In the black box at the top of the newsletter, select Translate Newsletter to pick the desired language.

· Portuguese: Na caixa preta na parte superior do boletim, selecione Traduzir Boletim informativo para escolher o idioma desejado.

· Spanish: En el cuadro de Negro en la parte superior del boletín de noticias, seleccione Traducir Boletín de escoger el idioma deseado.

· Arabic : في المربع الأسود في أعلى النشرة الإخبارية، حدد ترجمة الرسالة الإخبارية لاختيار اللغة المطلوبة.

· Vietnamese: Trong hộp đen ở phía trên cùng của bản tin, chọn dịch ký nhận để chọn ngôn ngữ mong muốn.

· Swahili: Katika sanduku nyeusi juu ya jarida, chagua Jarida la Tafsiri ili kuchagua lugha taka.

What a wonderful first few days back to school! It was such a delight to see new and returning students grace the hallways of Parker Middle School. I know that transitions can be tough, so I want to remind all students and families that the Parker Middle School staff is here to support everyone all year long. If you need help, please ask!

I also hope everyone has enjoyed the long Labor Day Weekend. This year I will be publishing my weekly newsletter on Sunday (or Monday for long weekends).

On Friday, I shared the following message with Parker students. I’m sharing with parents/guardians/caregivers so that you can also talk about these sentiments with your children as they prepare for the week ahead:

“Dr. Story and I hope you enjoyed the first two days back to school. Over the weekend and when we return on Tuesday, we want you to reflect upon what it means to give your personal best - one of the Parker core values - in the classroom. Striving for academic excellence in the classroom requires you to give your personal best. So, what does that look like in action?

One way to accomplish academic excellence is by being present in school all day, every day. Attendance is a key component to your success. This helps to establish a strong foundation because you are then here at Parker, present, and ready to learn.

Academic excellence also requires focus and the willingness to try new things, stumble and make mistakes, and then try again. When you conquer difficult subjects or excel in challenging assignments, it reminds you of your capabilities and opens up more opportunities. Lean on your teachers for that support when something feels challenging. Asking for help and trying again shows your personal best and leads you to academic excellence.

Over the course of next week, your homeroom teachers will be reviewing the Parker Middle School Handbook and Code of Conduct. The handbook is attached to this email. Please take some time to review the handbook as it is a key component to giving your personal best as a member of the Parker school community.”

Parents/Guardians/Caregivers, please also be sure to sign our handbook form, confirming the receipt of the Parker and RPS handbooks. Handbooks are linked on our website under “school information” and were sent via email from me last week.

This Friday the PTO hosts Parker Family Fun Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. outside on the lawn at Parker Middle School. It’s a fun event that features lawn games, snacks, music and cotton candy! It’s a great way to kick off the new school year, meet new friends and Parker families. I hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events:

Friday, Sept. 8:

PTO Parker Family Fun Night - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 11:

PTO Meeting - 7 p.m.

In person at Parker in the conference room and via Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85845982809

Thursday, Sept. 21:

Back to School Night: 6:45 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29:

Early Release @ 12:30 p.m.

To access the 2023-2024 District Calendar, click here.

If you are interested in serving on the Parker School Council, please contact me via email or phone.

🎉 Welcome back, Parker families! We hope to see many of you at our Parker Family Fun Night this Friday, September 8 from 6-7:30 on the King Street lawn. Bring a picnic, and join us for lawn games, pizza, cotton candy, music, snacks and catching up with friends! *FREE*

Do you have a lawn game we could borrow for the evening? Cornhole, ladder ball, spikeball, etc? We are looking for a few more games. Please email parkerptopres@gmail.com

📌 The first Parker PTO meeting of the school year is Monday, September 11 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom (https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85845982809). All are welcome! Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda: http://tinyurl.com/PTOSept23

📌 SAVE THE DATE!

- Friday, September 8, 2023: Parker Family Fun Night, 6-7:30pm

- Monday, September 11, 2023: Parker PTO meeting, 7pm. In person and on zoom.

From 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, we welcome parents to our “Back to School” Open House. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet their child’s teachers and to hear about the upcoming school year. We strongly urge and welcome all parents to participate in this night, starting with the Principal’s Welcome at 6:45 p.m. Paper schedules for the evening will go home with your child that day.

In order to get the group up and running as soon as possible, applications will be due by Friday, September, 15. CLICK HERE for the application which can also be found on the website. This is open to grades 6, 7, and 8. The Parker Service students facilitate and lead school-wide community outreach as well as some of our grade level and school-wide activities. Applications will be reviewed and advisors will follow up with chosen members.

Applications to become a member of this organization, which uses resources from the Anti-Defamation League, will be due by Friday, September 15. CLICK HERE for the application which can also be found on the website. AWOD’s mission is to make Parker school a safe place for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, or physical and mental abilities.

Please welcome the following people who are joining the Parker Staff this year:

• Jill Story - assistant principal

• Jerika Santiago - METCO SAC (shared with Coolidge)

• Kymberly Bryson - team chair

• Sarah Ward: The 360 Thinking Model Virtual Presentation. Thursday, Sept 7, 2023 at 5pm: Click here to register (you MUST pre-register to get the zoom link)

• Sarah Ward has more than 25 years of experience in the assessment and treatment of executive functioning skills and is an internationally recognized expert on executive function strategies.

• In this practical strategies seminar parents and professionals will develop a solid understanding of what the executive function skills are and how they impact a student’s academic and personal performance.

• Lynn Lyons: Helping your Family's Health In-Person Presentation. Tuesday, Sept 19, 2023 at 5pm Click here to register (you MUST pre-register as seating is limited)

• Lynn Lyons is an internationally recognised expert on anxiety and has developed and taught strategies that are concrete and immediately usable.

• Anxiety in many children has a generational link, with patterns of worry and anxiety being passed from parents to children. But what parents (and other adults) often intuitively do to help anxious children actually serves to strengthen these patterns. Lynn addresses these patterns head on, and equips families with an alternative approach that focuses on active engagement over avoidant behavior.

*Join our mailing list to receive info about summer get-togethers, including patio socials for parents/caregivers and popsicles on the playground for families.*

About Reading SEPAC

SEPAC works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community (including ALL children on IEPs or 504 plans and children who may require specialized supports).

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Understanding Disabilities is back at the Reading Fall Street Faire and highlighting local businesses with a fun raffle! For every $5 donation to UD between now and the end of the Faire at 5pm on Sunday September 10 at https://givebutter.com/UDatStreetFaire2023 (or in person at the Faire), the giver will get one raffle ticket for themselves AND can choose to help the Reading school “team” of their choice win a prize (this year we included RMHS, Parker, and Coolidge!). The more you donate, the more chances for you to win. Make sure when you donate online that you choose a school "team" if you'd like your donation to help that school win a prize. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram @understanding_disabilities throughout September for more information on our raffle prizes, and visit UD at the Faire on September 10 between noon and 5pm. HELP A READING SCHOOL WIN and help UD in the process! Share the donation link with family and friends and encourage them to support UD and choose your school team when they donate.

Please take the time to read through the handbook to review our policies regarding school attendance.

The best way to report any attendance issues (absence, tardy, or dismissal) for your child is by sending an email to the Parker absentee line – wspabsences@reading.k12.ma.us

Please make sure to give us:

• Student Name

• a reason for the absence or tardy

• expected date of return

• for dismissal, the name of the person who will be dismissing your child

METCO unites suburban towns with Boston to engage in a reciprocal learning partnership in support of all students. Because of this, every child who attends school in Reading Public Schools is a METCO student and every parent or guardian who has a student in RPS is a part of the METCO community.

"Since its founding during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in predominately white school districts, creating the opportunity for those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting."

Ms. Rochelle M. Rubino, M. Ed., CAGS

Principal

Dr. Jill Story

Assistant Principal

Email: rochelle.rubino@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/parker/
Location: 45 Temple Street, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-944-1236
Twitter: @WSParkerMS