PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Good afternoon Parker Families,

It was a very busy and fun filled week at Parker Middle School. We are in the midst of our Parker Be the Change Project which is running from December 2-20. This is a school wide service-learning project guided by the words often attributed to Gandhi: "Be the Change you wish to see in the world." Each 4-person team decided upon the service project with which they will focus and dedicate their efforts.

Team 5A Explorers - Goodies bags with kind messages for the elderly and hospitalized

Team 5B Voyagers - Welcome folders for students new to the town/school. Information with helpful information about the school and community

Team 5C Navigators- Holiday cards delivered to nursing homes in town along with messages of kindness put on lockers of fellow students

Team 5D Innovators - Pediatric comfort care bags along with motivational cards made by the students to be delivered to Emerson Hospital

Team 6A Entrepreneurs - Food drive and cards made for the less fortunate to be delivered to the Chelmsford Food Pantry

Team 6B Engineers - Outreach to the Table of Plenty -Friendship bracelets/placemats/crafts for elderly

Team 6C Inventors-Linked to book - A Long Walk to Water-raise money to dig wells in Africa while raising awareness regarding use of water locally

Team 6D Architects - New/Gently used children book drive and making book marks to be donated to a local organization.

It is our hope that this project kindles a love of service and the benefits it gives not only to those who receive the service but for the students performing the service. We seek to empower our kids to see the impact they can have on their community. I am so proud of their efforts under the guidance of our amazing staff.

Artists of the Month

I am proud to announce our December Parker Artists of the Month Sophie Chen and Corin McMillian. Their art inspired their teachers and peers alike. We are so proud of you!

Parent -Teacher Conferences

It was great to see so many parents yesterday visiting with their children's teachers. This community is so supportive of our kids. Open communication between school and home is essential in supporting our students and helping them earn independence and success. Please reach out if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Warm Regards,

Josh

Important Dates:

Monday, December 16th thru Friday December 20th- HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK- see flyer below

Tuesday, December 17th-Walking Field Trip to CHS-PAC for Holiday Performance-permission slips sent home today, please return to your student's homeroom teacher ~Thank you.

Monday, December 23rd thru Friday, January 3rd-No School-Winter Break

Email: ParkerAttendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Please Send Email: Prior to 9am on the day of the absence. Please Include: Child’s name, Grade, and Reason for absence. We encourage you to use the email option when reporting an absence, dismissal, etc. for efficiency.

**PLEASE READ**

We will continue to send automated emails home when students are absent. You will receive the email whether you notified the school or not. In order for an absence to be marked as "Excused", families will need to provide medical documentation. Please call the office if you have any questions or need clarification. ~ Thank you for your understanding.

The Parker Middle School Store is open for business on the last Friday of each month during lunches. Parker Student Council and Teacher Volunteers work at the store so students can enjoy a little shopping for laptop stickers, fun school supplies and many other little gadgets and gizmos. Items range in price from $.50 to $2.00. See store schedule below:

Friday, January 31st

Friday, February 28th

Friday, March 28th

Friday, April 4th

Friday, May 30th

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 17th

Art Club WILL BE HELD TOMORROW WEDNESDAY December 18th THIS WEEK ONLY

ASL-Ms. Fitzgibbons-VIRTUAL- join google classroom from home code:yqtuwha

Drama Club-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

NO RUNNING CLUB TODAY

Yoga-Ms. Macallister-Fitness Room

Wednesday - December 18th

ART CLUB - Ms. Annunziata – Room 4 – GRADE 6 TODAY

Book Club - Ms. Beaudoin - Room 125

Dungeons & Dragons - Ms. Engel - Room PC4 - G

Game Club - Ms. Baker - Library - GRADE 6 TODAY

Fitness Club - Ms. Fitzgerald - Fitness Room

Power Hour - Ms. Panneton - Room 213B

Thursday - December 19th

Art Club - Ms. Annunziata-Room 4-Grade 5 TODAY

Drama Club -Check google classroom for specific details

Fitness Club - Ms. Currier - Fitness Room

Intramurals - Mr. McCarthy - Grade 6 TODAY

Stand-Up Parker- Ms. Mikk - Conference Room 5

Reminder to Parker Families - BRRR!!! Cold weather is rolling in....Parker students will still be going outside for recess/outside break. Please remember to BUNDLE UP, warm coats, hats and gloves are recommended.

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.

Parker PTO is working hard to create community building events for our students, families and staff members. Check out a few upcoming activities below:

Calling all bakers!! Parker PTO will be putting together a Cookie Stroll on December 18th for our December staff appreciation. The conference room will be transformed into a cookie shop with delicious treats from our families. Each staff member will be able to take 8 cookies home to their families. PTO will be looking for donations of 1-2 dozen homemade and/or store bought cookies and volunteers to help decorate. This tradition is a staff "fan favorite" and requires over 80 dozen cookies! Click link to sign up: 2024 Parker Cookie Stroll

🥳 Happy & Healthy New Year!

To help keep the schools germ-free upon the return of staff and students on January 6th, the PTO will be collecting donations to provide each classroom at both Parker and McCarthy with some tissues, clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. This is a big undertaking as there are 157 classrooms in total! If you would like to make a donation please send via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/ or Venmo: @McCarthyMSPTO. Donations can also be sent to your child's middle school office.

🏒🥅 🎁 Riverhawks Hockey -January 11th @ 6:05 PM: UML Riverhawks will be hosting Chelmsford Middle School night Saturday, January 11th. Puck drop is at 6:05 P.M. Meet all your middle school friends at the Tsongas for a great night of hockey. Tickets are $15 each. Click link to order tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Parkermccarthymiddle51

🏀 🎁Harlem Globetrotters: Join Middle School families as we watch the Harlem Globetrotters at the Tsongas Center in Lowell on Monday, February 11th at 7 p.m.! Be prepared to see amazing basketball talent mixed in with crazy comedy, great choreography, and audience participation - great family friendly entertainment! Tickets can be purchased via the following link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Parkermccarthymiddle8

💻🚔 Internet Safety Training

Thank you to all that attended Officer Lindstad's Internet Safety training. For more information and resources regarding online safety visit: https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/home

🗓️ PTO Meeting Thursday, January 9th @ 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!

Best,

Parker PTO

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

● 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

Click on the link below to view the December Lunch Menu:

https://docs.isitesoftware.com/snaf-assets/webmenus2-data/pdfs/1c5a3027323e8d71e3edbb2ef885e532eef0c2f9a30521834f1e659ab7610430.pdf?timestamp=1732727222

Email: robinsond@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://parker.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 75 Graniteville Road
Phone: 978-251-5133