I hope you were able to get outside this weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather. It looks like the warm weather will continue into the first part of the 7th grade Nature's Classroom trip, with more seasonable temperatures to follow toward the second half of the week.

Thank you to Parker families for your Kindness Kits donations. Eighth graders assembled the kids on Wednesday and they were donated to the Pine Street Inn. We are incredibly appreciative of your generosity!

Our 8th graders had a fabulous time in Boston last Thursday, competing in a Mad Dash Scavenger Hunt (congratulations to Ms. Carter's Advisory, the Northenders, on their win!) and cruising around the harbor on the Spirit of Boston. A fun day was had by all!

On Wednesday of this week, our 7th graders head to Camp Kirkland in Yarmouthport, MA, for Nature's Classroom (see packing list below). Cabin assignments will be posted in the school lobby at the end of the day Monday. A separate email will be sent Monday evening with last minute reminders and specific information about drop off and pick up times. Students who are not attending Nature's Classroom will be participating in fun, fall-themed events at school.

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)

A reminder that Picture Retakes are tomorrow, October 21st. Students who did not have their photo taken on the second day of school should plan to have their photo taken tomorrow. For students wishing to have their photo retaken, please remember to bring your original photos and envelope to school so you can return them to the photographer.

Individual student MCAS results are in the process of being mailed to parents/families. Please expect to receive your students' results during the week of October 21st. If you have any questions, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 781-944-5800 or olivia.lejeune@reading.k12.ma.us.

And finally, a reminder that Friday, October 25th, is an Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. due to staff professional development.

Thank you for all your continued support. Have a wonderful week!

In Partnership,

Jill Story

Principal

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.

Q1 Grades Close - 11/1

No School: Election Day/Staff PD - 11/5

Veterans Day Assembly - 11/8

No School: Veterans Day - 11/11
No School: Caregiver Conferences - 11/15

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!

On October 30th at 6:00 p.m., 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

📌 PTO MEETING: Enjoy the long weekend and then join us for our next PTO meeting, Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via zoom. Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda. All are welcome!

📌 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.

📌 PARKER FALL APPAREL SALE: The Fall Apparel Store is now open!

Shop online to get your Parker gear, including tees, sweatshirts, pajama pants, winter hats, and more! These are perfect for upcoming holidays, celebrations, and birthday gifts!

https://tinyurl.com/ParkerFall2024

Order deadline is Sunday, November 3rd. Items will be delivered to Parker by the end of November and sent home in student backpacks.

Apparel is made to order and all sales are final. Please check sizing charts before ordering.

* Be sure to note in the comments box if something is a gift to arrange for alternate pickup! *

Questions? Contact Kate Grant: katefgrant@gmail.com

📌 RESTAURANT NIGHT AT FAT LARRY’S, F 10/25/24: Swing by on this early release day this Friday 12:30-5:30pm and mention PARKER when you order/pay for 20% of sales to be donated back to the PTO!

📌 HOLIDAY PIE SALE, SUN 10/20/24 - W 11/13/24: Once again the Parker PTO is working with Wilson Farm of Lexington to provide us with delicious pies for the holiday season! These are 10” pies, and they’re frozen so you can use them throughout the holidays.

The cost is $15 each. As always, all of the money raised will go right back to the Parker PTO and the students! (Payment can be made through https://givebutter.com/ParkerPies or by sending a check made payable to the Parker PTO to the front office or your child's homeroom.)

Please Note: The pies are delicious and sold year round in the freezer at Wilson Farm. They are not, however, made at the Wilson Farm Bakery.

PIE PICK-UP: The pies can be picked up from the Parker Lobby Tuesday, November 26th, from 5pm to 7pm. This will be the ONLY available time to get your pies as we have no way to store them.

Orders can be placed by:

• Filling out the Google Form: https://bit.ly/ParkerPieSale2024 or

• Returning the order form below to the Parker School Office or your child's homeroom

***OPTIONAL: DONATE PIES TO THE READING FOOD PANTRY FOR THANKSGIVING! ***

Purchase a pie to DONATE to the Reading Food Pantry for Thanksgiving. Indicate the number of pies and we will take care of the rest!

PLEASE NOTE: DONATED PIE ORDERS MUST BE IN BY WED NOVEMBER 6TH!

If you have any questions please contact Kate McLeod at kate.fugina@gmail.com

📌 SAVE THE DATE!

• FRI, OCTOBER 18 - SUN, NOVEMBER 3, 2024: Parker Fall Apparel sale! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerFall2024
• FRI, 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!
• SUN, OCTOBER 20 - WED, NOVEMBER 13: Holiday pie sale! Purchase pies for yourself and/or donate pies to the Reading Food Pantry for Thanksgiving!
• TUES, NOVEMBER 12, 2024: PTO Meeting, 7pm. In person and zoom.

📌 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

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