Principal Rubino's Weekly Update

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It was so fun to listen to Parkapella and other Parker musicians perform at the REF Festival of Trees. Thank you to all Parker families for their contributions to the trees that were donated by groups that represent our school! Best of luck to all who are hoping to win a tree!

Please mark your calendar for the following dates for MCAS testing:

• ELA 6 - 8: Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10

Last week, 8th grade students visited the Lexington Historical Society to learn more about causes that led to the American Revolution. Thanks to Mr. Twomey and Ms. Fowke for organizing those experiences.

This past week our students participated in an all-school assembly sponsored by the PTO. Ball in the House, an acapella group, performed "And Now I See: Race, Racism, and American Music”. https://www.ballinthehouse.com/ Thank you, PTO, for bringing this program back to our school.

Please be reminded that Friday is an early release for staff professional development. Please see below for additional upcoming events. Have a great week!

Upcoming Events:

Friday, Dec. 8, 2023

Early Release at 12:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec .11, 2023

Challenge Day Grade 8 Team Endeavor

Shrek The Musical Auditions - after school

School Council at 5:30 p.m.

PTO at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023

Challenge Day Grade 8 Team Inspire

Shrek The Musical Auditions - after school

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

8th Grade Winter Concert 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 18, 2023

Coffee and Conversation with Principal Rubino 8:30 a.m. via Zoom

Topic: TBA

Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84997881056

Shrek the Musical Callbacks -after school

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023

6th Grade Winter Concert 6 p.m.

7th Grade Winter Concert 7:45 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 22, 2023

Early Release at 10:45 a.m.

Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, 2023

Winter Break

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

To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.

From now until December break, Parker Middle School will be participating in the “Coats for Kids and Families” Drive.

We are looking for adult and children size warm winter coats. Each year, Anton’s Cleaners aims to collect 50,000 warm winter coats to provide to individuals and families in need. Coats are cleaned by Anton’s Cleaners and made available to a network of over 90 distribution partners made up of local nonprofits, social service agencies, and schools to ensure the coats are given to those who really need them!

Please donate your coats to the large box next to the main stairs on the first floor.

📌 Our next PTO meeting is Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom (https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85845982809). Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda: https://tinyurl.com/PTODec23 All are welcome!

📌 Last chance! The Charleston Wrap sale closes Monday 12/4/23! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerCW2023

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.

📌 Parker PTO Tree: Thank you to Julie Sheeran & Alicia Weaver and volunteers for their efforts creating our fun “Shrek the Halls” tree at the Festival of Trees this weekend. Many thanks to all of the families who donated items and funds to create the tree!

📌 Ball in the House! On Friday, 12/1, Parker PTO was excited to welcome back Ball in the House (a Boston-based a cappella group) to perform their show "And Now I See: Race, Racism, and American Music”. https://www.ballinthehouse.com/ Ask your student about it!

Thank you to Aimee Hoffman for working to bring Ball in the House to Parker.

Families: thanks to your dues donations, we are able to bring in all-school programs such Ball in the House to enrich our students’ learning experiences. There’s still time to donate if you’d like to help us fund upcoming enrichment programs: https://givebutter.com/ParkerPTO

📌 SAVE THE DATE!

- Tuesday, December 5: Our annual Parker Winter Staff Breakfast hosted by the PTO. If you signed up to drop off items, please make sure they are at Parker by 7am.

📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:

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

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council 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 support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!

Visit the SEPAC WEBPAGE

Sign up for our mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram

See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events

SEPACsgiving was a great success. A huge thank you to Maria Morgan for organizing and hosting this wonderful series of events. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving next week.

Upcoming events:

The Learning Center review process has been completed and Student Services will be presenting the findings at the school committee meeting on November 30th. This will be followed-up with a virtual presentation (The Learning Center Review Results) hosted by Reading SEPAC on Thursday 12/7 @ 7 pm to give parents an opportunity to learn more about the learning center, the review results, and to ask questions directly to Student Services. Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85297238312

SEPAC REF Tree:

Reading SEPAC is proud to once again participate in the Reading Education Foundation (REF) Festival of Trees which supports our schools. Every year our members have graciously helped us to reach this goal and we hope this year will be no different as it would not be possible without your help!

A big thank you to Alyssa Scaparotti for volunteering to create a tree for the REF Festival on behalf of Reading SEPAC. This year's theme will be Ice Cream Wonderland.

This is a wonderful opportunity to not only support two Reading volunteer groups, Reading SEPAC and REF, but also to help Reading SEPAC spread awareness of our mission to continue to make Reading a better place for children with disabilities and to support families.

Here's some ways to help and to get involved:

Donate items or help decorate the tree

We would gratefully accept contributions of decorations/gifts for the SEPAC tree.

Here's two lists, if you wish to contribute, please know that we would welcome anything that goes with the theme, no matter where it's from.

Sign Up Genius

Amazon Wishlist

Items purchased off the Amazon wishlist have the option to be shipped directly to Allysa.

If you are able to help, we are beyond grateful. Please reach out if you'd like to help in any way not mentioned. Thank you!

The Parker Middle School will begin Annual Screenings including Postural, beginning next week. The purpose of Postural screening is to find early signs of possible spinal problems in children in grades 6-8. It is not a diagnostic service but a program to identify young people who should have further medical evaluation. If your child has any unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to take the child to a physician as a precaution. The majority of students exhibit no findings. If nothing unusual is found, we will not be contacting you again until the screening next year.

Annual State mandated screenings include:

Grade 6: postural-scoliosis

Grade 7: postural-scoliosis, hearing, vision, height/weight

Grade 8: postural-scoliosis, sbirt

For postural screening please send students in clothing (during PE days) that will help support visualization of the spine. Students should be checked with their backs bare. Boys should be bare to the waist; girls should wear two-piece bathing suits or shorts and a halter.

There is an alternative to opt out. If you do not want your student to participate, please email/submit a written request specifying which screening(s) to omit and submit current documentation of screening by their health care provider.

Parker screenings opt out link: https://forms.gle/bkUS6Anz3cPmxptE8

Please see the links for state information about school health screenings, immunizations and school exclusions: https://www.mass.gov/lists/school-health-screening,https://www.mass.gov/info-details/school-immunizations#school-and-camp-requirements-,

Chart reviews will continue to update immunization records, parents can upload updated vaccinations and documents directly on the snap health portal.

Grade 7 & New Students: Tdap & Meningococcal vaccines are required for the start of 7th grade, and the district requests an updated physical.

Reading Public Schools Snap Health Portal: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US/health-services-83f6862d/snap-health-portal-7580ab3a

Health offices can be reached via the health portal, or email/phone.

In Health,

Nurse Kate

kate.shmulsky@reading.k12.ma.us

"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."

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