Park parents host a listserv on Google Groups, an easy-to-use format that provides a great way for the community to stay in touch. For instructions on how to join or change your subscription settings, please click on image.
Logging into the Veracross Parent Portal will allow you access to the Veracross Calendars. Your Household Calendar will display important events and dates that specifically affect members of your household. You have the ability to subscribe to each of these calendar feeds and have the dates imported directly into your online calendar system (Google, iCal, or Outlook). Try it out and know that you can always unsubscribe!
If you capture a great Park moment, share it with us! Send photos to Communications@parkschool.net. Also remember to follow us on social media! Park is active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
All-School News
A Conversation with Park’s Expert Advisory Panel: The Current State of the Pandemic — and Looking Ahead - tonight
Thursday, February 25, 7-8 p.m. Join Head of School Dan Paradis in conversation with Park’s expert medical and public health advisory panel as they discuss the current state of the pandemic and what lies ahead. This team, Tom Inglesby, Beth Blauer, and Brian Garibaldi are all Park parents! Please submit questions about the pandemic for our expert advisory panel here. We will do our best to get them addressed during the session. Please note that questions about school-specific policies and procedures can be sent to covidresponseteam@parkschool.net Click here for the event Zoom link.
Park Community School
Join author and former Park Trustee Jim Dale, who co-authored We’re Better Than This with the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, consultant, politician, former chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, and wife of Congressman Cummings, who wrote the final chapter of the book, for a conversation about his personal insights into the Congressman’s life and legacy, as well as a glimpse into the collaborative process behind the book. Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Click for more details
Parents' association Park Stickers
Looking for a way to express school spirit on your electronic device, water bottle, lunch container, or notebook? Then check out six new custom Park stickers offered by the Parents’ Association! They come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes and are durable, weatherproof and dishwasher-safe. Purchase them individually or get all six for a discounted price! Your purchase supports Parents' Association speakers and grants, which support our whole community! Quantities are limited, so place your orders HERE
COOKING CLASS – February 22, 7:30 p.m.
If you have baked challah in your home, you know that making a delicious bread isn't complicated — even the most novice baker can make this traditional Jewish bread. Join Park School parent and experienced challah baker Jessica Grosman for Part 2 of her Challah Baking Workshop on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. During our first class, Jessica demonstrated how to make a basic challah dough, from proofing the yeast to kneading the perfect dough, and then to shape the dough into simple 3-stranded braids. Now it's time to take the dough to other shapes and creative challah variations! Watch Jessica as she transforms the dough into beautiful challah roses, a majestic challah crown, a sweet stuffed challah, and savory spinach challah tarts. Join (even if you missed the first!) to learn or to bake alongside Jessica. You will receive recipes prior to the class.
Our two remaining book clubs will be held at 8 pm on Tuesday, April 13 and Monday, May 17 with the following respective selections: Deacon King Kong by James McBride and Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar. Since both of these books are currently in high demand, we wanted to provide advance notice so that everyone would have the chance to plan their reading. RSVP
New Recycling Program
Park has just joined the Trex Recycling program, and third graders are busy collecting plastic from classrooms, offices, and Park families. Join us in collecting: clean produce bags, store bags, ice bags, Ziploc and other reclosable bags, cereal box liners, case overwrap, bread bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap, and plastic e-commerce mailers. We’ll have the collection bin out at carpool on dry days, or send along with your Lower School student. Thank you!
The Park School Store
It's back! Well — it's online! Park's new online school store offers an easy-to-navigate web page full of Park branded apparel for all your Park Spirit needs! Check it out and get some of your holiday shopping done early. Or get some spirit-wear for bundling up in as it gets colder out! Visit site
PARK MASKS
These days, school pride and safety go hand-in-hand! The Parents' Association is now offering Park School masks for $10 each. The masks are soft, double layer fabric, and have adjustable ear loops. They are non-medical grade. Click HERE to see a sample and to order. We sold out of the first shipment and the next shipment will be in after winter break. Thanks for supporting the PA!
Parent Engagement Programming – cooking and baking!
Are you a current parent or member of the Park community with an expertise or an interest in cooking or baking? If so, let us know! The PA is looking for fellow parents to lead a virtual "how-to" session to show off their favorite recipe. We will gladly assist with the scheduling and logistics. Please contact us at pa@parkschool.net.
Park's digital campus
The 2020–21 School Year Whether in person, virtually, or a combination thereof, The Park School is devoted to caring for our community and fulfilling our mission. This site, "The Park School Digital Campus," is a source of information and resources regarding the 2020-21 school year. Please check the pages frequently for the most up-to-date information. The Digital Campus can be found by clicking HERE
Lower School Announcements
Lower school magic show! (Just announced!)
Saturday, February 27 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.
Join "Magical Dave" for a fun, funny, and interactive magic show for our Lower School community! (Dave’s a full-time New York City middle school math teacher, a dad of two, and has been performing for over 28 years!) We hope you can be there!
The event is sponsored by the Park School Admission Office.
Follow this Zoom link to join the show at 10 a.m. on Saturday!
Park connects grade 4 parent discussion #2
Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to get together with other Park parents in your grade. Connect with old friends and make new connections. Join the conversation — come talk about topics that are important to you, and to all of us!
Lower School will hold virtual spring parent teacher conferences on Friday, March 5 and Thursday, March 11. Sign up links were emailed to Lower School families. Email LSOffice@parkschool.net for any assistance.
Park Camps - Registration is Open!
Our experienced staff welcomes children ages 3 ½–15 for an exciting summer full of adventures in the tradition of The Park School. Campers will enjoy a variety of activities on Park’s beautiful 100-acre campus. In addition to excellent camp leaders and counselors, Park faculty and activity guests enrich the camp experience by offering workshops in a variety of special programs, including sports and games, nature exploration, and music and movement. More information
Cold weather doesn't stop outdoor activities!
Please make sure to send your child/children with warm enough clothes to allow them to comfortably be outside for recess and other classroom activities! Thanks for your help!
Late Drop-off
Please drive down the bus circle to the 4th/5th Grade entrance. Please call the office (410-339-4195) and we'll let your child in.
Early Dismissal
Please come to the bus circle and come to your child's grade level entrance door Then, please call the office (410-339-4195) and we'll retrieve your child.
Important Dates
February 25 - Park Connects Kindergarten Parent Discussion March 2 - Park Connects Grade 4 Parent Discussion March 2 - Community School Book Club March 5 - LOWER SCHOOL CLOSED for Parent Conferences March 10 - Park Connects Grade 2 Parent Discussion March 11 - LOWER SCHOOL CLOSED for Parent Conferences March 15 - March 24 - SCHOOL CLOSED for Spring Break
Middle School Announcements
THE MICHAEL CARDIN ('85) WRITING CENTER IS BACK!
Interested in talking with someone about your writing assignments? The Michael Cardin ('85) Writing Center offers 20-minute, one-on-one Zoom writing consultations. Our trained staff of peer tutors are available to talk with Middle and Upper School students during any stage of their writing process: reviewing assignment requirements, brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading. Request an appointment with a staff member of the Michael Cardin ('85) Writing Center. Complete this form, and we'll contact you ASAP. Questions? Email Angela Balcita at abalcita@parkschool.net
Important Dates
March 10 - MIDDLE SCHOOL CLOSED for Parent Conferences March 15 - March 24 - SCHOOL CLOSED for Spring Break
Upper School Announcements
THE MICHAEL CARDIN ('85) WRITING CENTER
Interested in talking with someone about your writing assignments? The Michael Cardin ('85) Writing Center offers 20-minute, one-on-one Zoom writing consultations. Our trained staff of peer tutors are available to talk with Middle and Upper School students during any stage of their writing process: reviewing assignment requirements, brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading. Request an appointment with a staff member of the Michael Cardin ('85) Writing Center. Complete this form, and we'll contact you ASAP. Questions? Email Angela Balcita at abalcita@parkschool.net
Let us know!
If you will be learning virtually on a day that you are normally in-person, please email usattendance@parkschool.net AND your teachers. To the extent that you can, please give us advance notice. We understand this is not always possible, especially if you wake up feeling ill. Thank you!
Senior college counseling information
Please make sure to update Scoir with any admission decisions that you have already received or that you receive in the coming weeks.
Junior college counseling information
We are planning to administer the SAT on Tuesday, April 13 here at Park School. (This is in place of the previously planned March 24 test, which is no longer being offered.)
Please use the linked form below to let us know if you plan to take this test or not.
Completing this form is all you need to do to register for the April 13 SAT at Park. You cannot register for this test through the College Board. Families will be billed for the test through their Park account and should anticipate seeing the appropriate charge in late May or Early June. If you are approved for accommodations by the College Board, those accommodations will be applied. Questions about accommodations should be directed to Karyn Fisher. All other questions can be directed to Matt Hannibal, Liz Hirsch, or Dorrie Bright.
If you have yet to complete the College Counseling Questionnaire for Juniors, please do so immediately. Students can find the questionnaire on the Class of 2022 Google Classroom page. Once the questionnaire is submitted, each student will be assigned a counselor and receive an email containing a link to schedule an initial meeting with the assigned counselor. If you have already received an email with a meeting link, it's time to set up a meeting with your counselor.
Reminder for Parents/Guardians of Juniors
Please complete the College Counseling Family Letter, Financial Questionnaire and the College Counseling Confidential Release forms. These documents can be found on Park’s College Counseling homepage. Please email your completed documents to Wendy Stevens at wstevens@parkschool.net. College Counseling will arrange family meetings in early February.
There are additional resources available on the College Counseling webpage HERE.
THE MICHAEL CARDIN ('85) WRITING CENTER IS BACK!
We are happy to offer 20-minute, one-on-one Zoom writing consultations with Upper School and Middle School students.
Our trained staff of peer tutors are available to talk with students during any stage of their writing process: reviewing assignment requirements, brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading. Students can reserve their spot using our Appointment Sign-up sheet; it is updated every Friday afternoon with the following week's availability. This sign-up sheet will also be listed in both division's daily announcements. Questions? Email Angela Balcita at abalcita@parkschool.net
Important Dates
March 8 - Park Connects Grade 10 Parent Discussion March 15 - March 24 - SCHOOL CLOSED for Spring Break
