THE PARKER WEEKLY PREVIEW
Week of March 29, 2021
Brought to you by, Richele Shankland, Principal
How to Translate this Newsletter
- 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.
A Message from the Principal
Students will return full in-person on Monday, April 26. Here are some of the details which I will continue to update each week (based on questions being asked):
- Starting April 26, school will be in-person from 7:50am-2:30pm, Monday - Friday.
- There will be early release Fridays at 1:00 pm once per month (April 30, May 7 and June 11).
- Students will enter school after 7:35 through their grade level doors (same as now).
- The general structure of our schedule will stay the same with some changes to specials and some special time will become enrichment (extension of content areas).
- We will continue with our small groups of 15 or less (6 ft distancing in those classrooms).
- Similar to now, students leave the classroom and go to another location for lunch, PE, art, special education services, band and chorus.
- Number of full remote students: Gr 6 (1), Gr 7 (10), Gr 8 (6)
- Full remote students may change small groups to keep full remote students together, when possible. Those families will be notified if they are switching groups.
- Lunch will remain in the cafeteria and gym. Students will be separated by clear Lexan plastic shields. Cohort A will be in the cafeteria and Cohort B will be in the gym.
- We will continue with mask breaks and frequent hand washing/ sanitizing.
- Students should bring a refillable water bottle and extra masks.
- We have a couple of parents who volunteered to help with supervision of enrichment blocks (classroom extension activities). Thank you & welcome to our staff!
- Time will be spent in advisory/ HR showing students the schedule, talking about transitioning to full in-person, what students need, etc.
A couple of other updates:
- All of our pools tested came back negative this week!
- MCAS testing has been pushed out later in the school year and dates to be determined. Stay tuned!
- The end of Quarter 3 has been pushed to April 16. Quarter 4 will begin on April 26.
Reminder - If your child is going to be absent or dismissed, please be sure to call the main office or simply email your child's name, grade and reason for absence or dismissal to wspabsences@reading.k12.ma.us.
Take care,
Mrs. Shankland
The Week Ahead
March 29 - April 2: Week B
Students can refer to their Week B Schedule for this week.
See the lunch menu HERE. Breakfast & lunch are FREE everyday for the rest of the school year!
Important Upcoming Dates:
March 29 - Gr 5 Transition Night, 6:30 pm (Zoom link will be sent by elementary principals)
March 29 - Back to School Tips & Tricks w/ District Behaviorist, 4:00-5:00pm (FLYER/Zoom Link)
Week of April 5 - The Youth Risk Behavior Survey will be given to students this week (info below).
April 7 - PTO Meeting (Zoom Link)
April 8 - Current grades 6 and 7 Enrichment Forms Due (for grades 7 & 8 next year)
April 9 - Grade 8 T-Shirt Money Due ($10 - If financial hardship, notify Mrs. Shankland.)
April 11 - Parker Apparel Orders Due! (https://tinyurl.com/ParkerSpring2021)
April 14 - Current Grade 5 Enrichment Form DUE
April 15 - Current Grade 5 Enrichment Form Due (for grade 6 next year)
April 16 - Last day of Quarter 3
April 19 -23 - Vacation Week
April 26 - Return to school in-person full time
April 30 - Report Cards posted on portal
2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
If you choose for your student to OPT-OUT, please return the form to the middle school office no later than April 2. The survey can be viewed in the Central Office the week of March 29. Call 781-944-5800 and ask for Samantha LaPierre and she will coordinate viewing.
Gr 9 Information: RMHS Jazz/ Stage Band Auditions
RMHS 9th Grade Jazz/ Stage Band Audition Times are now open.
DATE: Saturday May 1st from 9:00-11:00am
PLACE: RMHS Music Suite. Enter through door #2 to the left of the main entrance to RMHS
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 23
For information about auditions please go to
http://rmhsjazzband.weebly.com/2021-2022-audition-music.html
You will find audition music, procedures, and audition times all on this website. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Mulligan at joseph.mulligan@reading.k12.ma.us
Parker Yearbook On Sale!
Parker Middle School’s full color, 48-page yearbook is now on sale. Yearbooks are $24 and will be sold online for a limited time only. This year was like no other! Order your keepsake to see how we have captured this crazy 2020-2021 school year in pictures and words.
Please read the following instructions.
Access the Pictavo store https://commpe.pictavo.com and search for Walter Parker Middle School.
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 small service fee. The last day to order your book is May 6, 2021.
Lynn Lyons Podcast for Parents on Students Returning to Full in Person School
Here is the link to all of Lynn Lyons' Podcasts
Parker Apparel Sale!
The Spring Apparel Store is now open! Shop online to get your Parker gear, including tees, sweatshirts, pajama pants, 1/4 zip Sherpa fleece, shorts, and more! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerSpring2021
Order deadline is Sunday, April 11th, and items will be delivered to Parker in May. Be sure to note if something is a gift when ordering!
Questions? Contact Kate Grant: katefgrant@gmail.com
Assistant Principal Screening Committee
The committee will be facilitated by Principal Shankland and will consist of the following members:
- Brienne Karow, Assistant Principal, Coolidge Middle School
- Andy Spinali, Parker ELA Teacher
- Andrew Norton, Parker Band Teacher
- Kaleigh Laventure, Parker Math Teacher
- Kimberly Moreau, Parker Special Education Teacher
- Ann Ozanian, Parker School Psychologist
- Celeste Damon-Bach, Student
- Brian Fernandez, Student
- Donna Shindelman, Parent
- Steve Harrington, Parent
Please note: All information and discussions by screening committee members are confidential and cannot be shared during the process or after the process is complete.
Our first round of in-person interviews will take place on Friday, April 9. Stay tuned!
POOLED TESTING
This week (week of 3/22), we had -- pools tested and --.
It's not too late...If you would like your child to participate in the pooled testing program, please complete the following consent link located here: https://bit.ly/3oXiiSa
Students & staff at Parker who have completed consent forms will do self-swab tests on Wednesdays.
Here is more information regarding the pooled testing in schools: https://covidedtesting.com/
and Dr. Doherty's powerpoint presentation.
Q & A about Pooled Testing
How do I know if my student is in a positive pool?
If you do not hear from us after pooled testing, your student is negative. We will be contacting students who are in a positive pool for retesting.
How will we/our students be notified of a positive pool? positive retest?
Students may be contacted via remind text or email. Parents will get an email to register with Project Beacon, the platform supporting antigen testing, if their child needs to be retested. Project Beacon will send out an immediate notification of test results once antigen testing is complete.
How and where will retesting occur?
Due to timing and logistics, it made sense to do follow up testing after school/before practice in the field house this week. That may continue to be the case. However, depending on when we receive test results, there may be opportunities for students to have testing done in the health office before or during school. If the health office is busy or there is an emergency, students would continue be tested after school.
Does my student need to quarantine if they are in a positive pool?
Not necessarily. So far athletes have been pooled in random groups by sport, so those in a pool are not all close contacts. Once a positive case is identified, close contacts are determined. (as a reminder, close contacts are those who are within 6 feet of each other for a period longer than 15 minutes over the course of 24 hours) As teams are formed, we will test by team, and If there are positive pools practice may be postponed until follow up testing can be completed. Because of the current distancing protocols at RMHS, most students in class with each other are not considered close contacts.
PTO Update
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Harrows Chicken Pies fundraiser!
Gift cards will be sent home with your student on Thursday, March 18th (cohort B) or Monday, March 22nd (cohort A). If your student is fully remote please email kelly.malone@gmail.com to coordinate a drop off. Please return the order form below to the Parker School Office or your child's homeroom teacher with a check made payable to the Parker PTO. Gift cards are $20 each. Thank you for your continued support of the Parker PTO. If you have any questions please contact Kelly Malone at kelly.malone@gmail.com.
Our next PTO meeting is on April 7th at 7:00 pm. Some of the Parker We The Change students will be there to talk about their experience with the year-long equity work. Come hear all about it! All are welcome!
Reading Public Library - Teen Events!
Math Circles for Teens & Kids
Puzzles + games = Math Circle! Stretch your noggin' and have fun! Separate sessions for teens (gr.6-8) and kids (gr.4-5) led by RMHS graduate, Corinne (AKA The Math Aficionado). Offered monthly through May; advanced registration for individual sessions required. To learn more visit Reading Public Library's Event Calendar: https://libcal.readingpl.org/event/7609680
SEPAC Update
The SEPAC Community & Friends welcome your input and help to identify topics of high interest for future Special Education Parent Advisory Council presentations. Our goal is to build a stronger connection to not only the special education community and families, but the wider community as a whole. Learning together and building stronger relationships with all families creates a more accepting and informed community.
Please Email: michelesanphy@yahoo.com with your suggestions for presentation topics by Friday, April 2nd. We look forward to hearing from you!
Connect with SEPAC by clicking these links:
· Join SEPAC's mailing list by emailing SEPACREADING@gmail.com
· Follow SEPAC on Facebook (please adjust settings so that you are sure to see our posts)
The mission of the Reading Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to work for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community.
From the RPS Special Education Office!
We hope everyone is feeling rested after February break and that you were able to spend some time with your families! As we move into the month of March, we wanted to share the Student Services Office Hours for the upcoming month. Please use the link to the DOODLE Poll to select a time to meet with us.
The purpose of Office Hours is to meet with the Director and Assistant Director of Student Services to ask questions, express concerns or to share personal experiences of your student. These are optional meetings and are not team meetings. We've enjoyed these opportunities and look forward to continuing connecting with families during office hours.
Prior to your scheduled time, a ZOOM link will be sent to you via email. Please be sure to include your email address when you sign up!
If you have any questions regarding Office Hours, please contact Allison Wright, Assistant Director of Student Services @ Allison.Wright@reading.k12.ma.us.
Office Hours for March 2021
- Wednesday 3/31 @ 9:00-10:00 am
Link to the Doodle Poll to sign up for Office Hours:
A Therapeutic Resource for Families!
The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support has partnered with Doc Wayne to bring an exciting youth therapeutic program to Reading students ages 5-18. You can learn more about Doc Wayne’s programming on their website or by watching this short video. If you have any questions about Doc Wayne’s services please contact Maggie Yuan, Doc Wayne Program Director, at myuan@docwayne.org. See below for the referral form and someone from Doc Wayne will reach out to your family directly!
Interest/ Referral Form for Group Therapy
Using a theoretical curriculum, which incorporates social-emotional learning and life skills, Doc Wayne offers innovative mental health programming. In addition to traditional individual therapy, Doc Wayne offers unique group therapeutic programs. Through these groups students:
- Have the opportunity and needed supports to become resilient and regulated individuals with positive adult and peer relationships
- Create positive relationships with teammates, friends, and family members
- Become confident and competent members of their schools and larger communities
- Achieve their highest level of academic success
Please CLICK HERE to find out more! All of Doc Wayne’s programming is being offered via telehealth due to COVID-19. If you have any questions please contact Sammy Salkin, Outreach Coordinator, Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support at ssalkin@ci.reading.ma.us.
Reading Public Schools Offer Free Meals In & Out of School!
FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL!
Through the extension of the Seamless Summer Meal program, started in response to COVID-19, we are able to offer all Reading Public School Children FREE meals until the end of June.
What this means for your family–
- Your school-age children will receive a healthy breakfast (at Coolidge, Parker and RMHS only,) and lunch every school day, at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school.
- Our other option for FREE meals for children, ages 0-21, in your home is meal distribution. This may include remote learners, participating in a hybrid learning mode, or any other children in your home. These meals will provide breakfast and lunch for each day, including weekends, at the bridge of Reading Memorial High School on Wednesdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.
Your family may participate in BOTH options. Students can eat at school and receive Meal Distribution for the remote days and weekend meals that your family is entitled to.
This program allows Reading School District to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on providing wonderful, nutritious meals for your family. If your children have never participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!
If you have any questions please contact Danielle Collins, School Nutrition Director, at Danielle.Collins@Reading.k12.ma.us or 781-670-2822
Free & Reduced Lunch Application -
The standard breakfast and lunch is free for all through the rest of this year! See the lunch menu HERE. It's also on the Parker website.
Virtual Clubs
GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance)
Email Ms. Gilbert if you are interested (sarah.gilbert@reading.k12.ma.us). Meetings take place via Zoom on Week A Mondays at 3:00pm.
We The Change!
We have a new name! Our name is a play on the start of the U.S. Constitution, while also driving home the idea that students have the voices and ideas of our future and can "be the change" we need. Interested students should reach out to the advisor, hannah.mulkern@reading.k12.ma.us, for more information.
Parker Service
Please reach out to kimberly.peterson@reading.k12.ma.us know if you're interested in joining! Meetings take place on Week A Tuesdays starting at 2:35pm.
BOLD
Do you want to learn about female empowerment? Join BOLD.
Please email- Riley.murphy@rdgstudent.com if you would like to sign up or hear more information about what BOLD entails.
Family Resources
Please be reminded of these amazing resources, if your family is in need:
- Reading Coalition’s Mental Health Resource List, Substance Misuse Resource List, and information on the Interface Referral Service has been updated and is available for all our families. The most updated version of our COVID-19 Resource is available on our website along with some additional resources. Please take a look if you need support for you or your family.
- Culturally Responsive Resource Hub link here.
- RPS District Resource Flow Chart linked here.
- Finding support to address substance misuse linked here.
- Mental Health Resource Sheet linked here.
- RPS Behavioral Health Resources linked here.
- Town of Reading: compiled resources linked here.
- St. Vincent de Paul linked here.
- Reading Food Pantry linked here.
- Project Bread link here.
Walter S. Parker Middle School
Richele Shankland, Principal (x13301)
Brendan Norton, Asst. Principal (x13302)
Diane Finigan, Administrative Assistant (x13300)
Email: richele.shankland@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: www.reading.k12.ma.us/parker
Location: 45 Temple Street, Reading, MA 01867
Phone: (781)944-1236
Twitter: @WSParkerMS