PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Good afternoon Parker Families:

I hope that this note finds you all doing well and feeling rested and refreshed after April vacation. It seems hard to believe but we only have seven weeks of school left in the year. We will be packing in a great deal of learning and fun in those seven weeks for sure!

Buddies vs Badges

The Parker chapter of Best Buddies hosted a spectacular event on April 15. Our Best Buddies Club, under the direction of Alexandra Hansbury and Kristiana Kurth, hosted a basketball game against the Chelmsford Police and Fire Departments. It was a truly wonderful event where 29 Parker students played with passion and joy along with our amazing police and fire departments in a spirit celebrating inclusion. There was a full house, and a great time was had by all. Chelmsford is truly a great community.

Rock and Roll Bingo

Our Assistant Principal, Mark Souza, led spirited games of rock and roll bingo during all four lunches last Thursday. Mr. Souza played all Disney selections and provided the kids with Bingo cards as they ate and hung out with their peers. It was so fun to see 200 students at a time singing, laughing, and dancing with joy and without reservation. The event connected our school community and provided a much-needed chance to let their hair down and have fun!

Hats and Hoods for a Cause

On Thursday we held a fundraiser to benefit the Newhouse Wildlife Refuge located right here in Chelmsford. Students were encouraged to donate a dollar and in return could wear hats and hoods in school for the day. Newhouse does important work in helping to rescue and rehabilitate injured or sick wildlife. Our fifth grade students will attend an educational assembly with Newhouse in late May. We thank all students who helped to support this fantastic organization.

Second Step-Social Emotional Curriculum

We will be returning to our social emotional learning this week with our fifth grade students continuing their unit on Empathy and Kindness while our sixth grade will continue their unit on Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions. Please find below prompts to continue the discussion at home. Students truly learn a concept when they are able to connect it with their own experiences.

Grade 5: Community Solutions

Summary

In this lesson, your child will evaluate possible solutions to a community problem by thinking about the points of view of the people who are affected by the problem.

Try This at Home

Point out a problem in your neighborhood that affects other people. With your child, make a list of possible solutions to the problem. Ask your child how different groups in the community might feel about each solution.

Grade 6: Emotions and Your Brain

Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how different parts of their brains play a part in managing their strong emotions.

Question: Ask your child to teach you about some of the different parts of the brain and how they manage emotions. Look up a picture or video of the brain and learn some more!

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

Warm Regards,

Josh

Monday, April 28th - School Resumes

Friday, May 9th-5th Grade "Spring Fling" Social, 2:40-4:00 pm permission slips will be sent home soon

Friday, May 16th-6th Grade "Spring Fling" Social, 2:40-4:00 pm permission slips will be sent home soon

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

Thursday, May 27th - LAST DAY for Clubs & Activities and Late Buses

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

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 & 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 - April 29th

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

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

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 at the Band Room Hallway

Wednesday - April 30th

Book Club – Ms. Beaudoin – Room 125

Dungeons and Dragons–Ms. Engel–Library-GRADE 5

Fitness Club – Ms. Fitzgerald – Fitness Room

Game Club–Ms. Baker-Library GRADE 5

Power Hour – Ms. Panneton – Room 213B

Thursday - May 1st

Art Club–Ms. Annunziata–Room 4 GRADE 5 - GROUP 5B 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

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.

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:

👟 2025 Parker Pride Run Lace up those sneakers! The 2025 Parker Pride Run is on Sunday, May 18th @ 9am. Early bird pre-registration of $20 available until April 19th. All are welcome to participate! Registration includes: event t-shirt, swag bag, drinks and snacks at finish line and raffle tickets. Event t-shirts only available for pre-registration. 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

🏒 Boston Fleet April 26th: Join your middle school friends for some hard-hitting PWHL action as the Boston Fleet look to defend home ice against the Toronto Sceptres on Saturday, April 26th. Start time is TBD at the moment. A portion of every ticket will be donated to the Parker & McCarthy PTOs and used for end of year festivities! Click link to purchase tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Parkermccarthymiddle3

⚾ Middle School Night at Fenway: Join Chelmsford Middle School Families at Fenway Park on May 6th @ 6:45 P.M. to see the Boston Red Sox vs.Texas Rangers AND watch McCarthy students perform the national anthem! Less than 100 tickets currently available for purchase. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased via the following link: https://givebutter.com/RedSox2025 Tickets will be "tossed" to your MLB Ballpark App closer to the game day. Please write down which email address you use to order these tickets as that is the email address we'll use to "toss" you your tickets.

🥏 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

♻️ E-Waste and Recycle Day: Save the date: Saturday, May 3rd 8:00 am- Noon. Center Elementary School and McCarthy Middle School PTOs are partnering to help you get rid of junk items that aren't easily disposed of in the trash (appliances, furniture, lawn equipment, grills (no propane), TVs, etc). This is a great way to support our schools--just drive through, donate a small fee & then leave your junk! Please see flyer for more information and click link for volunteer opportunities: E-Waste Volunteer Link

🎤 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 Saturday, May 10th 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. Tickets link will be available soon! Contact Showboat Director and parent, Karyn Crouthamel at lionsmiddleschoolsshowboat@gmail.com

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

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

Email: robinsond@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Website: https://parker.chelmsfordschools.org/

Location: 75 Graniteville Road
Phone: 978-251-5133