Parker JHS Newsletter

Thank you for reviewing our important updates and information below:

Grade Level Community Meetings

In an effort to remind Parker Scholars of our PBIS Expectations, Grade Level Deans and Assistant Principals will facilitate Grade Level Meetings Monday, September 9th. We will share the presentation with our Parker Families in our next Parent Newsletter.

Code Red Drill

All District 161 schools practice various safety drills throughout each school year including: fire, bus evacuation, earthquake, tornado, and Code Red drills. These drills are crucial to ensure our students and staff are properly prepared to react if the need arises. On Thursday, September 12th our school will partner with local officials to practice a Code Red drill. This drill is completed annually so all students and staff are aware of emergency procedures in a lockdown situation. Teachers will be talking to students prior to the drill to explain procedures and answer any questions.

Transportation

School Street is one way for Arrival and Dismissal

• Please assist with maintaining proper traffic safety procedures.

• Braemar Street to School Street to Douglass (Optional right or left turn).

• No Parking on School Street! Please maintain traffic flow and drop off scholars from Braemar Street. NO STOPPING ON SCHOOL STREET!

Flossmoor SD 161 Elementary School Access

Parker JHS scholars are not permitted on FSD 161 Elementary School grounds until classes have been dismissed at 3:30 pm. If scholars are meeting or picking up a sibling, they must adhere to this procedure. Please reiterate this to your children as we strive to maintain safety for all schools of Flossmoor SD 161.

Educationally Yours,

Ursula Parris, Principal

Parker Junior High School

9.9.24

• Fall Play Acting Workshop - 3:05 - 4:30 p.m. - Media Center

• Cross Country Practice - 3:00 - 4:15 pm

9.10.24

• Fall Play Rehearsal - 3:05 - 4:30 p.m. - Media Center/Room 31

• Cross Country Practice - 3:00 - 4:15 pm

9.11.24

• Fall Play Rehearsal - 3:05 - 4:30 p.m. - Media Center/Room 31

• Cross Country Practice - 3:00 - 4:15 pm

• H-F High School Late Start Day

9.12.24

• Code Red Drill
• IESA State Golf Tournament at Metamora Fields
  
• Fall Play Rehearsal - 3:05 - 4:30 p.m. - Media Center/Room 31

• Cross Country Practice - 3:00 - 4:15 pm

• Baseball Game. Parker vs Crete - 4:00 p.m. - Western Avenue Pony Field

Every. Day. Counts.

Learning takes place every single day, every single lesson at Parker Junior High. It is critical that we establish positive attendance habits early on in the school year to ensure academic and behavioral success. Read more below for how you can support your child!

Please take a moment and review the information that was shared with scholars during our recent Grade Level Community Meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's Grade Level Dean.

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.

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.].

Our CKH focus for the month of September is Empathy. Talking about empathy with your middle school students can have a powerful impact on their social and emotional development. Families can start the conversation by asking questions like, “How do you think others feel in different situations?” or “What can we do to show we understand someone’s feelings?” Encourage children to consider their friends' or classmates' perspectives, especially when conflicts arise. Discuss how small acts of kindness and active listening can make a difference. By modeling empathy in your daily interactions, you’ll help them understand the importance of compassion and connection.

Our PBIS goal for this month is to earn 50,000 FALCON BUCKS SCHOOL WIDE

for Positive Common Area Behaviors. Please remind your scholars to be respectful to ALL adults, ALL the time and to keep their hands to themselves in the common areas.

Thank you for your support!

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communities beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more. Source: National Museum of Mexican Art

Rock Your School is a worldwide initiative that encourages educators to create engaging and fun learning experiences for their students. The program's mission is to:

• Celebrate the little things,
• Collaborate with people outside of education,
• Support and raise awareness for teachers
• Inspire students in new ways, and
• Revolutionize the classroom experience

Upcoming NWEA Testing Dates

Winter: December 9 -13, 2024

Spring: April 23 - 30, 2025

Upcoming AIMSWEB Testing Dates

Fall: September 10 - 11, 2024

Winter: January 22 - 28, 2025

Spring: May 6 - 12, 2025

Testing Tips

• Get a good night's rest

• Charge Chromebook the night before

• Eat a healthy breakfast

• Entrance and Exit - Parker Staff will be available to escort scholars to Grade Level Entrance

  • 6th Grade Scholars - Door B

  • 7th Grade Scholars - Door G

  • 8th Grade Scholars - Door J

  
  

• School Street is one way for Arrival and Dismissal

  • Braemar Street to School Street to Douglass (Optional right or left turn)

  • No Parking on School Street. Please maintain traffic flow and drop off scholars from Braemar Street!

  
  

• Transportation

• Bus information is available in Skyward for families. If you have any transportation questions, please contact Ms. Wanda Alexander at 708-647-7001.
• Please prepare to arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled pick up time on the first day of school.

Baseball

The team had a great week beating each opponent as they met on the diamond. The team has their next game Thursday 9/12 against Crete. Good luck Falcons!

Softball

Our Lady Falcons beat both Memorial and Columbia Central this week. They fell short against Brooks Middle school. Their next game is on 9/11 against James Hart. Good luck Ladies!

Golf

Randall Brooks, Imani Green and Wakana Hill all played in the IESA sectional this week. Randall played at the Minne Monesse course in Grant Park while Imani and Wakana played at the Lincoln Oaks Golf Course in Crete. Wakana scored the fifth lowest score in sectionals and will advance to the state tournament at Metamora Fields on 9/12. Good luck Wakana!!!

Girls Basketball

Congratulations to all the girls that made the basketball team! First practice will be Monday 9/9 @ 3:05. Their first game is 9/16 against Crete. Good luck Falcons!

Cheerleading

Cheer packets are available outside the main office. Tryouts begin Monday 9/16. You MUST have a sports physical on file to try out!

Cross Country

The team ran in the James Hart Invite on Saturday 9/8. Their next meet is against Huth on 9/11. Good luck Falcons!

Dance

Dance packets are available outside the main office! You MUST have a sports physical on file to try out!

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.

Homewood Science Center is sponsoring a conservation ecology-based internship for middle school students. This internship will complement the Ecosystems science content and the science and engineering practices reflected in the Next Generation Science Standards for middle school. This internship is a student-led program supporting student agency and equitable practices. All area middle school students are invited to apply to join us this fall in a community project to support Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve and Homewood Science Center through scientific investigation, discovery, and leadership!

Parker Junior High School will be a phone-free space. Scholars will be required to use the Yondr Pouch while in school. All scholars have been issued a Yondr pouch and are expected to place their cell phone inside the Yondr pouch every day upon arriving to school.

Step by Step training video for families regarding "My School Menus" can be found here: https://vimeo.com/395170590

Email: uparris@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/parker-junior-high
Location: 2810 School Street, Flossmoor, Illinois 60422