Friday Announcements                                Date:  April 9, 2004

Dear Parker Families,

We are pleased to announce that Diane Kruse will be returning to the school next year as the lead teacher in Math/Science/Technology.  Diane taught at Parker for four years, and was instrumental in designing our Division 3 MST program.  She spent this year at the International School of Brussels where she has been teaching Statistics, Advanced Algebra, Trigonometry, and English. (Diane was actually an English major- and math minor at the University of Illinois.) 

Diane chaired the NEASC self-study committee for two years as we prepared for our accreditation with the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.  Everyone who worked with her admired her professional, inclusive approach and her ability to distill the lengthy position papers the committees developed into readable, cogent prose.  Students consistently praise Diane as one of the best math teachers they have ever had.  Parents consistently praise her teaching and her mentoring of students.  Her colleagues describe her as resilient, funny, and as very focused. 

Diane was selected from among three highly qualified candidates we brought to the school for intensive interviewing and interaction with our students, faculty, principal, and parents.  As a community, we carefully considered the competing values of bringing in a leader from outside our school, who might infuse our planning and teaching with new perspective against the value of nurturing our own teachers, who know our school and our mission from having grown it and lived it, as they strive to become school leaders.  When our hiring committee (teachers, parents, principal, students) selected two finalists, we developed a set of questions we wanted to address in the second round of our selection process.  Several teachers visited the coalition school where one candidate taught; we invited Diane here from Brussels to meet with the teachers in all three divisions, to meet with school leaders, to observe and discuss the teaching practices of one teacher, and to “try on” being here in a new role.  Diane easily met every challenge with her usual equanimity.  She did not claim to have more experience or more wisdom than she had accrued.  She was open to each constituency. Diane appears ready to take on the challenges of being a leader in a school that still views authority with just a tinge of ambivalence.

We hope you will join us in welcoming Diane back to the school.  It has been a year of challenges, births, and departures for our teachers, a year of growth for our students.  Laura, who retires from her role in MST leaves with a new respect and admiration for their work during a year in which every teacher was a leader.

 

Have a good weekend!

Laura Rogers                                                    Teri Schrader

Coordinator of Student Services                       Principal 

April, 2004

Monday, 12 - Graduation Committee meeting at 7:00 p.m. in Room 1

Tuesday, 13 - Parker Matters, Session III - Homework… HELP! Part II

Wednesday, 14 - Café Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, 16 - Early Release (noon dismissal)

Monday thru Friday, 19 - 23 - Spring Recess

Wednesday, 28 - Parker Road Race and Springfest meeting at 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE  MARK  THESE  DATES!   (Subject to change)

May, 2004

Wednesday, 12 - Parker Road Race and Springfest meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, 13 - MCAS Make-up day for Grade 7

Sunday, 16 - Parker Classic Road Race

Tuesday, 18 - Friday, 28 - MCAS and Stanford 9 tests for grades 7, 8, 9 and 10

Friday, 28 - Early Release (noon dismissal)

Monday, 31- Memorial Day - No school

June, 2004

Wednesday, 2 - Café Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 9 - Noon dismissal - Graduation, 6:00 p.m.

Friday, 18 - Last Day of Classes  - The Big End

Monday through Wednesday, 21 - 23 - Faculty Work Days

Thank you to the families of Rebecca McDougall, Maureen Priest and the other anonymous donors for their contributions of snacks and supplies to the Nurse’s office.  All contributions are greatly appreciated!

We appreciate the generous commitment of time and effort by all Career Day participants!  Thanks to your efforts, the workshops were a great success.

Our Presenters

Louis Arnold                                        Musician

Brian Baer                                              Architect, Ganek Baer Architects, Inc.

Pascale Belin-White                            Muralist

Glenn Berger                                         Residential Contractor

David Carlson                                       Veterinarian, Carlson Veterinary Clinic, Westford

Laura Chan                                            Engineering, Goldsmith, Prest and Ringwall, Inc.

James Chiarelli                                      Archaeologist

Kathleen Cushman                              Journalist

Dr. James Fletcher                                Psychiatrist

Trooper Laura Fogerty                        Crime Scene Investigator

Attorney Tom Grady                           Lawyer

Eric Howlett                                          Inventor

Stewart Lanier                                       Business Management Consultant

Trooper Emily LeBrecque                   Crime Scene Investigator

Mark Liasson                                        Sports Business Owner

Calvin Mabvurunge                            Civil Engineer, Goldsmith, Prest and Ringwall, Inc.

Lorraine MacDonald                           Physical Therapist

Jackie Murphy                                      Hotel and Restaurant Management, Beechwood Hotel

Mark Nichipor                                      National Park Ranger, Minuteman Park

Dr. Michael Shear                                Emergency Room Doctor

Bogdan Sniezek                                    Engineering

Meg Stafford                                        Social Worker

Kathy Tamilio-Awed                           Acupuncturist

Behind the Scenes

Cara Whalen	Organizer-in-Chief
Sarah Gordon	Photographer and Graphic Designer
Ashley Hill	Photographer and Graphic Designer
Marge Maurukas	Guest Refreshments and Last Minute Details
Joan Shulman	Meeting and Greeting
David Babineau	Logistics
Pat Tuzzolo	Planning
Nicola Dudensing	Graphics
All Div 2 and Div 3 Teachers	Enthusiasm and Information Gathering
Main Street Café  Groton	Thank you for your generous donation of bagels and other munchies!

Attention Parker Massage Therapists:  We are looking for massage therapists to contribute their time during the

Parker Road Race on Sunday, May 16.  We will be charging a dollar a minute, proceeds to go to the Parker Essential Fund.  For more information please contact Kim Draper, (508) 254-3555 cell, kimd@htmassage.com

Looking for donations of baked goods for the baked goods table at the Parker Road Race on

Sunday, May 16.  Donations can be dropped off the week prior to the race and it would be wonderful if items were pre-packaged for individual sale.  Also requested would be cakes and pies to be sold whole.  Any questions, comments or suggestions, please email Sharon Pfenninger at pfenninger@charter.net

John Bohannon is looking for about six record players so that he can use the turntable for motion experiments.  Does anyone have any they would be willing to donate to the school?

 

Seniors will begin to be measured for graduation gowns next week in the Nurse’s office.  They should submit payment for their graduation fees to the Main office at this time.

Thanks to all the community members who attended the Senior Project Exhibition Night.  There was a great turnout,

and we deeply appreciate your willingness to listen to students talk about their learning and your willingness to give feedback about what you heard.  Please consider signing up for a jury panel for the exhibitions, which will begin on Thursday, April 29.  (Contact Nicky Dudensing to sign up.)  Speaking of projects, Seniors have their final products due on Friday, April 16.

This week’s course updates are from Lise Brody’s A/H classes.

In Cause and Consequence we have just finished reading Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth and students have completed their Oral Presentations on that book.  (The Oral Presentations were wonderful.)  We are embarking on our creative writing unit, which will culminate in a short story.

In the Essay class, students are completing their fourth essay, a process analysis.  Students are becoming adept at offering thought provoking, constructive, astute feedback to each other and are supporting each other well as a community of writers.  Next week will be a revision week. 

An Important Note About PEF Fundraising Efforts

The Fall Auction and Spring Road Race are the two major fund raising events at Parker.  These traditional events, along with the Holiday Craft Fair, were started by Parker parents who had ideas about raising funds for our school that would enrich the educational experience of our children. 

PEF is now looking to the Parker Community for new fund raising ideas.   What kinds of events have you seen work in your community?  What do you think would work at Parker?  The event does not need to be as huge as the Auction or the Road Race. 

Please send your fund raising ideas to PEF Board Chairperson, Joan Shankle at: JFShankle@aol.com

Mini Grant Applications – March 2004

1.        Inventor Professional 8 – CAD software for 2D and 3D design and modeling for potential engineering students.

Heidi Kulik - $1359

2.        Spanish Library – Spanish books for use by teachers (curriculum design) and students (to reference and read).

Deb Merriam - $1000

3.        Kitchen Equipment – Various pans, bowls, a rolling can rack to allow for expanded menus and more efficient service.  Karen Hannifin - $740

4.        Memory Sticks – To allow teachers to work on progress reports both at home and at school.

Nicola Dudensing - $200 (10 sticks)

5.        A/H Listening Library – 20 to 30 CDs for the A/H music curricula.  Teri Schrader - $350

6.        Senior Class T-Shirts – A t-shirt for every senior.  Becky Wilusz - $500

7.        Binding – Bind 10 years of National Geographics.  Laurie Nehring - $360

Division I A/H

This week students have been learning about governments and what it means to be a citizen in this country.

Next week, class presentations about different political philosophies will be the focus.

For students who would like to submit a poem for the Division I Poetry book, please choose one from your recent writing assessment, revise it, and type it up to be handed in on Monday, April 12.  We have funding to publish these books to be given to every Division I student.  It would be fabulous to have everyone included!

Gateway Alert!!!  Please keep reminding your prospective June gateway students that Friday, April 30 is the cut-off date for revisions! Students need to be turning revisions around as soon as they are assessed and returned to them.

Division II A/H

This week students worked on applying writing workshops to their drafting process.  Tenth-graders intending to gateway passed in their final drafts today while the rest of the students have the weekend to put the finishing

touches on the research and writing assessment. This was a challenging, analytical assessment and students should feel good about the progress they have made as a result of their hard work!  We also began an artistic expression project in documentary photography. At some point next week, students will need to bring in a 35mm camera or request one from their teachers.  Students intending to gateway in June should mark down the important due date of Tueday, April 27 for their Gateway Letter of Intent and completed portfolios.

Division I MST

Newton and Galileo's theories in action!  This week in Division I MST we are taking a close look at free fall!  Is it true that if you dropped your book bag (heavy!) and a penny off the Empire State Building they would hit the ground at the same time? What speed would they be traveling just before they landed? How long would it take? COW14, the Physics Problem Set, was handed out on Thursday; students will choose 9 of the 21 physics problems to solve in addition to providing real world examples of Newton's Laws of Motion.

Next week we take a look at Momentum; would you rather be bumped into by a 280 pound football player walking at

3 mi/hr or your 60 pound little sister running at 8 mi/hr? COW 14 is due on Thursday, April 15.    

Division II MST

In Science, students in all classes should have passed in their protein lab.  This week students began an Ecology Unit. Students will be going outside regularly and should be dressed appropriately.  The Ecology assessment is ongoing throughout April.  Students will be making observations, recording them and using it as evidence for their assessment.

Students are studying statistics by examining scatter plots, lines of best fit, and learning about correlation, and residuals. Students will be using their graphing calculators a lot during this unit and should carry them to and from school daily. Students have received their assessment for this unit and should be working on it as they learn the material.  Everyone

should have picked their data by now and should be completing work for the check-ins.  Dates may vary depending on class, so students should check with their teachers.

Students should buy new batteries for their graphing calculators since many indicate "low battery."

This week in Janice & Lisa's Division 2 Spanish classes, the students spent time developing a question for their individual inquiry projects and giving feedback on others' ideas.  They had the rest of the week to begin their research.  Please ask your son or daughter what they are learning about in relation to the question:  ‘What's behind your coffee cup’?

In Division 3 Spanish, Janice's students learned about when to use ser versus estar, while Lisa's students had a review of the Imperative Command verb forms.  These class-long lessons were taught by students!  The rest of the week was devoted to reading and analyzing the next part of our novel, De amor y de sombra.  Students again led great discussions on important themes from the novel.

David's 7th grade students are learning vocabulary and doing activities related to body parts.

David's 8th grade students are beginning their reading projects related to "The City Mouse" and "The Country Mouse."

Emily's students have finished their reading assessments and are beginning work on the city of New York and Puerto Rico.

Damara's students are working on their reading projects related to "The City Mouse" and "The Country Mouse."  They have also begun to explore New York City and Puerto Rico.

This week in Alan's classes:

In Alan's classes, we continued with our second week on Emotional Health with the goal being that students will begin to understand the range of normal reactions and responses to a loss.  They will begin to understand the process of grief and coping through reading from Old Yeller and discussing the boy's reactions to the loss of his dog.

         Responses to Loss

*Emotional responses         (feelings)               (how do they feel?)

                *Behavioral responses       (actions)                (what do they do?)

                *Bodily responses               (physical)              (what happens to their body?)

                *Cognitive responses         (thoughts)             (what do they think?)

For physical activity, students played manhunt, Kubb, hurdles and tried an obstacle course.

This week in Deborah’s classes:

This week in Deborah's Health classes we took a look at responses to loss: emotional responses, thoughts, body reactions and behaviors.  We then used childrens' literature to find examples of these reactions.  Next week,

students will review their findings.  In physical activity classes, we have taken a break from traditional sports and moved into prisoner dodgeball.  Please remind your child to bring an extra T-shirt and deodorant. 

This week in Laura’s classes:

This week in Laura's Wellness classes, students again had a choice of yoga, track and field or soccer during Block 1 on Mondays.  Other classes played ping pong, floor hockey, kickball and went for a walk.  In Health class, we continued our children's book activity, reading back favorite passages to the class and discussing what we have learned about grief from this literature.  Next week, we will begin to look at how we can help others during and after a loss by using good communication skills.

Parent Resource Network Line:  Many parents struggle to get help for their child's mental health needs. The Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PAL) has a statewide, toll-free Parent Resource Network Line that provides information, referrals and support to parents of children with mental health needs.  This network can provide information to parents on how to access insurance and government resources.  Trained family advocates staff the PRN

line.  All information is kept confidential.   The PRN Line telephone number is toll free (866) 815-8122. You may find further information about PAL and the PRN Line, on their website at www.ppal.net or call Mary Ann at the school for more information.

Come and join us for poetry and pizzazz, jazz and jesting,

colleagues and cookies, students and soda

Place: Auditorium.

Date: Wednesday April 14

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Admission: Plate of cookies or bottle of juice/soda

Black flies optional

Drivers: Cafe Wednesday ends at 9:00 p.m. 

Please come in, enjoy the atmosphere and take students home promptly at 9:00 p.m.

Sports Schedule

				Dismissal	Bus	Game
Date	Parker Team	Practice/Game	Location	from class	Leaves	Time	Pick-up
Mon., 4/12	HS Baseball	Practice	School			3:30	5:30 at school
	HS Softball	Practice	Willard			3:30	5:30 at field
	MS Baseball	Home vs. Ayer	Willard	2:45		3:45	5:30 at field
	MS Softball	Home vs. Ayer	Willard	2:45		3:45	5:30 at field
	Track	Away vs. Monty Tech.	See website	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:30 at school
Tues., 4/13	HS Baseball	Away vs. St. Clement	See website	2:05	2:15	3:30	6:45 at school
	HS Softball	Away vs. St. Clement	See website	2:05	2:15	3:30	6:45 at school
	MS Baseball	Practice	School			3:30	5:00 at school
	MS Softball	Practice	Willard			3:30	5:00 at field
	Track	Practice	School			3:30	5:00 at school
Weds., 4/14	HS Baseball	No practice
	HS Softball	Practice	School			3:30	5:30 at school
	MS Baseball	No practice
	MS Softball	No practice
	Track	No practice
Thurs., 4/15	HS Baseball	Away vs. Monty Tech.	See website	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:00 at school
	HS Softball	Away vs. Monty Tech.	See website	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:00 at school
	MS Baseball	Practice	School			3:30	5:00 at school
	MS Softball	Practice	Willard			3:30	5:00 at field
	Track - Boys	Away vs. Groton/Dunstable	See website	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:30 at school
	Track - Girls	Away vs. Ayer	See website	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:30 at school
Fri., 4/16	HS Baseball	No practice
	HS Softball	No practice
	MS Baseball	No practice
	MS Softball	No practice
	Track	No practice

Parents/ Guardians: Please note a change in the collection of Sports User Fees: 

To participate in all after-school sports programs, students must have their sports user fee paid to the school office (attention: Cathy Pearlman) before the first scheduled game.  A change has been made in the collection of this fee because of the number of students with unpaid user fees.  The sports user fee is $175/ sport/ per student with a family cap at $700.  Financial assistance is available through the Student Assistance Fund.  (Contact Mary Ann Gapinski, the School Nurse, for more information concerning financial assistance).  If financial assistance is required, a request must be on file in the Nurse’s Office prior to the first game of the season for your student to play. 

Girls Basketball Players – There will be a meeting on Tuesday, April 13 at lunch in Room 26 for all those interested in trying out for the Varsity Team next season.  Returning Varsity players must also attend.

In several locations around the school, you will see shiny new posters, advertising the Buck$ for Book$ fund raiser for the library.  I would like to express my thanks to Lisa Noyes for her tireless work and great enthusiasm in putting together this creative publicity!  Thanks, Lisa!

Also, thank you to Laura Firstenberg and her family for the donation of four brand new National Geographic video tapes!   We love them!  They will be very appreciated on our A/H and MST classes.  -  Laurie Nehring, Librarian

Headlines:

CC passes ‘Petition to End all Petitions.’  The vote was 17 to 2 with one abstention.  ‘Petition to End all Petitions’ was created to allow changes in amendments to move faster through the CC and to better represent the Parker Community. Prior to this amendment, a petition consisting of forty percent of the Parker student community was needed in order for a change to be presented to the CC.  Co-advisor Gabe says, “It’s a good thing.  Passing amendments will be easier.”

Committee News:

Dance Committees:  We are planning a Division I dance for Friday, April 30 and are looking for chaperones.  If you are interested in volunteering please contact Amanda Griffin or Pat.  Also there is a Division II dance planned for Friday, May 7.  They are also looking for volunteers for ticket selling, setup and clean up.

Constitutional Review Committee:

We are now looking to set up a new way of passing amendments after the implementation of the ‘Petition to End All Petitions.’

S.T.A.F.

We are reviewing applications for grants.  The committee is ‘working out the kinks’ in the process of approving grant applications.

 

To the Parker Community:  I am asking for your help in fundraising for a very deserving cause.  My team (Draleau Divas’) and I will be walking the MS 3-day, 50 mile challenge walk in September for the third year running (or should I say walking).  We are a dedicated group of six women whose goal is to help find a cure for this devastating disease.  Most of you probably know someone affected by MS and also know that as yet there is no cure.  Each walker commits to raising $1,500 and this is where I need your help.  I would appreciate any contribution that you can make to this cause.  Please make your tax deductible check payable to the National MS Society and send them to me at the address below.  We are walking for all of those with MS who cannot.  Thank you in advance for your support. 

Gillian Draleau, 40 Catacunemaug Road, Shirley, MA  01464.  Any questions please feel free to call me at

978 425-2549 or email athdara@verizon.net.

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Student’s Name: ____________________________________________________

                                (Please print)

____ Will be returning to the Parker School in September, 2004

____ Will not be returning to the Parker School in September, 2004     

____ Not certain at this time             

Please reply!  If we do not hear from you we will need to contact you by telephone.

Exciting News From Frank’s!

Lunch Tickets are here!

In an effort to speed up lunch lines, we are now offering lunch tickets and an Express Line for those who purchase lunch using them.

Here’s how it works:

Students or parents may buy a strip of five tickets for $17.50. You may buy up to 4 strips (20 tickets) at a time.  Tickets will be on sale to students in the main office from 8:00 a.m. to 8:25 a.m., and again after dismissal.  Parents may purchase tickets any time the Main office is open.  Cash and checks (made out to Parker School and with “Lunch Tickets” in the memo line) will be accepted for ticket sales.

 

Now, here’s the really important part –

• Lost tickets will not be replaced.
• Lunch tickets are not refundable.
• Lunch tickets are redeemable for lunch only.  They are not good at break time, for drinks, snacks or other “a la carte” items.  They may not be ‘cashed in.’

·         If a parent purchases lunch tickets and needs to get them to the student, parents may do so.  The office staff will not be able to deliver tickets to students.

Thank you for your support as we continue to make changes for the better!

Menu for Week of April 12

 

  Monday – Chicken Pot Pie

                                Mashed potatoes

               Bread & Butter

                                Fruit Dessert

                                Milk

 

Tuesday – Enchiladas (vegetarian option available)

                                Spanish Rice

                                Corn

                                Fruit Dessert

                                Milk

 Wednesday – Pizza day

                                Frank’s open for drinks & snacks
                               Thursday   –  Meatball Subs or Eggplant Parmesan Subs

                                Curly Fries

                                Carrot Sticks & Ranch

                                Fruit Dessert

                                Milk

 

   Friday  –  Early Release Noon Dismissal