Principal Notes

By Doug Lyons

Teaching and Learning - “…Creating Work for an Audience Greater than One…”


“We at Parker have for the last several years been working on helping students make their work public. The theme we talk about and share with visiting teacher teams and administrators who come to Parker to find out about student engagement and how to help students use technology and media to display their work is “…producing work for an audience greater than one…” The reference, audience greater than one, refers to the “old school” version of kid’s writing papers or taking tests that only the classroom teacher would see. We have learned that when we change the audience for kids the level and creativity of their work increases dramatically. We have also learned that by using technology and media to allow students to share their work and get feedback, it improves their work product.”

I wrote this in September 2011 for the Parker Blog. At the time, the theme of making work public was based on the work of the Parker Instructional Leadership Team and author/teacher Ron Berger, An Ethic of Excellence: Building a Culture of Craftsmanship with Students. As we wrap up mid-year goal meetings with teachers and teams (January/February 2013), and look back at the progress we have made, we are most pleased, impressed and optimistic about the work students are creating and especially about the student and adult learning that has taken place since the paragraph above was written.

Curricular areas such as Art, Music and Chorus have influenced our core subjects of Math, Science, Foreign Language, English, and Social Studies and vise-versa. The enrichment or specialist classes (Art, Band and Chorus) where performance is a standard part of the curriculum is now common place in core subjects where students regularly need to demonstrate what they know through a variety of modes. Moreover, the Art, Band and Chorus classes have taken a page from core classes and are reading, writing, researching and developing ideas.

Art classes are making their work public using technology to showcase art and present artwork to the world through Artsonia.com. If you check out the site not only will you see art work for all of our students, you will see artists’ statements written by our student artists, where they use text to explain their thinking about the art they are creating. Additionally, you will see digital portfolios of work that have been visited and have received feedback from peers and other on-line audiences that encourage students and help them to refine their work.

As part of this process, teams have been working with students to craft objective, meaningful feedback. Rather than relying on non-descript terms like “good work” and “well done,” students are being challenged to thoughtfully comment on each other’s work and then use feedback to improve the final product. This approach emphasizes the value of the learning process and recognizes the significance of reflection and revision.




Jessica Squires has earned a Silver Key Award in this year’s Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards for her drawing "Ephesus" (above). Jessica is an incredible young artist who truly deserves this recognition! Congratulations!! (see Jessica’s digital portfolio on Artsonia by clicking http://www.artsonia.com/artists/portfolio.asp?id=2541789&artid=22574097





By Christopher Balboni (see his digital portfolio on Artsonia by clicking http://www.artsonia.com/museum/art.asp?id=20034787

We continue to share what we are learning with visiting teams of teachers and administrators from other public schools as well as professors from colleges and universities. Our teachers have presented at the Blue Ribbon National Conference, the Learning Forward Annual Conference and the SRI Winter Meeting. The more we share, the more we grow and our expectations also grow, focusing more and more on what kids would be able to do if we – as teachers and administrators - continue to create opportunities that challenge and engage them in genuine ways. We are grateful to be in a public and professional community that fosters professional growth and learning; it makes all the difference.

Principal Notes 01/16

Welcome back, I hope you and your families enjoyed the holiday break. We have had a steady stream of Parker Alum home on college break who have been in to visit, as well as high school students who were back to visit teachers. It is always a highlight of our day to see Parker graduates back to visit who share how they “…miss the old place, especially the teachers…” It is good to see how well our former students are progressing. We often hear from our young college visitors that school is great, and that Reading has really prepared them very well for school. Meanwhile, teachers and students here are working hard to complete the second quarter. We will be sending out report cards on February 1st. In the coming months there is a lot happening, please keep an eye out for the Parent Weekly Preview sent out on Edline.

School Safety and Drills


In the coming months we will be reviewing our safety plans and our safety drill schedules with the district leadership, the Reading Police and Fire Departments. We will continue as we have in the past with fire, shelter-in-place and lock down drills throughout the spring. We completed a lock down drill on Monday which went quite well. As part of all drill process, we assess and debrief the exercise with the schools Resource Officer, Corey Santasky and teachers here in the building. In light of all that has recently transpired in Newtown, CT. we are pleased that we have safety plans that are comprehensive and most importantly, district leaders who are committed to continually assessing and improving how we keep students safe. More to follow on this topic…

Grade 5 and Grade 8 - Transitions

With the end of second quarter, this starts the second semester and transition planning for grades five and eight. We are planning spring parent meetings with Eaton, Barrows, Killam and Birch Meadow Elementary Schools. In addition, to the spring meetings at each elementary school, we will also have a grade five parent night here at Parker where the sixth grade teachers, our school psychologists and the administrators talk about academic programs, extra curricular activities and academic support for our incoming fifth graders. Class sizes in our sixth grade next year look to be 26:1 at each middle school. We will be communicating meeting dates and locations at the beginning of February.

The eighth grade will start the high school course selection process in February. They are putting the finishing touches on the 2013-2014 RMHS Course Selection Catalog. We will be posting more information to Edline as we receive it from the high school. Eighth grade parents should mark their calendar for Future Freshman Night for students and parents, January 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the RMHS Fine and Performing Arts Center.

Thank you to the Parker – PTO for the Technology Donation


The Parker PTO has for two years in a row donated five thousand dollars annually to support instructional technology. This year, we have added iPad sets to grades six, seven and eight. In grade six, English Language Arts teachers Ms. Pelletier and Ms. Merrill have incorporated iPads into guided reading groups. In grade seven, Science teacher, Mr. Barnett and Social Studies teacher Mr. Twomey have partnered to use their iPads to create videos for the Amazon Idol Projects and in Science students will be getting an opportunity to dissect a virtual frog, which may make the old school actual frog dissection obsolete over time. We also think it will make the dissection activity considerably less dramatic. In grade 8, Math teachers, Mr. Cormier and Ms. Webster have just started using their iPad sets in math classes. This new technology promises to help students in creating and learning in ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies. Special thanks to our PTO President, Christine Hylan for her energy and unwavering commitment to our school community and the continued growth of instructional technology to support student learning. Thank you!

Middle School Student Leader, Caroline Corwin Represents Reading at Project 351

Project 351 celebrates the ethic of service, youth leadership, the mosaic of our Commonwealth, and the power of community to uplift and unite. Project 351 is an independent non-profit fully staffed by volunteers with expertise in community service, youth engagement, and the non-profit sector. Project 351 is made possible by strong partnerships with educators, non-profit organizations, the Project 351 Alumni Leadership Council, citizen volunteers, and the kind support of parents and families.

On January 26, 2013, Honorary Chair Governor Patrick will launch our third class of Ambassadors at the State House. Core components of the day include a Town Meeting, high impact service across Boston, service learning, and a closing celebration with the Governor. Ambassadors will gain inspiration, enrichment, and new friendships with peers from across the Commonwealth. At the heart of Project 351 is the dedication and compassion of our Ambassadors. Youth are selected for their exemplary ethic of service and their values of humility, compassion, commitment, kindness, and service and their values of humility, compassion, commitment, kindness, and generosity of spirit. This year we are pleased to send eighth grade, student leader, Caroline Corwin to represent Reading. Special thanks to the eight grade teachers for assisting with this well-deserved nomination.

Please Welcome our new teachers to Parker Middle School

Our new teachers are:

Daniel Shanahan, Grade 7 Health at Parker and Coolidge – Costa and Martinson Teams For the past four years Dan has worked as a K-6 PE/Wellness Teacher in Boxborough, MA M. Ed. in Educational Administration from AIC and an undergraduate degree from the University of Maine in Kinesiology Physical Education

Sarah Gilbert, Grade 8 Earth and Space Science – James Team – Room 212 Program Director for Dynamy, Inc. an experiential gap year program for 17-22 year olds. Experience teaching grades 5-7 in Detroit, MI at Michigan Technical Academy and Marilyn F. Lundy Academy. M. Ed. from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree from SUNY Syracuse in Forest Ecosystem Science

Noreen Rogers, Grade 8 Spanish – Olivo Team – Room 210 Experience teaching Spanish to grades 7-8 at Athens Middle School in Athens, Ohio and has spent this past year at BC completing her graduate work. MAT from Boston College in Hispanic Studies, completed a double major in Spanish Education and English Education with a minor in English degree from Ohio University.

Amanda Tetreault, Grade 8 French – Olivo Team – Room 210 Last year Amanda was the French teacher at Wilmington Middle School. Completed her undergraduate degree in French, with a minor in Middle School Education and is half way through the Master’s program at Merrimack College.

Julie Passeri, Grade 6 ELA – Merrill Team – Room 219 Several years’ experience coaching soccer and teaching seventh grade ELA in Rockport and Marblehead. MAT and undergraduate degrees from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. in Art History and English

Megan Kiser, Grade 6 ELA – Walsh Team – Room 119 Experience working as a Site Coordinator and Outdoor Educator for Nature’s Classroom in Becket and Charlton, MA. Completed her student teaching and Field Work at Kennedy, and High Rock Middle School in Natick and Needham, MA. M. Ed. from Lesley University, completed her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Psychology at the University of Missouri - Columbia

Andrea Baer has been an inclusion specialist and an elementary teacher in Lawrence for the past 15 years. Andrea holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College and a graduate degree from Lesley University in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Literacy. We feel very fortunate to have such a talented group join the Parker Community.

Back to School at Parker - 08/29

Students arrive promptly before the bell rings for day 1

There are few things better than 8th grade lunch...

Principal Notes - April 2012

Spring and the Start of the Fourth Quarter

We were fooled, for a moment into thinking that we would skip spring and jump right into summer with the warm weather earlier in the month. In the last few weeks things have gotten back to normal with cooler temps and the changing of sports seasons for our students. The spring stretch, that is the six-week period between February vacation and the start of April vacation, is packed. Teachers and students have been working hard to complete the English Language Arts MCAS, as well as final assignments to be included in the third quarter grades. Report cards for the third quarter were posted to Edline (http://www.edline.net/pages/Walter_S_Parker_Middle_School) on Thursday, April 5th. We end this week with a highlight of the year for teachers and administrators with the “The Blueprint for Educational Excellence National Institute” held here in Reading. This Institute is an opportunity for the teachers and administrators from Reading and around the country to share and learn about best practices in education from one another. I am pleased to report that several teacher teams will be presenting from Parker at this year’s conference. In our next newsletter, I will be posting more information about what we are learning and how we will use this information to improve our school and our professional practice.

Understanding Disabilities and Travis Roy

Understanding Disabilities continues to be an amazing resource for us at the middle level, bringing speakers that really help students and adults learn more and make sense of the world around us. In the last few years, Understanding Disabilities has been able to secure State and National presenters that have included, Autism Spokesperson, Gianna Hitsos, Endurance Swimmer and Downs Spokesperson, Karen Gaffney, and Author Shonda Shilling. Each presenter left us thinking about how we treat others, how we live and what we can do to make a difference in our school and our community.

On March 28th, former Boston University hockey player, Travis Roy spoke to our students and staff at Parker. Travis was tragically paralyzed in an accident while playing hockey for Boston University. He was skating into the corner, which he had done thousands of time before and accidentally fell and hit his head on the dasher. His book “Eleven Seconds” chronicles his experience and his life after the accident. Today he travels around speaking to communities and schools about his experiences.

Travis shared his story about telling his parents in their living room about his goals that he wrote in middle school. He shared with our students that his parents listened intently, as he read goal after goal that only focused on hockey achievements. Finally, his parents spoke up and told Travis that if he didn’t get good grades that he would not be able to fulfill the goals he had written. So reluctantly, up-stairs Travis marched to re-write his goals that included academic and life goals that guided him to be one of Boston Universities top hockey recruits in 1995. Travis encouraged students to write their goals down, to pay attention to them and to work steadily toward what they would like to achieve. He shared that it is about hard work and having the courage to adapt to challenges and circumstances to be successful and happy.


Student Ambassadors, Alanna G. and Julia D. introduce Travis Roy.


Student Leaders Ryan M., Jay G. and Pat D. had an opportunity to visit with Travis before his presentation.

Travis’ honesty, his kind demeanor, coupled with his measured, deliberate speech allowed students to really focus on his words and his message that emphasize the importance of love and relationships. In the question and answer session, students asked, would you play hockey again if you had the opportunity? He answered absolutely; he would love to have the opportunity. He also assured students that he believes hockey is a very safe sport and his accident was just that, an accident. Students also asked, if you could walk again what would be the first thing you would do? Travis paused for a moment and answered “…I would hug my mom! You see when you are in a wheel chair those are the things that you really miss…” It was a great day at Parker and a privilege to have the opportunity to hear such wonderful messages. Thank you to Ruth Clogston and Understanding Disabilities for arranging this presentation.

News and Info

Principal Notes

We are certainly back in the swing of things after the February Break. We have completed high school course selection with eighth graders, we have started visiting elementary schools to prepare for the grade 5 to 6 transition and we have completed a wonderful musical production of Guys and Dolls. Progress reports were posted to Edline last Friday and it looks like we will escape the winter season without a snow day!

Grade 5 Transition Meetings

We (Beth and I) will be traveling to Birch Meadow, Eaton, Barrows and Killam in the coming weeks to meet in the evening with fifth grade parents, to talk about the transition from grade 5 to 6. As you will hear me say “…sixth grade is one of the best things we do here at Parker…” The sixth grade teams are expert at setting students up to succeed in their learning. Significant time is spent at the beginning of the school year getting students organized, setting up lockers, binders and notebooks and getting students acclimated to the middle school. In addition, to the parent meetings, the spring and summer calendar with opportunities for fifth grade students and parents are as follows:

Parent Meetings:

May 3rd – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Open House for Parker students and families (Grade 5 families are welcome to walk through)

May 10th at 7:00 p.m. - Parent Information Evening at Parker

April 4 @ 7:00pm - Welcome to attend PTO Meeting

May 2 @ 7:00pm - Welcome to attend PTO Meeting

Student Meetings/Opportunities:

May – Grade 6 students visit elementary schools to talk to fifth graders

May 14th – 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Instrument Petting Zoos @ Coolidge – Barrows & Birch Meadow

May 15th – 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Instrument Petting Zoo @ Coolidge - Joshua Eaton,
Killam & Wood End

June 4th - Move-Up Day - 5th Graders visit Parker

July/August – Parker Tour Dates TBD

August 13th to 16th Welcome to Parker Program

August 20th to 23rd – Welcome to Parker Program

The first day of school is Wednesday, August 29th.


Guys and Dolls:

The Guys and Dolls Production was amazing. The play was so well cast, just when you were struck with the performance, the acting or singing of one of the students, you would ask, “…wait a minute, is that is really Cam Dieselman, Haley Malstrom or Jane D’Entremont? Or, did you or anyone know for that matter, that Mark Lucas could sing like that?” The conversation went on like that each time the show was performed. The audience members were checking and re-checking their programs to see who they were watching. Convinced that they had never seen or met the student, one staff member shared, they had to check to check the program to see who Miss Adelaide was? The kids were sensational, their hard work and the work of Jenny DiMuzio, Leigh Barrett and Nancy Katz Stone was evident throughout the production. The idea and creativity on the part of Jenny and Rick DiMuzio to include live music or a music pit was brilliant.


Jane D. and Travis G. as Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit


Chris M. and Tim O. as Benny Southstreet and Big Jule and the gangsters “…shooting craps…”


Haley and Cam as Sarah Brown and Sky Masterson


The cast of Guys and Dolls Jr. Parker Middle School –March 2012

Thank you to the drama parents, teachers and chaperones who made the production go off without a hitch. And special thanks to all members of the cast and crew for demonstrating remarkable focus and commitment to put together a memorable three days. Thanks!

Exchange Students Visit Parker 2012

Kathryn, Mia, Ella and Olivia

The months of January and February were alive with cultural exchange. Students in grades 6-8 from Korea attended classes at Parker, lived with host families, visited the YMCA each afternoon and took many trips around the Boston metro area. Later in January, the school welcomed six rising 8th graders from Ecuador for three weeks who also stayed with a host family. Both sets of students had experiences they won’t soon forget. Similarly, Parker students had daily opportunities to learn about the cultures and traditions of two nations, very different from our own.
Highlights from their visit:

• 6th graders visited the Boston Science Museum to see the Pompii Exhibit
• Parent Visitation Day
• Many Parker students attended the Korean Cultural Celebration Night at Coolidge
• The Parker Dance at the end of January was a big hit with many of the Korean students

The visits ended last week with a pizza party, good wishes, and hopes to stay in touch. When I reminded students to exchange email addresses, many said they already had been talking on Facebook.


Julie, Tae Won, Kayleigh and Ida

Declan, Michael, Ben and Simon

Dan, Sara and James

Sara, Emma and Haley

Students writing good wishes.

Parker with friends from Ecuador

Marcela, Maria Isabel, Christina and Claire