Friday Announcement September 27, 2002

It was wonderful to see so many families gathered for our Back to School Night on Tuesday evening. Despite the summer weather and a slight frenzy of excitement in looking forward to the Division 2 retreat, we collectively managed to keep ourselves focused on the important work of the evening. Back to School Night signifies a kind of official beginning to the academic reporting season and is an important precursor to our PLP conference day on October 30. Back to School Night sets in motion the preparation for those conferences, to be held for each Parker student, together with his or her parents/guardians, and advisor. Progress reports will precede PLP conferences and will inform our conversations about goals, strategies, and direction for the year. Families will receive these reports about a week before conferences. Hopefully, time spent in mini-class sessions on Tuesday evening provided a useful look at course material being explored and an opportunity to match names with faces and stories families may be hearing about school.

Congratulations to Phil Campbell, who was elected as parent representative to the Board of Trustees at or Annual Meeting, also held on Tuesday evening. We were fortunate to have two extremely well qualified candidates for the election. Many thanks to Kathy Nollet, for her service to the school as a parent representative these past three years fueled by her experience as an educator and her passion and energy as a Parker parent. Phil joins Richard Lodge and Lenny Golder, who also serve as parent reps.

As many of you know from our time together the other night, we find ourselves in a unique and fortuitous position regarding support for the professional development of Parker staff. The Fall Forum, the annual conference of the Coalition of Essential Schools, will be held November 14-16 in Washington, DC. This national conference brings together teachers, students, parents and other educators committed to the notions embedded in the Ten Common Principles to share best practices and to learn from one another. Teachers from all over the country will present workshops, sessions, and roundtables designed specifically to advance our work as effective teachers in effective schools. This year, nine separate sessions developed by Parker teachers have been accepted for inclusion in the conference. This translates to sixteen faculty members who will share their work in the national arena. The Fall Forum is also an opportunity for school staff to benefit from the wide array of sessions centered on leadership, classroom practice, school culture, or school reform.

In addition, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics will hold its annual conference in Boston on those same dates. This conference offers math teachers tremendous opportunities for support and resources for curriculum design, assessment, and other important topics related to math study. Finally, Parker School has been admitted to the Teachers As Scholars Program of Harvard University. Eight faculty members have registered for 1-3 day seminars on topics in the Arts and Humanities, Spanish language and culture, and Math and Science.

The confluence of these major events presents us with a dilemma, as well. As I said on Tuesday evening, I am confident that school will keep on even with the numbers of people attending professional activities. We will once again turn to our parent and volunteer community to come to school as substitutes where needed. My hope, however, is to acknowledge the wealth of opportunity and actively encourage the full staff to use November 15 as a school-wide professional development day. I am asking specifically for parental input to the idea of closing school on Friday, November 15. School will be in session on Thursday, November 14, but we would dedicate November 15 to staff professional development. I floated this proposal on Tuesday night, and it was widely supported, but I recognize that some parents were not present. I am seeking input specifically from those who have not yet weighed in, in order to made a well informed decision on Monday.

Annual Report –now available on-line!

As a Charter School, we are required to publish an Annual Report, which describes the school’s program and specifically discusses the year in terms of our accountability plan, student achievement, and other notable aspects of the year in the life of Parker School. Each year, our Annual Report stands as strong evidence of our standards, documentation of school practices, and a compilation of stories and events that serve to describe and exemplify the growth and development of our school. Parker’s Annual report, compiled and created chiefly by Division 3 Coordinator, Deb Merriam and Student Services Coordinator, Laura Rogers, is finished and available for your reading pleasure! It is a well -written summary of the school and a valuable source of information for our community and beyond. Documenting and publicizing our work is an important part of the public charter mission and helps fulfill our commitment and obligation to being an effective and very public agent for education reform. Please take a look at our Annual Report, which can be found by accessing the Parker School website, www.Parker.org. Hard copies of the report are available at a cost to cover copying.

Wednesday, 10/30 - PLP Conference Day (no classes) (Please note change in date)

November, 2002

December, 2002

January, 2003

February, 2003

March, 2003

April, 2003

May, 2003

June, 2003

What is a PAC? A Parent Advisory Council is an independently governed and autonomous parent-run organization that offers support, education and a forum for the discussion of Special Education trends and concerns in your educational community.

Why a PAC? Massachusetts’s Chapter 766 regulations require all public schools to offer an opportunity for parents to create a PAC in their districts. Some of the functions a PAC can serve include: Advising the Board of Trustees on matters that pertain to the education, health & safety of students with special needs; Meeting regularly with school officials (Principal, Spec. Ed. Director, Board of Directors, etc.) to participate in the planning, development and evaluation of the special education programs; Workshops and presentations by Parker faculty and visiting presenters.

Who can join a PAC? Membership is open to any parent of a child with special needs or interested party in the Parker community.

How will the PAC be structured? This meeting will provide a mandatory Parent’s Right Training and will also help determine if there is a need/desire to form an on-going Parker PAC. Since the PAC is not a school-run organization, the structure will be determined by those parents who choose to take on leadership roles in the formation of the group.

If you have questions about the upcoming meeting or you’re unable to attend, please contact Joan Shulman, School Counselor (978) 772 – 3293.

Thank you to the family of David Mullen for pencils and thank you to the family of Bryan Man for the donations they made recently to the nurse’s office. Your generosity is appreciated!

The first-ever Parker Parent Handbook is now available. This will centralize important information and answer frequently asked questions from Parker parents. To get a copy of the handbook please go the main office.

We also want your feedback on what should be added and what information can be deleted. SO PLEASE COMMENT! Go to the school website www.parker.org and tell us what you think.

Our goal is to revise this document and provide a useful reference tool. We need your input!

Max and Alex Bridges need to find someone who would be willing to drive them into the center of Ayer every afternoon at 3:30 p.m. If you would be able to help them, please would you email Laura Bridges djabr@aol.com or fax (978) 772-6512

Our courtyard is looking very neglected. Is there anyone who would be willing to spend some of their volunteer hours weeding and trimming in the courtyard? If you would be able to help please contact Clare at (978) 772-3293 or email at cjeannotte@parker.org

I am a senior and working on my senior project, which is a photographic essay documenting the cultural shock of living in a different country. As part of my senior project I am trying to find someone who works in an exchange program, or mentors exchange students (or knows anything about bringing students or children from abroad). I am interested in becoming involved with bringing exchange students to the United States. My project will include living in Germany, and I am looking for someone who can either tutor me in German or refer me to someone who can (or recommend a course0. If you can assist me with either of these please contact me at (978) 448-3710, or email me at Dreamsofreality4@aol.com. Thank you. Your help is sincerely appreciated. Alyssa Brayshaw

Please save the date!

Tuesday, November 19

Community Feedback Night for Senior Projects

Come and hear about the projects seniors are doing and offer your expertise and suggestions to help them further their work.

The turnout at Back to School Night was great! There were more parents representing Division Three than we have seen in the last few years. We were glad to have those who came in our classes. Although our time together was brief, we hope you got a sense of what your students are working on, and we encourage you to contact us with questions as the semester progresses. Parents who did not schedule their PLP conferences on Tuesday night should expect to be contacted by their student’s advisor in the near future.

Division Three had a pancake breakfast this Wednesday, in place of Choice Block, which was cancelled since Division Two is on a field trip. Thanks to everyone who brought in materials to make the breakfast happen. This week’s class updates come from March Schrader:

Watercolor & Artist Studio David Hockney
Watercolor: We have started by learning some basic drawing skills and then moved on to understanding that watercolor is a translucent medium as well as a very fluid one. We have been working with shadow and light, as well as the mixing of color. This week we have started with a floral still life. Next week, vegetables!

Artist Studio: We have been looking at and creating what David Hockney calls _joiner_ images -- photographs that have been put together in collage form. Hockney says that the subject of any photograph is the split second the photo is taken, that is, time. By having students take photos of an inanimate object and piecing the object together, they too start to see the way Hockney does: creating movement out of something that is stagnant.

Work from both of these classes is hanging on the walls outside of Room 6, so please stop by anytime and have a look for yourself.

Emily’s Division III class finished an analysis paper and continued reading “En El Nombre de Salomé”

"EWWWWW! What IS that?!?" Yes, our work is disgusting sometimes, but in the right light the growth of mold across a fragment of a leaf in a petri dish can be a beautiful thing! And so the observations of our abiotic and biotic objects continues in class this week. Next week students will report out on their findings in an oral presentation to the class. This work, in totality, is COW #3. (Homework assignments during this time are to revise COW #1 and COW #2 and in some classes to interpret data.)

Math lessons have focused on perimeter and area, the area of irregular figures, and creating effective data tables and graphs. Look for more exponential curves to come out of all this!

Division II students had a busy week in Maine and back here at school working on A/H, MST, Spanish and integrated projects and field trips.

Today we held the Capulet's Ball. Students and teachers came to the ball in their Renaissance outfits, performed Renaissance dance, enjoyed refreshments and basked in the ambiance of the party. Romeo and Juliet performed the legendary lines when they first meet and other characters also presented their lines. Thanks to all the parents who helped out with the event!

On Tuesday, Judy Erickson taught the entire division how to dance the pavane and galliarde -- ask your child to show you these Renaissance steps!

Make sure you have sent in your permission slip for the Romeo and Juliet performance on Nov. 14th -- we need the slips ASAP.

All students should continue to read ahead in Romeo and Juliet. We have been doing acting and reading activities in class with the text and students have been completing journal entries on a nightly basis.

Returning students in Martha and Clay's class need to turn in at least one revision by Monday.

Division II students had a busy week in Maine and back here at school working on A/H, MST, Spanish and integrated projects and field trips.

This week, Emily and Dharma’s Division II classes watched “La Historia Oficial,” an Argentinian movie about the people who disappeared during the military coup of the mid-1970s. We felt that this would be a good visual introduction to the political atmosphere that pervades in many Latin-American countries.

Margarita’s 7^th grade classes are working on vocabulary pertaining to the “family”. Students are also learning to form and write simple sentences using the present tense.

Margarita’s 8^th grade students are continuing to work on their reading projects based on the book “Casi Se Muere”. Students are working on the present tense verb conjugations and possessive adjectives.

David’s students are continuing to work on their reading projects based on the book “Casi Se Muere”. Students continue to focus on verb conjugations and expanding their active vocabulary pertaining to the unit.

Damara’s students are continuing their reading (leer) projects based on the book “Casi Se Muere”. This book describes the experience of an American student in Chile. It compares and contrasts the educational system in the United States to Chile. Students continue to work on present tense verb conjugations and possessive adjectives.

Over the next several weeks we will be looking at the connections between popular culture, male privilege and student's behavior. We will be listening to and watching music videos of artists such as Eminem and Lil Kim. These artists are uncensored; if you do not want your child to participate in this class, please send a note to your child’s Wellness teacher this week or contact Mary Ann Gapinski, Wellness Coordinator.

In Alan's Wellness classes, students participated in "wheel week" with an assortment of wheels. Those students without wheels tried a Scandinavian game called Kubb, as well as, other ball games. Continuing with violence prevention, students looked at how reputations form and gossip. They looked at the impact on friendships relating to these two things.

Deborah’s Wellness Classes

This week in Deborah's Wellness classes we took a look at reputations, gossip and girls relationships. Our discussions became very personal and at times difficult to grapple with. You should know your children are looking at peer relationships through a lens that helps them look at "owning up" to their own behavior. This is needless to say, intense work. To balance those discussions, we finished up our week of playing trash ball.

This week in Katie's Wellness class we delved deeper into underlying feelings, motivations and consequences underlying cliques and bullying with a special emphasis on the meaning of bystander responsibility. We then practiced non-aggressive means of confronting exclusion and confronting conflict by Describing, Requesting and Affirming (DRA) our needs. In our activities classes we have been playing football and spent Friday revisiting our class norms and writing our own progress reports. Next week we will be looking at how reputations affect self-esteem and we will be playing soccer.

The P5 practice field is on Antietam Street between MacArthur Avenue and Sherman Avenue. Colored mouthguards must be worn by all soccer players at every practice and every game – this is an MIAA rule and will be strictly enforced. There are likely to be some scheduling changes during the season from the Game Schedules handed out, please stay tuned to the coaches and Friday Announcements for any changes.

♫ *** Attention *** ♫

Parker Musicians and Parker Chorus - Deadline

The Central District Music Educators Association will hold its High School auditions for chorus, band, orchestra and jazz band on Saturday, November 23. Registration deadline is 9:00 a.m. Thursday, October 10. A list of audition pieces can be obtained from Islay Boeri at (978) 724-0205 or leave a message in my box in the main office and I will get back to you.

♫ ♫ Wanted! ♫ ♫

More male singers for Chorus. It’s not too late to sign up, please come and talk to Martha if you are interested. Chorus meets regularly on Wednesday afternoons from 1:40 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in Room 18.

Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination (formerly Odyssey of the Mind/OM) is about to get underway for the 2002-2003 season. Parker will register. The Registration allows for a maximum of 5 teams to compete at the regional tournament, next March. Each team requires an adult team manager (coach) and may have a maximum of 7 students. Please contact me as soon as possible if your child would like to participate or if you would like more information about DI. Thank you, Bernadette Stockwell, 978-486-9051. E-mail bstockwell@claflinhill.org

Mock Trial

Attention Division 2 and 3 students:
3 years ago, the Parker Mock Trial team won 2^nd Place for the state tournament. This year we want to start a team up again. We would probably be having sessions twice a week, once during the week and on Sunday afternoons. Mock Trial is really exciting and improves your oral presentations skills a lot. But to have a team we need people to sign up! Talk to Kerey McKenna or Leah Maroni-Wagner in school. We’ll be having a meeting after school on Tuesday, October 8^th in Room 28, but if you can’t make it talk to us anyway!

We are pleased to continue the Parker / Wachusett Mountain, Thursday evening ski program. This year’s program is scheduled to run six consecutive Thursdays starting January 9th, 2003.

As last year, two buses have been contracted and we expect to fill both, so participation will be on a first come, first serve basis and is limited to available bus space. Please return your completed applications, along with payments, as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Application packets containing all required information can be picked up in the Parker Office. The basic cost for bus transportation and lift tickets will be $145.00. Equipment rentals and lessons are also available.

Homework clinic

Homework Clinic will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and will begin the week of September 16. It is a quiet, supervised setting for those students who have been identified as needing extra support. If you are interested in enrolling a student once or twice a week, please contact Lee, Terry or Laura in Student Services.

PEF Needs Teachers and Students for Board

Great news!

Parents have responded to request for PEF Board and we will be voting for 8 to 12 parents to the PEF Board at the annual meeting. Thank you Parents.

Now we need Parker Teachers, Staff and Student volunteers so that the PEF Board represents the entire Parker community.

The PEF Board meet about 4 times a year to approve grants and conduct the business of PEF. So get involved! It is not a huge commitment. New members will be voted in at the October 8^th meeting.

To learn more or submit your name, please call or email Joan Shankle at 978-779-6301 or email jfshankle@aol.com.

PEF Membership Meeting October 8, 2002 at 7:30 p.m.

Please return to the PEF Box by Friday, October 18^th

The PEF Board will be meeting soon to distribute funds from the upcoming PEF road race, memberships, and donations. 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? Maryellen Grady @978-486-4064 or email at maryelgr@aol.com.

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________

Project Title ____________________________________________________________________

Co-Sponsors (if any) _______________________________________________________________

A Brief Description of the Project: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(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: _____________________ _____________________ __________________

Please Come to the

Parker Essential Fund Auction

On Saturday November 2^nd the Parker Community will gather at the school for the 6^th annual Parker Auction. All proceeds from the auction go directly to the Parker Essential Fund (PEF), the fundraising organization that provides grants for educationally enriching activities and equipment. We are asking each family in the Parker community to donate one or more items.

The Auction is open to the public so please invite your neighbors and friends to come along as well. This is a fun event, a chance to socialize and meet the Parker Community as well as benefit the Parker School! There will be something for everyone and every budget.

PAST DONATIONS INCLUDE: Ski or snow board lesson * singing or piano lesson * garden design * plants * golf lesson * car wash * wreath * flower arrangement * car tune-up * carpentry work or painting * snow plowing * limo ride * house cleaning or window washing * massage * sport tickets * cake baking * sewing * dessert of the month * computer lessons * 1:1 basketball, chess, or other game with faculty member * college visits with teachers * manure * hat consultations * gift certificates * gourmet dinners * handmade crafts * antiques * cut-your-own-Christmas trees * holiday turkeys * party entertainment * wonderful baked pastries * Advisory elbow grease * week/weekend rental of vacation homes * babysitting * pet sitting * gift baskets

Would you contact a local business for a donation? Copies of last year's auction booklet are available in the office if you want more ideas.

WHAT TO DO NOW: Fill in the Donation form below and return it to either the school office, fax to Parker at 978-772-3295 or email to Judy Ericson (pericson@quixnet.net) or Ann Jalwbosky (andyj@net1plus.com)

Deadline for donation forms: Friday, October 18. Auction booklets will be ready for distribution at PLP day on Wednesday, October 30.

Donating Business Name and address (if applicable):_________________________

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Please include the hours you donated during the month of ________________, your help is invaluable. Thank you.

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Parent’s Name: _____________________________________________ Month: ___________________

Child’s Name: _____________________________________________ Advisor: __________________

Activity: __________________________________________________ Hours: ____________________

	Parker			Dismissal	Bus	Game
Date	Team	Practice/Game	Location	from class	Leaves	Time	Pick-up
Monday, 10/7	Boys Varsity	Home vs. Hudson Catholic	Rogers	2:45		3:30	5:15 at field
	Girls Varsity	Away vs. Hudson Catholic	(978) 562-6701	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:00 at school
	Boys MS/JV	Away vs. Bromfield	(978) 456-4152	2:35	2:45	4:30	6:15 at school
	Girls JV	Practice/Game	P5			3:30	5:15 at field
	Girls MS	Away vs. Bromfield	(978) 456-4152	2:35	2:45	3:30	6:15 at school
	Cross Country	Practice/Game	School			3:30	4:45 at school

Tuesday, 10/8	Boys Varsity	Practice	P5			3:30	5:30 at field
	Girls Varsity	Practice	P5			3:30	5:30 at field
	Boys MS/JV	Practice	P5			3:30	5:30 at field
	Girls JV	Practice	P5			3:30	5:15 at field
	Girls MS	Practice	P5			3:30	5:15 at field
	Cross Country	Away vs. Hudson Catholic	(978) 562-6701	2:20	2:30	3:30	5:45 at school

Wednesday, 10/9	Boys Varsity	No Practice
	Girls Varsity	No Practice
	Boys MS/JV	No Practice
	Girls JV	Home vs. Lawrence Acad.	Rogers			3:00	4:30 at field
	Girls MS	No Practice
	Cross Country	No Practice

Thursday, 10/10	Boys Varsity	Away vs. Bromfield	(978) 456-4152	2:35	2:45	3:30	5:45 at school
	Girls Varsity	Practice	P5			3:30	5:30 at field
	Boys MS/JV	Practice	P5			3:30	5:30 at field
	Girls JV	Practice	P5			3:30	5:15 at field
	Girls MS	Practice	P5			3:30	5:15 aat field
	Cross Country	Practice	School			3:30	4:45 at school

Friday, 10/11	Boys Varsity	Practice	P5			3:30	5:30 at field
	Girls Varsity	Away vs. St. Bernards	(978) 342-3212	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:00 at school
	Boys MS/JV	Away vs. Tahanto	(508)869-2333	2:20	2:30	3:30	5:30 at school
	Girls JV	Away vs. St. Bernards	(978) 342-3212	2:20	2:30	3:30	6:00 at school
	Girls MS	Away vs. Tahanto	(508) 869-2333	2:20	2:30	3:30	5:30 at school
	Cross Country	Away vs. Essex	(978) 774-0050	2:05	2:15	3:30	5:45 at school

Saturday, 10/12	Boys Varsity	Away vs. Maynard	(978) 897-8891		12:15	2:00	4:45 at school

November, 2002

December, 2002

January, 2003

February, 2003

March, 2003

April, 2003

May, 2003

June, 2003

Deborah’s Wellness Classes

Destination Imagination

Mock Trial

Homework clinic

PEF GRANT APPLICATIONS

Please return to the PEF Box by Friday, October 18th

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Please Come to the

Parker Essential Fund Auction

January, 2003

February, 2003

March, 2003

April, 2003

May, 2003

June, 2003

Please return to the PEF Box by Friday, October 18^th