Good afternoon Parker Community:
It has been a great first full week of school. The students are settling into their routines and have started to dive into their content after spending some time with community building in the first week or so. All students have started their iready diagnostic testing in both ELA and Math. These assessments helped to gauge each student's strengths and areas which may need to be targeted for more support. This initial data will then be compared with future testing to mark growth and learning.
Open House
Grade 6 Open House will take place on Tuesday September 19 from 6-7:30 pm. More details to come!
The Bionic Project Comes to Parker
We are excited to welcome professional athlete and educator Nico Calobrisi and the Bionic Project to Parker on Friday October 22nd for Grade 5 and October 13th for Grade 6. The Bionic Project aims to create a more inclusive world for everyone, regardless of physical ability. They dismantle disability bias, build empathy, and foster connection through education, story and sport.
Second Step
We have also into our second week of our Social Emotional curriculum where we use a program called Second Step. Each grade have units aimed at each child's social and emotional development:
The Units are Mindsets and Goals, Bullying and Harassment, Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions, and Managing Relationships and Social Conflict
Grade 5
Lesson 1: The Right Goal for Me
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to set a goal that's right for them. A goal that's right for someone is specific, challenging, doable, and motivating.
Try This at Home
Ask your child what their goal is and how they know it’s right for them. Encourage them to describe why it’s motivating to them. Talk to your child about a goal you reached in the past and why you chose that goal.
Lesson 2: My Plan
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to make an effective plan to reach a goal.
Try This at Home
Ask your child about their plan to reach their goal. What will they do? What will they need? Talk to them about how you can support them as they work toward their goal.
Grade 6
Lesson 1a: Starting Middle School
Summary
This week’s lesson will introduce your child to Second Step® Middle School. Your child will identify challenges they might face when starting middle school and identify resources in their school where they can get help.
Question
Tell your child about something that made you nervous when you started middle school. Ask what makes them nervous and who they can go to for help at school.
Lesson 1b: Helping New Students
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will help brainstorm ways to support new students.
Question
Tell your child about a time you helped someone new in any community you belong to. Ask your child how they wish someone would have helped them when they started middle school.
Lesson 2: How to Grow Your Brain
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn about the brain’s ability to grow and change when they practice challenging things. Having a growth mindset supports your child’s success in school and in life.
Question
Tell your child about a time you had to learn something new. Explain whether it was hard to learn and how you learned it. Ask your child if there’s anything they would like to learn to do this year.
Parker Pride T-Shirts
We would like to offer Parker Pride T-shirts for students and their families for a minimal cost. We are working with the Lions Locker which is based out of CHS and is produced by the CHS Business Department and our high school students. The T-Shirts are produced at cost, selling for $10. Please find the link to order and purchase the tickets below. These shirts are completely optional but have all the team names on them and our theme for the year "Dream big, work hard, Make it Happen!" The design is included in the link below.
https://lionslockerchelmsford.com/product/parker-pride-student-t-shirt/
