Friday
Announcements: June 19th, 2003
Dear Parker Families,
At last evening’s final meeting of the Board of Trustees this year, Ted Sizer announced his retirement as a founding trustee of Parker School. While we understand and acknowledge that no one is more deserving of a bit of time and peace than Ted we also know and trust that that he will remain ever connected to our school, as he has been since well before our doors were opened in 1995. What follows are a few tributes to Ted on the night of his announcement, tokens really, of our deepest admiration, respect, and gratitude for all he means to us. I can’t imagine a more fitting closing Friday letter for this wonderful year in the life of our school than our thoughts about Ted.
Kathleen Cushman, Founding Trustee
Ten years ago this fall, when John Stadler first came to me to propose that we apply to start a charter school, I declared myself absolutely opposed to the idea. But I qualified my resistance with one fateful little loophole. "The only way on earth I would ever consider it," I said, "would be if Ted Sizer would help us start an Essential school."
I don't know why I thought that would get me off the hook! From the very first mention, Ted's eyes lit up at the idea, and from that day forward, his wisdom and commitment, energy and generosity have been the bedrock on which Parker took shape.
The ways Ted has kept us going--through inspiration, intervention, and interaction--are too many to tell, and certainly each of us has our own memories of his actions and words making the difference in tough situations, whether public or private, financial or philosophical. For my part, I could not have possibly survived those early years without my constant awareness that Ted's principled vision gave our work a coherence and purpose far larger than the fortunes of one small school in central Massachusetts. Because of you, Ted, we participate every day in making a school that I believe will take its place in history as an expression of your ideas.
It has been my greatest honor to work alongside you these ten years, drawing faith and renewed commitment from the depths of your heart and mind. And though you may retire as a Trustee today--as you richly deserve to do--we should probably warn you that nothing you do could keep us from showing up on your doorstep for more!
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Richard Lodge, Parent Trustee
More than 8 years ago we joined a diverse group of parents and their children who came to a meeting to learn more about this new idea, a regional charter school based on the idea that the best way to learn was through active participation. The theory was that there could be an alternative to traditional public school teaching, where education was often a mile wide and an inch deep. Some of the people who greeted these curious, but leery, families are still connected to Parker and have been among the laborers who laid the heavy stones of the foundation - and continue to work to repoint the bricks and scrape and repaint the siding.
Most of the names are familiar to all of us: John Stadler, Bil Johnson, Laura Rogers, Jim Nehring, Kathleen Cushman, Bob Moran, and, of course, Ted and Nancy Sizer. I remember Ted speaking about the Essential School philosophy, although the term was a foreign one to me at the time. In those early informational meetings, the Sizers were clearly part of this big process of building a unique new school at Devens. But it took time before I fully realized the mighty role Ted and Nancy played. And, in classic Parker-ese, they have always been known as Ted and Nancy to everyone, much like Deb and Teri, Dawn and Jim, Jed and Ruth have been to the students.
Parker's early years have not been without struggles, as we all know. A series of principal teachers brought different voices to the top, and that continuing change in leadership also left the school, at one point, on a shaky footing in the eyes of some parents. When Ted and Nancy Sizer took the reins for a year as co-principals, in spite of their many ongoing projects -including rolls as grandparents, mentors, authors and speakers – they brought the Parker School credibility when it most needed it. The first wave of students was nearing graduation and facing the challenge of applying to college. These students were coming from a relatively new school, with no grades, an exhibition- and portfolio-based system of assessment, and no track record. The Sizers and their association with the Coalition of Essential Schools brought credibility to Parker when it was most crucial.
With the sterling reputation of the Sizers in the field of education squarely behind it, the Parker School and its soon-to-be-graduates could hold their own in the tough world of college admissions. But beyond that, the steady hands of Ted and Nancy Sizer at Parker's helm that year gave parents the confidence and reassurance that they really HADN'T made the biggest mistake in their children's young lives. This experiment in education was not the wrong thing at the right time for our kids. It was the right thing, and will continue to be the right thing thanks, in large part, to Ted Sizer.
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Dear Ted,
I received your letter this morning asking for "permission to retire" from Parker’s Board and took it in through a flood of responses. First was shock because, well, frankly, no one at school ever asks for my permission to do anything… but mostly and truly, because I cannot imagine – don’t want to imagine Parker School without your brilliant mind, your beautiful generosity of spirit and the timeless, indelible and transcendent imprint you have given the Parker School.
You have been the foundation upon which our charter has been written, revised, examined, emulated, and admired. You have encouraged, provoked, insisted, and supported in every conceivable way the growth and development of this school with your words, your time, your energy, and your vision and wisdom. You have never shown any hint of an end point for your patience – ever. And you have used your experience to know exactly when to speak out, when to step in, when to hold back, when to re-direct, and when to remain silent and allow the lessons we are most meant to learn to echo back over the canyons of our attempts.
You have meant more than words can ever say, but words are what we have.
Thank you for founding this school along with your partners and collaborators. Thank you for the thousand pots of coffee poured as the circle of people who love this place has grown and gathered at your fireplace over the years. Thank you for being available for questions large and small and for never letting on which ones were which. Thank you for exemplifying the habits of a distinguished and revered Trustee and for inspiring everyone who reads your books or who has the good fortune of spending time with you.
Personally, I take every word of your letter very seriously and believe you when you say you will not be far, ever, from this place. I have memorized your phone number and know where you live, and will continue to rely on your presence, despite the technicality of formal voting rights. Your thoughts and opinions, beliefs and questions inspire my best work, our best school.
With gratitude always,
Teri
With best wishes to all our Parker families for a happy and healthy summer. We’ll see you again in late August!
Teri Schrader
Principal
PARKER ESSENTIAL FUND
P.A.R.K.E.R. Award
The end of the year is upon us! If you are looking for a meaningful way to thank an advisor, teachers or other staff members or you would like to acknowledge your child’s hard work, A Parker Award is the perfect solution. Your contribution to the Parker Essential Fund is tax deductible and a lovely Parker Award certificate will be sent to the recipient.
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I would like to give a P.A.R.K.E.R. Award (Parker Appreciation and Recognition for Keeping the Essential Standards - Recipient) to:
Name(s): ______________________________________________________________
From: _______________________________________________________
Honored For: _________________________________________________
Donation: $______
Please make your check out to the Parker Essential Fund and return with this form to the PEF mailbox in the Parker School office. Your contributions are tax deductible and will help keep enhancing the quality of education provided for Parker students.
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Thinking about the PEF AUCTION already!
Even though it’s only June, it’s not too early to be thinking about the next PEF fundraiser, the annual auction in November. Already some fabulous donations have come in. Parker alumni parents, Jo and Clark Hills have donated a stay at their lovely bed and breakfast in a beautiful 1790’s house amid fruit trees on its own pond, just a mile from Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. There is also a donation of a ¼ page ad insert in the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce and several other great donations thanks to Jane Matson, inveterate fundraiser and Parker alum parent.
Carol Liasson and Lori Purcell have agreed to come back this year as co-chairwomen, but many new volunteers are definitely needed. It’s a great way to meet other Parker parents and get volunteer hours in at times convenient for you. Don’t wait to get involved. Please call Carol at (508) 839-9371 or Lori at (978) 433-5157. Summer is a great time to plan before hectic September rolls around again.
PEF benefits from Amazon Purchases
Looking for some summer reading? Don’t forget that PEF earns a referral fee every time someone accesses Amazon.com through the PEF web page and makes a purchase. http://www.parker.org/ParkerCommunity/ParkerEssentialFund/Amazon/fundraising_as_an_amazon_associa.htm . The great thing about this program is we can benefit the school at no extra cost. There is no extra charge on your Amazon order - you pay the same prices as any other visitor. Instead of Amazon keeping all your money they donate a percentage (typically 5%, to a maximum of $10 per item) of any qualifying purchases you make during that visit to PEF as a referral fee. All you’ll need to do is visit the PEF web page and access the Amazon site there. You then do your shopping as you always do. It’s that easy! Tell your friends and relatives to bookmark that page and then they’ll be one click away from benefiting Parker students with every purchase.
There are no limits on how many times you may visit Amazon and order products from them using this link. There are some technical limits, so that you cannot use a Palm Pilot or Internet capable cell phone, even if it can read web pages. Standard Macs or PCs are fine. But remember, we only get the referral fee on purchases made to Amazon on visits accessed through the PEF web page. So bookmark that page - http://www.parker.org/ParkerCommunity/ParkerEssentialFund/Amazon/fundraising_as_an_amazon_associa.htm or go to the Parker Web site (www.parker.org) and click on the PEF link. Why not send your friends and relatives the link so Parker can benefit from their purchases as well.
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We want you for the Parker List Serve! If you would like to receive informational notices on the Parker list serve, please submit your email to Harry at harry@parker.org
COMING SOON
Year end assessments will be mailed out at the end of June.
Thank You!!!
As always, we are so grateful to the parents who have come to volunteer in the office over the past year. To those of you who came in to help often under very short notice and to those of you who faithfully came in on a regular basis we couldn’t do it without you, a big thank you to you all.
From all the Parker Office Staff
This year’s Graduation Committee did a splendid job of organizing and conducting all the wonderfully beautiful and delicious details that helped make this graduation such a special Parker event. In addition to all their efforts before and during the event, they managed to get all the Junior parents involved in some way, continuing the wonderful tradition of community involvement at Parker. Abigail Levy, Deb Dalton, Carol Liasson, Lori Purcell, Gail McKenna, Karen Maroni, Nancy Clark-Chiarelli and Jackie Roper—you have my most heartfelt thanks (and admiration) for your many, many hours of work!
And a special thanks to Marc Rines who shared his sound engineering skills with us at rehearsal and on the evening of Graduation.. --Pat
Many thanks to the family of Maxine and Daniel Brandeis for the delicious array of pastries that were brought in to the office and the Teacher’s Room on Monday, much enjoyed by all!
Many thanks to the family of Rebecca and Phillip Sandy for their generous donation of sheet protectors, discs, disc holders, dividers, transparencies and all the other miscellaneous ‘goodies’! The Student Support Services are very grateful!!
Thank you to the families of Phil and Rebecca Sandy for their donations of tissues and other supplies for the nurse’s offices. Thank you to all the families who donated nursing supplies, food and snacks and other much needed items to the nurse’s office. We couldn’t provide the support we do without your help!
A note of appreciation to the professional nurses who have offered comfort and care to Parker students throughout the year on field trips and in the nurse’s office: Cheryl Coburn, Emily Lambert, Jane Reed Matson and Jackie Roper. Their support has been greatly appreciated! We hope for their welcome return in the fall.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Wes and Cheryl Coburn, Athol Rental Center, Inc., and Parker students James and Chris Coburn for their very generous donation of the dunk tank and cotton candy machine for The Big End. We are most grateful to them for this added fun.
Attention to anyone who sang with the Chorus this year... Please return your black folders and/or music to Martha in Room 16 as soon as possible. These items were donated by the Parker Essential Fund, (thank you PEF!), and we would like to be able to use them again. Thanks, Martha
Wooden cubbies for Division I: We are hoping to install wooden cubbies for all the Division I students this summer. We are at this time inviting bids for this job from carpenters. If anyone is interested or knows anyone who might be interested in doing this over the summer please contact davidb@parker.org
BECKETT CHIMNEY CORNERS YMCA – October 8 – 10, 2003
June 2, 2003
Dear students and families:
It’s time for another adventure! Two years ago in October, Division 1 students and their advisors packed their bags, gathered their clothes and cameras and went for an expedition to Beckett Chimney Corners YMCA Outdoor Center in Beckett, Massachusetts to learn about the outdoors and create a community within the division. It was so successful we’re doing it again this fall, October 8 – 10, 2003!
This outdoor setting will provide a variety of exciting team building and problem-solving activities (for example, Alpine tower, low ropes course, and other initiatives) that address important community issues. We will focus on the importance of trust, communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, and personal/ group responsibility. These shared experiences among students and staff will be the building blocks of strong Division One relationships.
Students will be staying in rustic (no electricity) cabins that sleep a student/adult ratio of twelve to two. There are separate shower houses for males and females, and a dining room that will serve all our meals. Activities will be led by experienced trained staff at the camp, and a registered nurse will be on site. The cost is $180 per student, and includes all food and travel expenses. In order to pay for a substantial deposit, we are requesting that all families contribute $75 as a down payment by Friday, June 13. The final payment is due by registration, Thursday, August 28.
Please do not allow money to be an issue for any student who wishes to participate. There is scholarship money available and you may apply confidentially by contacting Mary Ann Gapinski, the school nurse.
Sincerely,
Division One
MATH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (MST) UPDATE
Division I MST
Wishing everyone a relaxing and fun summer!!!
Beginning in the Fall of 2003 Division I MST will be studying the geology of mountains. If during your summer travels you (especially students returning as 8th graders) want to visit some interesting sites during vacation, then check out the following two guide books. They will help direct you to scenic and educational sites:
Roadside Geology of Massachusetts (Roadside Geology Series) by James William Skehan Paperback: 392 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.93 x 8.98 x 6.01
Publisher: Mountain Press Publishing Company; (March 2001)
ISBN: 0878424296
Field Guide to New England
Peter Alden, editor
National Audubon Society
HAVE FUN!!!
Division II MST
We had a great time testing the bridges. Congratulations to Harry Ursch and the team of Eli Schmitt, Stephanie Stoumbelis, and Evan Iacoboni for building the bridges with the highest efficiencies. Also, congratulations to all the students who completed and tested their bridges. It was a great "FEST".
DIVISION II Fall Trip update
The planning team has been working with a group out of Providence to schedule the Fall trip. Telephone calls are going back and forth but at this time no definite plans have been made. However, students and parents should be aware that there will be a three day, two night trip and it will cost around $200 per student. Hopefully we will have more details by the summer mailing. We'll keep you posted!
WELLNESS UPDATE
Deborah’s Wellness Classes
Dear Families,
What a wonderful year! Truly, this has been one of my best years at Parker yet! I would like to thank all of my students and parent volunteers for that. I hope you continue to make good decisions that keep you safe and happy. If for some reason you end up in a tricky spot, know that you have what it takes to turn it around. Peace and have a restful and healthy summer.
Yours truly,
Deborah
SPORTS UPDATE
All Baseball, Softball, and Track Athletes:
Did you remember to turn in your uniforms to your coach. If not please drop them off at the office as soon as possible.
Fall Sorts Update
We will be offering the following sports in the fall: Cross Country, Girls Middle School Soccer, Girls J.V. Soccer, Girls Varsity Soccer, Boys Middle School Soccer, and Boys Varsity Soccer.
The following must be completed prior to the first practice to be eligible:
Student must have a current physical (within the last 12 months) on file with Mary Ann.
Complete the Sports Health Information form and turn in to Mary Ann.
Pay the $175 Sports User Fee.
LIBRARY NEWS
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest THANKS to the 29 Parent Volunteers and
two student workers who contributed their time, energy, skills and ideas to the Library during this school year. As a group, these wonderful people contributed over 300 hours of time! (That's 7 ½ WEEKS of full time help!)
We have accomplished so much -- 5,924 items are now cataloged and fully processed and available for borrowing, hundreds of books have been repaired, new books and videos were added to the collection (especially in the Sciences), new shelves have been custom built to accommodate our space constraints and growing collection. Neatest of all was the Bucks for Books program, where this community gave so readily, raising $2,150!! Your support is so warmly appreciated by all! With this additional money, we have added many new books, videos and DVD's that kids and teachers have been asking for!
Have a great summer, and we hope to see you next year!
Sincerely,
Laurie Nehring, Librarian and Maura Barstow, Library Assistant
FROM THE NURSE’S OFFICE
Any parents who have children that have any medication stored in the school nurse’s office will need to pick up that medication before June 24th (last day of faculty planning). All medications left after this day will be destroyed. Remember that your child will need to be seen by their physician and a new authorization form for medication administration will be needed for your child to resume this medication, if ordered, for the next school year. Parents, please be sure to schedule these appointments for June or July so that you are not caught in the last minute rush at your doctor’s office and unable to get an appointment until after school begins. Any questions or concerns, please contact Mary Ann.
Parents are also reminded to submit copies of any immunizations or physical examination reports that are completed for their Parker students over the summer months to the nurse’s office. Student athletes in particular need to have up-to-date (within the past year) physical exams on file in the nurse’s office before the first day of practice to be eligible for participation.
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy summer! Mary Ann
LOST AND FOUND
FOUND AFTER GRADUATION:
One silver pen, one pair of brown rimmed glasses, several umbrellas and a roll of film . Please come to the office if you think one of these might belong to you.Also, two Sony portable CD players, one with STOKES on the front of it.
LOST: YU-GI-O cards. If found please turn in to the office or Dan Noel’s advisory. Reward offered.
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Do those volunteer hours really count?
Does Parker really keep track of volunteer hours? Yes, we do. Every year in our Annual Report we tell the whole world how great our parents are – AND how many hours they give to our school. Even if you have not responded to these requests all year, there is still time for you to report your Volunteer Hours! Please fill in the form at the back of these Friday Announcements, with an estimate of how many hours you have contributed. You can even project ahead to the end of June! Can’t remember if you have responded this year? Telephone Bridgit and she can check. You may also simply telephone the school (24 hours a day!) and leave your volunteer hours report on the answering machine. Thanks so much!
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PARKER VOLUNTEER HOURS
Please include the hours you have donated during the month of ________________, your help is invaluable.
Thank you very much.
Parent’s Name: _____________________________________________ Month: ___________________
(Please print)
Child’s Name: _____________________________________________ Advisor: __________________
(Please print)
Activity: __________________________________________________ Hours: ____________________