PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN
Week of 12-2-2024
Message from Principal Blagg
Good afternoon Parker Families,
I hope that you and your families had a great Thanksgiving holiday. This is my favorite holiday because family and friends gather, and we all take some time to express our gratitude for all our blessings. I am thankful for the supportive community we have at Parker Middle School and the investment and support from our families. The students are truly fantastic and helping them become more independent while gaining confidence and skills is so rewarding. The coming week will be another extremely busy one at Parker!
The "Be the Change" Project
We are excited to kick off our Be the Change Project which will run from December 2-20. This project continues our year long kindness initiative which promotes empowering our students to see the power of one in creating a positive change.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world" is a phrase often attributed to Gandhi. We are looking to inspire each of our teams to brainstorm service ideas to make a positive difference locally, nationally, or globally. Each team will choose a service project that is unique to their team and generated from what problem they seek to improve. We are excited to see our teams work collaboratively towards a common goal. Please be sure to discuss this project with our children. It can be very empowering to see the difference one can make.
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank
Have a great week everyone. Please reach out if you need support.
Warm Regards,
Josh
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Important Dates:
Thursday, December 12th-Early Release dismissal at 11:10 a.m.-Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, December 23rd thru Friday, January 3rd-No School-Winter Break
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS & ACTIVITIES & LATE BUSES
Our after-school programs will start on Tuesday, October 15th. The Activity Fee is $50 per student. To pay PLEASE CLICK ON LINK My School Bucks or send in cash or checks 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.
See Clubs & Activities BROCHURE here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fSdKRgUuamin-mEgMJbeLrUcsHo7dLMiSVEMC6RtLU/edit?usp=sharing
Tuesday - December 3rd
Art Club – Ms. Annunziata – Room 4 – GRADE 6 TODAY
ASL-Ms. Fitzgibbons-VIRTUAL- join google classroom from home code:yqtuwha
Drama-Check google classroom for specific details
Festival Orchestra – Ms. Tiano-Room 8
Homework Club-Ms. Larrabee-Library
Jazz Band – Mr. Linsner – Band Room
Intramurals- Mr. McCarthy-GYM- GRADE 5 TODAY
Livesmart – Ms. Lyons – Room 102
Mindfulness & Crafts – Ms. Marino-Room 124
Running Club-Ms. Baker – Meet in the Band Hallway
Yearbook Club – Ms. Flanagan&Ms. Lococo – Room 219
Yoga-Ms. Macallister-Fitness Room
Wednesday - December 4th
Book Club - Ms. Beaudoin - Room 125
Dungeons & Dragons - Ms. Engel- Room PC4-GRADE 6 ONLY FOR TODAY
Game Club - Ms. Baker - Library - GRADE 6 ONLY FOR TODAY
Fitness Club - Ms. Fitzgerald - Fitness Room
Power Hour - Ms. Panneton - Room 213B
Thursday - December 5th
Art Club - Ms. Annunziata-Room 4-Grade 5 TODAY
Drama Club - Ms. Robertson - Room 230
Fitness Club - Ms. Currier - Fitness Room
Intramurals - Mr. McCarthy - Grade 6 TODAY
Stand-Up Parker - Ms. Weinbeck - Conference Room 5
Friday - December 6th
Select Chorus - Ms. Robertson-Chorus Room 230 at 7:20 a.m.
Notice to All Grade 5 Families:
In accordance with the MDPH regulation 105 CMR 200.400, the vision of each student in the public schools is to be screened in the year of school entry, annually through grade 5, once in grades 6 through 8, and once in grades 9 through 12. If your student wears eyeglasses or contact lenses, please make sure that they bring them to school. Vision screenings will be done in December and January.
If your child does not pass the initial vision screening, a letter will be sent home alerting you to the need for a follow-up with your primary doctor.
You have the option to excuse your child from this screening. Please send an email to kamenidesl@chelmsford.k12.ma.us asking that they be excused or send in a note with your child and ask that they drop it off at the nurses’ office.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Lisa Kamenides, RN & Donna Foley, LPN
Yearbook 2024-2025
Yearbooks are on sale! Please visit Yearbook Forever to purchase your yearbook now! No books will be available for sale in June...don't miss out on capturing this year's memories! Side note: Walsworth also sends emails to Parker families with order information . They are legitimate emails.
FROM PARKER PTO
Happy Friday Parker Families!
Parker PTO is working on creating community building events for our students and families. Check out a few upcoming activities below:
🎁 Gift of Giving Annual Charity Event- November 25th - December 1st
The Chelmsford Council of Schools has partnered once again with the Paper Store at Drumhill for the Annual Gift of Giving Event. Purchase a Gift of Giving snowman ornament and $1 of the sale will be donated to the Chelmsford Council of Schools or make a $3.99 donation and you will receive 20% off your entire purchase. Proceeds raised will go towards scholarship programs.
❄️☃️ Parker Craft Fair- Sunday, December 8th 10:00 am-2:00 pm:
Parker PTO is proud to present our 4th Annual Craft Fair on Sunday, December 8th 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM. Stop by Parker and shop local vendors. This is a GREAT opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping and support local businesses. We have over 30 vendors signed up including some Parker & McCarthy student vendors! Adult and student vendors are welcome to join the fun. Table spaces are $30 + one raffle donation for adult vendors and $10 + one raffle donation for student vendors. Click link to sign up: 2024 Parker Middle School Craft Fair
🍬🥣🧑🍳 Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
Sign up to join the fun at the Parker Craft Fair for our 1st Annual Middle School Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. This contest is FREE to enter and open to all. Four fabulous prizes will be awarded (1st-3rd place and "Fan Favorite"). Gingerbread creations will be on display during the craft fair and winners will be announced at 12 pm on Sunday, December 8th. You do not need to be present to win. Click link for more information and to enter the contest: 2024 Gingerbread House Decorating Contest Good luck and happy decorating!
🗓️ PTO Meeting Thursday, December 12th @ 6:30 in McCarthy Library:
Join us for our monthly PTO meeting! Parker & McCarthy PTOs work collaboratively to provide community building activities, provide enrichment programs for our students and families and support our teachers. We encourage any middle school parent/guardian to join us to learn about upcoming events and activities throughout the school year.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Parker PTO at ptoparker@gmail.com.
As always, thank you for your continued support of our school!
From our School Nutrition Department
Dear Parents and Families --
To better estimate the demand for lunches on half days, CPS Nutrition utilizes online lunch ordering for HALF DAYS ONLY.
For the upcoming half day Wednesday 9/18/24 orders must be received by Friday 9/13/24.
2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates
● 12/12/24
● 1/14/25
● 2/6/25
● 3/12/25
● 4/1/25
If you would like your child to have lunch on future half days, the online ordering is open for you to go ahead and select those dates. Set Up Your Account Now
Directions to set up your account and order: 1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student's name should appear on the page.
How to order meals
1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)
2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click Check out
7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.
8. Place order
What's for Lunch?
Click on the link below to view the December Lunch Menu:
Parker Middle School
Email: robinsond@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://parker.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 75 Graniteville Road
Phone: 978-251-5133