PARKER WEEKLY BULLETIN

Good afternoon Parker Families,

It was great to see everyone return after the Thanksgiving break. As a community we will buckle down for the final two weeks before we embark on the Winter break. This time of year is incredibly exciting for our students with the upcoming holidays, vacation, and the changing season. It does, however, come with its share of stress and anxiety. Please be sure to reach out to your child's teacher, counselor, or myself if support is needed. We are here to help.

The "Be the Change" Project

We kicked off our Be the Change Project this week will run from December 2-20. This project continues our yearlong kindness initiative which promotes empowering our students to see the power of one in creating a positive change.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" is a phrase often attributed to Gandhi. We are looking to inspire each of our teams to make a positive difference locally, nationally, or globally. Each team chose a service project that is unique to their team and generated from what problem they seek to improve. We are excited to see our teams work collaboratively towards a common goal. Please be sure to discuss this project with our children. It can be very empowering to see the difference one can make.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Parent Conferences December 12

We will have our second day of parent conferences on the half day on Thursday December 12. Special educators and specialists will not be available as they are scheduled for professional development sessions. The link to the sign up for conferences is here: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Parker_Middle_School

Please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher with any questions or concerns if you were unable to make it in for a conference. PTCFast.com

Welcome to the Parker Middle School parent teacher conference scheduling system. Please select your conference (or conferences) below, then press "Submit". ptcfast.com

December Sketchbook Spectacular

Please find below the December Sketchbook which has been created by our wonderful art educator Ashley Norman. This provides prompts for our aspiring artists for each day of the month.

Chelmsford Community Band Concert

On Sunday December 15th join the Chelmsford Community Band, under the direction of our very own Eric Linsner, for an afternoon of holiday music. The show begins at 2:00 pm and will be at the McCarthy Auditorium. The Chelmsford Community Band is made up of 70 members from Chelmsford and the surrounding communities, with musicians ranging in age from 24 to 94 and includes many CHS alumni and several families of current Parker students.

Science Fair Committee Volunteers

Volunteers are still needed for a prospective Science Fair to be held in the Spring. We have a few volunteers so far but would love some more to help share ideas, organization, and execution of this endeavor. Please reach out to me directly at blaggj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

If interested!

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

Warm Regards,

Josh

Important Dates:

Thursday, December 12th-Early Release dismissal at 11:10 a.m.-Parent/Teacher Conferences

Monday, December 16th thru Friday December 20th- HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK- see flyer below

Tuesday, December 17th-Walking Field Trip to CHS-PAC for Holiday Performance-permission slips sent home today, please return to your student's homeroom teacher ~Thank you.

Monday, December 23rd thru Friday, January 3rd-No School-Winter Break

The Parker Middle School Store is open for business on the last Friday of each month during lunches. Parker Student Council and Teacher Volunteers work at the store so students can enjoy a little shopping for laptop stickers, fun school supplies and many other little gadgets and gizmos. Items range in price from $.50 to $2.00. See store schedule below:

Friday, December 20th

Friday, January 31st

Friday, February 28th

Friday, March 28th

Friday, April 4th

Friday, May 30th

Our after-school programs will start on Tuesday, October 15th. The Activity Fee is $50 per student. To pay PLEASE CLICK ON LINK My School Bucks or send in cash or checks made payable to Chelmsford Public Schools and turn into your child's homeroom teacher. The activity fee allows students to take full advantage of any clubs they wish to attend. The after-school activities run from 2:40-3:40 on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday throughout the year. Students also have the option of taking a late bus home. The routes are posted in the school and will not be posted publicly. We will work with students and the drivers to be sure students take the correct bus home. Since we only have 8 late buses, for both McCarthy and Parker the stops tend to be more spread out than the “regular” bus runs. After activities, students who are not taking a bus will exit the school into the Crooked Spring Road lot and can be picked up there.

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

Tuesday - December 10th

Art Club –Ms. Annunziata – Room 4 – GRADE 6 TODAY

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

Drama-Check google classroom for specific details

Festival Orchestra – Ms. Tiano-Room 8

Homework Club-Ms. Larrabee-Library

Jazz Band – Mr. Linsner – Band Room

Intramurals- Mr. McCarthy-GYM- GRADE 5 TODAY

Livesmart – Ms. Lyons – Room 102

Mindfulness & Crafts – Ms. Marino-Room 124

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

Student Council- Ms. Colon & Ms. Merrill - Room 204

No Yearbook Club Today - Next meeting will be after the Winter break

Yoga-Ms. Macallister-Fitness Room

Wednesday - December 11th

NO Book Club TODAY

NO Dungeons & Dragons THIS WEEK - WILL RESUME ON 12/18

Game Club - Ms. Baker - Library - GRADE 5 TODAY

NO Fitness Club TODAY-Please check google classroom for details

Power Hour - Ms. Panneton - Room 213B

Thursday - December 12th

No Clubs Today- Early Release day-dismissal at 11:10 a.m.

Friday - December 13th

Select Chorus - Ms. Robertson-Chorus Room 230 at 7:20 a.m.

Reminder to Parker Families - BRRR!!! Cold weather is rolling in....Parker students will still be going outside for recess/outside break. Please remember to BUNDLE UP, warm coats, hats and gloves are recommended.

Notice to All Grade 5 Families:

In accordance with the MDPH regulation 105 CMR 200.400, the vision of each student in the public schools is to be screened in the year of school entry, annually through grade 5, once in grades 6 through 8, and once in grades 9 through 12. If your student wears eyeglasses or contact lenses, please make sure that they bring them to school. Vision screenings will be done in December and January.

If your child does not pass the initial vision screening, a letter will be sent home alerting you to the need for a follow-up with your primary doctor.

You have the option to excuse your child from this screening. Please send an email to kamenidesl@chelmsford.k12.ma.us asking that they be excused or send in a note with your child and ask that they drop it off at the nurses’ office.

Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Lisa Kamenides, RN & Donna Foley, LPN

Yearbooks are on sale! Please visit Yearbook Forever to purchase your yearbook now! No books will be available for sale in June...don't miss out on capturing this year's memories! Side note: Walsworth also sends emails to Parker families with order information . They are legitimate emails.

Parker PTO is working hard to create community building events for our students, families and staff members. Check out a few upcoming activities below:

❄️☃️ Parker Craft Fair- Sunday, December 8th 10:00 am-2:00 pm:

Parker PTO is proud to present our 4th Annual Craft Fair on Sunday, December 8th 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM. The craft fair will take place in the main hallway and cafeteria. We have 38 vendors signed up including some Parker & McCarthy student vendors! This is a GREAT opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping and support local businesses. Proceeds raised from this event will go towards school wide community building activities.

🍬🥣🧑‍🍳 Gingerbread House Decorating Contest

Sign up to join the fun at the Parker Craft Fair for our 1st Annual Middle School Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. This contest is FREE to enter and open to all. Four fabulous prizes will be awarded (1st-3rd place and "Fan Favorite"). Gingerbread creations will be on display during the craft fair and winners will be announced at 12 pm on Sunday, December 8th. You do not need to be present to win. Click link for more information and to enter the contest: 2024 Gingerbread House Decorating Contest Good luck and happy decorating!

💻🚔 Internet Safety Training Monday, December 9th @ 6:30 pm

All parents/caregivers are invited to join Officer Linstad in the Community Room at the Chelmsford Police Department on Monday, December 9th @ 6:30 pm for a FREE training on cyber security and internet safety. Learn ways to support safe, secure internet use across devices for your entire family. All who attend will be entered to win a door prize.

🗓️ PTO Meeting Thursday, December 12th @ 6:30 in McCarthy Library:

Join us for our monthly PTO meeting! 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.

🍪 2024 Cookie Stroll- December 18th

Calling all bakers!! Parker PTO will be putting together a Cookie Stroll on December 18th for our December staff appreciation. The conference room will be transformed into a cookie shop with delicious treats from our families. Each staff member will be able to take 8 cookies home to their families. PTO will be looking for donations of 1-2 dozen homemade and/or store bought cookies and volunteers to help decorate. This tradition is a staff "fan favorite" and requires over 80 dozen cookies! Click link to sign up: 2024 Parker Cookie Stroll

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!

Best,

Parker PTO

Dear Parents and Families --

To better estimate the demand for lunches on half days, CPS Nutrition utilizes online lunch ordering for HALF DAYS ONLY.

For the upcoming half day Wednesday 9/18/24 orders must be received by Friday 9/13/24.

2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates

● 12/12/24

● 1/14/25

● 2/6/25

● 3/12/25

● 4/1/25

If you would like your child to have lunch on future half days, the online ordering is open for you to go ahead and select those dates. Set Up Your Account Now

Directions to set up your account and order: 1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com

2. Sign up now: Email, create password.

3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools

4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number

5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, the student's name should appear on the page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)

2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)

3. Find date, select meal option

4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order

5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page

6. Click Check out

7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.

8. Place order

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

https://docs.isitesoftware.com/snaf-assets/webmenus2-data/pdfs/1c5a3027323e8d71e3edbb2ef885e532eef0c2f9a30521834f1e659ab7610430.pdf?timestamp=1732727222

Email: robinsond@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://parker.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 75 Graniteville Road
Phone: 978-251-5133