Principal Rubino's Weekly Update
W.S. Parker Middle School Newsletter; Sun., Nov. 5, 2023
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Dear Parker Families,
This week is a short week for students due to no school on Tuesday for professional development and no school on Friday in honor of Veterans Day.
On Thursday, Nov. 9, we will hold a short Veterans Day Assembly in the auditorium to honor all who have served. Students will be placing small American Flags outside of Parker Middle School as a way to honor and thank veterans in the community. The flags will remain outside the school throughout the weekend.
Please see below for an update from the Nurse's Office regarding upcoming screenings and an opt-out form. Below are some reminders that also ran last week.
- The second session of Parker's After School Activities was sent home to families. Please be sure to sign up and get involved.
- The next Principal Student Advisory Council with Principal Rubino will meet after school in the cafeteria on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. All are welcome; signups not required. Attend when you are able.
- If you are interested in joining the following Parker clubs, please see the appropriate teacher(s) for more information:
- Parker Leaders - Ms. Peterson (kimberly.peterson@reading.k12.ma.us)
- AWOD (A World of Difference) - Ms. Fowke and Mr. Gibbs (nancy.fowke@reading.k12.ma.us; douglas.gibbs@reading.k12.ma.us)
- GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) - Ms. Merrill and Ms. Kiser (julie.merrill@reading.k12.ma.us; megan.kiser@reading.k12.ma.us)
- Math Team - Ms. Carter (caitlin.carter@reading.k12.ma.us)
- Science Olympiad - Ms. Cotta (robyn.cotta@reading.k12.ma.us)
- Parker News Live - Ms. Ferrazzani (robyn.ferrazzani@reading.k12.ma.us)
- Yearbook - Ms. Ferrazzani (robyn.ferrazzani@reading.k12.ma.us)
- Environmental Club - Ms. Fowke (nancy.fowke@reading.k12.ma.us)
- 8th Grader Leadership Academy - Dr. Story (jill.story@reading.k12.ma.us)
Have a great week!
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, Nov. 7:
No School for Students/PD Day for Staff
Friday, Nov. 10:
No School/Veteran's Day Observed
Monday, Nov. 13:
Essex Tech Presentation to Grade 8 Students
PTO Meeting - 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17:
No School for Students/PD Day for Staff
Wednesday, Nov. 22:
Early Dismissal at 10:45 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 23:
Thanksgiving Day - No School
Friday, Nov. 24:
No School
Tuesday, Nov 28:
Team Endeavor Lexington Field Trip
Wednesday, Nov. 29:
Team Inspire Lexington Field Trip
Wednesday, Nov. 29:
Coffee and Conversation with Principal Rubino via Zoom at 9 a.m.
Special Guest and Topic TBD
To access the 2023-2024 District Calendar, click here.
To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.
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
Friends of Reading METCO
Registrations are via the QR code on the flyer or this Eventbrite link.
News from the PTO
📌 Our next PTO meeting is Monday, November 13 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom (https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85845982809). All are welcome! Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda: https://tinyurl.com/Nov23PTOmtg
📌 LAST CHANCE: **All pies must be ordered by Monday, November 6.**
It’s pie time! Once again the Parker PTO is working with Wilson Farm of Lexington to provide us with delicious pies for the holiday season!
These are 10” pies, and they’re frozen so you can use them throughout the holidays. Available flavors: blueberry, apple, southern pecan, pumpkin, Boston cream, chocolate cream, and strawberry rhubarb.
For more info, see the order form: https://tinyurl.com/ParkerPies
If you have any questions please contact Kate McLeod at kate.fugina@gmail.com.
📌 One month left in the Charleson Wrap sale, open now through 12/4/23! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerCW2023
Shop online for upcoming November & December holidays, gift wrap, candles, eco-friendly items, personalized gifts, kitchen items, gourmet snacks and more. A portion of all sales will be donated to Parker. Shop now and items are delivered after ordering - no waiting for the end of the sale!
📌 SAVE THE DATE!
- Pie Sale - All pie orders are due M, 11/6. Pickup Tuesday, 11/21 from 5-7pm at Parker. https://tinyurl.com/ParkerPies2023
- Charleston Wrap - Open 10/16-12/4/23: https://tinyurl.com/ParkerCW2023
- Coming soon: The Parker PTO will be submitting a tree to the Festival of Trees and we’ll need your help decorating it. More info to follow!
- Coming soon: Ball in the House will be visiting Parker on 12/1 for an all-school enrichment presenting "And Now I See: Race, Racism and American Music." https://www.ballinthehouse.com/
📌 WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:
- Email: parkerptopres@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkerPTO
- Instagram: @ParkerMSPTO
- Parker PTO webpage: tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage
RMHS Drama Club invites you to their upcoming production
YMCA: AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
We’ve had a number of families interested in afterschool for middle schoolers recently. Afterschool is available until age 14 at the Y. Our focus is social emotional growth and development. The structure of the day includes outdoor or gym time, snack, homework time and support, age appropriate enrichment activities, opportunities to learn how to support and lead younger age groups. We also have a rock wall which use from time to time and swimming on full days especially. We do have many opportunities for our young people to be involved in service projects throughout the year! Please reach out to the Y for more information!
First Lego League Challenge
During our 2023-2024 arts-inspired robotics season, FIRST® IN SHOWSM presented by Qualcomm, we will celebrate the roles our STEM skills play in the arts and design and build a world of endless possibilities. The future is yours to create! For more information or to register, please visit: https://readingcommunityeducation.myrec.com/info/default.aspx
Who: Students in 6th – 8 th grade. Each team will have a maximum of 6 students.
What: Each team is given the FIRST LEGO League challenge to complete. This year it is the “MASTERPIECE” challenge! In early March there will be an exhibition for the teams to showcase what they’ve done all season.
When: Teams meet for 1.5 hours/week starting in November until early March.
Where: Teams will meet at the middle schools during a time that the coach is available.
Coaching: Parents, we need your help! We are in need of parent volunteer coaches. We will supply you with all materials and information for the season. If possible, we will have assistant from the RMHS Robotics Team.
The number of teams are dependent on the number of coaches available. Please consider volunteering to coach this exciting program!
Cost: $199/child (Includes team registration fee and t-shirt)
The Reading Children’s Cabinet is looking for student voices!
We are looking for one student representative from Parker to join with school, town, and community leaders to help solve problems for our youth.
What is the Reading Children's Cabinet?
The Reading Children’s Cabinet brings together key leaders and
community members that serve children and youth. Our goals are to
strengthen collaboration, align resources, and help to close
programming gaps. The Reading Children’s Cabinet builds on the strong
cross sector leadership already in place in Reading with Reading Public
Schools, Town leadership, the Reading Police Department, community
leaders, business leaders, parents / guardians, and students all coming
together to empower youth to thrive.
What is the time commitment?
We anticipate that the time commitment will include three official meetings in the 2023 – 2024 school year, with the possibility of interim working group meetings to develop action plans for priorities that are identified.
Meeting dates for the 2023 – 2024 Reading Children’s Cabinet are as follows:
December 6th, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
March 6th, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
June 5th, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Meetings will be held at the Reading Public Library and are zoom optional.
I'm interested. Now what?
If you are interested in this unique opportunity and are able to commit to attending all 3 meetings, please complete this form.
Reading Public Schools is a METCO DISTRICT
"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."
TECH SCHOOLS: INFORMATION HUB
Essex North Shore's Annual Open House: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Essex North Shore’s Annual Open House will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Two sessions will be offered. Pre-registration will be required. Additional information will be available at EssexNorthShore.com in the coming weeks as will posters and “Apply Now” cards for your offices and schools.
Northeast Metro Tech Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm
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!
Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram
See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events
Thank you to everyone who attended the 10/17 meeting. The video of recorded portions will be posted on our website soon. Thanks to Etain O’Dea for serving as Election Coordinator and to Dana Levin for taking notes. New SEPAC board members are Chris Kowaleski, Dilly Wilson and Jacyln Lee. Returning SEPAC board members are Zea Lennard, Eunice Kenyon and Lindsay Conti.
Upcoming events:
SEPACsgiving November 13-19 (sign up for sessions by November 3rd)
SEPACsgiving will be an opportunity for general members to connect with other general members in self-selected groups (eg ADHD, Dyslexia, SAIL, OOD, etc.). Members will "give" presence, time, resources, support, encouragement, and compassion to one another. The initial meeting, for which you can sign up using this link, will be 30 minutes long, virtual, and with an identified point person present to help facilitate conversation, take general notes of broad ideas and questions the group would like shared with the SEPAC board and/or Student Services, and help identify and plan for next steps. Members MAY share contact info and choose if and how they would like to continue/grow their network. Please sign up by November 3rd to allow organizers enough planning time.
SEPAC Tree
Watch emails for news for how to participate in the creation of a fantastic SEPAC tree for the REF Festival of Trees. SEPAC is proud to once again participate in this fantastic community event which supports our schools! Thank you Alyssa Scaparotti for volunteering your time, resources and vision for this year’s tree.
Are you on our mailing list? Check to see if you received an email from “SEPAC” at about 5pm on Tuesday 10/17. If you did not, you are not on our confidential mailing list, and you are missing out! Simply send an email to sepacreading@gmail.com and we will add you to our private list.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID: ADULT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Youth MHFA for Adults Supporting Youth
The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support invites adults to participate in a special course. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. The course will teach you how to apply the MHFA Action Plan including: Assess for risk of suicide or harm, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help and Encourage self-help and other support strategies. The instructor, Erica McNamara, is credentialed through the National Council on Mental Wellbeing for Mental Health First Aid USA. Join us for all 4 sessions to become certified as a first aider on November 9, 16, 30 from 6-8 pm and Dec. 7 from 6-8 pm at the Reading Public Library. Register at https://conta.cc/3DKbCQQ
Reporting Absences, Dismissals, and Tardies
Please take the time to read through the handbook to review our policies regarding school attendance.
The best way to report any attendance issues (absence, tardy, or dismissal) for your child is by sending an email to the Parker absentee line – wspabsences@reading.k12.ma.us
Please make sure to give us:
Student Name
a reason for the absence or tardy
expected date of return
for dismissal, the name of the person who will be dismissing your child
🍃🏵 🍃🏵 🍃🏵 🍃🏵
Resources and Documents for Families
About us
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