Principal Rubino's Weekly Update
W.S. Parker Middle School Newsletter; Sun. Feb. 25, 2024
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Dear Parker Families,
I hope everyone has had a restful school vacation week and is ready to return to school! We are looking forward to seeing everyone back in the classrooms and hallways at Parker!
The Parker Student Council is planning dances for each grade. First up, grade 6 on Friday, March 22. Seventh-grade dance will take place on Friday, April 26 and the eighth-grade dance is held following the promotion ceremony, which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 13.
Parker dances are for Parker students only. All school rules apply. Dances begin at 6 p.m. and end promptly at 8 p.m. If your child needs to be dimissed early, please send an email to Mrs. Rubino and include the name of the person who will be dimissing your child and the time they will be dismissed.
Student Council will begin selling tickets and taking names of students planning to attend the grade 6 dance beginning the week of March 4. Tickets are $5 each can be reserved during lunch.
The Parker Student Council is open to all Parker students. We are in need of additional representation from 6th and 8th grade students. Interested students can see Mrs. Rubino or attend our next meeting, which will occur after school on Monday, Feb. 26 in the cafeteria. We will also meet during extended homeroom on Friday, March 1.
Please read on for important dates for the week ahead and beyond.
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024
Coffee and Conversation with Principal Rubino via Zoom @ 9 a.m.
Topic: Next year's bell schedule and parent/teacher conferences for 2024/2025
Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84997881056
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Process): Randomly selected 8th grade students
Wednesday, March 6
Grade 6 Museum of Science Field Trip - Team Unity
Thursday, March 7
Grade 6 Museum of Science Field Trip - Team Synergy
Thursday, March 7 - Saturday, March 9
Shrek Jr., the Musical
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/78994
Monday, March 11
Grade 5 Family Information Night, School Tour & Scavenger Hunt
Begins at 6 p.m. in the auditorium
All incoming grade 6 students and families welcome!
Tuesday, March 12
PTO Meeting @ 7p.m.
Hybrid - in person and via Zoom
Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482
Friday, March 15, 2024
Playin' for Parker - 3 v 3 basketball tournament to raise funds for the PTO and food for the local food pantry. Please email PE teacher, Mr. Doug Gibbs, for more information.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Math Pathways Info Night
Via Zoom at 6 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/86248791930
Friday, March 22, 2024
Sixth grade dance: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
All School Enrichment Sponsored by the PTO
Tuesday, April 9
ELA MCAS all grades
Wednesday, April 10
ELA MCAS all grades
To access the 2023-2024 District Calendar, click here.
To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.
News from the PTO
📌 PTO MEETING: Join us for our next meeting, Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom. Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda. All are welcome!
📌 HOT COCOA BAR! Thanks to donations from the Parker community, Kristen Granara set up a hot cocoa bar for Parker staff on the Friday before break as a sweet way to kick off their upcoming vacation week!
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📌 RESTAURANT NIGHT AT CHIPOTLE! Head to Chipotle in Reading this Saturday, March 2 from 4-8pm! Dinner will be done and a portion of the proceeds will come back to the Parker PTO! Make sure to mention Parker when ordering. Thank you!
📌 CREATIVITY NEEDED! We're seeking people with skills to help paint 4-squares and a few other outdoor games on Parker grounds! Bring your creativity and/or painting know-how. If you're interested in finding out more, please reach out to parkerptopres@gmail.com.
📌 SAVE THE DATE!
- RESTAURANT NIGHT: Parker at Chipotle, Reading - Saturday, 3/2/24, 4-8pm.
- ALL-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT: Parker will be visited by Len Cabral, a storyteller of folktales & legends from around the world on Thursday, 3/28/24 - http://www.lencabral.com/
- PARKER AT THE RED SOX: Tuesday, 6/4/24. Tickets sold in January.
📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:
- Email: parkerptopres@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkerPTO
- Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO
- Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage
Black History Month - February 2024
Click the photo below to learn the history behind BHM
RMHS Arts Orientation Resources for Future Freshmen
We hope those of you who were able to make it enjoyed the Arts Orientation at RMHS! For those who weren't able to make it, and who want to learn more, please check out the resources below. The arts in Reading are SO strong; we encourage all students to get involved in some way!
- Video about each of the courses
Tickets for Shrek Jr. On Sale Now
Mark your calendars for Feb. 1 and be the first to order your tickets for Shrek Jr. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/78994
Order your Parker Middle School Yearbook!
Parker Middle School’s full color, 48-page yearbook features
portraits of your friends, teachers and administrators, school
events, groups and clubs. This keepsake will leave you with a
lasting memory of your 2023-2024 year. All grades are represented.
Please read the following instructions.
1. Access the Pictavo store https://buytheyearbook.pictavo.com and search for
Walter Parker Middle School. There are known issues purchasing from phones.
2. Under “Shop My School” you will be prompted to enter your child’s name and
homeroom. All payments must be made online. Yearbooks cost $24 plus a 5%
service fee. The last day to order your book is May 1, 2024.
3. Students will receive yearbooks in homerooms before the last day of school. Our
8th grade students will receive yearbooks on the day of their class signing.
Attendance Reminders
School Attendance: As you know, school attendance is extremely important and matters every day. In our attempt to communicate proactively with families regarding attendance, we have been sending out letters to families if your child has more than five absences (regardless of whether they are considered excused or unexcused). Absences are considered excused if your child is sick or has a medical appointment. We do ask families to provide documentation from your health care provider if there is an extended absence due to a medical reason. As we work through what works best to maintain this ongoing communication with families, we have decided to pilot a monthly attendance letter to all families. This letter will be sent through the portal at the beginning of the month starting in February and will outline all of your child’s absences. Assistant Principal Story will reach out to families directly to set up attendance meetings if your child has exceeded 10 absences.
MCAS Testing Dates
Please mark your calendar for the following dates for MCAS testing:
- ELA 6 - 8: Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10
- Math 6-8: Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16
- STE 8: Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22
- Civics 8 performance task: Tuesday, May 28
- Civics 8 end of course test: Monday, June 3
It's important that students are present in school on the days of MCAS testing.
News from SEPAC
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community (including ALL children on IEPs or 504 plans and children who may require specialized support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!
Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram
See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events
Upcoming Event:
Tuesday, Feb 27th, 7PM - Virtual
MCAS & Students with disabilities
Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83439638852
Past Event: Recording
Raising Superpowered Middle Schoolers:
How Parents can Help Tweens Thrive Socially and Academically
Presented by Phyllis Fagell
Recording is available for 3 weeks only after the presentation date (2/6 through 2/28).
Please email SEPACReading@gmail.com to request access.
Nurse Kate's Corner
As we are in the midst of cold and flu season, we are also seeing an increase in COVID cases. Please be aware that there are masks and COVID test kits available in the health office for all students, families and staff. Please see our COVID protocols here, and information about the flu here. Please feel free to reach out to Nurse Kate with any questions. Our next vaccine clinic will be held at Coolidge middle school on Friday January 5th from 2-5 pm.
The Parker Middle School will begin Annual Screenings including Postural, beginning next week. The purpose of Postural screening is to find early signs of possible spinal problems in children in grades 6-8. It is not a diagnostic service but a program to identify young people who should have further medical evaluation. If your child has any unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to take the child to a physician as a precaution. The majority of students exhibit no findings. If nothing unusual is found, we will not be contacting you again until the screening next year.
Annual State mandated screenings include:
Grade 6: postural-scoliosis
Grade 7: postural-scoliosis, hearing, vision, height/weight
Grade 8: postural-scoliosis, sbirt
For postural screening please send students in clothing (during PE days) that will help support visualization of the spine. Students should be checked with their backs bare. Boys should be bare to the waist; girls should wear two-piece bathing suits or shorts and a halter.
There is an alternative to opt out. If you do not want your student to participate, please email/submit a written request specifying which screening(s) to omit and submit current documentation of screening by their health care provider.
Parker screenings opt out link: https://forms.gle/bkUS6Anz3cPmxptE8
Please see the links for state information about school health screenings, immunizations and school exclusions: https://www.mass.gov/lists/school-health-screening,https://www.mass.gov/info-details/school-immunizations#school-and-camp-requirements-,
Chart reviews will continue to update immunization records, parents can upload updated vaccinations and documents directly on the snap health portal.
Grade 7 & New Students: Tdap & Meningococcal vaccines are required for the start of 7th grade, and the district requests an updated physical.
Reading Public Schools Snap Health Portal: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US/health-services-83f6862d/snap-health-portal-7580ab3a
Health offices can be reached via the health portal, or email/phone.
In Health,
Nurse Kate
METCO Updates
Reading Public Schools is a METCO DISTRICT
"Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominately white school districts, creating the opportunity for those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting."
Reporting Absences, Dismissals, and Tardies
Please take the time to read through the handbook to review our policies regarding school attendance.
The best way to report any attendance issues (absence, tardy, or dismissal) for your child is by sending an email to the Parker absentee line – wspabsences@reading.k12.ma.us
Please make sure to give us:
Student Name
a reason for the absence or tardy
expected date of return
for dismissal, the name of the person who will be dismissing your child
🍃🏵 🍃🏵 🍃🏵 🍃🏵
Resources and Documents for Families
About us
Principal
Dr. Jill Story
Assistant Principal
Email: rochelle.rubino@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/parker/
Location: 45 Temple Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-1236
Twitter: @WSParkerMS