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.

Grade 8 students held conferences with their teachers this past week as they selected courses for their freshman year at RMHS. Students will be entering their courses into the Portal during their science class on Monday, March 4. Please make sure you have an opportunity to discuss their course selections with them this weekend. Students should have a purple conferencing handout that they can refer to if you have any questions about their selections. Students will also have the opportunity to select an Innovation Pathway on Monday. Once students have entered their courses, parents and caregivers will be asked to review and verify their courses in the Portal. I will send a reminder email with directions on how to go about that process early this upcoming week.

If you have been following school council and/or PTO meeting updates, then you may know that Parker Middle School is in the planning stages of piloting parent/teacher conferences for the 2024/2025 school year. As part of this process, we are seeking your input. Could you please spend a few minutes filling out this survey? I will leave the survey open for two weeks and I will send a reminder email to families as well.

Earlier this past week, grade 6 families received an email about the math pathways options at the secondary level. We will be holding a math pathways informational Zoom on March 19 at 6 p.m. The meeting will include building administration, district administration, and middle school math teachers. To join, click on this link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/86248791930

During the 2024/2025 school year, Parker Middle School will be utilizing a new bell schedule. With this new bell schedule, we will be increasing class times to 52 minutes per period. Currently, our periods are 48 minutes per period. As a result, the advisory class will meet once a week on a Wednesday, but for 30 minutes. While we are reducing the overall number of advisory blocks, the longer period of time will enable students and teachers to have in-depth conversations and activities on a particular topic rather than the starting and stopping of a topic throughout the week. Homeroom will take place for 6 minutes each morning. Students will still be able to access their lockers and classrooms beginning at 7:40 a.m. each morning. Students will be expected to be in their homeroom, seated for attendance at 7:50 a.m. Parents, caregivers, and students, please fill out this survey to share feedback on the proposed bell schedule for next year.

This week the Parker Student Council will start collecting money and taking names of students attending the grade 6 dance, which is scheduled for Friday, March 22. The cost of the dance is $5 a person. Students will vote on a theme for the dance later this week.

Please read on for important dates for the week ahead and beyond.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Process): Randomly selected 8th grade students

Wednesday, March 6

Grade 6 Museum of Science Field Trip - Team Unity

Thursday, March 7

Grade 6 Museum of Science Field Trip - Team Synergy

Thursday, March 7 - Saturday, March 9

Shrek Jr., the Musical

https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/78994

Friday, March 8

Early Release @12:30 - Staff PD

Monday, March 11

Grade 5 Family Information Night, School Tour & Scavenger Hunt

Begins at 6 p.m. in the auditorium

All incoming grade 6 students and families welcome!

Tuesday, March 12

PTO Meeting @ 7p.m.

Hybrid - in person and via Zoom

Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482

Friday, March 15, 2024

Playin' for Parker - 3 v 3 basketball tournament to raise funds for the PTO and food for the local food pantry. Please email PE teacher, Mr. Doug Gibbs, for more information.

Monday, March 18, 2024

No School Students - Staff Professional Development Day

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Math Pathways Info Night

Via Zoom at 6 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/86248791930

Friday, March 22, 2024

Sixth grade dance: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

All School Enrichment Sponsored by the PTO

Storyteller Len Cabral

Tuesday, April 9

ELA MCAS all grades

Wednesday, April 10

ELA MCAS all grades

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

To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.

Ms. Mitrano's sixth-grade students spend time reading with Rusty and engaging with their English Language Arts curriculum. Thanks for piloting this idea, Ms. Mitrano and Officer Rusty!

Shop online to get your Parker gear (with new styles!), including tees, sweatshirts, pajama pants, and more!

https://tinyurl.com/ParkerSpring24

Order deadline is Sunday, March 17th, and items will be delivered to Parker in April.

* Be sure to note if something is a gift when ordering! *

All items are made to order and are final sale. Please check sizing chart measurements before ordering.

Questions? Contact Kate Grant: katefgrant@gmail.com

Teens! Are you in need of CPR training for the summer? Come to the library this Thursday, March 7 at 4pm, for a free certification program with Beck Safety and Education! Perfect for ages 13 and up who will be babysitting, working as a lifeguard, or any other job this summer. Register soon, space is limited. https://libcal.readingpl.org/event/11205418

Here is your chance to learn more by joining the free youth academy. Program is open to Reading students only and runs from July 29 - Aug. 2; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Topics covered include: physical fitness, training, Internet safety, criminal law, investigations, motor vehicle law, CPR, defensive tactics, K9 unit, public speaking, SWAT team and more. If interested, reach out to the Reading PD or SRO Vatcher for more information.

Mark your calendars for Feb. 1 and be the first to order your tickets for Shrek Jr. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/78994

Parker Middle School’s full color, 48-page yearbook features

portraits of your friends, teachers and administrators, school

events, groups and clubs. This keepsake will leave you with a

lasting memory of your 2023-2024 year. All grades are represented.

Please read the following instructions.

1. Access the Pictavo store https://buytheyearbook.pictavo.com and search for

Walter Parker Middle School. There are known issues purchasing from phones.

2. Under “Shop My School” you will be prompted to enter your child’s name and

homeroom. All payments must be made online. Yearbooks cost $24 plus a 5%

service fee. The last day to order your book is May 1, 2024.

3. Students will receive yearbooks in homerooms before the last day of school. Our

8th grade students will receive yearbooks on the day of their class signing.

School Attendance: As you know, school attendance is extremely important and matters every day. In our attempt to communicate proactively with families regarding attendance, we have been sending out letters to families if your child has more than five absences (regardless of whether they are considered excused or unexcused). Absences are considered excused if your child is sick or has a medical appointment. We do ask families to provide documentation from your health care provider if there is an extended absence due to a medical reason. As we work through what works best to maintain this ongoing communication with families, we have decided to pilot a monthly attendance letter to all families. This letter will be sent through the portal at the beginning of the month starting in February and will outline all of your child’s absences. Assistant Principal Story will reach out to families directly to set up attendance meetings if your child has exceeded 10 absences.

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

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

• Math 6-8: Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16

• STE 8: Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22

• Civics 8 performance task: Tuesday, May 28

• Civics 8 end of course test: Monday, June 3

It's important that students are present in school on the days of MCAS testing.

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

Do you have a child who is on an IEP, a 504 plan, or with special needs. If so, the Reading SEPAC exists for YOU.

Please fill out this brief, anonymous survey to help your SEPAC Board to plan for the 2024-2025 school year. It should only take a few minutes.

This school year we brought speakers to the Reading community on important topics such as executive functioning and anxiety based in large part on what parents highlighted in the annual survey, so it’s very important to make sure your voice is heard.

We also want to hear from you on how we are doing in meeting our community’s needs and what more we can do to improve Reading SEPAC.

The survey results will be discussed at the next Reading SEPAC Business meeting on April 2nd at 8:45AM.

Extended School Year (ESY) Presentation

Tuesday, March 19th, 6-8PM (Virtual)

Please join us for an information session on the Extended School Year (ESY) presented by Kymberly Bryson (ESY Coordinator) and Student Services.

This presentation will be hosted virtually and you must pre-register to receive the zoom link.

Please note that the previously published zoom link will change and a new zoom link will be emailed to registered individuals only.

Please Click Here to Register

Daytime SEPAC Business Meeting:

Planning for the next school year and reviewing the survey results.

Tuesday, April 2nd, 8:45AM (Virtual)

School Transition Workshops:

For parents and caregivers whose child has an IEP and will be transitioning to a different school in Reading or who is new to Reading.

Thursday, April 11th, 12-1pm (Virtual)

Wednesday, April 24th, 6pm (In Person - location TBD)

The New IEP Presentations:

Wednesday, May 8th, 6PM (In Person - location TBD)

Thursday, May 9th, 12PM (Virtual)

Past Events:

MCAS & Students with Disabilities Presentation Recording will be Available soon on the Reading SEPAC Website. Please check back.

Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Presentation Recording Available on the Reading SEPAC Website

• Review tiered system of supports and provide examples

• Outline effective communication channels with your team and school

As we are in the midst of cold and flu season, we are also seeing an increase in COVID cases. Please be aware that there are masks and COVID test kits available in the health office for all students, families and staff. Please see our COVID protocols here, and information about the flu here. Please feel free to reach out to Nurse Kate with any questions. Our next vaccine clinic will be held at Coolidge middle school on Friday January 5th from 2-5 pm.

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