Principal Rubino's Weekly Update
W.S. Parker Middle School Newsletter; Sun. Feb. 11, 2024
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Dear Parker Families,
One more week until February school vacation week. If you wish to participate, we are hosting a spirit week this week. Participation is entirely optional.
Monday - Super Bowl Victory Party!
Tuesday - The 13th "Taylor Swift Day"
Wednesday - Heart Day! Wear pink/red
Thursday - PJ Day!
Friday - Twin/Multiples Day - Dress up together with your peers, teachers, homeroom, or entire team! How creative can each grade level or homeroom team get?
We are also cleaning out the Lost and Found (photos below). We have items on tables in the lobby for students to look through and take home. Anything remaining on Friday, Feb. 16 will be donated.
Attention eighth grade families, students will be bringing home the grade 9 RMHS Program of Studies this week. Please spend time reviewing this with your children as students will be conferencing with their teachers upon return from February school vacation week. Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Check out the flyer below for two exciting after school programs offered at Parker Middle School - Tuesday Business Sharks and Thursday Metrocraft! These will begin in March and are run by Reading Community Education Department. Sign up information below.
Please read on for more information for the upcoming week and beyond. Have a great week!
Upcoming Events:
Monday, Feb. 12, 2024
School Council at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom and in person
Agenda: Click here
Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85211218653
PTO at 7 p.m. via Zoom and in person
Agenda.
Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482
Monday, Feb. 19 - Friday, Feb. 23, 2024
No School - School Vacation Week
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
To access the 2023-2024 District Calendar, click here.
To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.
Thank you, PTO
Thank you, Parker PTO, for stocking our teacher staff room with all sorts of goodies! We feel very appreciated by our families!
Enrichment Programs at Parker - Register Today!
Parker Leaders receive honor for Kindness Kits project
Ms. Kim Peterson, eighth grade science teacher and advisor of Parker Leaders, and two eighth grade students, Emily Samways and Declan Grant, received commendation from the Reading School Committee this past week for the annual eighth grade service project, Kindness Kits for the Pine Street Inn. Every year, 8th grade students complete this service project with the assistance of the Parker Leaders. The Kindness Kits, which include toiletry items such as toothpaste, deodorant, and tissues, are donated to the Pine Street Inn in Boston who gives them to their homeless population in the city. The Pine Street Inn has come to count on this project each year. Congratulations to students and Ms. Peterson.
Lost and found items to be donated Friday
Look familiar? Come take home what is yours before it hits the donation bin! All items will be on tables in the lobby until Friday, Feb. 16.
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
Teen Healthy Relationships: Parent Workshop
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This virtual parent presentation will help parents/caregivers identify the signs of an unhealthy relationship, help their teens navigate these tricky relationships, provide positive support for both the parents and teens, and connect parents with local resources.
When: Feb. 12: 7:30 - 8:15 p.m.
Where: Virtual Workshop
News from the PTO
📌 PTO MEETING: Join us tomorrow, Monday, February 12 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom. Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda. All are welcome!
📌 THANK YOU!! Many thanks to our generous Parker community for sending snacks and drinks to restock the staff room, as well as monetary donations so we could purchase the remaining items. The Parker staff was excited to find the shelves bursting with grab & go treats, as well as coffees, teas, and cold drinks to enjoy. We are so grateful your help thanking Parker staff for their hard work all year long.
📌 SAVE THE DATE!
- RESTAURANT NIGHT: Parker at Chipotle - 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
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.
Teen Programs at Reading Public Library
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