Principal Rubino's Weekly Update
W.S. Parker Middle School Newsletter; Mon. Jan. 15, 2024
How to translate this newsletter
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.
Dear Parker Families,
Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. As Dr. King once said, "Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"
This year, all Reading Public School students will be thinking about how they can “Stand Tall” after learning about Black Role Models and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s advice that ‘It is always the right time to do what is right.’ Come see their reflections on the walls of the Reading Memorial High School Performing Art Center at the Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Monday, January 15th from 9:30 - 11:30 am.
Project 351 Ambassador Declan Grant kicked off his year of service this weekend at Project 351's Day of Service. Parker looks forward to all that is yet to come thanks to Declan's dedication and work with Project 351. Congratulations on a wonderful start.
Last week students finished the second round of iReady diagnostics. Families will be able to view their students' progress online. I will be sending an email on Tuesday via the Portal with information on how to access your child's report.
New Date! 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:
Monday, Jan. 15, 2023
MLK Day - No School
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Future Freshman I Night: RMHS Performing Arts Center
6:30 - 8:00 PM: RMHS Informational Meeting: A night for parents/caregivers and students to learn from the high school staff about the freshman course offerings, high school programming, and to meet staff, including a Q&A session.
Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024
RMHS visits with Parker 8th Grade Students during homeroom/advisory
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.
To access the 2023-2024 District Calendar, click here.
To access the Cultural Holidays Calendar, click here.
Registration now open for lacrosse
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!
Declan begins his work as Parker's Project 351 Ambassador
Parker's Environmental Club Visits Birch
Parker Middle School's Environmental Club, under the direction of Ms. Nancy Fowke, visited Birch Elementary School this week to learn more about the school's composting programming.
The Enviornmental Club is looking to see how Parker may be able to replicate some of their efforts.
The Environmental Club is also urging students to use reusable water bottles and make other small changes to help protect the environment. Great job, students!
Order your Parker Middle School Yearbook!
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.
Attendance Reminders
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.
Keeping Children Safe & Secure Online
A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents
The United States Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts will be holding an online webinar for adults that will bring awareness to the dangers children face online and to educate adults on how to keep children safe. Space is limited and registration is required in advance.
Webinar topic:
Keeping Children Safe & Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents
Date and time:
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 6:30 PM | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) Log in begins at 6:00 pm
Register link: (Copy and paste into Chrome browser for best compatibility)
https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r89884ccf204c605b8e466eb4be8aa854
Please direct questions to USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov
Session 3 of Parker After School Activities is Underway
MCAS Testing Dates
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.
Reading Little League Umpire Course
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.
News from the PTO
📌 New date: Our next PTO meeting is Monday, February 12 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom (https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482). Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda. All are welcome!
📌 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 the end of January, and the price includes a donation to the Parker PTO.
📌 Did you know? All of our PTO documents are linked on the Parker PTO webpage. Catch up on what happened at a past meeting by perusing agendas and meeting minutes! tinyurl.com/ParkerPTOpage
📌 SAVE THE DATE!
- PARKER AT THE RED SOX: Tuesday, 6/4/24. Tickets on sale now.
- 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
All welcome at RMHS Financial Wellness Session
The RMHS PTO is sponsoring a presentation given by Fidelity for parents on Jan. 17 at 7 pm in the RMHS library. Fidelity is putting this on as a free resource for parents and we are also partnering with them for sessions for students and PD for staff – all for free.
Reading Community Education Enrichment Programs
News from SEPAC
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!
Past Event:
Tiered Support for Students Presentation - Recording
Student Services gave a presentation on the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) used by the Reading Public Schools to give targeted attention to students who need additional support.
Recording available on Reading SEPAC website (under past-presentations)
Upcoming event:
Tuesday, Jan 16th, 6-8PM
Basic Rights Workshop: Evaluation and Eligibility
A comprehensive introduction to special education laws and procedures.
Purpose of the law, referrals, evaluations, team meeting process, determining eligibility, services and placement, what if student is not found to be eligible for services, after the team meeting, parent’s response options to an IEP, procedural due process rights for resolving disputes.
Virtual Event - Registration required
Registration: https://fcsn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZModuGurj8qE9YGNyYvN-XwRon-85VhYuZg
The new IEP Presentation
Date: TBD
Visit the Reading SEPAC website for updates.
Nurse Kate's Corner
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
METCO Updates
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."
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