francis w parker charter essential chool … · ity where students displaced water using the...
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FRANCIS W. PARKER CHARTER ESSENTIAL SCHOOL
& THEODORE R. SIZER TEACHERS CENTER
49 ANTIETAM ST, DEVENS, MA 01434
TELEPHONE (978) 772-3293 FAX (978) 772-3295 www.parker.org
Friday Announcements Date: October 7, 2011
Dear Families:
The glorious double rainbow many of us saw on Tuesday morning gave me a chance to appreciate the
average Parker student’s capacity for joy, for wonder, for fun: phones were snapping pictures up and
down the sidewalk; friends dragged friends back outside for another look; competing claims were made
about where the end of the rainbow touched earth; lots of people
just smiled about it. What a great way to start what turned out to
be a rainy day!
One of the Ten Common Principles that undergirds all of
Parker’s work is ―Personalization: teaching and learning should
be personalized to the maximum feasible extent…” Putting the
student at the center of the educational process does mean that
occasionally, as will be the case next week, the adults who know
the student best need to hit the ―pause button‖ on their workday
routines so that they can sit down together and hear how each
student sees the educational journey unfolding.
Parker teachers spent Wednesday afternoon and much of the rest
of the week preparing for Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Day, to
be held next Friday. PLP Day is both a milestone in the Parker
calendar and one of the school’s distinguishing features: it’s a
chance for the adults who know each student best to come to a
common table and hear the student’s best thinking about learning
goals for the year, witness the act of setting a growth agenda, and
develop collaboration strategies to help the student pursue the
goals. Thank you for participating in PLP Day and for helping to
accompany Parker students in the journey of becoming their best
selves.
--Todd.
Inside this Issue
PEF Annual Fund Progress 2
4th Annual Parker Community Yard Sale 3
ParkerPAC Open House 4
Calendar/Thank you/Can you help? 5
Division III Update 6
Coffee with the Principal 6
MST Update 7
A/H Update 8
News from the Library 8
Spanish & Wellness Update 9
News from the School Counselor 10-11
News from the College Counselor 12-13
The Campus Visit 14
Notes from the Health Office 15-17
Fall Sports information 18
Sports Schedule 19
Wachusett Mt./Parker School Ski Club 20
Menu 21
Donelan’s Supermarket Fund Raiser 22
Parker Model Rocket Club 23-25
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2011 Francis W. Parker Charter Essential
School
Annual Fund Progress
We have good news about Parker’s 2011 Annual Fund! As of October 7th, we have received
$15,660- almost half of the way to our $35,000 goal! We are so grateful for the generosity of
our Parker community!
Our hope is that before the fund closes on December 31st, every Parker family will make a
personal contribution to this fund. Won’t it be great when we reach and even exceed our
$35,000 goal? Wouldn’t it be great to have 100% participation from our community? If you
have not yet had a chance to donate, there is still time. Every donation, no matter the size,
makes a big difference.
If you have questions regarding the fund or how to donate, visit the ―support Parker‖ page on
the school’s website or contact Katrina Drew at 978-772-3293 ext. 164 or email
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Parker PAC
Save the date!
The ParkerPAC will be holding its Fall Open House for
parents on Thursday , October 13th at 7:00 p.m.
Terry Weisinger, Parker’s Special Education Coordinator, will lead a discussion on
Parents’ Rights in Special Education with emphasis on children that have IEP or 504
plans.
You will be able to meet with the Parker staff members who support your child’s learning
needs, and explore how to partner with the school to support your child.
You will also have the opportunity to meet the members of the ParkerPAC and learn
about how to work with other parents in building a supportive community for your child.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Student directories are now
available at the front office for
a cost of $3.00 each.
Division 1 MST is looking for parent chaperones for
our Mt. Watatic Field trip on Tuesday, October 18.
Please see page 6 for more information.
Spanish 1.3 are looking for parents interested in
volunteering to drive to a pre-school in Leominster
at the end of October. Please see page 7 for more
information.
Skiing chaperones needed for ski program at
Wachusett beginning in January. Please see page 19
for more details.
Parker Model Rocket Club looking for volunteers to
help out. Please see page 25 for more information.
October, 2011
Mon., 10— Columbus Day (no school) Tues. 11—Board of Trustees Meeting 6:45 p.m.
Weds., 12—Supporting Our Seniors Senior Pot-luck
dinner 6:30—8:30 p.m.
Thurs., 13—ParkerPAC Open House at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 14—PLP Conference Day (no classes)
Sat., 15—PSAT at Parker 8:15 a.m. to noon
PLEASE MARK THESE DATES! (Subject to change)
October, 2011
18 Division I Watatic Trip
20 Coffee with the Principal 8:00 a.m.
22 ACT test
25 Picture re-takes at 8:00 a.m.
25 Coffee with the Principal 3:00 a.m.
26 Coffee with the Principal 8:00 a.m.
27 College Financing at 7:00 p.m. at Parker
November, 2011
2 Parent Forum at 7:00 p.m.
5 SAT test
6 Daylight savings time ends
8 Board of Trustees Meeting 6:45 p.m.
11 Veterans’ Day observed (no school)
16 PEF meeting at 7:00 p.m. at school
16 Parker PAC meeting at 7:30 p.m. 17-19 12 Angry Men play
23 Early Release (noon dismissal)
24-25 Thanksgiving Break
ESSENTIAL
QUESTION FOR
2011—2012
What is our Impact?
CALENDAR
COMING SOON
STUDENT DIRECTORIES
CAN YOU HELP?
Many thanks to Mary Dugan and her yard
helpers who worked so hard yesterday taking care of
the gardens in the courtyard. They have a new face-
lift!
Many thanks to the family of Dylan Sawyer for their
donation of very useful miscellaneous office supplies
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PLP conferences are on Friday, October 14th. Early next week parents will be receiving a mailing that con-
tains information to help you prepare you for the conference, including academic check-ins from your
child’s teachers. We look forward to talking with you and your student about what s/he hopes to accomplish
this year and how we can all support her/him in that. PLPs are one of the traditions that helps us know our
students well which in turn strengthens our sense of community and makes our school an even better place
to learn and grow. See you next week!
On Wednesday of next week, there is the Supporting Our Seniors potluck for Seniors and their parents/
guardians from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Please be sure to RSVP to [email protected] as soon as possible.
This week, we hear from Lorin Hill about the goings on in Chemistry:
We started the course remembering all those chemistry techniques from Division 2, measurement, conver-
sions, scientific notation and significant figures. We then applied them to Chemistry Concoctions, an activ-
ity where students displaced water using the reaction between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate (also
known as vinegar and baking soda). We then discussed variables that would effect the amount of water dis-
placed and groups of students set out to test the ones that seemed to be the most influential. The class then
presented results to each other and used this in depth knowledge of the lab to complete their first whole
class inquiry challenge. For this lab, student had to displace exactly 15 ml of ethanol using the Chemistry
Concoctions apparatus. It was exciting to see kids take on leaderships roles, share data and trouble-shoot
together. This was videotaped and we discussed our strengths (MANY) and things to work on. I am ex-
cited to keep these challenges going as the year progresses. We are now starting to talk about atomic struc-
ture and will then move into an in-depth look at the periodic table.
DIVISION III UPDATE
COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL
Please join me for coffee on either of the following dates in the Principal’s
office:
Thursday, October 20 at 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 26 at 8:00 a.m
Tuesday, October 25 at 3:00 p.m.
All parents and guardians are invited!!
Todd
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MATH, SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
Division II MST In MST we have wrapped up our first units in
probability and genetics. We have begun to examine
the theory of evolution while exploring the classifica-
tion of various functions. We have been identifying
patterns in math, and will be relying upon our TI-
calculators to aid us. Please make sure your child
knows where their calculator is and that they bring it
in to class every day. Each classroom has a few cal-
culators to loan out, if you know that you will not be
getting a calculator for whatever reason please contact
your child's teacher so that they can set aside a calcu-
lator for them.
In science the "Ferret" genetics project has been
turned in at this point. If someone has not turned
theirs in you have 1 week to pass it in in order to be
assessed. We have been approaching evolution from
a scientific standpoint by examining the evidence for
and against. If you have concerns about what is being
presented please contact your teacher.
Nathan Soule
MATH, SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
Division I MST This week students have been building 3D scaled models
of mountains from 2D topographic maps as a lead in to
this weeks assessment: Part 1 of the Mountain Shape
Project which goes out today. For this assessment stu-
dents will be building a scaled model of Mt Watatic from
a topographic map. This weekend students should gather
the materials they need- clay or craft foam are two of the
easiest to work with but there are other possibilities so
long as the material can be made to be of an even thick-
ness and can be cut fairly easily. (You can purchase craft
foam and modeling clay at Michael's or JoAnne fabrics.
The model can be made with about 2 lbs of modeling
clay or 3-4 sheets of craft foam.) The completed model is
due on Monday October 17th.
Part 2 of the Mountain Shape project will be a hike up
Mt Watatic on October 18th to experience the real thing
and to do field observations of geological features that
were shaped by the glaciers that covered this region
20,000 years ago. Permission slips for this field trip went
home this week and are due back as soon as possible
along with $14 for the bus ride. In preparation for the Mt
Watatic hike, over the next week we will be looking at
some of the characteristic glacial geological features
found in New England including on our own Shepley's
Hill. Please see the notice for the Family Geology Hikes
for an invitation to join in further opportunities to experi-
ence the fascinating geology of this area.
In math we continue with our work on understanding and
using proportions and this skill will be used in the scaling
of our Mt. Watatic models. In addition we will be giving
a short in class assessment on proportions on Thursday
October 13.
Attention Parents of Division 1
MST students:
A very important permission slip is coming
home today in your student's backpack for our
Mt. Watatic Field Trip. Please sign, attach $14
(checks made payable to Parker School) and
return to your child's advisor by Wednesday,
October 12. Thank-you!
LOOKING FOR PARENT CHAPERONES
Attention! Division 1 MST is looking for
parent chaperones for our Mt. Watatic Field
trip on Tuesday, October 18. We will be
climbing Mt. Watatic (a moderate climb) in
Ashburnham, MA in order to observe the
geology of this local wonder! Please contact
your child's advisor by email if you can
volunteer as a chaperone that day!
Thank-you from Division 1 MST
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NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Division II A/H Have you read a good book lately? Our Division
2 AH students have! In addition to reading To
Kill a Mockingbird and The Crucible, each stu-
dent is reading a self-selected book for 30 min-
utes in class every Thursday during ―Shop‖
time. Please ask your student what he or she has
been reading during this time. If you have a good
suggestion for teens, please share!
In other Div 2 AH news, we wrapped up our To
Kill a Mockingbird and Crucible reading unit and
moved on to the writing assessment. In our short
week coming up, students will be putting the fin-
ishing touches on their papers, conferencing, and
peer-editing. The final paper is due on Thursday,
October 13th.
Looking ahead, extensions will start on Monday,
October 17th. Today students signed up for their
extension choices in class. We will let students
know what extension class they’ve been assigned
to next week.
ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Division I A/H This week has been a full one in Div I AH. Students
both gave and received feedback on the drafts of
their personal narratives and handed them in as our
first assessment. We continued our reading of The
Outsiders and students worked on a variety of writ-
ing, drawing and discussion activities to help show
their interpretation of the book. In the coming days
students will watch the film version of this story.
Next week we are looking forward to beginning
a new assessment on the artwork of Andy
Goldsworthy.
We hope you have a wonderful long weekend!
Not Just Books If you are new to Parker and have not yet had a chance to check out our Library, you should be aware of our other offerings which include the following: Magazines such as Muse, Sports Illustrated,
Girls Life, Science News, and many others
Audio Books (CDs and Playaways)
Entertainment DVDs
Spanish collection
Manga
Internet and Wi-Fi Access
Come and explore our collection. Browsers are always welcome. R.I.P. Steve Jobs. Thanks for Apples, Macs, iPods, iTunes, iPhones, and iPads.
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SPANISH
7th grade Spanish ¡Hola! This week in Spanish, students completed their first
assessment! They listened to Spanish words and identified all
vowel sounds, a very important skill! They played Pelota
Práctica (―Ball Practice‖) by asking and answering each
other questions, like "¿Cuántos años tienes?" (How old are
you?) and "¿Cómo te llamas?" (What is your name?). Also,
students continued their work with los números (―the num-
bers‖) by creating math problems using the four operations.
¡Qué semana tan buena!
Division I.2 Hola! This week we have been working on definitive and
indefinitive pronouns, we are learning that Spanish requires a
Masculine or Feminine pronoun and we are begining to un-
derstand when to use each. Last Friday we completed our
PODER 2 (second assessment) on writing and listen-
ing. Great job everyone!
Division I.3 This week students completed their first listening project of
the year. All students received permission slips for the
L.E.E.R: Leominster, Everyone Enjoys Reading field trip. We
will be traveling to the Family Development Center in Leom-
inster to read to pre-school students in Spanish. We are in
need of parent drivers on Monday, October 24; Tuesday, Oc-
tober 25 and Friday, October 28. The field trip will depart at
8:50 and return to school at 11:50. Please contact Ruth or
Amanda if you are interested. [email protected] and amil-
División 2 Spanish This week students chose from among the songs they have
been listening to and picked a song that they thought would
be able to teach them something about the culture that it origi-
nated from. They listened to the lyrics, trying to write down
key phrases, and as much of the lyrics as they could under-
stand. The next phase is to put their critical thinking skills to
work and dig into the message of the song and how it relates
to the Spanish speaking culture that it's from. If this sounds
like interesting work to you, check the "Latin Music USA"
program on PBS.org. They have a wonderful four-part show
and interactive website the traces the major developments in
Spanish-language music in the USA.
WELLNESS
Alan’s Wellness Class In Alan's classes, students began to think of ideas for
their behavior change project as it relates to their emo-
tional health. Next Thursday, we will go to the com-
puter lab to write our ideas and strategies for this
work. We continued to discuss emotions and feelings
and how and why we express our emotions in healthy
ways.
This Friday we ran the mile and also played the games
of Newcomb, Frisbee Golf, Ultimate Frisbee and touch
football.
Deborah’s Wellness Class This week in Deborah’s Wellness classes we ran the
mile on Thursday. Students will have a second oppor-
tunity to run on Tuesday.
In Health class students practiced using ―I statements.‖
Next week due to PLPs and a holiday, we will not have
Health classes.
Laura’s Wellness Class This week in Laura's classes, students played Ultimate
Frisbee and practiced throwing and catching a Fris-
bee. We will continue this team sport next week. We
also ran the mile, and many students ran twice! Mile
run times will be reported on the Fitnessgram, and will
indicate whether your child is in the 'healthy fitness
zone' for cardiovascular fitness. In the next few
months, we will also be doing crunches, push-ups,
flexed arm hang and the PACER sprint test to assess
physical fitness. Students are asked to set individual
goals for themselves, and we aim for upward progress
over time.
Next week, we begin the Behavior Change Project as
part of our Emotional Health unit. Students will be
asked to pick a behavior or life skill that they'd like to
improve, maintain or change in order to improve their
emotional health. Here are a few examples: getting
more sleep, watching less television, eating more fruits
and vegetables, improving a relationship with a sibling
or parent, reducing stress by meditating daily/weekly,
exercising more often. Ask your child what they are
thinking of working on for their change!
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR ~
Sheila Kelly, M.A.
AREA LECTURES Day/Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Title: ―Understanding Teen Barriers” ~ Sponsored by Groton Dunstable Alliance for Youth (G-DAY)
Presenters: Panel Discussion with clinical psychologist Dr. Steve Liljegren; counselor and advocate Gail Okermann; and par-
ent Steve Boczenowski who shares his son Jeffrey’s story of struggle and lost life to depression. Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Blackbox Theater, Groton-Dunstable High School; 703 Chicopee Row; Groton, MA
There are many factors that contribute to substance abuse or other forms of self harm. Part of prevention is learning the warning
signs when children and teens are in emotional or social distress. Many students experience anxiety and/or depression at some
point during their school years and many parents feel lost to find answers. Depression often co-occurs with anxiety disorders and
substance abuse, with 30% of depressed teens also developing a substance abuse problem. (NIMH)
This event is free and open to the public.
* * * * * * *
Day/Date: Thursday, October 27, 2011
Title: ―Childhood Unbound! Saving our Kids’ Best Selves – Confident Parenting in a World of Change” ~ Sponsored by
Ayer Shirley Education Foundation; Ayer Shirley PTO; Page Hilltop PTO; New England Center for Mental Health; Page Hilltop
Retired Teachers ―Class of 2011‖
Presenter: Dr. Ron Taffel
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Ayer Shirley Middle School Auditorium; 1 Hospital Road; Shirley, MA
Dr. Ron Taffel, one of the country’s most sought-after child rearing experts, will describe what children and adolescents need to
feel safe, secure, and happy in these challenging times. Dr. Taffel is the author of eight books and over one hundred articles on
parenting and child rearing. He consults to countless schools and community organizations nationwide, serves as Chair of the Insti-
tute for Contemporary Psychotherapy, has a private practice in New York and is the parent of two children. Dr. Taffel has been
featured in The New York Times, on 20/20, Dateline, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Primetime Live, and Larry King.
This event is free and open to the public but you must pre-register at [email protected] to reserve your space.
* * * * * * *
Day/Date Wednesday, November 2, 2011 7:00 PM
Title: Parker “Parent Matters” Series: “Overview of Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adolescents”
Presenter: Mary Jeffers-Terry, Advanced Practice Nurse/UMASS, Clinical Director at Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Ac-
cess Project (MCPAP), UMASS Medical Center
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Parker Charter School, 49 Antietam Street, Devens, MA
The objective of this lecture is to review common occurring illnesses such as AD/HD, depression and anxiety and to discuss treat-
ment options including school accommodations, therapies and medication. For more information on this event, contact: Terry
Weisinger ([email protected]) or Sheila Kelly ([email protected])
This event is free and open to the public.
Continued . . .
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Coming soon as part of our Parker “Parent Matters” series:
Kalyani Krishnan, M.A., Parker parent and Assistant Director of Assessment at the Institute for Learning and Development
(Lexington, MA) will discuss ―Parker Homework ~ Strategies for Success‖.
Also coming to Parker in late winter and spring:
John Mohrbacher, LICSW will discuss ―Anxiety in Teens‖ and Donna Shea, BA, Peter Pan Center Director, will discuss
―Collaborative Problem Solving for Parents‖.
* * * * * * *
Autism Resource Center of Central Massachusetts The Mission of the Autism Resource Center is to support families with children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders, to empower families to raise their children to be full members of their communities and become responsively independ-
ent and effectively interdependent, so that they are valued as gifted people and
protected from harm. To be an unbiased source of information about the entire autism spectrum, educational and medical treat-
ment modalities. To provide information to families regarding all aspects of family life impacted by autism, such as education,
therapies, community inclusion, & support groups in order to empower them to make informed choices.
(508) 298-1605
fax: (508) 520-6039
www.autismresourcecentral.org
Day/Date Wednesday, November 2, 2011 7:00 PM
Title: Parker “Parent Matters” Series: “Overview of Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adolescents”
Presenter: Mary Jeffers-Terry, Advanced Practice Nurse/UMASS, Clinical Director at Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Ac-
cess Project (MCPAP), UMASS Medical Center
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Parker Charter School, 49 Antietam Street, Devens, MA
The objective of this lecture is to review common occurring illnesses such as AD/HD, depression and anxiety and to discuss treat-
ment options including school accommodations, therapies and medication.
For more information on this event, contact: Terry Weisinger ([email protected]) or Sheila Kelly ([email protected])
This event is free and open to the public.
AREA RESOURCES
Nashoba Valley Teen Scene ~ Fun, supervised social activities for teens & tweens including game nights, dances and
trips to area venues (roller-skating, bowling, etc.).
For more information, call (978) 772-1255 or email [email protected].
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR ~
Sheila Kelly, M.A.
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Important reminder: with the college application process underway for our seniors, please remember
that you must turn in all “Request to Send Records” forms to Catherine one month before your applica-
tion deadlines so that all Parker materials (transcript, college counselor letter, narrative summary,
school information, etc.) will be ready and mailed to your colleges on time. This is the form on the yellow
paper that we discussed when I met with each senior seminar in mid-September.
Endicott College
Admissions Visit: October 31 at 12:20pm
Location: Parker Library
Remaining College Visits this Fall:
OCTOBER Beloit College Beloit, WI Monday, October 17 12:20 PM
Endicott College Beverly, MA Monday, October 31 12:20 PM
Fitchburg State College Fitchburgh, MA Thursday, October 27 8:50 AM
Hampshire College Amherst, MA Wednesday, October 26 9:45 AM
Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Monday, October 24 8:50 AM
Johnson & Wales University Providence, RI Thursday, October 20 12:20 PM
LaSalle College Newton, MA Monday, October 17 8:50 AM
Long Island University Brookville, NY Thursday, October 13 12:20 PM
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts N. Adams, MA Thursday, October 20 8:50 AM
Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Thursday, October 27 12:20 PM
NOVEMBER Framingham State College Framingham, MA Thursday, November 03 8:50 AM
Lesley University Cambridge, MA Monday, November 07 8:50 AM
University of New Hampshire Durham, NH Thursday, November 03 12:20 PM
Wheaton College Norton, MA Monday, November 07 12:20 PM
George Washington University, Wednesday, November 30 at 9:30AM
Continued . . .
NEWS FROM CATHERINE YATES, M.A.
COLLEGE AND TRANSITION COUNSELING
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FROM THE COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE—Catherine Yates
See the schedules posted on the College Counseling bulletin board and sign up so that you can meet with
admissions officers from the schools of your choice. There will be approximately 32 colleges coming to
Parker this fall. Div 3 students, be sure to sign up! This is a great opportunity to learn more about those
schools and to show your interest, which can help you in the admissions process.
When attending a college visit, students should consult with their teacher before missing any classes.
NOTE: NEW DATE FOR THIS EVENT:
Evening Program on College Financing:
Note that we will again offer an evening program about the Financial Aid process. This program will take
place on Wednesday, October 26 at 7pm, here at Parker. I am pleased to announce that Julie Shields-
Rutyna, financial aid expert from MEFA (MA Education Financing Authority) will return to Parker again
this year to share her expertise with us in this evening presentation that you will not want to miss.
Seniors, juniors, and their parents are encouraged to attend.
Parker seniors from Littleton, check the College Counseling Bulletin Board for information on a great
scholarship opportunity through the public library in Littleton.
Seniors~~~~~~~ Reminder: the deadline for registering for the December 3rd SAT is November 8th. Register at
www.collegeboard.com. The deadline for the December 10th ACT is November 4th. Register at
www.act.org.
Choice block this fall for seniors will continue this week to assist them with the whole college application
process. In addition, I will meet individually with seniors to help them with their final school list and tran-
script review. So they should feel very supported through this process!
Juniors and Sophomores~~~~~~ The PSAT will be given at Parker on Saturday, October 15th, 8:15am to noon. Reminder slips will be given
out the week of the test.
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Print this out and take with you.
The Campus Visit
School____________________________________City__________________, State____________Visit Date__________________
Planning: Location of Admissions Office______________________________
Tour Time:____________________Date____________________Phone______________________
Interview Time:_________________________Date___________________Phone_________________
On-Campus Impressions
The Campus Tour (Guide’s Name) ____________________________________________________________________________
The Interview: Do you need one for this school? If so, perhaps you’ll need to schedule it beforehand. _______________________
Discoveries while on campus (facilities, student center, resources)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Overall Assessment
Worth remembering (extracurricular activities, politics, arts, ecology, music, new construction, social life or lack of social life)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What I like most about this school:______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What I like least about this school:______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Number of students?_________________________________________________________________________________________
Athletic facilities____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Housing___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Does the school have what I am looking for?______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would I feel comfortable here?_________________________________________________________________________________
FROM THE COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE—Catherine Yates
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NOTES FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Let’s talk about … energy drinks vs. relaxation drinks
Did you know that energy drinks, unlike soda and most beverages are not regulated by the Food and Drug Agency?
The FDA only allows soda manufacturers to put a maximum of 71mg of caffeine per 12oz. can. Energy drinks are
considered to be nutritional supplements and are therefore not regulated by the FDA. The amount of caffeine and the
various additives have not been studied to examine the short and long term effects of consumption, overconsumption
and/or the effects of drug interactions.
Energy drinks are primarily marketed to the adolescent and young adult male. Marketing campaigns make them seem
cool, may imply a legal ―high‖ and are often associated with risky behaviors. Some energy drinks are more main-
stream than others and argue that they don’t have any more caffeine than coffee or soda. Energy drinks also contain
vitamins, herbal supplements and other additives and the effects of overdosing are unknown, but most scientists agree
that the potential for risk is great.
Red Bull: 80 milligrams per 8.3-ounce serving
Tab Energy: 95 mg per 10.5-oz serving
Monster and Rockstar: 160 mg per 16-oz serving
No Fear: 174 mg per 16-oz serving
Fixx: 500 per 20-oz serving
Wired X505: 505 mg per 24-oz serving
In comparison:
Instant coffee: 140 mg per 12-oz serving
Brewed coffee: 200 milligrams per 12-oz serving
Brewed tea: 80 mg per 12-oz serving
Mountain Dew: 54 mg per 12 oz. serving
Dr. Pepper: 41 mg per 12-oz serving
Pepsi Cola: 38 mg per 12-oz serving
Coca-Cola Classic: 34.5 mg per 12-oz serving
Canned or bottled tea: 20 mg per 12-oz serving
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NOTES FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Some of the energy drinks have lower caffeine contents:
Bomba Energy has 75 mg per 8.4-oz serving
Whoop Ass has 50 mg per 8.5-oz serving
Specifically, too much caffeine can cause nervousness, trouble sleeping, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeats, and
higher blood pressure.
Recent marketing of nutritional supplement beverages known as ―relaxation drinks‖ are the opposite of the energy
drinks and their marketing efforts are aimed at those needing to ―unwind‖ and get ―mellow‖. To kids this can imply
a legal ―high‖ feeling. The chief ingredient in many of these beverages is melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepi-
ness and helps coordinate the body's biological clock. The body produces about three-fourths of a milligram of me-
latonin a day. The manufacturer of the sleep aid Snooz'n says its 2.5-ounce "shots" contain five milligrams of mela-
tonin; Unwind, a "relaxation blend," has three milligrams per 12-ounce can.
What’s a parent to do?
Talk with your kids and find out what they drink and how much. We routinely see these drinks around the Parker
campus. Kids like them. Read labels and see what ingredients the beverages contain. Discuss potential drug interac-
tions with your health care provider if your child takes medications. Some kids drink these beverages to be cool,
some want increased energy or focus, some want to feel relaxed or sleepy; most of these issues have healthier ways
of achieving the desired effect. Discuss these underlying issues with your health care provider.
For more information:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/737311
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20080924/energy-drinks-hazardous-to-your-health
http://www.theledger.com/article/20110222/NEWS/102225002?tc=ar
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/health/research/15risks.html
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41577256/ns/today-today_health/t/energy-drinks-can-be-dangerous-teens-report-says/
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/04/anti.energy.drinks/index.html
www.myaa.org/pdf/RelaxationDrinksFactSheet.pdf - Cached - Similar
17
NOTES FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Parker Basketball starts November 28- all participating athletes must have a physical dated
October 28, 2010 or more current on file with the school nurse in addition to a signed interscholastic sports
permission section of the Student Emergency and Health Form (please keep in mind that a physical which was
valid for soccer may have since expired).
Health Office Donations:
Thank for the anonymous donations of granola bars, tissues, and Band-aids.
Thank you to all the families who have helped get the health office off to a great start this year and to those
who support the school health program with generous donations throughout the year.
~Vicky Ladd, RN, MSN
Parker Nurse
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$225 Sports User Fee (payable to the Parker
School) due to the Main Office. Financial
support is available – please contact the
School Nurse for more information. There
will be a cap of $900 per family.
Please contact Ben Benoit, Parker School
Athletic Director, with any questions at
(978) 772-3293 Ext. 114 or at
Playing Fields P5 — Out of the Parker School turn right onto
Antietam Street, cross over Jackson Road and the field is on the
right.
Antietam — Out of the Parker School turn left onto Antietam
Street, go up the hill and the field is on the right.
Rogers — Out of the Parker School turn right onto Antietam
Street and then first left onto Jackson Road. Go up the hill turn
right onto Buena Vista Boulevard and the field is on the left
where the old parade ground used to be.
Willard Field—Out of the Parker School turn right onto Anti-
etam Street and then cross straight over, stay on Antietam to
next Stop sign cross straight over go up the hill, field is on the
right.
FALL SPORTS
Parker Community Email lists for Sports Please consider subscribing to the Parker
Community Email lists. We use the Parker Listserv
to post announcements and reminders about life at
Parker.
FWPsports is Parker’s email list for sports-
related announcements.
Subscribe at
http://lists.parker.org/mailman/listinfo/
Fall Sports
Fall Game schedules are being distributed to the
coaches and players. Please be aware that there are
likely to be some scheduling changes throughout
the season. Please also check the Friday Announce-
ments as well as the Parker website for updated
information.
Please note that colored mouth-guards, shin
guards and soccer cleats are required for
participation by MIAA regulations for all student
athletes during both practices and games. This
rule is strictly enforced. A water bottle and
sunscreen are also highly recommended for all
practices and games.
The following must be completed prior to the
first practice of all Fall Sports to be eligible to
participate. (STUDENTS WILL NOT BE
PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE UNTIL ALL
HEALTH FORMS ARE COMPLETE):
Students must have a current (within the
past 12 months) physical from their health-
care provider on file with the School Nurse.
The Student Emergency and Health Form
must be completed and signed by a parent
and on file with the School Nurse. These
are for the coaches’ use only.
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SPORTS SCHEDULE
Dismissal Bus Game
Date Parker Team Practice/Game Location from class Leaves Time Pick-up
Mon., 10/10 Boys Varsity Columbus Day
Girls Varsity
Boys JV/MS
Girls JV
Girls MS
Cross Country Practice School 4:30 6:00 at school
Tues., 10/11 Boys Varsity Practice Antietam 3:30 5:30 at field
Girls Varsity Practice Antietam 3:30 5:30 at field
Boys JV/MS Practice P5 3:30 5:30 at field
Girls JV Practice P5 3:30 5:30 at field
Girls MS Practice P5 3:30 5:30 at field
Cross Country Practice School 3:30 5:00 at school
Weds., 10/12 Boys Varsity Away vs. Blackstone See web 2:15 3:30 6:15 at school
Girls Varsity Practice TBA TBA
Boys JV/MS Away vs. Blackstone See web 2:15 3:30 6:15 at school
Girls JV No practice
Girls MS No practice
Cross Country Away vs. Monty Tech. See web 2:00 3:30 5:30 at school
Thurs., 10/13 Boys Varsity Practice Antietam 3:30 5:30 at field
Girls Varsity Away vs. Bay Path See web 2:05 2:15 3:30 6:15 at school
Boys JV/MS Away vs. N.C. Charter St. Bernards
Elementary, Fitchburg 2:50 3:00 4:00 5:45 at school
Girls JV Home vs. Bay Path Antietam 2:45 3:30 5:00 at field
Girls MS Practice P5 3:30 5:30 at field
Cross Country Practice School 3:30 5:00 at school
Fri., 10/14 Boys Varsity Practice Antietam 3:30 5:30 at field
Girls Varsity Away vs. Blackstone See web 2:15 3:30 6:00 at school
Boys JV/MS Practice P5 3:30 5:30 at field
Girls JV Away vs. Blackstone See web 2:15 3:30 6:00 at school
Girls MS Practice P5 3:30 5:30 at field
Cross Country Practice School 3:30 5:00 at school
20
WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN/PARKER SCHOOL SKI CLUB
Ski Program
Parker Ski Program is designed for students to purchase ski lift tickets and passes through the Parker Ski Program.
We are happy to purchase Gold Silver and Bronze passes for families and will guarantee the passes are ready to be picked up on opening day!
The deadline for getting applications back in to the office is Friday the 22nd of November, which will not leave much time to get all applications to the mountain on time for Opening Day, so it is imperative that application get in ASAP. We will not take any applications after this date unless prior arrangement have been made.
The bus is specifically chartered for students who have purchased passes through the Parker Ski Program.
If by chance families have made other arrangements and have already purchase tickets and want their child to ride the bus, there might be a way to handle this. Please feel free to call Jean and we can try to work it out. 978-300-5454
There is always an option to get a second bus for students who only want to purchase the bus ride, this will depend on number of application submitted.
All applications are numbered when returned to office, so get them in ASAP to assure your child’s space on the bus. Should you have any questions, please contact Ski Coordinator Jean Winship at (978) 300-5454
CHAPERONES NEEDED!
We are looking for chaperones for the upcoming ski program at Wachusett. The skiing begins on Thursday, January 5th and runs for eight weeks, not including February vacation. Chaperones receive free skiing and a ride on the bus to the mountain. Also Wachusett offers a Chaperone Appreciation Day on December 17 and 18th and then again on March 3 and 4th. This is a great way to get in your volunteer hours for Parker. Please contact Jean Winship (978) 300-5454 if you are interested.
21
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School
Lunch Menu
OCTOBER 10 - 14
Breakfast Special Lunch Entrée Vegetable and Sides
MON No School - Columbus
Day
TUES Danish Chicken or Cheese Que-
sadilla's Corn
Spanish Rice, Salsa, Sour Cream, Fresh Fruit
WED No Break-
fast CHEESE PIZZA House Veggie Bread Pudding, Fruit
THURS Cinnamon
Rolls Chicken Parmesan Pasta House Veggie, Fruit
FRI No Lunch - PLP's
A selection of Sandwiches and Salads are now a Full Lunch option and are available daily.
Vegetarian and Gluten Free Options Daily
Full Lunch - $3.50 or $17.50 week includes- Entrée & Vegetable, All sides, Milk or Juice
Full Breakfast - $1.50 or $7.50 week includes - Breakfast Item, A Piece of Fruit, Milk or Juice.
22
FUNDRAISING NEWS
23
24
25
Parent volunteers needed for the Parker Model Rocket Club
The Parker Model Rocket Club needs you.
Many students can benefit from mentoring during our club meetings to help keep them focused and on-task. I
need parents to help out by mentoring during our meetings. No model rocketry or technical experience is
needed (although it would be welcomed). The students mostly need guidance on organizing their efforts to
accomplish their goals; the more experienced students and I can provide help on technical issues.
If you have model rocketry experience and are interested in participating more deeply, that also would be
very welcome.
Our weekly meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 3:40 to 4:50 p.m. at Parker in room 62. I can coordinate
a rotating schedule, so you needn't commit to attending every week. We'd greatly appreciate you spending
some of your Parker volunteer hours with us.
If you are interested in helping out, please contact me (Steve Byan <[email protected]>) and let me know
of your interest.
26
PARKER SCHOOL CALENDAR (6/22/11)
November, 2011
6 Daylight savings time ends
11 Veterans’ Day observed (no school)
23 Early Release (noon dismissal)
24-25 Thanksgiving Break
December, 2011
3 PLAN test for sophomores
23 Early Release (noon dismissal)
24-31 Holiday Recess
January, 2012
1 New Year’s Day
2 Holiday
3 Faculty planning (no classes)
4 Classes resume
8 Enrollment Information Session (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
11 PEF meeting at 7:00 p.m. at school
16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (no school)
18 Parker PAC meeting at 7:30 p.m. 22 Enrollment Information Session (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
23 Faculty Planning (no classes)
24 New semester begins
February, 2012
17 Early Release (noon dismissal)
20 President’s Day (no school)
21-24 Winter Recess
March, 2012
7 Spring Conference Day (no classes)
11 Daylight Savings Time begins
14 Faculty Planning (noon dismissal)
14 PEF meeting at 7:00 p.m. at school
18-21 NEASC visit
24 Parker PAC meeting at 7:30 p.m.
April, 2012
11 Parker PAC meeting at 7:30 p.m.—Annual Meeting and Officer Elections
13 Early Release (noon dismissal)
16 Patriot’s Day (no school)
17-20 Spring Recess
May, 2012
16 PEF meeting at 7:00 p.m. at school
16 Parker PAC meeting at 7:30 p.m
25 Early Release (noon dismissal)
28 Memorial Day (no school)
June, 2012
6 Graduation (6:00 p.m.) Noon dismissal
15 Last Day of Classes (Noon dismissal)
18-20 Faculty Work Days
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Do you know of a community service project
perfect for a Parker advisory? Is there a local
community agency you think a Parker advisory
could connect with this year? If so, please contact
Debbie at [email protected]. Each year, we
update a list of possible projects and agency
contacts for advisories. New ideas are always
appreciated.
ADVISORY COMMUNITY SERVICE
Parker’s automated notification system will allow
us to make calls to all our students’ homes with
important announcements and reminders. At pre-
sent we have a phone number registered for every
student and families have the option of logging
on and adding cell phones or email addresses.
The hope is that we will be able to use this sys-
tem for announcing snow days and also improv-
ing communication within the Parker community.
Students families are asked to log in through the
front page of the Parker website. Each students
login is their last name and the last two numbers
of their home phone number. You are then asked
to create a password.
Please take time to do this and add any additional
numbers or email addresses where you would like
to receive these messages. We will be testing this
system during the first month of school and we
will announce that at a later date.
COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
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Print this out and take with you.
The Campus Visit
School____________________________________City__________________, State____________Visit Date__________________
Planning: Location of Admissions Office______________________________
Tour Time:____________________Date____________________Phone______________________
Interview Time:_________________________Date___________________Phone_________________
On-Campus Impressions
The Campus Tour (Guide’s Name) ____________________________________________________________________________
The Interview: Do you need one for this school? If so, perhaps you’ll need to schedule it beforehand. _______________________
Discoveries while on campus (facilities, student center, resources)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Overall Assessment
Worth remembering (extracurricular activities, politics, arts, ecology, music, new construction, social life or lack of social life)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What I like most about this school:______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What I like least about this school:______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Number of students?_________________________________________________________________________________________
Athletic facilities____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Housing___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Does the school have what I am looking for?______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would I feel comfortable here?_________________________________________________________________________________
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR ~
Sheila Kelly, M.A.