Parker Post

On this Veterans Day, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to veterans and military families. Your service and sacrifice are deeply appreciated, and we are honored to have you as part of our school family.

This past Friday, we celebrated the veterans in our Parker community with an assembly honoring them for their service. We are so appreciative of the families that attended and submitted photos for the slideshow. Thank you to Kim Peterson, Jenny DiMuzio, and Chris Twomey for their efforts organizing this event, and thank you to the Parker Leaders and 8th grade chorus for their participation!

With gratitude,

Jill Story

Principal

We look forward to seeing you at Caregiver Conferences on Friday, November 15th. If you are unable to attend and would still like to meet, please reach out to your child's Team Leader for an alternate time. As a reminder, there is no school for students on 11/15 due to conferences.

Please see the attached document for information about how to request transcripts and letters of recommendation if your child is applying to private or technical schools.

Phyllis Fagell, author of Middle School Superpowers, will be presenting an interactive virtual session on “Helping Kids Make Smart, Ethical Decisions” on November 14th at 6pm.

Sign up for the Walk it like you ROCKET RMHS 5K! on 11/24 Two options to race: a 5K and a fun run!

*All proceeds raised will go directly to the RMHS senior class and all the fun senior activities, i.e. prom, senior week, and graduation.

We will have two different races scheduled: a true 5k and an age 10 and under ½ mile fun run! We encourage the whole family to participate!

Here are a few details about the fundraiser:

• Event Date: Sunday November, 24th
• Start Time: 8:30 AM 10&U and 9:00 5K
• Location: Birch Meadow Elementary School (27 Arthur B Lord Dr.)
• Registration Fee: $15 Fun Run & $30 5k

Link to Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Reading/WalkItLikeYouRocket

On behalf of the Evelyn Lilly Lutz Foundation, we’re pleased to invite you, your staff, and parents to an upcoming event on Nov 12: "How Social Media has Created an "Anxious Generation" and What We Can Do About It, moderated by journalist Jim Braude and featuring Zach Rausch, lead researcher behind the new NYT bestseller The Anxious Generation.

RSVP here: https://socialmediateenminds.splashthat.com/.

The event is free to attend, and will bring together educators, mental health experts, and parents to explore the impact of social media on student mental health and provide practical strategies to promote healthier online habits among youth. Feel free to share this invitation with teachers and parents in your community.

Kick off your holiday season on Saturday and Sunday, December 7th and 8th by visiting Reading Education Foundation’s (REF) 22nd annual Festival of Trees, a winter wonderland of decorated holiday trees donated by local families, organizations, businesses and schools that festival visitors can win for themselves! This signature REF fundraising event, held at Reading’s Parker Middle School, is a magical and memorable community holiday tradition for adults and children of all ages. Fun can be had for all ages while raising money that REF provides to the Reading schools through teacher-initiated grants. There is local entertainment throughout both days including live performances by school choruses, bands and local groups. Food trucks will be outside selling items at the event. Lucky winners of tree raffles will be selected at closing on Sunday night.

Tree Donations

REF has a goal of 100 donated trees this year – please consider donating one! We welcome trees from PTO’s, grade levels, groups and staff. This is a great way to showcase the creativity and curriculum of the Reading Public Schools. You don’t need to spend a lot on a tree – just a fun theme and a few gift cards or small tokens (especially from our local businesses) are all you need. Remember, you don’t even need a tree as we’ve seen hockey sticks, bookcases and other itemS serve as a “tree”. If you are interested in donating a tree please email us at reftreedonor@gmail.com and include the following:

- Name of Tree Donor

- Contact information & phone number

- Tree Name

Advanced Ticket Sales Are Open

Raffle tickets purchased in advance will be preprinted with purchaser’s raffle number on the back, saving patrons the time and hassle of entering their personal information. Visit readingef.org to purchase tickets.

REF, non-profit foundation, is committed to supporting innovation and excellence in the Reading Public Schools. REF’s goal is to enhance and increase educational opportunities for all Reading students by providing funds for projects that go beyond the scope of traditional classroom learning. To learn more about REF, advance sales, opportunities to donate a tree, and see a schedule of events, visit the REF website at www.readingef.org.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

Veterans Day: NO SCHOOL - 11/11

School Site Council meeting - 11/12, 5:30 p.m.

PTO meeting - 11/12, 7 p.m.

Essex Tech presentation for 8th graders - 11/13
Caregiver Conferences: NO SCHOOL - 11/15

ON THE HORIZON:

Author Jessie Janowitz visits Parker (6th graders) - 11/20

Parker Math Team Meet @ Stoneham - 11/21

Early Dismissal (10:45 dismissal) - 11/27

Thanksgiving Recess: NO SCHOOL - 11/28 & 11/29

📌 PTO MEETING: Please join us for our next PTO meeting, Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via zoom. Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda. All are welcome!

📌 DONATION REQUEST: Check out what the Parker PTO accomplished last year! All of this was entirely made possible because of family donations.

To make this a successful year, the PTO is asking for a donation of $100 per family. We are sensitive that this may pose a financial burden, so please contribute as you are able to do so. Your support is greatly appreciated!

📌 THANK YOU: We appreciate the Parker families that have submitted their PTO donations for matching gifts through their companies! Please consider checking with your employer as to whether your PTO donation can be matched as this provides extra funds that the PTO can put towards enrichment and activities for this school year.

📌 HOLIDAY PIE SALE - DEADLINE THIS WED 11/13: Once again the Parker PTO is working with Wilson Farm of Lexington to provide us with delicious pies for the holiday season! These are 10” pies, and they’re frozen so you can use them throughout the holidays.

If you have any questions please contact Kate McLeod at kate.fugina@gmail.com

📌 PARKER PTO FESTIVAL OF TREES DONATION: Once again the Parker PTO is participating in the 2024 Festival of Trees. This year's theme is based on the Parker Drama spring musical, "Curtains," which is a murder mystery comedy set in 1960's Boston. This is a fun theme to work with! There are a couple ways you can help us make this year's tree a success:

1. Purchase an item from our amazon wish list (it will be sent directly to us!): https://tinyurl.com/ParkerFOT24

2. Make a monetary contribution on Give Butter (link below) for us to purchase Gift Cards to local Reading businesses. We are looking for monetary donations to purchase these gift cards:

$25 to Bagel World

$25 to Whitelam Books

$25 to Perfectos

$25 to Pizza World

$25 to Nella's Pizza

$25 to Fat Larry's

$25 to Cal's

$25 to Cupcake City

$25 to Calaresso's

Sign up here to donate: https://givebutter.com/Curtains

Please make all donations by December 1 so that we have time to get any last minute items before set up on the 6th! We hope to see you at the Festival of Trees December 7th & 8th!

Thank you for your support,

Julie Sheeran & Alicia Weaver

📌 CHARLESTON WRAP: The Charleston Wrap sale is open now through 12/4! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerCharlestonWrap24

Shop online for upcoming holidays, gift wrap, candles, eco-friendly items, personalized gifts, kitchen items, gourmet snacks and more. A portion of all sales will be donated to Parker. Shop now and items are delivered after ordering - no waiting for the end of the sale!

• SUN, 10/20 - W 11/13: Holiday pie sale! https://bit.ly/ParkerPieSale2024 Pick up pies at Parker T 11/26, 5-7pm.
• SUN 11/9 - W 12/4 CHARLESTON WRAP SALE: Gift wrap for all occasions, candles, home decor and more! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerCharlestonWrap24
• PARKER PTO’S FESTIVAL OF TREES SUBMISSION: Help the PTO outfit our awesome Festival of Trees tree donation. Donate by 12/1. https://tinyurl.com/ParkerFOT24 and https://givebutter.com/Curtains
• T 11/12: PTO Meeting, 7pm. In person and zoom.
• W, 11/20: Author Jessie Janowitz visits Parker 6th graders! https://www.jessiejanowitz.com/

📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:

• Email: parkerptopres@gmail.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParkerPTO
• Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO, www.instagram.com/parkermspto
• Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage

To learn more about Reading SEPAC, please visit our website: Reading SEPAC Website

Should you wish to receive our monthly newsletter, please send an email to SEPACReading@gmail.com

Please note that Reading SEPAC IS OPEN TO ALL parents/caregivers and not only families who have a child with special needs as we offer various opportunities to connect with other families and provide learning experiences.

Recorded events that are still available on the Reading SEPAC Website:

• The Right to Read Panel Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw_oIuqkUt0
• The New IEP Presentation
• MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation
• Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation

***Should you wish to reach out to Reading SEPAC anonymously, please use this form

Friends of Reading METCO invites you to join us for a parent social in Boston on 11/16 (adults only, see flier for details) and to hold the date for our annual Holiday Brunch in Reading on 12/7/24, starting at 10.30am.

Friends of Reading METCO is a volunteer group of Boston and Reading parents, working together to make connections between families and support the METCO program in our District. Contact ilka@ilkawalkley.com if you’d like to know more.

If you plan on attending, please also fill out this form so coordinators are aware of who will be attending: FORMetco- Google Form

On Saturday November 23, 2024 from 4:00pm-6:00pm, the Reading METCO team will be hosting a family fall event at V! Healthy in Boston. There will be activities such as pumpkin and apple decorating, arts and crafts, games, food, and drinks.

Please register here.

If you need to connect with your child's teachers, please reach out to the Team Leader as the primary point of contact. Team Leaders will be communicating regularly with families throughout the year.

TEAM LEADERS:

Team Synergy - Jane Costa (jane.costa@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Unity - Elisabeth Bean (elisabeth.bean@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Justice - Andrew Spinali (andrew.spinali@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Integrity - Steve Olivo (steve.olivo@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Inspire - Julie Merrill (julie.merrill@reading.k12.ma.us)

Team Endeavor - Brian James (brian.james@reading.k12.ma.us)

On Wednesdays, students will have Advisory. During Advisory, students meet in smaller groups with an assigned Advisory teacher. The goal is to foster a sense of belonging for all students through the implementation of curriculum that is designed to reinforce Parker's core values of kindness, community, and personal best.

Please be aware that any medication must be brought in by parents and signed in with a nurse, with the exception of epipens and inhalers which may be brought in by students. Please note that all medications require a physician order and parent consent. You may upload any medical documentation, including copies of orders and physicals, privately through the health portal here. Please see illness guidelines here. If you have any medical questions that you would like to discuss with the nurse, please contact kate.shmulsky@reading.k12.ma.us.

Health Services Updates: The Health Services Department would like to share some important reminders. Parents/guardians/caregivers should review the RPS illness guidelines here. If your child requires medication at school, including an Epipen or inhaler, ensure you complete and submit this form. Reading Public Schools utilizes the SNAP Health Portal for electronic health records, allowing secure uploading of medical documents and private messaging with school nurses; an email has been sent to parents with login details and the portal can be accessed here.

Access to the portal can be found on the Parker website (https://parker.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US) by clicking on the PlusPortals button. Your username should be your personal email. If you have questions about your account, please contact Linnea Frye: linnea.frye@reading.k12.ma.us

Jill Story, Principal

Email: jill.story@reading.k12.ma.us

Beth Simpson, Assistant Principal

Email: beth.simpson@reading.k12.ma.us

Website: Walter S. Parker Middle School
Location: 45 Temple Street