THE PARKER WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
THE WEEK OF june 15, 2020
Principal's Message by Mrs. Shankland
I can't believe it, but this will be the final newsletter of the 2019-20 school year! I will keep you updated over the summer regarding re-opening in the fall. Current sixth and seventh grade students will find out their teams early in the summer via email and current fifth grades can be on the lookout for an email early next week with a video from their sixth grade team.
Eighth grade students will receive paper report cards with their certificates on Thursday, but sixth and seventh grade students will need to check the portal on Friday afternoon for theirs. In order to view your report card, please use these instructions. Report cards can be found in the e-locker, then e-portfolio in the portal. I will keep you updated over the summer regarding re-opening in the fall.
I will probably see some of you on the common tomorrow for the rally (see information below) and/or as I'm walking my dog or running around town this summer. Don't hesitate to get my attention, stop me and say hello! I am at Parker in the summer so if you need anything, please reach out. I've missed you all over these past couple of months and hope for seeing all of your faces in the fall. Finally, a huge, heartfelt "Congratulations!" to our 8th graders as they move on to high school! Be on the lookout for an email from me this week with videos from the high school!
Thank you to the Parker PTO for their support and help the last few weeks of school! The 8th graders will receive a nice gift from the PTO on Thursday!
Take care and have a nice summer!
-Mrs. Shankland
Important Dates:
- June 13: Rally for Racial Justice (Flyer)
- June 19: Last day of school
- June 19: Report cards available on the portal by the end of the day.
- TBD: Familes who were loaned a district computer will get an email regarding dates/times to return devices.
Grade 8 Schedule of Events:
- June 17: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at 6:00 pm (link forthcoming via email)
- June 18: from 11-1: 8th grade "Drive Through" to pick up promotion certificates, yearbooks, awards, PTO gift & to wave goodbye! Please put a sign with your childs first and last name in the right window of your vehicle. Enter the Temple Street entrance, drive around circle to front of school, receive certificate, etc and drive around access road to King Street (email will also be sent to grade 8). Teachers will be lining the drive way/route.
11:00-11:30 -Last Names T-Z
11:30-12:00 - Last names N-S
12:00-12:30 - Last names H-M
12:30-1:00 - Last names A-G
2019-2020 Yearbooks
Summer Reading
We hope you find the following resources helpful as you plan for your summer reading (or if you want to start early this spring!).
- MIDDLE SCHOOL Summer Reading list, as well as many supportive resources, can be found here (also on www.reading.k12.ma.us/parker under Quicklinks)
- The HIGH SCHOOL summer reading list is filled with great titles. It is not mandatory this year, but we hope our 8th graders take the opportunity! It can be found here.
Recommended books for LGBTQ+ Pride Month:
2020-2021 School Supplies
Please note: Students do NOT have to order the brands listed if shopping on their own.
1st Day School Supplies Link to Order! (Feel free to donate a kit too!) Orders due by July 1.
Mr. DiMuzio offered a Jazz Clinic to our 7th Grade General Music and Band Students (58 students attended!)
END OF YEAR GRADING
As a reminder, teachers will be giving students a "P" (pass) or "PI" (Pass-Incomplete) for Semester 2.
Pass: The student has provided evidence of engagement in remote learning opportunities within the content area (and has shown readiness for the next grade/subject).
Engagement Evidence may include the following:
Completion of lessons and assignments
Engagement in Teacher’s synchronous meetings (i.e. Video-Conference Office Hours, Live Lessons) (if these are optional, lack of participation cannot hurt a student’s grade, but attendance can help!)
Responding to teacher-initiated emails/phone calls/personalized comments on Google Classroom
Improved participation and/or work completion following contact/intervention from teacher, support staff, and/or administration
Initiating emails or private comments to teacher with questions/requests for additional support, if needed
Pass-Incomplete: The student has provided insufficient evidence of participation and engagement and/or the teacher is concerned for the student’s readiness in their subject area for the year ahead.
We know that there may be situations getting in the way of student engagement, and we have been working to reach out to those students and families in an effort to help in any way we can. For students who receive a PI, we will work with families over the summer to create a plan for a more successful fall, including potential interventions and supports.
Insufficient Engagement Evidence may include the following:
Very few or no assignments have been completed.
Minimal or no participation in any of the teacher’s synchronous meeting opportunities (if attendance is required)
Unresponsive to teacher-initiated emails, phone calls, or personalized comments on Google Classroom
Limited to no improvement in engagement following contact/intervention from teacher, support staff, and/or administration.
2020-21 Team Placements
I will be sharing student teams for next year's 6th grade early next week but with 7th and 8th grades after the end of the school year. That being said, if we are not in "brick and mortar" in full, we may need to change our normal structures, routines, teacher assignments, etc. to adjust for whatever the circumstances may be. Only time will tell. In the event changes need to be made due to a change in the circumstances (which are multi-faceted), I will communicate those and will hope and expect for parent support, flexibility, and patience. Thank you for your understanding!
Artwork from Artsonia
Congratulations to the Parker Math Team for 2nd Place!
8th Grade:
Alison Lakin
Anna Nguyen
Calyn Heroux
Claire Benjamin
Gianna Gagliardi
Kylan Li
Maureen Manning
Lily O'Callaghan
Sadie Patalano
Ian Xiao
Joe Qi
7th Grade
Chloe Kaufman
Justin Gatta
Justin Raimo
Erica Malone
Lauren Downing
6th Grade
Amelia Benedict
Clara Healy
Fabricio Amado
Jessica Wong
Joelle Chang
Michael Jenney
Owen Sinclair
Sam Ewald
Welcome to Parker: Information for Incoming 6th Grade (Current 5th Grade)
Family Resources
- RPS Behavioral Health Resources linked here.
- Town of Reading: compiled resources linked here.
- RCASA and Mental Health Support linked here.
- St. Vincent de Paul linked here.
- Free & Reduced lunch access: sign up here.
- Reading Food Pantry linked here.
- Project Bread link here.
- Residential Financial Assistance (Rent/Mortgage) link here. (New resource! Check it out!)
Resources for supporting conversations regarding recent events (protests, racism, racial injustice):
- Are Your Kids Too Young to Talk About Race? - childrenscommunityschool.org
- What to Do About Children's Racial Bias - Andrew Grant-Thomas
- Addressing Racial Injustice- Marianne Celano, PhD, ABPP, Marietta Collins, PhD, and Ann Hazzard, PhD, ABPP
- How Kids Learn About Race- With Margaret Hagerman, PhD and Erin Winkler, PhD
- Read Aloud Books- EmbraceRace
- Encouraging Cross-Racial Friendships- With Professor Amber Williams and EmbraceRace Co-founders, Andrew Grant-Thomas and Melissa Giraud
- Supporting Positive Racial Identity Development in Black Children - With Dr. Aisha White
- How to Talk About Race and Racism with Children - Julie Lythcott-Haims, Rosalind Wiseman, and Amber Coleman-Mortley
- Using Your Power as a Parent - Rebecca Parlakian
- Teaching Tolerance - Beyond The Golden Rule- Dana Williams
- Talking About Race - National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality, and Protests - Aha! Parenting
Walter S. Parker Middle School
Richele Shankland, Principal (x301)
Brendan Norton, Asst. Principal (x302)
Diane Finigan, Administrative Assistant (x300)
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