Parker Jr. High Newsletter
Week of May 13, 2024
Greetings Parker Families!
Thank you for taking the time to review our updates for this week:
2024 - 2025 Registration and Residency
Information was sent via email regarding registration and residency verification for the 2024-25 school year. Please register as soon as possible to confirm your child’s placement for next school year.
School Supply List
Please review our School Supply List for the 2024-2025 school year.
Lost and Found Items
Scholars must claim items within the next 2 weeks. Items that have been collected this school year and unclaimed will be donated to a local charity. Parents can check the Lost and Found Items in the Main Lobby on May 17th from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Media Center
All library books must be turned into the Media Center by May 15th. Media Center will be closed after May 17th
SD161 Spring Reading Challenge
​​The Flossmoor School District 161 Spring Reading Challenge has started! Grown-ups and students throughout the district can complete a BINGO sheet to be entered to win our Spring Reading Challenge prizes! Students can stop by the Media Center to pick up a copy of the BINGO sheet! For each BINGO you achieve you will get an entry! Turn in a sheet and get a new one right away.
Spring Reading Challenge Bingo Sheet
2023-2024 Parker Yearbook
Click on the link below to order a Parker Yearbook! It’s not too late!
https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015288184163831
Reminder for Morning Drop Off Procedures:
Please do not drop off or pick up your scholars in the front circle of Parker
Do not block the entrance for buses when dropping off your scholar in the morning. This creates a backup of traffic
Please be sure to follow Parker Facebook for real time updates: https://www.facebook.com/PJHS161
Best Regards,
Ms. Ursula Parris, Principal
Important Updates
5.13.2024
Knitting & Crochet Club 3:05 - 4:15 p.m. Media Center
Green Team 3:05 - 4:15 p.m. Room 57
Girls Soccer Game vs James Hart at Parker 4:15 p.m.
Boys Soccer Game vs James Hart at Woodbrough Park 4:15 p.m.
Parker/James Hart Memorial Day Band Practice at H-F High School
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
5.14.2024
Short and Sweet Orchestra Concert South Gym 6:30 p.m.
5.15.2024
H-F Late Start Day
Dungeons & Dragons Club 3:05 - 4:15 p.m. Media Center
Parker Choir and Falcon Choir Concert North Gym 6:30 p.m.
5.16.2024
PJHS Orchestra Concert North Gym 6:30 p.m.
5.17.2024
Lost and Found for Parents 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Main Lobby
State Track Finals Peoria, IL
5.18.2024
State Track Finals Peoria, IL
Falcons Spotlight
We Appreciate our Parker Staff
Thank you PTO for our making our Staff Appreciation Week a huge success!
Spring Reading Challenge
Attendance Matters
8th Grade Updates
Wednesday, May 22 - Great America Trip
Friday, May 24 - 8th Grade Dance 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. PJHS North Gym
Tuesday, May 28 - Picnic 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Graduation Ticket Pick-Up
Each graduate will be issued four tickets. Tickets will be available for pick up in the Parker Junior High lobby during the following hours: May 20, 21, 22, 23 8:15 - 11:30 a.m.and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Tickets will not be sent home with students. There will be a sign-off sheet that will need to be signed by a parent or guardian at the time of pick up.
Graduation Rehearsal - Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Graduation Rehearsal - Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Graduation Ceremony - Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at HF High School- 6:00 PM
(Graduates must be present no later than 5:30 PM)
8th Grade Virtual Parent Meeting - Please click link below
8th Grade Dance Expectations
8th Grade Scholars participating in the 8th Grade Dance must follow Dress Code below (see Deans Corner in this newsletter). Please contact the school office with any questions
HF High School Information
Deans Corner
Community Grade Level Meetings
Grade Level Meetings were held with 6th, 7th and 8th grade scholars. Please feel free to access the presentations below:
Saturday Detention
Parents, please be aware when your child is scheduled for Saturday Detention, the hours are 8:00 am - 11:00 am. If you arrive after 8:15, you will need to reschedule with your grade level Dean. Also, TWO No Shows/No Calls for Saturday Detention will result in your scholar being assigned an ISS. Thank you for your support and please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Please see the Dress Code Policy below:
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, and,
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.]
Mr. Small, 6th Grade Dean
Ms. Bennett, 7th Grade Dean
Mr. Metanias, 8th Grade Dean
PBIS
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
Our May goal is to decrease the number of referrals for skipping class. If scholars make this goal, they will wear pajama pants Friday, 5/17/24.
The 4th Quarter Incentive criteria will be the same. All scholars with no In-School Suspension nor Out of School Suspension will attend End of Quarter Trip. Scholars that engage in Physical Aggression will not be able to participate.
MAP Assessment Rewards
Scholars that met both their ELA and Math MAP goal will get to participate in our Silent Dance Party, Thursday, May 16th
Athletics and Activities
AVID
The AVID program is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Scholars new to the AVID program can pick up applications in the main office or outside of room 61. Scholars continuing in the AVID program will need to complete an application as well. Applications are available in our classroom. If you have any questions, please email Dewey at armdewey@sd161.org.
Track
Sectionals were held at Lincoln Way West on Saturday May 11, 2024. Congratulations to all of our state qualifiers! The State track meet will be held May 17th and May 18th in Peoria. Good luck Falcons!
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.
Health Updates
Transfer/new students to PJH must present a 6th grade physical. It is the parent's responsibility to provide a copy of the physical/immunization forms from previous school records. Out of state transfers must have a physical on the Illinois form.
Medications - The only 2 medications (over the counter or prescription) that a student can have in their possession (including backpack, purses, etc.) is an inhaler or epi-pen with authorization. An epi-pen requires physician and parent authorization on the required forms. An inhaler requires parent authorization on the District form and the inhaler prescription box. Students may not have any over the counter or prescription medications at school at any time without the required district authorization forms.
Action Plans - An annual updated action plan is requested for all students with allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes and other medical conditions.
COVID-19. Please report all positive COVID cases to the Nurse (708- 647-5437).
Homework Help
Homework Help is available Tuesday - Thursday from 2:35 pm-3:05 pm. Please make sure your child has transportation home. Bus Transportation will not be provided.
Bell Schedule
Food Services
Parker Junior High School
Email: uparris@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/parker-junior-high
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJHS161
Location: 2810 School Street, Flossmoor, Illinois 60422