parker voices Archives

A Shifting Landscape

College Counseling at Francis Parker School is more than just a place for students to apply for college during their senior year. In fact, the application process is only the final step in a journey of self-discovery for Parker juniors and seniors.

July Message from Head of School Kevin Yaley

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Dear Parker Families, As I reflect on this past school year––a year unlike any other––I am pleased...

Introducing Incoming PA President Erik Keskinen

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I’m honored to serve as the 2020-2021 PA President. During this unprecedented time, I am astounded by the nimble ingenuity of the School’s leadership, faculty, and staff. I am grateful for their achievements in pivoting to create a robust online platform with which to maintain the storied Parker education, while keeping its community informed with honest, meaningful, and timely information. I am excited to work with this year’s PA Executive Board, an inspiring group of talented Parker parents, to support the School’s efforts. I know that together we will emerge from this challenging situation a more grateful, joyful, and connected community.

Head of School February Message

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Last week, a team of educators from some of the best schools in California– Brentwood, Chadwick, Crossroads, French American International, Harvard-Westlake, Head-Royce, La Scuola International, Marlborough, Oakwood School, and Polytechnic–spent four days conducting what one might refer to as an “educational audit” of our program.

Celebrating Questions

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Why celebrate questions? Isn’t it all about the answers? While answers are critical in the learning process–a cycle of inquiry and exploration–the learning happens in asking the right questions. Through reflection and discovery, new questions emerge.

Growth Through Reflection

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We’ve come a long way…

Five decades of working at Parker have afforded me the long view of the School’s development, a beautiful growth over time that has allowed the School to become one of the premier educational institutions in California, if not the nation. Col. Francis Parker’s vision, now supported by the School’s succinct mission, is alive and well in a community that is thriving and helping to support students who will move beyond Parker with so much to offer the world they will inhabit.

A Mirror to Our Community

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Parker began a self-study process in June 2018, that culminated last week in a visit by a team of educators from some of the best schools in California: Head-Royce, Harvard-Westlake, French American International, Marlborough, Chadwick, La Scuola International, Crossroads, Oakwood School, Brentwood, and Polytechnic. Beyond the respective reputations of these schools, the individuals they sent to Parker were their very best. We were honored to host a team with two heads of school, a former head of school, an associate head of school, director of diversity, academic dean, director of advancement, chief financial officer, two division heads, and a department chair.

Feb. Message From the Parents Association President

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Happy Winter Semester! In the excitement of the action-packed month ahead, I first want to thank the parents who attended the Poetry Cafe last month. Continuing with this year’s school theme of being connected, the evening was an opportunity for Parker parents from all three divisions to come together and to preview what our students experienced when Elizabeth Acevedo acted as the visiting poet during Poetry Week.