PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Week of 9-2-2024

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!!

Message from Principal Blagg

Good afternoon Parker Families:

We had a fantastic first week of school at Parker! The start of school often comes with feelings of excitement, joy, anxiety, and trepidation. We have been so impressed with how seamlessly so many of our students have handled the transition to a new school year, new teachers, and for our fifth graders, a new school! The students have spent the bulk of the first week learning the new routines and expectations while engaging with team building exercises to start building relationships and community. Next week we will start to dive into our core curriculum in earnest.

In our grade level assemblies, we have challenged the students to work to the best of their abilities. We have stressed that as they get older the academics will become more challenging. We want our kids to understand that it will take hard work and that at times things may get frustrating when a concept is difficult to understand. Students are encouraged to work hard and to ask for assistance when needed. All students struggle from time to time but our response to that struggle is so important. We ask that you reinforce the importance of giving their best effort, asking for help when it is needed, and approaching learning with a growth mindset. Our staff is dedicated to helping each and every student grow, learn, and improve while having fun along the way!

Sketchbook Spectacular - Wonderful Art Opportunities

Ashley Norman, an art teacher at Parker, has developed this wonderful art opportunity for all our students. Below find the link to the September Sketchbook Spectacular which provides different art prompts for each day of September. This is especially valuable to those students who are taking a performance music class and cannot fit art class into their schedules! A new Sketchbook Spectacular will be posted each month!

file:///Users/blaggj/Downloads/September_Sketchbook_Spectacular_2024_2025%20(1).pdf

Have a great long Labor Day weekend. I hope it is filled with family, friends, relaxation, and fun. Please reach out if you need support.

Warm regards,

Josh

IMPORTANT DATES:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Friday, August 30th - No School

Monday, September 2nd - No School (Labor Day)

Tuesday, September 3rd - School Resumes

Wednesday, September 11th - School Picture Day

Thursday, September 12th - Open House for Grade 5 Curriculum Night 6-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 18th - Open House for Grade 6 Curriculum Night 6-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 18th - Early Release Day dismissal at 11:10 a.m.

CPS Family/Student Handbook

Dear Parents,

Please see link below for the Chelmsford Public Schools 2024-2025 Family/Student Handbook for your reference.

https://chelmsfordschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/English2024-2025-FamilyandStudentHandbook-FINAL.pdf

FROM PARKER PTO

Welcome Parker Families! Parker PTO has some exciting activities planned for the 2024/2025 school year! We will be looking for parent volunteers to help with some amazing school events throughout the school year. Be on the lookout for more information and volunteer sign ups in the upcoming weeks! Check out a few upcoming activities below:

📆 PTO Meeting Thursday, September 19th @ 6:30 in McCarthy Library: 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.

🏈 ⚽️ ⚾️ i9Sports: Looking for fun, instructional, and convenient youth sports options for the kids this fall? We’ve teamed up again with i9 Sports on a deal to help save Parker & McCarthy families big this season AND help support the Parker & McCarthy PTOs! i9 Sports is offering weekend flag football, soccer, t-ball/baseball, & youth "multi-sports" discovery programs for kids ages 3-14 at Nashoba Valley Technical HS in Westford (open to families from anywhere to register for!) beginning Saturday, September 21st. Sign up using the promo code “MSLions!” at checkout and not only will you save $15 OFF the season registration price for any upcoming fall or winter season program, but i9 Sports will also donate $5 back to the Parker & McCarthy PTOs for every registration received using promo code “MSLions!”!

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!

Save-the-Date

The Chelmsford Middle School PTOs are offering families a FREE evening of entertainment on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th at 6PM in the CHS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (PAC).

We will be screening the Broadway musical Come From Away and will welcome, Connor Farry, as a special guest speaker after the film.

This award-winning musical is based on actual events that took place on September 11, 2001 when the FAA shut down airspace following the terrorist attacks and diverted 38 planes to Gander, Newfoundland stranding 7,000 passengers and crew. This show focuses on the experiences of both the passengers and the people of Gander, who welcomed them into their town in the spirit of collaboration and kindness.

Following the film, we will hear from one of the passengers stranded in Gander as a child. He will explain how we can all Pay It Forward with kindness.

Join us for this amazing feel-good time and reserve your seat(s) with this link: https://signup.com/go/SGDpOpO.

NOTE: Concessions will NOT be sold at this event.

If you have any questions, please reach out to: PTOParker@gmail.com or PTO.McCarthy@gmail.com

Thank you!