Principal Rubino's Weekly Update
W.S. Parker Middle School Newsletter; Fri., Nov. 4, 2022
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Dear Parker Middle School Families,
Students and staff of Parker Middle School had a lot of fun this week participating in Spirit Week. From costume day/PJ day on Monday, to fancy vs. cozy day on Friday to everything in between. Check out some photos from the week below.
The month of November is a busy month with several days off due to upcoming holidays and other events.
Tuesday, Nov. 8 there is no school due to Election Day.
Friday, Nov. 11 there is no school due to Veterans Day.
Next Thursday, Nov. 10, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Parker MS will be hosting our annual Veterans Day Assembly. We are inviting local veterans and military family members to attend in person with us, if they would like.
For those veterans that can attend or cannot, we are asking that you complete this Parker MS Veterans Day Recognition Google Form so that we can properly recognize all veterans and military family members in our community.
If you'd like to share a picture of the veteran and/or any military family members, please email the pictures to Mr. Peledge by Nov. 8. If possible, please note names of persons in the picture, rank if applicable and known, and years served (or note "Active Duty"). They will be part of a slideshow that will be running as people process into our auditorium.
I’m excited to announce that Parker Middle School students, staff, and families will be able to participate in SEL programming from Urban Improv Rehearsals for Life. The program provides unique, theater-based programs to help students develop key Social-Emotional (SEL) skills and make empowered choices in their lives, schools, and communities. Urban Improv assemblies combine improvisational scenes and live group discussions to reinforce empathy and respect, while giving students the opportunity to learn, reflect, practice, and share. Assemblies for students will take place during the school day in March and families are invited to an assembly on Wednesday evening March 22. More information will be provided as we draw closer to the date.
We have noticed that students are coming to school with beverages from Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks and have reminded students that all beverages, other than water, must be consumed in the cafeteria or prior to entering the building. Only water is allowed in the hallways and in the classrooms. Additionally, we have seen an uptick in candy entering the middle school and reminded students that candy cannot be consumed in the hallways or the classrooms and should not be stored in lockers. Food storage in lockers invites unwanted critters and students are littering the hallways with candy wrappers. Can you please remind your children about these expectations?
School Council - I am in need of additional parent representatives for the Parker School Council. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month and you can join via Zoom or in person. Please send me an email if you wish to join.
Our next PTO meeting is Monday, Nov. 7! Please join us in person or via Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482 We are meeting on Monday this month due to Election Day.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the warm temperatures! Go Panthers!
Best,
Rochelle
Free Math Tutoring to Begin at Parker
Parker Leaders Food Drive
Parker Leaders begins their annual food drive. Please consider donating any of the following items. Students can turn in items during homeroom. Thanks, in advance, for your generosity.
Thanksgiving Items:
Boxed stuffing mix (like Stovetop)
Instant mashed potatoes in boxes or packets.
Jars of turkey gravy or dried gravy mix packets.
Dry macaroni.
Canned yams (canned goods should come with a pop-top lid)
Canned cranberry sauce.
Canned veggies (green beans, corn, peas)
Cornbread mix.
Other General Needed Items:
Microwave Popcorn
Cookie Packages (Chips Ahoy, Oreos, Milano, Nutter Butter)
Hot Cocoa Package Box
Crackers
Tissue Boxes
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Drop-off procedures
Musical informational meeting
GSA Meetings
The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a group open to students in grades 6-8 who want to create community for LGBTQ+ and allied youth. GSA is intended to provide a safe space for students to socialize, share, and organize around issues affecting their school and community.
Location: Room 209
Days: Tuesdays after school
News from the PTO
📌 The next Parker PTO meeting is Monday, November 7 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482. All are welcome!
📌 Help wanted: Enrichment Coordinator(s)! The PTO has a new role we are looking to fill - an Enrichment Coordinator. This person would work with Parker staff to bring in 2-3 all-school enrichment programs. Last year two programs that visited were Ball in the House and a Berklee jazz ensemble. Could you help? Perhaps grab a friend and share the role! Email us: parkerptopres@gmail.com
❓Questions? Ideas? Please reach out! parkerptopres@gmail.com
Upcoming events!
- RUNNING NOW! Charleston Wrap fundraiser, 10/17-12/2: Get your holiday shopping done early while supporting Parker Middle School! We are once again having our Charleston Wrap fundraiser for all your shopping needs. A vast selection of items to choose from including gift wrap for many holidays and occasions, candles, kitchen essentials and more. The best part?? 40% will be donated back to the Parker PTO! A catalog came home in your student’s backpack recently, or shop online here: https://registercw.com/gateway?organizationMidasId=23552.
- RUNNING NOW! Parker Pie Sale. Orders due by Monday, 11/7! Order forms were sent home to order pies from Wilson Farm in Lexington. Order pies for yourself, and you’ll also have the opportunity to donate pies to the Reading Adopt-A-Family initiative and Reading Food Pantry. Pies will be available for pickup at Parker on Tues. 11/22. See the flyer in the newsletter for more information!
- Parker Apparel Sale - Store open now through Sunday, 11/20. Shop online to get your Parker gear, including tees, sweatshirts, pajama pants, winter hats, and more! https://tinyurl.com/ParkerFall2022 Order deadline is Sunday, November 20th, and items will be delivered to Parker in December. (Be sure to note if something is a gift when ordering!)
- Save the date: Parker Restaurant Night at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza - Wednesday, 11/16 from 11am-9pm. A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to Parker. Be sure to mention Parker when ordering. See flyer below!
A lot has been going on in SEPAC lately! Read for a full recap.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Our annual basic rights workshop will be on
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15th at 7 pm (on Zoom).
You MUST pre-register. See flier below for more information.
In this update
Inclusive Family Kickball Game
Program Review Results, Board Elections, Events Planning
SEPAC “Point People” for Individual Schools
Next Month: Basic Rights Workshop–Transition Planning
Inclusive Family Kickball Game
October 18th Meeting: Program Review Results, Board Elections, Events Planning
Program Review Results
Thank you for the wonderful participation at last Tuesday’s meeting! We had 37 attendees either on Zoom or in person. We know everyone’s plates are full and we applaud you for adding a SEPAC meeting to it. Your presence mattered and it enriched our meeting.
Dr. Jennifer Stys, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, and Ms. Allison Wright, Director of Special Education delivered a presentation about program reviews. Executive summaries of all reviews can be found here. We did record their presentation; contact us if you’d like it. You may also watch this recording of them delivering the same presentation to the School Committee two nights after our meeting.
Many parents asked questions and we thank you all for your participation.
We encourage all parents/caregivers to communicate directly with teachers, team chairs, principals, directors, and Student Service administrators Dr. Jennifer Stys and Allison Wright via their office hours (click for info and signup).
We also encourage parents/caregivers to contact us with questions and thoughts regarding the program reviews or any other matter.
Board Elections
We did not need to have an election since we had fewer than seven people nominated for board positions, but we still thank our Elections Coordinator Extraordinaire Etain O’Dea for her service this year. A big welcome and thanks to Lindsay Conti who stepped up to serve on the SEPAC board! Eunice Kenyon, Laura Joelson, and Maria Morgan will continue to serve. There are two spots left if anyone else would like to join.
Events Planning
Events Planning
We discussed our intention to offer some wonderful opportunities this year but expressed our need for some help. We thank those who have already offered assistance–many hands make light work! Please consider collaborating with the board to run some of these events, and we also welcome other ideas!
We have created a handy-dandy SEPAC events planning guide to help you know exactly what would be involved. Without more help, some of these events may need to be canceled. We need folks to join the following teams:
REF Tree Team
Winter Adult Social Team
Winter Family Event Team
April Movie Night Team
May Adult Social Team
Spring Family Event Team
Summer Patio Social Team
Summer Family Event Team
Please reach out to us if you would like to assist with the planning of these or any other events.
SEPAC “Point People” for Individual Schools
We have Point People for MOST of our schools! We are so grateful for this commitment. Point People will personalize the SEPAC/school connection and ensure that our updates get into the weekly school newsletters in a timely way. HUGE THANKS to the following individuals:
Lauren Lynch, Barrows Point Person
Jennifer Saubermann, Birch Meadow Point Person
Corinne Imperatore, Joshua Eaton Point Person
Meghan Carroll, Killam Point Person
Timna Serino, Wood End Point Person
Maria Selvetelli, Parker Point Person
YOUR NAME HERE?, RISE Point Person
YOUR NAME HERE?, Coolidge Point Person
YOUR NAME HERE?, RMHS Point Person
As you can see, we still need Point People for RISE, Coolidge, and RMHS. Please consider helping us out–it should be a manageable enough job that will benefit SEPAC a lot. Thank you for considering it!
Next Month: Basic Rights Workshop–Transition Planning
This is a very important topic. Transition planning starts at age 14, and parents should be well-informed about this topic long before their child is that age.
The training will be virtual and you MUST pre-register in order to get the link.
See flier for more information, and pre-register here..
This is a must-attend event if secondary school is in your child’s near future.
Share Your Ideas with SEPAC
Student Services Office Hours
Mark Your Calendars
Andover SEPAC’s Basics Right Workshop - Understanding the IEP. Tues. Nov. 8th, 7 to 9PM via Zoom. Click here to register. YOU ARE A KEY MEMBER OF YOUR CHILD’S TEAM. If you don’t know how to make sense of an IEP, you need this workshop! Can’t make this one? Other opportunities for it are available at fcsn.org
Reading SEPAC office “half” hour. Wed., Nov. 9, 4:45-5:15PM. Click here to join.
Reading SEPAC’s Basics Right Workshop - Transition Planning. Tues., Nov 15th, 7 to 9PM via Zoom (NO in-person meeting). See flier attached Click here to register!
SEPAC Business Meeting with presentation by DESE about Tiered Focus Monitoring (TFM). Tues., Dec 20th, at 7PM via Zoom (Link forthcoming; NO in-person meeting)
Thank you all again for your continued support of our SEPAC community!
Your (improved!) SEPAC Board,
Eunice, Laura, Lindsay, and Maria
🍃🏵 🍃🏵 🍃🏵 🍃🏵
Reading METCO Found Family Program
Nurse Kate's Corner
Resources and Documents for Families
To report absences...
About us
Principal
Mr. Jason Peledge
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