Parker Jr. High Newsletter

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

IAR and ISA State Assessment

Begins April 3rd for 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Scholars. Schedule is provided in the Testing Section of this newsletter.

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

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

Long Range Construction Plan

Updated architectural plans were discussed to move the office at Heather Hill School to the Northwest corner of the school to improve safety and accessibility. In addition to relocating the office, a small group learning space and teacher lunchroom / workroom will be created in the current office location. The current teacher lunchroom will be removed to increase the size of Classroom 27. Next, the team will begin working with staff and students to identify classroom upgrades and furniture needs.

Heather Hill Detention Basin

Representatives from the Village of Flossmoor were available to answer questions about the proposed detention basin on the Heather Hill campus. They also provided several documents with information about the basin, including previous water studies, a cost benefit analysis, and letters of support from community members. This item will return to the meeting agenda in April.

BluePoint System Upgrade

BluePoint is the system in all five schools that will automatically call the police with the pull of an alarm, very similar to fire alarm pulls. The recommended panel upgrades will bring us current with industry technology, since our current panels are already a few technology generations old. The upgrade will increase the effectiveness of our crisis communications, give us the ability to monitor real-time system strength and battery health, allow streamlined system testing options, and provide an easier to use interface for staff. School safety is of utmost importance in District 161 and updating this system adds one more layer to our security measures.

Celebrating scholars who received Positive Office Referrals from Parker Teachers and Staff

Black History Month Homeroom Competition

The winning homerooms received Italian Ice and a pizza coupon to Lou Malnati’s in Flossmoor. Congratulations to the following winners:

IAR and ISA State Assessment will begin April 3rd for 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Scholars

(See schedule below)

Testing Incentives for Scholars

• Come to class on time

• Charged Chromebook

• Zero Redirects from Teacher proctoring IAR or ISA

• Work hard and try your best

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.

• Cap & Gown Picture Retakes, Friday, April 12 (date change due to testing) during 1st and 2nd period. Retakes are for students who were absent. If you are not happy with your photo, there will be a $10 fee for anything other than photographic error, and students must bring their photo proof.

• Panoramic Photo, Wednesday, April 10, during 4th period.

Panoramic Order Form

• Great America, Wednesday, May 22. Permission slips and payment due April 19.

Great America Permission Slip

Graduation Rehearsal - Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Graduation Rehearsal - Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Graduation Ceremony - Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at HF High School- 6:00 PM (Graduates must be present no later than 5:30 PM)

Click Link below for HF High School Information

Saturday Detention

Parents, please be aware when your child is scheduled for Saturday Detention, the hours are 8:00 am - 11:00 am. If you arrive after 8:15, you will need to reschedule with your grade level Dean. Also, TWO No Shows/No Calls for Saturday Detention will result in your scholar being assigned an ISS. Thank you for your support and please reach out with any questions or concerns.

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

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.

Track

The first track meet will be on April 3, 2024 at Columbia Central. Track practice will be Monday through Thursday from 3:05-4:15 pm.

Soccer

Boys and Girls soccer will have their first games on Tuesday April 9, 2024 against Chicago Heights Middle School and Thursday April 11, 2024 against Columbia Central. Good luck Falcons!

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.

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.

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