Friday Announcements                                   Date:  November 7, 2003

Dear Parker Families,

The sandwich boards and signs calling our attention to this weekend’s PEF Auction have become such a part of the school’s landscape over the past weeks, they seem almost like natural objects.  On the way out to a big meeting one morning this week, with the nasty, cold rain pouring down, I happened to see another sight, made natural by its frequency, but so remarkable it has stuck in my mind all week: a Parker parent outside arranging the sandwich boards publicizing the auction high up on Antietam Street to attract the eyes of drivers who approach the school from the direction of the rotary. The only concession she made to the wind and driving rain was the slicker she wore as she worked. Nothing in her pace or her attitude suggested that this was the wrong time for this job, or that she would do this publicity differently or less caringly just because of a little torrential downpour.

There are so many quiet, magnificent acts of generosity that define the Parker school landscape. The steady parade of beautiful baskets filled with treats and gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry, scarves, and decorative objects that has taken place since PLP day last week seems as much a part of a regular school day as the sight of a chalk talk taking place in the hallway. The continual presence of so many parents, at work on Saturday’s auction, helping as substitutes in the classroom, working on the annual gift-wrap extravaganza, transforming our overgrown courtyard space into a spectacular outdoor classroom and gathering spot, and quietly working in the rain to arrange those sandwich boards has made a real difference in the way it feels to be in our school.

While all this may seem like increasingly natural sights at Parker, it would be wrong for them to go unnoticed.

The Genevieve Gift Wrap sale this year will single-handedly support more than half the cost of our emerging Staff Grants for Professional Development program, as over $2,500 in profits raised will help support renewal and development for long-time staff members. Our PEF Auction on Saturday evening will support a range of activities that directly benefit our students. There are numerous tangible outcomes for some of the work taken on by parents, and some that are so subtle that they can, like some of the most stunning aspects of nature, be easily overlooked.

When kids see their parents in the hallways of our school and don’t instinctively head in the other direction, when parents call for student volunteers to set up and clean up the auction or the road race, and the sheet is filled with names, and when we begin to allow ourselves to be caught in the act of caring about one another, that’s something.

November can have a way of inviting gratitude and a certain kind of reflection, with Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving and with the change of seasons causing us to think about the passing of time. We never really know just how much there is to see unless we look at what’s happening with the trees, the sky, the hallways, or those sandwich boards.

Please come to the Auction Saturday night.

It’s our school. At its best.

Teri Schrader

♪  Interested in Music at Parker?   ♫

Dear Parker Community,

Many reasons can be offered in support of music education.  Most compelling among them is the pleasure of collaborating in shared musical expression.  That spirit led two Parker students this fall to start a chorus on their own initiative.  Garnering the enthusiasm of a few fellow students, they formed a small group that meets during choice block.  It is obvious that these students love to sing.  Equally impressive is how each week the organizers demonstrate a willingness to impart their knowledge of voice to their peers by assuming multiple teaching roles, all in the interest of making music together.

Simultaneously singing in and leading a chorus is certainly ambitious.  It points to a clear need for an on-site choral director who can foster ensemble talent and nurture the collective appreciation of music at Parker.  Accordingly, we are looking for a choral director to take charge of the group, an exciting prospect!  Forming a chorus is one way of promoting music.  Another possibility is starting a traditional band and providing instrument lessons, which would also strengthen the existence and continuation of Parker’s jazz band.  We have wind of music educators capable of doing exactly that.

All we need from you is resounding evidence of requisite interest and support.  If you believe that the potential exists for music to come alive at Parker and have a bent to join chorus or band at any level, then let us hear from you.  It’s as simple as that; the time is right.  The benefits of disciplined musical collaboration ripple through a learning environment and reward the audience no less than the performers.

Sincerely,

Deborah Fleischman (Parker parent)

Martha McLure

Mary Ann Gapinski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Mini-Grant Application Form

 

Please return to the PEF Box in the office by Monday, November 10.  We cannot consider applications submitted after this date!!

Dear Parker Community,

The PEF Board will be meeting in November to distribute funds from the upcoming Parker Essential Fund Auction.  If you have an idea for enriching the education of students at Parker, please fill out this form and return to the Parker office.  Questions?  Call Maryellen Grady

(978) 486-4064 or Joan Shankle (978) 779-6301.  Please remember to obtain Teri Schrader’s signature prior to submitting this to the PEF.  

Name:  _________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone: ____________________ Evening Phone: ____________________

 

Project Title:   ___________________________________________________________________

Co-Sponsors (if any):______________________________________________________________

 

A Brief Description of the Project and Benefit to Parker Students (add sheets if necessary): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Total Amount Requested: ___________________________

(Please attach an itemized budget for projects over $500 including 3 different estimates if applicable.) 

 

Adjustments that can be made if project is not fully funded: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

 

If this grant is awarded it is expected that the recipients upon completion will provide a written report or other tangible demonstration of how the grant money was used and the benefits to the Parker School.

 

If funded, I (we) agree to carry out the goals of this project in accordance with the description and budget contained in this application or in accordance with any adjustment which is subsequently approved by the PEF. In the event that we do not carry out this project for whatever reason, we agree to account for and return all unused funds to the PEF forthwith.

 

Sponsors Signatures:  ____________________   ____________________   __________________

                                                ________________________    ________________________   _____________________

 

Principal’s Signature  (Required): ______________________________________

 

November, 2003

Saturday, 8 - P.E.F. Auction at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, 11 - Veterans Day - no school

Wednesday, 12 - Gift Wrap delivery

Thursday, 13 - Saturday, 15 - CES Fall Forum

Saturday, 15 - PLAN testing

 

 

PLEASE  MARK  THESE  DATES!   (Subject to change)

November, 2003

Tuesday, 18 - Trustees Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday 19 – Advisor/Advisory Parent Rep Breakfast from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. in the Auditorium

Thursday, 20 - Senior Project Community Feedback Night at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 26 - Early Release (noon dismissal)

Thursday, 27 - Friday, 28 - Thanksgiving Break

 

December, 2003

Monday, 8 – Financial Aid Workshop at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, 12 – Division I play

Tuesday, 23 - Early Release (noon dismissal)

Wednesday, 24 - Wednesday, 31 - Holiday Recess

 

January, 2004

Thursday, 1 - New Year’s Day - no school

Friday, 2 - No school

Monday, 5 - Tuesday, 6 - Faculty Planning

Wednesday, 7 - Classes resume

Sunday, 11 - Enrollment Information Session (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, 13 - Trustees Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Monday, 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday  - no school

Sunday, 25 - Enrollment Information Session (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

(Snow date Sunday,  February 1)

 

February, 2004

Sunday, 1 - Snow date for Enrollment Information Session (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

Friday, 13 - Gateway Celebration - Early Release (1:30 p.m. dismissal)

Monday, 16 - President’s Day - no school

Tuesday, 17 - Friday, 20 - Winter Recess

 

Anyone who would like a receipt for items they donated to the PEF Auction, please contact Nancy Rines by email: nancy@ebsnetinc.com or by phone:  (978) 448-5657.

Many thanks to the family of Kaitlyn Martin for their donation of 8mm tapes, to the family of Paul and Brian Conant for a bag of office supplies and to the family of Paul and Brian Conant for a bag of pens and pencils.  We are very grateful.

Thank you to the families of Sean McDermott and Kirsten Olson for the donation of supplies and food to the nurse’s office.  Donations continue to be welcomed and are greatly appreciated.

We raised $2,579 for the Faculty Travel and Study Grants.  A very large thank you to all those who participated in the Genevieve's fall fundraiser.

The orders will be delivered to advisories on Wednesday November 12. Enjoy your candy, wrapping paper, gifts and candles!

 

 

On Monday, December 8 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Scott Prince from the Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority will present a workshop for parents interested in learning more about the financial aid process.

The latter part of his presentation will focus specifically on the needs of parents of seniors, but the first hour is relevant for parents of any division student.

Scott is a dynamic presenter and makes sometimes dry material riveting.  We hope you will join us for this event.

About Standardized Testing:  The PLAN

Parker is offering students an opportunity to practice for their college placement tests right here at school.

 

On Saturday, November 15, the PLAN (practice test for the ACT), will be given to interested sophomores only. Arrive 8:15 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

 

Colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT equally.  Some students find the content-based ACT more user-friendly than the reasoning-based SAT.  By taking both practice tests, they will have first-hand insight into which test they feel better reflects their strengths.

 

If you missed the registration materials that were available during school registration, have your child see Sue Whalley for a copy.  You can also call Sue or send her an email: swhalley@parker.org.

Tickets for admission will be distributed to students the Wednesday before the test.

Requests for Volunteers:

Help Needed	Email Address	Voice Mail Extension
Looking for experienced Microsoft Access database designers. Experience with administration, menuing, calendaring, forms, and action queries is helpful to provide assistance with modifications to administrative database.	Harry Jacobson      harry@parker.org	147
Parent Coordinator for the Alumni Luncheon on Wednesday, December 17th.  Each year we invite our growing number of Alumni to return to Parker and spend the day.  This has always included lunch with current seniors and faculty.  We need a parent or parents who would be willing to coordinate the lunch which would include organizing the donation of food and service on the day.	nicola@parker.org	112
Help needed: PEF Auction needs YOU:  - Help soliciting local business donations  - Help with auction set-up and clean-up  - Student wait-staff	Carol Liasson:  ferris263@aol.com  Lori Purcell: fpurcell@charter.net
Help needed: PEF Auction needs FOOD:  - Prepare food to be served at the auction  - Work with food set-up at the auction	Maryellen Gordon: MEDAVID@rcn.com
PEF Auction needs TABLE CLOSERS to work from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. on auction night, November 8, 2003.  This is a small but essential job: at the end of the Silent Auction, the table closers will collect bid sheets from the auction tables and prepare them for the cashiers.	Lori Purcell @ 978-433-5157 or fpurcell@charter.net

 

Can you help us make crafts for the Littleton Holiday Bazaar?

Well, it looks like after-school crafts is not happening in the "usual" manner this year. We really miss Linda Knupp and Maryann Kane, who for so many years spearheaded this PEF fund-raiser!

However, before we throw this opportunity out the window, I am trying to gauge the interest in going ahead with a table of crafts to sell at the Littleton Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 6.

If you have (or will have) crafts to donate for us to sell; some time after school (or some evening?) in the next 3 weeks to craft with us; or a burning need to help staff the table at the Bazaar, please contact Parker Parent Maren Toohill at Toohill@littletonma.org or (978) 486-3796.  Thanks!  -  Maren

Advisor/Advisory Parent Representative Breakfast:  Wednesday, November 19th.  Advisors and Advisory Parent Representatives are invited to join each other for breakfast and to talk about possibilities for the year ahead.  The

Breakfast will be Wednesday, November 19th, from 8-8:30 a.m. in the Auditorium.  Please e-mail Debbie, Advisory Coordinator, if you cannot attend (debbieo@parker.org).  Thanks.

FROM THE LIBRARY

To all those families with piles of National Geographic Magazines stashed in the corners of your homes: 

We are missing some more recent magazines from our collection (which spans 1924-2003).  If you feel you can part with them, we would greatly appreciate donations of any of the following issues:

Year                       Month

1991                        Jan.-June, Aug.-Dec.

1992                        all months

1993                        all months

1997                        March

1998                        Feb., May

1999                        Aug., Dec.

2000                        Jan.-April, Sept.-Dec.

2001                        Jan., March-Dec.

2002                        Nov., July, June

Donations can be brought to the library or front office.  Many thanks - Maura and Laurie

 

Advance calendar notice:  Please put 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 20 on your calendar.  We need you!  That will be a community feedback night for this year’s Senior Projects.  We need as many community members as possible to give feedback to students about their projects, provide potential sources and contacts and just generally offer your expertise.  Stay tuned for more details, but please plan on coming!

Seniors also have their final Senior Project revision due on Monday.  Formal research should be well underway for students at this point.

This week’s class updates are from Amy Adams’ MST classes;

The Pre-calculus class has been studying the properties of functions.  Students recently completed a lab entitled "Division by Zero, Asymptotes and End Behavior" in which students found ways to describe why division by zero is impossible and how it effects the graphs of functions.  The functions unit is wrapping up with the study of translations, symmetry and stretches in graphs, as well as the composition of functions.

In Statistics, students are working individually on projects with a wide range of statistical topics such as descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, linear regression and multiple regression.  Students are finding statistical ways to analyze topics they care about.

Division I MST

This week in MST we have been exploring how relationships between two variables can be expressed.  The "Hinged" assignment (COW # 5, due today, Friday, November 7th) gets at this by studying the growth of polygon "trains" that we are able to build and draw in a number of different ways.  The relationship is a specific mathematical one called a linear function, which will be studied through numerous different assignments in Division I.   For science lessons, we continue to study geology, specifically plate tectonic theory.  We even had a "visit" last week from the famous scientist, Alfred Wegener, dressed in his watch cap and great coat, sharing his theory of continental drift.  The next assignment is

COW #6 which requires researching a mountain and presenting information about it to class in an oral presentation.  The due date for this COW is November 21^st and has a requirement to describe a geologic feature or process using a

model.  By the way, if you would like to finish the hike up Mt. Watatic on your own with your family please drive on over to Ashburnham, Mass. and be our guest (actually, be the guest of the Friends of Wapack, go to their website at www.wapack.org)!

Division II MST

This week in math, students continued studying tessellations.  Some of the concepts they continued to learn about combination of transformation, four types of symmetry, and analyzing Escher work.  Their assessment of creating

their own tessellation and analyzing an Escher piece is due on Monday, November 10.

This week in science, students learned about Biomolecules, specifically carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.  We analyzed several foods using indicator tests to determine the presence or absence of carbs, proteins and lipids.  We discussed the chemical structures as well as how the body uses each type.  As we move into Cellular respiration, this information will be useful in understanding how the cell makes the energy that it needs.

Math Team

Second Varsity Meet (Division II and Division III students) is on Wednesday, December 3.  Please contact Dina, dinaz@parker.org or Amy, amya@parker.org if you are interested in participating.

Additionally, we will be conducting mathematics contests for Division II and III students as part of the New England Math League.  These contests will take place at school, tentatively during choice block.  There are six contests, each a half an hour long.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Dina dinaz@parker.org or Amy amya@parker.org.  

 

Division One News:

Division I A/H

The weather has not been as cooperative as we had hoped, but we have still made an attempt to have our natural

sculpture show.  Please be sure you look before next Friday, November 14, since we need to dismantle our

sculptures on that day.

We continue with our immigration unit and have started listening to stories about individuals who braved the odds

to come to this country.

We will be starting a new unit in sculpture about public monuments, so we will need to ask students to document and

photograph different monuments in their towns and environs.  Could you please be sure that your student has access to some camera and film to document their upcoming photo logs?  We will apprise you of more details next week!

Division IIA/H

This week, students began the process of research on individual topics about the period of The American Civil War.  In class, students are thinking about the bigger conflicts and various perspectives that will help them to put their research topics in context.  Students will show off their new expertise to their peers by arranging a "gallery table" of their work. Students should have their work ready for these tables by the week of November 17th.  Over the weekend, students should continue finding sources and taking notes on their topic.

This week in Alan's classes:

In Alan's classes, students have started to use the Devens Fitness Center Gymnasium beginning with a unit on basketball.  We also participated in some problem solving and trust activities to continue to think about communicating well with one another.  Students worked on their recipe projects this week in class and should be prepared with their reflective writing and actual food on either the 14th or 21st of November.

This week in Deborah’s classes:

This week in Deborah's Wellness classes we viewed a Frontline movie called "FAT."  This took a look at the toxic food environment in which we exist here in the States and how that is connected to obesity and other eating disorders such as anorexia.  The movie questioned the use of the Body Mass Indexing as a way to "normalize" all body types, and supported the notion that you can be "fat and fit."  In physical activity classes we played a mix of team hand ball and thunder ball.  The students are reading their last chapter in Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, Chapter 8.  Next week students will receive the rubric for the final assessment in the Nutrition Unit. 

This week in Laura’s classes:

In Laura's classes this week, we played a variety of games during physical activity time, and then enjoyed the students' nutrition recipe projects on Thursday and Friday!  Students were able to present their food and speak about why they decided to make that recipe, and then we spent the rest of the time sampling each other's dishes. 

**I will be away for the Army Reserves from 11/10-11/21, and Derek Brown will be my substitute for Wellness classes.**  Students will be playing soccer during physical activity as well as playing Nutrition Jeopardy during health class.  Any questions during the next few weeks should be directed towards Mary Ann Gapinski at maryann@parker.org. 

Damara's and Emily's 8th and 9th grade classes finished their listening assessments on Una Chica Dificil this week!

David's 8th graders began their listening assessments. 

David's 7th graders practiced counting and the alphabet to a metronome. 

Congratulations to all our Seniors Student Athletes who completed either their Soccer or Cross-Country career here at Parker this past season.  These athletes were honored at the Morning Community Gathering this past Thursday.  Their participation and representation of the Parker School is greatly appreciated!  These student athletes include:

 

Allison Blood	Cross-Country
Liz Chiarelli	Girls Varsity Soccer
Erica Colby	Girls Varsity Soccer
Alison Delargy	Girls Varsity Soccer
Adam Goddard	Cross-Country
Aaron Jurist-Schoen	Boys Varsity Soccer
Kerey McKenna	Boys Varsity Soccer
Michael Roper	Boys Varsity Soccer
Tom Sniezek	Cross Country
Devon Wilton	Boys Varsity Soccer

Basketball season is fast approaching.  Please be sure that your student athlete is prepared to participate.

To start practice all athletes must have:

·         A parental permission/ health information form

·         Current physical exam on file in the nurse’s office and

·         A mouth-guard per new MIAA rules and regulations.

·         $175 (payable to the Parker School) Sports User Fee paid before the first game.  See below for more information.

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.  Please contact Ben Benoit, Athletic Director, for more information.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, November 7. 

Jim DiGiorgio – Ski Program Coordinator, Email: digiorgio@charter.net

Menus for week of November 10

 

Monday – Curried Chicken w/ Peppers & Onions

                        Rice Pilaf

                        Ginger-glazed Carrots

                        Fruit Dessert

                        Milk

Wednesday – Pizza Day

Thursday – Chicken patties w/dipping sauce

                        Curley Fries

                        Carrot Sticks & Ranch

                        Fruit Dessert

                        Milk

Friday – Meat Loaf

                        Mashed potatoes

                        Mixed Veggies

                        Roll & Butter

                        Fruit Dessert

                        Milk