PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Week of 5-12-2025

Message from Principal Blagg

Good afternoon Parker Families:

It was a great week at Parker full of hard work and some fun too! We started the week with Science MCAS for our fifth-grade students and ended it with a fabulous Spring Fling social. We have another busy week ahead of us and some exciting events with which to look forward.

MCAS

Our fifth-grade students will be taking the Math portion of MCAS on Monday and Tuesday of next week and our sixth graders will take the math portion on Thursday and Friday. Please encourage your child to get a good night sleep and eat a healthy breakfast so that they are primed to do their very best.

5th and 6th Grade Socials-May 9 and May 16 - 2:45-4:00 PM

Our amazing PTO is sponsoring our Spring Socials starting with our fifth grade social today. It was so fun watching the kids enjoy one another, dance, play games, eat some fun snacks, and revel in being kids! Our sixth-grade social will be held next Friday May 16. We ask that all students are picked up promptly out back by 4pm. Permission slips will be sent out on Monday, and a parent volunteer sign up can be found below. There is no charge for this event. Please encourage your child to attend!

WE ARE PARKER - Wednesday, June 11 - 5-8 PM - SAVE THE DATE!!!!!

We are excited to announce a school wide community celebration to culminate our year at Parker Middle School on Wednesday June 11 from 5-8 PM. Working in conjunction with our Parker School Council made up of parents and staff members, we have planned a fun and family friendly event that will celebrate all of the wonderful strengths, interests, and personalities present in our community. There will be a variety of great activates that appeal to the diverse interests inherent in our school community including:

A variety of food trucks representing multiple ethnic foods
A cabaret show highlighting our talented actors and performers
A badminton tournament
An art exhibit and interactive maker space for children to create art
Outside yard games and activities

There is no charge for the event except for any food purchased at the food trucks. We hope to start a new tradition here at Parker with this event and hope to see you all there. Families are encouraged to drop in when they are able over the three hours. More information and a flyer can be seen below.

Social Emotional Learning - Second Step

We will continue or social emotional curriculum next week with our fifth grade students starting a new unit on Problem Solving while our sixth grade students will continue their unit on Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions.

Grade 5 - Beginning to STEP

Summary

In this lesson, your child will learn how to begin to solve an interpersonal problem. This includes finding a way to feel calm, saying the problem respectfully, and deciding whether an adult’s help is needed.

Try This at Home

Ask your child what kind of interpersonal problems they can solve on their own, and when they might need an adult’s help.

Grade 6 - Managing Your Emotions

Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child will learn and practice several emotion-management strategies to help them make good decisions when they’re feeling a strong emotion.

Question: Ask your child what strategy they like to use when they realize they need to manage their emotions. Share a strategy you like to use and see if it’s also helpful for them.

Have a great weekend everyone. Please reach out if you need support.

Warm Regards,

Josh

GRADE 5 SPRING FLING SOCIAL PHOTO GALLERY

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

MAY

Friday, May 16th-6th Grade "Spring Fling" Social, 2:40-4:00 pm

Monday, May 19th thru Friday May 24th-SPIRIT WEEK flyer below

Thursday, May 29th - LAST DAY for Clubs & Activities and Late Buses

Save the date for these upcoming events

Friday, June 6th-Field Day (rain date Monday, June 9th) more information to follow

Wednesday, June 11th-"We Are Parker" Family Night - Badminton Tournament

Tuesday, June 17th-Last day of school - early dismissal at 11:10 a.m.

MCAS TESTING DATES

Monday & Tuesday - May 5th and 6th - Grade 5 Science

Monday & Tuesday - May 12th and 13th - Grade 5 Math

Thursday & Friday - May 15th and 16th - Grade 6 Math

HANNAFORD HELPS SCHOOLS

To redeem School Dollars, all shoppers need to do is enter the unique printout code and store number on the Hannaford Helps Schools program website and select their school. Each School Dollar printout has a QR code that will bring shoppers directly to this link, ensuring that redeeming School Dollars is as easy as possible. Please note that the in-store collection tower has been eliminated. However, schools will be able to turn in School Dollar printouts. Just send into the Parker Main Office.

LAST DAY FOR CLUBS AND LATE BUSES IS THURSDAY, MAY 29TH

LAST DAY FOR CLUBS & ACTIVITIES AND LATE BUSES is THURSDAY, MAY 29th - Please plan accordingly. ~Thank you.

See Clubs & Activities BROCHURE here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fSdKRgUuamin-mEgMJbeLrUcsHo7dLMiSVEMC6RtLU/edit?usp=sharing

Tuesday - May 13th

Art Club– Ms. Annunziata – Room 4 – Grade 6 Today

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

Dungeons & Dragons - Ms. Engel - Room PC4 - Grade 5

Festival Orchestra – Ms. Tiano – Room 8

Fitness Club– Ms. Currier – Fitness Room

Homework Club – Ms. Larrabee

Intramurals – Mr. McCarthy – Grade 5 Today

Jazz Band – Mr. Linsner – Band Room

Mindfulness & Crafts – Ms. Marino – Room 124

Running Club–Ms. Baker & Mr. Suleski - Meet in the Band Hallway

Wednesday - May 14th

Book Club – Ms. Beaudoin – Room 125

Festival Band - Mr. Linsner-Band Room before school

Fitness Club – Ms. Fitzgerald – Fitness Room

Game Club–Ms. Baker-Library GRADE 6

Power Hour – Ms. Panneton – Room 213B

Thursday - May 15th

Art Club–Ms. Annunziata–Room 4 GRADE 5 - GROUP 5A TODAY ONLY

Festival Band - Mr. Linsner-Band Room

Intramurals-Mr. McCarthy-GYM-GRADE 6 TODAY

Stand-Up Parker -Ms. Reinert–Conf. Room 5

Yoga-Ms.Macallister-Fitness Room

PARKER ATTENDANCE

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.

FROM PARKER PTO

New information please read!

Parker PTO is working hard to create and promote community building activities for our students, staff and middle school families. We have lots of fun spring activities to do in the upcoming weeks. Check out a few highlights below:

🪩 6th Grade Social- May 16th 2:45-4:00: Parker PTO is excited to be supporting socials for our students. During socials, kids will have the opportunity to dance with friends, play games in the gym, play group games, take photos at our photo booth and have a snack. We would love extra volunteers to help make this a successful event for all. Please click the link to sign up:

6th Grade Social Volunteer Sign Up: https://signup.com/go/ScDaqDu

👟 2025 Parker Pride Run Lace up those sneakers! The 2025 Parker Pride Run is on Sunday, May 18th @ 9am. Prizes awarded for top three finishers for various grade levels and adults. Click link to register for the event: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Chelmsford/ParkerPrideRun

We would love extra volunteers to have to help make this a successful event for all. Pride Run Volunteer Sign Up: https://signup.com/go/vRoOBUV

🥏 Boston Glory: Join your middle school friends for some high-flying professional Ultimate Frisbee™ at any 2025 regular season home game (April - August) at Hormel Stadium in Medford. Save $5 on general admission and $5 of every ticket will be donated to the Parker & McCarthy PTOs! Use code CHELMSFORD25 or click the link to purchase tickets: https://shop.bostonglory.com/discount/CHELMSFORD25

🎤 Lions' Middle School Showboat You won't want to miss this amazing talent show starring our very own middle school students grades 5-8! The Chelmsford Middle School Showboat talent show is happening on at the CHS Performing Arts Center (PAC), with two shows. Fifth and sixth grade will take the stage from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and seventh and eighth grade will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Come watch talented 5-8th graders shine on the CHS PAC stage! Order tickets now or at the door! Staying for both shows? Pre-order your pizza dinner with your tickets! https://form.jotform.com/CFOM01824/showboattix2025

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to Parker PTO at parkerpto@gmail.com Thank you for your continued support of our school!

Best,

Parker PTO