Principal Rubino's Weekly Update
W.S. Parker Middle School Newsletter; Friday, Dec. 23, 2022
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Dear Parker Middle School Families,
Thank you, caregivers and families of the PTO, for the delicious breakfast spread for Parker Staff on Tuesday. It was lovely and filled our bellies. We appreciate your efforts and support!
I wish all families, caregivers, and students a restful, healthy, and fun December break. Enjoy the holidays if you celebrate and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2023!
I also wanted to extend my congratulations to our 6th and 7th grade students who performed in the winter concert this past week. It was a true pleasure to be in the audience and see the hard work and dedication of our student performers. Again, a special thanks to Ms. DiMuzio and Mr. Norton for their direction and guidance.
During our most recent school council, we discussed writing a vision and mission statement for Parker Middle School. We are seeking feedback from the community regarding our current core values and whether they need changes or updating. Please fill out the following survey to help provide the Parker School Council with some feedback. Additionally, we would be happy to have a third parent or community member serve on the council. Please email Ms. Rubino if you are interested.
A reminder for after break:
The Principal’s Student Council will meet again after December break. We are going to be working on planning our MLK Day Assembly. Please join us after school on Tuesday, Jan. 3 and Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Please enjoy the photos below from some of the activities and work of our students this past week.
Parker Leaders, Parkapella spread cheer at Tannerville on Thursday
After School Session 3 Signups Have Begun
News from the PTO
📌 The next Parker PTO meeting is Tuesday, January 10 at 7 p.m. at Parker Middle School and via Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/89440949482. All are welcome! Take a sneak peek at our upcoming agenda: https://tinyurl.com/PTOJan2023
📌 There’s still time to make your year-end donation to the Parker PTO! Donations are what allow the PTO to support our Parker students and staff. Suggested donation is $100 per family but any amount is appreciated.
Dues can be paid by check (made out to Parker PTO) and sent into the office, or via PayPal: @ParkerPTO or paypal.me/parkerpto
🎉 PTO Shout-out: Thank you to our wonderful Parker families for all of the delicious donations to the Parker Staff holiday breakfast that we hosted on Tuesday. The breakfast foods were a hit!
📌 Wishing our Parker community a restful December break and a wonderful start to 2023! Thank you for supporting the PTO this year.
❓Questions? Ideas? Please reach out! parkerptopres@gmail.com
Upcoming events!
- SNACKS FOR STAFF: It was a big hit earlier this fall…so let’s restock the Parker staff room with snacks so our staff will have some yummy treats as 2023 begins! See the Amazon wish list here: https://tinyurl.com/ParkerSnacksDec22
When checking out, make sure to select “Parker PTO Gift Registry Address” to have the items shipped directly to Parker!
- SAVE THE DATE! Tuesday, January 17, 2023: Parker Restaurant Night at EJ’s Pizza in Wilmington. *Owned by a Parker family!*
- SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, May 31, 2023: Parker Night at the Red Sox! Tickets on sale later in the winter.
Door Decorating - Advisory classes express creativity
More Free Math Tutoring Available
Order your yearbook
The online site is now ready to take orders for yearbooks. See the information below.
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 2022-2023 year. All grades are represented.
Please note, you may be prompted to create an account before you purchase. Yearbooks are $24 plus a small service fee. Due to anticipated supply chain delays, the last day to order your book is May 5, 2023. The link to order is below.
School ID: 710308
Reach out to Robyn Ferrazzani with any questions.
Nurse Kate's Corner
District Protocols reminders post covid and influenza (flu).
It is encouraged to use a test kit on Tuesday, 1/3/2023, before return to school.
COVID-19 Test Kits Available: Thanks to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Health for working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as we provide at-home COVID-19 tests to all students and staff in RPS who would like them.
These tests are intended for use by students and staff to support the return to school process after Winter breaks.
ILLNESS PROTOCOL:
Testing Positive for COVID-19
Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. The day of the positive test or the start of symptoms is day 0. Students and staff may return to school:
After 5 days (on day 6) if they have been asymptomatic or symptoms have resolved and they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
AND must wear a mask until
Day 11
OR if an individual is unable to mask, until they receive a negative test
Exposure to COVID-19
Quarantine for asymptomatic individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 is no longer required, regardless of vaccination status. Anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 should mask for 10 days and test at day 5 or anytime symptoms develop.
Symptomatic Individuals
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and test with an antigen (rapid) test. If an individual tests negative but is still symptomatic, it is recommended that the individual mask around others and test again in 48 hours. At home test kits are available for families and staff by request through school health offices. Expiration dates for at home test kits have been extended, check here for updated information. Students and staff developing symptoms during the school day may stay at school if they have a negative antigen test and wear a mask around others. Consent for in-school symptomatic antigen testing can be provided through this link.
Reporting District and Classroom Cases
If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, please report here. Data will be kept for public health purposes only and our district and school case numbers will be updated weekly on our district website. As contact tracing is no longer recommended by DESE and DPH, we will only be sending classroom notifications in certain situations deemed high risk by school nurses. For example, this could include situations with a potential cluster of cases within a class, team, or group of students.x
School Absences Due to a Positive COVID-19 Test
Student absences due to a positive COVID-19 test will be treated as any other absence due to illness. Upon return to school, teachers will support students in accessing missed instruction and assignments. As with any extended absence, please communicate with your student’s teacher and school.
Masking
Although masking is no longer mandated except for situations previously described, we support and encourage any students or staff who would like to mask to continue to do so, especially those considered high risk for COVID-19. We have high quality masks available in all of our schools and we will continue to encourage masking as a mitigation strategy. For those who need or choose to mask, masking is never required when eating, drinking, sleeping or when outside.
COVID-19 Testing
Since surveillance testing is no longer recommended and the state testing program has ended, we will not be providing pooled testing or test to stay. We have at home test kits available for families who request them through school health offices, and the option of antigen testing at school for any symptomatic individuals.
Vaccine Clinics
Vaccines continue to be the best way to protect individuals against the effects of COVID-19. DESE and DPH strongly recommend that all faculty, staff, and students, including the Commonwealth’s youngest children ages 6 months – 5 years, receive the COVID-19 vaccine primary series and all boosters as they become eligible for them. We will continue to offer vaccine clinics throughout the school year. In addition, DPH is offering free family-friendly vaccine clinics. No ID, health insurance, or appointment is needed at these clinics. Information about these vaccination clinics and others across the state is available online at VaxFinder.
Classroom Cleaning Protocols
Numerous studies have shown that the primary spread of COVID-19 does not occur through surface transmission. At the same time, we understand the critical importance of strong cleaning protocols to ensure the health and safety of our staff and students. We will continue to collaborate with our Department of Facilities to develop protocols and practices that support clean and safe learning environments. There are hand sanitizer stations available in hallways and classrooms in all buildings. We encourage good handwashing and cough etiquette as important measures to prevent the spread of illness.
Classroom Ventilation
We are committed to ensuring high quality air ventilation in all of our classrooms. We switched over to MERV 13 filters two years ago and therefore, all school air handling equipment for occupied spaces currently use MERV 13 filters. Our HVAC vendor has completed preventative maintenance in all school buildings. These preventative measures included, but were not limited to, replacing the filters, checking the belts and motors, control system checks and any greasing/lubricating that was necessary. In addition, we will continue to encourage staff to open windows, as feasible, to increase air flow in classrooms, and to bring students outside when weather permits.
Return to school after having Influenza (The Flu): Please follow your pediatricians' recommendations post illness.
Mark your calendars!
Please mark your calendars for MCAS testing dates:
Grade 8 ELA: Tuesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 5
Grade 7 ELA: Monday, April 10 and Tuesday, April 11
Grade 6 ELA: Wednesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 13
Grade 8 Math: Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 3
Grade 7 Math: Thursday, May 4 and Friday, May 5
Grade 6 Math: Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10
Grade 8 STE: Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17
The Reading Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be hosting a parent orientation to learn about the upcoming Special Education and Civil Rights review in our district. The parent orientation will be held virtually via zoom (click here) at 7pm on Tuesday, December 20th. Please join us! See attached flyer for more information.
You may contact Allison Wright at Allison.Wright@reading.k12.ma.us with questions about the parent orientation or the review. More information on Reading’s TFM can be found on our district website.
Please look for an email survey titled: Public School Monitoring needs your feedback - it was sent on 12/1 (check in your spam folder too).
Coming Soon: Special Needs Planning with Attorney Lisa Cukier of Burns & Levinson on Tuesday, January 17th at 7 pm. See attached flyer for more information.
For much more information about the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, click here for our latest newsletter.
We encourage you to join SEPAC's mailing list, follow SEPAC on Facebook, and follow SEPAC on Instagram
To report absences...
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Reading METCO Found Family Program
Resources and Documents for Families
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