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.

Yesterday, I sent an email via the Portal regarding accessing quarter 2 report cards. Please check your email in the Portal if you did not see that information come across your inbox yesterday. As I mentioned, Parker students are showing a lot of academic success and growth. I am so proud of how hard they are working. We are already moving right along into the second half of the year, so I encourage students and families to keep the momentum strong for the rest of the school year.

Some tips for success:

• Use your agenda book daily to record assignments and cross them off when they are completed.
• Reach out to your teachers for extra help and stay after school with them to receive that extra help!
• Come to school every day and arrive on time.
• Read for enjoyment and pleasure!
• Go to bed early. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
• Keep celluar devices and other electronics out of the bedroom.
• Stay or get involved in extra-curricular activites at Parker such as Parker Leaders, Math Team, or AWOD (to name a few!).

Earlier this week, Dr. Story sent an email urging families to monitor students' personal devices such as cell phones and laptops as we have had reports of inappropriate group chat conversations ocurring during the afternoons and evenings. We recommend having a conversation with your children about responsible social media use and group text communications. We would encourage you to advise your children to not participate in large group texts or communicate with individuals they do not know. Please also encourage your children to report inappropriate online conduct to you or our school staff. Last year, Officer Vatcher and Karen Legace from the United States Attorney's Office held an assembly for students on online safety. I am in the process of scheduling a time for Officer Vatcher to speak with middle school students about online safety this year too. When a date is scheduled, I will communicate that information with families.

Please read on for more information for the upcoming week and beyond.

This week! Please mark your calendars - The next Coffee and Conversation with Principal Rubino via Zoom will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. I will provide Parker families with a mid-year update that will include information on our progress related to the Parker School Improvement Plan. Please join me!

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 (New Date!)

Coffee and Conversation with Principal Rubino 9 a.m. via Zoom

Topic: Mid-year update on the Parker School Improvement Plan

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

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024

Arts Orientation Night at RMHS for Grade 8 Students

RMHS Performing Arts Center @ 7 p.m.

Tickets on sale for Shrek Jr.

Attendance Letters Sent Via the Portal

Friday, Feb. 9, 2024

Early Release at 12:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 12, 2024

School Council at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom and in person

PTO at 7 p.m. via Zoom and in person

Monday, Feb. 19 - Friday, Feb. 23, 2023

No School - School Vacation Week

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

To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.

📌 PTO MEETING: Our next PTO meeting is Monday, February 12 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom. Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda. All are welcome!

📌 LAST CHANCE! Parker at the Red Sox: Parker is heading to Fenway to see the Sox vs. Braves on Tuesday, June 4, 2024! We hope you can join us for this fun community event! Tickets are now on sale through January 31, and the price includes a donation to the Parker PTO.

📌 STOCK THE STAFF ROOM: Help us stock the staff room with snacks and treats! Donations can be sent to Parker via the Amazon wish list. *Please be sure to select the pre-populated Parker shipping address at check out.*

📌 SAVE THE DATE!

- PARKER AT THE RED SOX: Tuesday, 6/4/24. Tickets on sale now through January 31.

- STOCK THE STAFF ROOM: Donate treats to help stock the staff room using the Amazon wish list.

- ALL-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT: Parker will be visited by Len Cabral, a storyteller of folktales & legends from around the world on Thursday, 3/28/24 - http://www.lencabral.com/

📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:

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

We are in need of the following crew members:

(1) Spotlight Operator

(5) Makeup Crew

(2) Hair/Wig Crew

(2) Wardrobe Crew

(2) Props Crew

(1) Run Crew

(4+) Ushers

(1+) Parkergram Sales

(1+) Raffle Sales

(2+) Concession Sales

Click here for the crew packet. Interested students can fill out the Interview page and hand it in to Mr. MacDonald after school at any rehearsal.

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

Reminder if you are interested in participating in the boys or girls’ lacrosse program registration for the 2024 Spring season is now open. Look for the registration signs around Town and please go to www.readinglacrosse.org to register for a team. No prior lacrosse experience is required!

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 annual Reading Little League Baseball Umpire course will be held at the American Legion Veterans Post 62, 37 Ash Street in Reading, MA. Weekly classes are held from 6:30PM to 9:00PM. Classes start on February 1, 2024 and run through March 28, 2024. Students must be at least in the 6th grade in order to participate in the course. Please call Preston (781-439-1855) in order to register for the course as class size is limited. The course is sponsored by Reading Little League Baseball.

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

Upcoming Event:

Tuesday, Feb 6th, 5-6:30PM - Virtual

Raising Superpowered Middle Schoolers:

How Parents can Help Tweens Thrive Socially and Academically

Presented by Phyllis Fagell

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