings, we estimate that you would be committing 2-3 hours per month to the Children’s Cabinet. Specifically, here is what the commitment entails:

• Responding to emails from the Children’s Cabinet. Email is how we often gather crucial input between meetings.
• Working on a specific task related to Children’s Cabinet priorities.
• Attending 2-3 zoom working group meetings (no more than one hour long)
• Disseminating information out to your networks and serving as an ambassador to the broader community as needed. Being willing to help educate the broader community about the role of the Children’s Cabinet

How do I apply to be a student voice on the 2024-25 Reading Children’s Cabinet?

Please fill out this application by October 21st. Thanks in advance for your interest!

The Reading Police Department and Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support, in collaboration with 2nd Act and Prevention Play Productions, will present “I’ll Never Do That,” a play about the impacts of substance use, performed by actors with lived experience with substance abuse.

The play is an intimate story that takes you behind closed doors, offering a glimpse into one family’s journey as they grapple with the challenges of addiction. Amidst the struggles and heartache, glimmers of hope and resilience shine through, revealing the complexities of this “family disease.” Featuring actors in recovery, this poignant yet heartwarming performance will evoke empathy, spark conversation, and inspire action. Please join the 1.1 million audience members who have experienced the power of 2nd Act’s evidence-based prevention programs.

Hi! I’m Dhanya Bhola, a junior at RMHS and a former student at Parker. I’m offering tutoring for middle school students who need help with their classwork and homework. I can also assist with test and quiz preparation, as well as organizational skills. I believe that learning effective study habits in middle school sets the foundation for success in high school. I would be available Monday and Wednesdays 3:30PM-5:00PM at the Reading Public Library.

If you’re interested, please email me at dhanya.bhola@rdgstudent.com. Thank you!

Pathways to Restorative Communities is offering a workshop in Restorative Practices for Caregivers this fall in person at the Worklery, 441 Main Street, Third Floor, Melrose, MA

Wednesdays from 7-9 PM: October 9, 16, 23, 30, 2024

Go to: https://bit.ly/3X7cWGK to learn more and register

📌 DONATION REQUEST: Check out what the Parker PTO accomplished last year! All of this was entirely made possible because of family donations.

To make this a successful year, the PTO is asking for a donation of $100 per family. We are sensitive that this may pose a financial burden, so please contribute as you are able to do so. Your support is greatly appreciated!

📌 THANK YOU: We appreciate the Parker families that have submitted their PTO donations for matching gifts through their companies! Please consider checking with your employer as to whether your PTO donation can be matched as this provides extra funds that the PTO can put towards enrichment and activities for this school year.

📌 SAVE THE DATE!

• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024: PTO Meeting, 7pm. In person and zoom.

• FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2024: Parker fall apparel sale!

• FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024: Parker Restaurant Night at Fat Larry’s! Swing by on this early release day 12:30-5:30pm and mention PARKER when you order/pay for 20% of sales to be donated back to the PTO!
• COMING SOON: Holiday pie sale! Purchase pies for yourself and/or donate pies to the Reading Food Pantry!

📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:

• Email: parkerptopres@gmail.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParkerPTO
• Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO, www.instagram.com/parkermspto
• Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage

Come join us at the in-person screening of the award winning documentary, The Right to Read, to learn about the impact of literacy programs and their historic and persistent inequities on October 15th at 6pm.

Location: Performing Arts Center at Reading Memorial High School

The screening will be followed by a lively discussion with a panel of experts, moderated by Thomas Wise (Chairperson, Reading School Committee).

This event will be followed up with a presentation in November (by Dr. Sarah Hardy and Renee Limauro from RPS) where we will continue the discussion. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about reading disabilities, literacy screening in our schools and hear updates on the new literacy program, named ARC Core, that was adopted by the Reading Public Schools in 2022 that is in keeping with the science of reading as discussed in The Right to Read.

Click here to register for The Right to Read Screening.

Wednesday, Oct 23, 6pm (Virtual)

The 360 Thinking Model: Breakthrough Strategies to Develop Independent to Executive Function Skills

• Is your child disorganized and may not have the materials they need or even turn in the homework they have completed?

• Is their desk, room or locker a ‘black hole’ for papers and materials?

• Do you observe a student who struggles to “stop and read the room” and meet the demands of the situation?

• Or do you see students who struggle to initiate complex academic assignments, procrastinate and then run out of time to do their ‘best work’?

• Is your child constantly multitasking, so tasks/assignments take twice as long as they should? Are you looking for some solutions to digital distractions?

• Do you wish your child had a sense of urgency when it comes to time so that tasks are completed, and routines to get out the door or to the next activity or class happen on time?

• Does it seem that they have an inability to breakdown the demands of an assignment and have a sense of how to start?

• Do students seem prompt dependent? Are you constantly reminding them of the materials they need and the steps to take?

This presentation will help you to teach your children how to manage their time, space, and materials (and keep their emotions in check). Learn powerful strategies to help children develop independent executive function skills.

Click here to register for Sarah Ward

Should you wish to receive our monthly newsletter, please send an email to SEPACReading@gmail.com

Please note that Reading SEPAC IS OPEN TO ALL parents/caregivers and not only families who have a child with special needs as we offer various opportunities to connect with other families and provide learning experiences.

Past Events:

Recorded events that are available on the Reading SEPAC Website:

The New IEP Presentation

MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation

Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation

• Review tiered system of supports and provide examples

• Outline effective communication channels with your team and school

***Should you wish to reach out to Reading SEPAC anonymously, please use this form

If you need to connect with your child's teachers, please reach out to the Team Leader as the primary point of contact. Team Leaders will be communicating regularly with families throughout the year.

TEAM LEADERS:

Team Synergy - Jane Costa (jane.costa@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Unity - Elisabeth Bean (elisabeth.bean@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Justice - Andrew Spinali (andrew.spinali@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Integrity - Steve Olivo (steve.olivo@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Inspire - Julie Merrill (julie.merrill@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Endeavor - Brian James (brian.james@reading.k12.ma.us)

On Wednesdays, students will have Advisory. During Advisory, students meet in smaller groups with an assigned Advisory teacher. The goal is to foster a sense of belonging for all students through the implementation of curriculum that is designed to reinforce Parker's core values of kindness, community, and personal best.

Please be aware that any medication must be brought in by parents and signed in with a nurse, with the exception of epipens and inhalers which may be brought in by students. Please note that all medications require a physician order and parent consent. You may upload any medical documentation, including copies of orders and physicals, privately through the health portal here. Please see illness guidelines here. If you have any medical questions that you would like to discuss with the nurse, please contact kate.shmulsky@reading.k12.ma.us.

Health Services Updates: The Health Services Department would like to share some important reminders. Parents/guardians/caregivers should review the RPS illness guidelines here. If your child requires medication at school, including an Epipen or inhaler, ensure you complete and submit this form. Reading Public Schools utilizes the SNAP Health Portal for electronic health records, allowing secure uploading of medical documents and private messaging with school nurses; an email has been sent to parents with login details and the portal can be accessed here.

Access to the portal can be found on the Parker website (https://parker.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US) by clicking on the PlusPortals button. Your username should be your personal email. If you have questions about your account, please contact Linnea Frye: linnea.frye@reading.k12.ma.us

Jill Story, Principal

Email: jill.story@reading.k12.ma.us

Beth Simpson, Assistant Principal

Email: beth.simpson@reading.k12.ma.us

Website: Walter S. Parker Middle School
Location: 45 Temple Street