Parker Jr. High Newsletter

Thank you for taking the time to review our updates for this week:

2023-2024 Parker Yearbook

Click on the link below to order a Parker Yearbook! It’s not too late!

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1015288184163831

5 Essentials Parent Survey

Please access the 5 Essentials Parent Survey and provide valuable feedback that will be utilized for School Improvement. The survey window will close on March 29, 2024. Thank you in advance.

Parent Advisory Session

Our next Parent Advisory Session is scheduled February 28th. Parent Advisory Sessions will be facilitated by Principal Parris and provide an interactive opportunity for up to 30 Parker Families to engage in dialogue that will promote success of our scholars. Please register by accessing the Parent Advisory Session Sign- Up Genius . If there are any questions, please feel free to contact Laurie Schroeder at lschroeder@sd161.org.

Reminder for Morning Drop Off Procedures:

• Please do not drop off or pick up your scholars in the front circle of Parker

• Do not block the entrance for buses when dropping off your scholar in the morning. This creates a backup of traffic

Please be sure to follow Parker Facebook for real time updates: https://www.facebook.com/PJHS161

Best Regards,

Ms. Ursula Parris, Principal

Board Briefs [Updates from the District 161 Board of Education Meetings]

2024-25 School Calendar

The Board of Education approved the 2024-25 calendar on February 5, 2024. The 2024-25 school year will start on Monday, August 12, for staff and Thursday, August 15, for students. The tentative last day of school is Friday, May 30, 2025. District 161’s winter break will begin on Monday, December 23, 2024, and school will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025. Spring Break is scheduled the week of March 31 - April 4, 2025. The entire calendar can be viewed here.

Long Range Construction Plan

The construction planning process continued this month with the approval of bids for the following work to be completed during the summer of 2024: 1) Masonry work and tuckpointing for the Western Avenue bell tower and exterior walls, 2) Exterior door replacement at Western Avenue and Parker Junior High, 3) HVAC heating upgrades at Flossmoor Hills and Western Avenue, 4) Back-up boiler replacement at Parker Junior High, and 5) Exterior door and window replacement at Normandy Villa. The design process for the Heather Hill office relocation and classroom refurbishment has started and that work is slated to be completed during the summer of 2025.

New Assistant Principals

The Board of Education approved the addition of assistant principals at Flossmoor Hills, Heather Hill, and Serena Hills. We are excited about the new members of the administrative team and you can read more about the individuals here.

Heather Hill Detention Basin

The Village of Flossmoor presented their updated plan for a detention basin on the campus of Heather Hill School. A number of community members shared their feedback with the Board of Education and an informative discussion followed. This topic will also be included in the meeting agenda for March 18, 2024.

Winter Data / School Improvement Planning

Ms. Amabel Crawford, Director of Learning and Instruction, and Ms. Jackie Janicke, Director of Special Education, discussed the winter assessment data. There are a number of positives in the data and we will continue the upward trajectory. Student attendance continues to lag behind our overall target. Additionally, each building principal reviewed their school’s progress on the School Improvement Plans and based on the data, we are focused on the right work. End of the year data discussions will occur at a Board meeting once the state and district results have been tabulated.

Our 7th Grade Humanities program competed in the EduHam program sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Gilder Lehrman Institute provide public school students the opportunity to see Hamilton on Broadway and integrate the show into classroom studies. This innovative program integrating history and performing arts allows teachers to bring American history to the classroom in a new way and helps students find their own connections to the founding era. Only 20 winning teams are chosen in this nationwide competition from 250,000 high school and junior high scholars to compete. We are so excited for Braylen Brewer, Tyler Harris and Simon Reyes to go to New York to see Hamilton on May 7th-9th this year.

~Thank you Ms. O'Dwyer, Ms. Hussein, Mrs. Nicotra, and Mrs. Washington

IAR State Assessment will begin April 3rd

6th, 7th, 8th Grade Scholars

NWEA Spring MAP Assessment will begin April 22nd

6th, 7th, 8th Grade Scholars

AIMSWeb Assessment will begin May 7th

Selected Scholars (based upon assessment data)

If there are any questions regarding our Testing processes or procedures, please contact Mario Ford, Assistant Principal - Testing and Accountability at mford@sd161.org.

Click Link below for HF High School Information

Yondr Bag Verification

Scholars are expected to maintain cell phones within assigned Yondr Bags every day. In an effort to maintain a distraction free learning environment, Deans and Assistant Principals will conduct classroom visits for Yondr Bag verification. Scholars should report to the Main Office before or during homeroom if there is an issue with their Yondr Bag. Main Office staff are prepared to assist scholars as necessary.

Please see the Dress Code Policy below:

6.20 - School Dress Code We expect all students to be dressed appropriately and comfortably for school each day. Students are expected to be reasonably dressed and prepared to participate in a professional and hard working school environment. Any student whose dress is deemed to be inappropriate will be provided with a shirt or shorts that will appropriately cover the dress code violation. Clothes must be worn in such a way that the genitals, buttocks, stomach, sides, back and chest area are fully covered with opaque fabric. All undergarments must be fully covered. The following apply to all student attire:

a) Shirts must have opaque fabric in the front, back and on the sides under the arms that extends to the waistband,

b) Pants/sweatpants/shorts/ skirt/dress/leggings must be worn at waist level and in such a way that genitals, buttocks, undergarments are fully covered with opaque fabric, and,

c) Shoes must be worn at all times.

The following guidance is intended to illustrate implementation of the above requirements for students, parents, and school personnel while on school property:

1. Jackets, coats, hats, hoods, gloves, and other forms of outerwear apparel are not to be worn in school. Fleece and sweatshirts may be worn in school as long as a hood is not covering a student’s head.

2. No head covering or cap may be worn in the school unless for religious or health reasons.

3. Only prescription glasses may be worn in school.

4. Attire, earrings, jewelry, pins, or any other type of wearing apparel or accessories that advertise, promote, or depict alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, drugs, gangs, weapons, nudity, obscenity, or profanity are not to be worn in school.

5. Students are not permitted to wear or advertise in any manner drug, alcohol, weapons, or any controlled substance paraphernalia.

6. Pajama attire is not to be worn in school, unless given special permission [PBIS reward, etc.]

Mr. Small, 6th Grade Dean

Ms. Bennett, 7th Grade Dean

Mr. Metanias, 8th Grade Dean

Chess

The South Suburban Junior High School Conference Chess meet was held on February 21, 2024. Thank you to Mrs. Schroeder, Mr. Small and Mr. Pritchett for all of your hard work. The meet was a success!

AVID 2024-2025

The AVID program is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Scholars new to the AVID program can pick up applications in the main office or outside of room 61. Scholars continuing in the AVID program will need to complete an application as well. Applications are available in our classroom. If you have any questions, please email Dewey at adewey@sd161.org.

Boys Volleyball

Boys volleyball teams played against Huth and James Hart. Both teams beat Huth and lost to James Hart. The teams play Brookwood and Colin Powell this week. Good luck Falcons!

Girls Volleyball

Our Lady Falcons continue to dominate the volleyball court. Both teams beat Huth this week and lost to James Hart. The 7th grade team will have their first regional game against Robbins Kellar at 5:15pm on February 26, 2024 at Coolidge Middle School in Phoenix. Our 8th grade team is the number one seed for their regional! The Lady Falcons are scheduled to play at 1:00pm on Saturday March 2nd at Coolidge Middle School in Phoenix.

SPECTATORS

Per South Suburban Junior High School Association (SSJHSA), students MUST be accompanied by THEIR parent/guardian to attend any home or away athletic events in the conference. Parents/guardians MUST remain with their scholar during the entire game.

Athletic Eligibility

For all IESA activities, athletic as well as non-athletic, passing work shall be checked weekly. Eligibility will be applied to the Monday through Saturday following the week that was checked. Students must be passing each subject each week to be eligible. Grades will be pulled every Friday. Emails will be sent to parents/guardians of those scholars who are not passing their classes.

SPORTS PHYSICALS MUST BE ON FILE IN THE NURSE’S OFFICE IN ORDER TO TRY OUT, NO EXCEPTIONS!

Transfer/new students to PJH must present a 6th grade physical. It is the parent's responsibility to provide a copy of the physical/immunization forms from previous school records. Out of state transfers must have a physical on the Illinois form.

Medications - The only 2 medications (over the counter or prescription) that a student can have in their possession (including backpack, purses, etc.) is an inhaler or epi-pen with authorization. An epi-pen requires physician and parent authorization on the required forms. An inhaler requires parent authorization on the District form and the inhaler prescription box. Students may not have any over the counter or prescription medications at school at any time without the required district authorization forms.

Action Plans - An annual updated action plan is requested for all students with allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes and other medical conditions.

COVID-19. Please report all positive COVID cases to the Nurse (708- 647-5437).

Homework Help is available Tuesday - Thursday from 2:35 pm-3:05 pm. Please make sure your child has transportation home. Bus Transportation will not be provided.

Email: uparris@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/parker-junior-high

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJHS161
Location: 2810 School Street, Flossmoor, Illinois 60422