The Parker Lion's Tale

B.Haverkamp

Parker Elementary - The 2002 National GRAMMY® Signature Elementary School

May 2014 Volume 25 No.9

The Elementary School of Choice in HISD

Notes from the Principal

As the school year comes to a close I want to take a moment to thank all of our amazing Parker Parents for all of the help and support this year! This year has flown by but we have so many great memories to cherish. We also have some goodbyes as well to make to several of our Parker Family members, including Ms. Kelly, Ms. Dean, and Ms. Baty, who have all chosen to take their next step in their journey in life, retire-ment! They will all be truly missed, but I know we all wish them well. Another very important Parker Family member is leaving us too, Ms. Haverkamp, aka Ms. Lion’s Tale! Is saddens me to think this is the last Lions Tale Ms. Haverkamp will put together for us, but though she will be truly missed, she will never be forgotten.

As we lose some we also are lucky enough to bring some new members into our wonderful Parker Family. I am very excited to announce that Mr. Berry will be joining us from Johnston Middle School as the new Assistant Principal of Parker. I know many of our families know Mr. Berry and will miss him at Johnston, but we are pleased he is stay-ing in the neighborhood.

I hope everyone can join us for our last month of school and the wonderful performances we have scheduled. Have a wonderful summer!

Lori Frodine, Principal

DON’T FORGETTO REGISTER

Parents of incoming Kindergart-ners:

Don’t forget to complete your registration process in May. Parents can register new students, Kinder-garten through 5th grade, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thurs-days during the month of May from 8:30 a.m. to noon. If you have friends or neighbors living within the Parker zone with children entering school in 2014-15, please encourage them to register now. If they are interested in information about the school or a tour, please have them contact the Magnet Office at 713-726-2122. Carol Kehlenbrink

LIBRARY LIONSSummer Reading Reminder

Don’t forget that all children should read at least five books on their grade level over the summer. Research shows that children who read during the summer have better academic per-formance the next year than those who choose not to read. Schedule a day ev-ery two weeks to go to the public library. Hit the resale shops and garage sales for used books. Just because you are taking a vacation from school, you shouldn’t take a vacation from reading.

Happy Summer!Ms. Shafer

RODGERS TEACHER OF

THE YEARKindergarten teacher Katy Rod-

gers is Parker’s Teacher of the Year for 2013-14. She has also been named a finalist for Houston ISD District Teacher of the Year!

Congratulations, Ms. Rodgers! We are Parker Proud of you!

Ms. Richardson

LOST & FOUNDWe are about to experience an

avalanche with the Lost and Found pile! If your child is missing a lunch kit, jacket, sweater, etc., please check the Lost and Found table by the mini-gym. Smaller items such as eyeglasses, coin purses, and jewelry are kept in the front office for safe-keeping. Items not claimed by May 29th will be given to Goodwill.

C. Kehlenbrink

SO LONG GRADUATES!

MAKE US PARKER PROUD

IN MIDDLE SCHOOL!

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ODYSSEY OF THE MINDFrom the Odyssey of the Mind website: “The

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process. For more than 25 years, this unique program has helped teachers generate excitement in their students. By tapping into creativity, and through encouraging imaginative paths to problem-solving, students learn skills that will provide them with the ability to solve problems -- great and small -- for a lifetime. The Odyssey of the Mind teaches stu-dents how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems that appeal to a wide range of interests. Students learn how to identify challenges and to think creatively to solve those problems. They are free to express their ideas and suggestions without fear of criticism. The creative problem-solving process rewards thinking ‘outside of the box.’ While conventional thinking has an important place in a well-rounded education, students need to learn how to think creatively and productively.

Each year, five new competitive problems are presented for the teams to solve. These long-term problems are solved over weeks and months. Some of the problems are more technical in nature, while others are artistic or performance based. Each long-term problem rewards ‘Style’ in the solution. This helps teach students that they should not simply try to solve problems but take the next step of enhancing their solu-tions. The teams are invited to participate in competition and present their solution with other teams. At the competition, the teams are given an on-the-spot ‘spontaneous’ problem to solve. The combination of long-term problem-solving, Style, and spontaneous problem-solving produces a confident, able student.” - www.odysseyofthemind.com

The amazing Odyssey of the Mind Kindergarten team received rave reviews at the OM competition on March 8, 2014, for their solution to the Primary Problem (for Grades K-2, no spontaneous component at the competition) - “The World’s First Art Festival.” The team’s problem was to cre-ate and present an original humorous performance about a prehistoric art festival. The festival included artwork, dance, music, song, and a team-created audience to experience it all. The team also created a backdrop that was a replica of a cave painting. The Kinder team consisted of members Mia Chavez, Maille Craig, Harper Dehart, Eli Ellery, Eileen Reyes, Sarah Vanlandingham, and Zev O’Brien-Waghalter. The team was coached by Parker parents Christine Ellery and Renee Waghalter (I have seen these coaches in action - they have challenged the kids while maintaining a fun learning environment!). The judges wrote great comments about our OM Kinder team:

“Very exciting and adorable singing and cheering. Enjoyed the dancing dinosaur.”

“The cave paintings on the backdrop were fantastic!”“Great puppetry- loved the moving dinosaurs”“Style: Wonderful costumes!”“The bat cage was very imaginative”“Great team work!”“Original costumes!”“Awesome team work!”Many thanks to the Odyssey of the Mind coaches,

Renee & Christine!!If you are interested in coaching an Odyssey of the

Mind team next year, please contact Susie Vanlandingham at sbvanham@yahoo.com for more information.

Sincerely,Susie Vanlandingham, Educational Enhancements Co-

Chair (and appreciative OM team-member parent)

The Kindergarten OM team right before their performance at the competition. Eli Ellery, Sarah Vanlandingham, Eileen Reyes, Mia Chavez, Harper Dehart, Zev O’Brien-Waghalter, and Maille Craig

Health BeatDear parents:

It has been a pleasure to take care of your child/children this school year. I will be sending home medication forms for next year if your child takes medication during school hours. Also, if your child has a food allergy, I will also be sending home forms for the physician to complete during the sum-mer. HISD requires new forms for dietary and medication administration every school year.

If your child is going to middle school, please ensure that he/she has received the Tdap (Tetanus booster) and Men-ingitis (MCV4) vaccine. Please provide the middle school nurse with an updated shot record indicating these immuni-zations. Have a safe and successful summer. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outdoors!

Nurse Garcia

PAINLESS FUNDRAISING

P a r k e r E l e m e n t a r y participates in all of these fundraising programs. Please continue to save box tops, bottle caps, UPCs, etc., for Parker. Thank you.

Getting information about the parent happenings and opportunities at Parker Elementary has never been easier! Simply "Friend" us on Face-book by searching for "Parker Pto". Note: "Parker Pto" is case sensitive.

Music Quote “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Victor Hugo

Courtesy Robin Gibson

basis of age, color, handicap or disability, ancestry, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or political affiliation in its educa-tional or employment programs and activities.

It is the policy of the Houston Independent School District not to discrimi-nate on the

Please Subscribe to Receive the Lion's

Tale Electronically!Don't forget to subscribe to receive

the Lion's Tale via e-mail. Please visit <http://www.houstonisd.org/parker-elem> to subscribe to this service. You can also retrieve The Lion's Tale from the website. Please subscribe today and help us cut down on paper use and associated costs. Thank you for your assistance.

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Tunchez Parker Alum

Stephanie Tunchez (Parker Class of 1999) was quoted in the Houston Chronicle on May 2, 2014, in the article “Music and margaritas” on Page E1. Fifteen years after leaving Parker, she is still performing violin. She got her start at Parker and fell in love with the mariachi genre at Johnston MS. She graduated from the mariachi program at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Tunchez has a day job, but performs with joy as a member of Mariachi Imperial.

To think she got her start at Parker with a little paper box violin. One never knows where a young Parker musician might end up.

We’re Parker Proud of Ms. Tun-chez! B.H.

The PARKER LION’S TALE is pub-lished each month by the Parker PTO. The deadline to submit articles for the August/September 2014 issue TBA. A new editor will be taking over the production of the LION’S TALE. Best wishes to the new editor! Go Parker Lions!

Barbara HaverkampEditor & Layout

PLAN AHEADFOR 2014-15

THINK AFTERCARE!

Students can stay at Parker after school and have fun with their friends in a safe environment under the supervi-sion of Parker teachers and assistants.

Aftercare is offered from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m. and follows the school calendar. Exciting Aftercare activities this year have been: soccer, ballet, karate, mad science, and tennis. Tutoring and crafts are also part of the fun.

As you think ahead to fall, con-sider Aftercare for your child.

Ms. Kris Denning, Coordinator

The Parker Elementary PTO tweet-ings Twitter! To access, go to “Twitter Search” on your phone or computer, then type “Parker PTO”. A long list of “Parker” results will appear. Find “Parker PTO” and click.

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Students who met with the archi-tect: Abby Nitsch, Isabel Pitts, Rory Johnson, Ellis Haverkamp, Keith Armwood, Maddy Vanlandingham (in back)

Guitar ConcertThe afternoon Parker Guitars

Spring Concert on May 1st was very, very good. Unlike one’s typical 3-chord garage band guitarists, Mr. Bardin’s guitar students perform so much more. Several of the songs had intricate melody lines, one note played at a time, in unison and with precision, in concert with other sections playing different notes and chords in harmony with their own unison with precision.

The program listed several students as having been selected (by audition) for the HISD All-City Guitars. Fourth graders were: Nadia Apolinar, Emily Bravo, Greeley Escamilla-Junkman, Tristan Morales, Yatziry Reyes, Skylar Strudwick, and Katalina Vazquez. Fifth grade members of the All-City Guitars were: Carlos Antonio, Leslie Cortes, Carolyn Heron, Damien Hill, Chandler Johnson, Kevin Lam, Zain Rizvi, and Noah Tedros. If these fifth grade gui-tarists continue their studies in middle school, their teachers are going to be overjoyed with how far Mr. Bardin has taken them.

Bravo Students! Bravo Mr. Bar-din! Great performance!

B. Haverkamp

Parker Community Meeting

TRINITY MOSIER HASSA SCHOLARSHIPTrinity Mosier recently received a

scholarship from The Houston Area Su-zuki Strings Association in the amount of $300. Trinity had to write an essay about why she would like to attend a Suzuki Summer institute. She also had to submit a DVD of her most polished piece and a letter of recommendation from her teacher. Trinity will use her scholarship award this Summer when she attends DFW WOW Suzuki Institute in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Trinity studies violin with Mrs. Hakel and Mrs. Branch. We are so proud of her.

Mrs. Branch

HISD and Brave,the architectural firm designing the new Parker Elemen-tary School, gave a status report to the community on May 6, 2013. They showed the initial design ideas and gave reasons for why things were as they were. They wanted community feedback -- criticism, suggestions and affirmations – before moving ahead. Wanda Adams, HISD Trustee IX, said she was excited about the new build-ing and would be watching the process closely. The 5th grade students who had

met with the architects several weeks ago were invited back and sat in front of a proposed design board.

After the initial presentation, dur-ing the time for feedback, the children were interviewed (on videotape) about what they’d like to see in the new school. There was some controversy about the girls' bathrooms being pink. Isabel Pitts said absolutely not. Abby Nitsch joined in the protest. Ellis Haverkamp wanted larger classrooms for the magnet classes. Rory Johnson added there was very little space between students. Both boys and Maddy Vanlandingham play violin and violins do require a fair amount of space to move one’s bow arm. The group was very verbal and I think the interviewer was surprised by how they individually articulated their ideas. They gave their opinions for 20 minutes.

Susan Pitts, mother of Isabel Pitts, watching the interview quipped, “I can’t wait to see that edited down to two minutes.”

There will be several more com-munity meetings to keep the community apprised. Stay tuned.

Barbara Haverkamp

Views from Spring Guitar Concert

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Fond Farewell!After 25-some years of volunteering at Parker Elemen-

tary, I’m moving on. I never dreamed I’d be volunteering here as long as I have; it just kind of happened. I’ve worked with four principals and three magnet coordinators.

My husband and I moved to Houston in 1983, the year of Hurricane Alicia. We were to be here for his 2-year post-doctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. We bought a house not caring about schools. We knew we would be leaving. However, we never left.

When it was time for our son to start school, we were zoned for Parker Elementary. It was a music magnet, whatever that was. At kinder round-up, his soon to be assigned teacher wore 4” heels. Her finger nails were absurdly long, the style at the time. Then it turned out, it was the first year that HISD was going to have all day kindergarten. ALL DAY? I felt like I was sending my baby to the moon. Very scary times!

In the end, however, it all worked out. The kindergarten teacher wore athletic shoes in class and sat on the floor with the children. She was an excellent teacher and laughed when I told her of my early misgivings about her shoes.

I was the kindergarten class co-head homeroom parent. Next thing I knew, the PTO nominating committee asked if I’d do School Store t-shirt sales. The kindergarten teacher had turned in my name. I agreed. (I have a BS in Retailing.) Then I was asked to do publicity. I agreed, passing on T-Shirt Chair to another. My husband got me a book from the library about how to do publicity. I read it and forged ahead.

The head of HISD said all schools should have a news-letter, so the Lion’s Tale was born. Principal Jean Crouchet asked the PTO to handle it. Having contributed to the Lion’s Tale the first year, the PTO president asked if I’d just take it over as “everything you touch turns to gold.” How would one say no to that? So I edited the Lion’s Tale and did publicity for the school as a PTO Board Member.

I volunteered for the Walk-a-Thon, now FunFest, Field Day, and the Suzuki Workshop. I chaperoned band perfor-mances off campus (my son was in band) and later strings performances (my daughter was in strings). Off campus audiences could never believe that what they were hearing was coming from an elementary school music group. Oh, the marvelous performances I’ve seen and the gratifying-to-behold surprise on the faces of audience members I’ve seen. The band performed in the State Capital Rotunda, the Suzuki Strings performed in Chicago at the International Suzuki Conference, and the strings also performed at several Texas Music Educator Association conferences in San Antonio. (When the Performing Strings played the Texas Medley,the UT grads, who had been chatting with each other about “oh, it’s only an elementary school group that’s going to play," leapt to their feet when their anthem was performed. It was

a great moment!)Back then, there was a group of mothers, whose children

had graduated from Parker, who stuck around to volunteer on stage productions. They were the Hole in the Wall Gang (HWG), as they had been given a small room to work in on campus. Parker was known for presenting a lavish Fall Musical, performed by the 3rd Grade Chorus, and an even more lavish Spring Musical performed by the 4th & 5th Grade Chorus. The HWG was led by an amazing set designer, Lorna Bray. The costumer, Yolanda Trevino, was a brilliant seamstress. Sometimes a choreographer would work with the students. Parent volunteers were numerous and ready for any task. The show must go on! I was enlisted to sew all sorts of puppets, sweet potatoes and fish. I upholstered the skin on the 3 Little Pigs, 3’ tall puppets, and dressed them, too. (The Three Little Pigs were for a piano recital.) I covered a turkey puppet form, to make it look like a turkey. Work-ing on stage productions was a creative challenge, but fully rewarding. I never knew who anyone’s child was. Neither of my children was in the musicals. I was working for the greater good. It was fun.

Time passed. The era of Parker musicals ended with the passing of Linda Zarif, the 4th & 5th Grade Chorus Direc-tor, who died 3 days after the final musical she’d directed. Marianna Simpson was brought in to work her magic with the Parker choruses; words cannot express the exceptional level to which she’s brought her many choruses.

After my daughter left for middle school, I stayed on as newsletter editor only. I felt I owed it to the school for the excellent music and academic educations my two children received at Parker. I told the inimitable magnet coordinator, Cindy Pack, that I’d stay till she retired. The spring before she retired, she/Parker nominated me for the HISD Charles Harding Senior Volunteer Award. I won in 2005 represent-ing the SW District. It compelled me to continue editing and laying out the Lion’s Tale.

As I had also volunteered at Johnston Middle School (Publicity), Lanier Middle School (worked in the library and did publicity for the orchestra), and The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Friends alumni office for six years and PTO newsletter for four), HISD asked Principal Cappy Selig if it could nominate me for the Texas Association of Partners in Education Gold Award for a large district. She agreed, not mentioning it to me till later. I won the TAPE Gold Award in 2006. I received the award at a banquet in Austin and met the head of the TEA. It had never been my intention to get such high praise for my volunteer work. In light of this turn, I told Cappy I’d retire when she retired.

My grandson entered kindergarten at Parker. I kept doing the Lion’s Tale as it again made sense. One day, I

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overheard somebody refer to me as “The Lion’s Tale”. What an epiphany. I was an icon?

Cappy Selig retired, but with my grandson at Parker, I continued my mission.

My grandson is in 5th grade and about to graduate. When he goes, I go. It’s been 25 years since I first entered the halls of Parker with my little boy. The amount of time that’s passed is astonishing; it surprises even me. Parker Elementary has been a most extraordinary place to volunteer. George Bush, Sr., caught me with his 1,000 points of light phrase. My late father was on the national staff of the Boy Scouts of America. I was raised with “do a good turn daily” and “be prepared”. And so I have served.

On April 25th, Cappy Selig picked me up for what I thought was a simple lunch. It turned out, it was a banquet held in my honor. I was stunned. A vast number of people on my Past Parker People list, to whom I regularly e-mail the Lion’s Tale, were there and some current Parker people, too. One Past Parker Person drove in from Austin. I was so touched. Jean Crouchet, principal before Cappy Selig, gave me a gorgeous quilt she’d made. I got two cards containing gift cards, one signed by all of the Past Parker People, the sec-ond by a wonderful couple. My son’s 4th grade teacher (ret.), Betty Goolsby, wrote a parody about my volunteer work to the tune of “How Do We Solve a Problem like Maria?” entitled “What will we do without Barbara?” The singing was led by retired teacher Lisa Mendelovitz, who had planned the event. My personal chorus sang. It was an amazing, unforgettable retirement luncheon. In light of being thusly honored, I really have to leave Parker Elementary now.

Thank you, Past and Present Parker Family, for all the good times and appreciation for my efforts.

Barbara Haverkamp

Fond Farewell (cont'd from prev. page)

Melissa Duran, Magnet Clerk for Magnet Coord. Cindy Pack, Honoree Barbara Haverkamp, Ann Hendrix, 1st Magnet Coordinator BH worked with, and Carolyn Melosi, 1st PTO President BH worked with.

Campbell at IFestThe second weekend of IFest, which focused on Aus-

tralia this year, featured a performance by Parker’s own Jazz instructor, Al Campbell. He played with Mark Towns & Tribology Jazz/Latin/Funk Fusion group. Group members are: Mark Towns (guitar), Rainel Pino (piano), Jorge “Cro Cro” Orta (congas), Al Campbell (bass), Miles Towns (drums). Past Parker Parent, Nancy Brown said, “It was good music, really tight musicianship. Al really gets around!” (A long time ago, Mr. Campbell taught violin magnet classes after school. It was all Suzuki -- no jazz. He was an excellent strings instructor, very motivating for the children. Many of us mothers who had children in his classes think highly of him to this day. BH)

Jazz is exceedingly popular in Australia, so the group’s performing for IFest was perfect. Mr. Campbell says, Jazz is popular across the planet, not just in the US.

(Mark Towns & Tribology will also be performing a concert on May 15 as part of the Market Street Spring Concert Series in The Woodlands, Texas.)

B. Haverkamp

Mark Towns eclipsing Al Campbell performing at IFest.

Al Campbell and his bass at IFest.

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Earth Day ActivitiesParker Kindergartners are learning about the natural

resources we use each day that are in need of preserving. In order to bring awareness to the problems with our world and promote recycling and reusing, the Kindergarten classes had an Earth Saving Fashion Show on Earth Day, April 22, 2014. There were some very creative fashions.

Ms. Cummins

Parker Elementary Marathon Kids Champions

The Parker Elementary Marathon Kids participants were amazing! They put on quite a show Saturday, April 12, 2014, at the Final Mile Medal Celebration. The attendees completed their final ceremonial lap around the University of Houston track to commemorate their accomplishment of finishing the equivalent of a marathon. Each student who attended the final mile medal celebration earned a gold medal for crossing the finish line! I am so proud of all my students especially those who had committed time outside of the school day to participate in this event. By participating in events such as these, you are becoming strong, healthy individuals. You are all winners! I would like to thank all of the students and their parents who were in attendance:

Sanae AdamsAlyssa BergeronTavia BundridgeRichard ColburnSamson ColburnSully ColburnKolton DenningStephen DenningAndrew DonovanEli ElleryBriana GonzalezSamuel Gross

Jackson JamisonJose MajanoSolomon MarlinMark MarshallMalachy MarshallJasmine OseOsaheni OseValdemar TamezMya Turner Zev Waghalter Luna Yepez

I would also like to thank the remaining 102 Marathon

Kids participants who signed up for the program but could not make it to this event. A special thank you is also extended to the parents who allowed their students to sign up for the Marathon Kids program. I look forward to racing you all at the 2014-2015 Marathon Kids event next school year!

Ms. Benjamin

Parker's Marathon Kids

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10626 AtwellPhone no. 713-726-3634

Website address:<http://www.houstonisd.org/

parkerelem>

NAME THAT BOOKCongratulations!The Kinder-2nd grade Name that Book (NTB) team

competed in the HISD-wide competition on March 3, 2014 at M.C. Williams Middle School. Parker’s team consisted of nine students: Elizabeth Avila, Ardiana Batuigas, Eli Ellery, Alejandro Infante, Robert Jones, Payton Pinkard, Ella Theurer, Sarah Vanlandingham, and Elliot Zider. The team displayed good sportsmanship and had fun competing.

The Parker K-2 and 3-5 teams were selected from the NTB Reading Club participants, which met throughout the first semester. The children read a set list of 30 books (35 books for 3rd-5th grade) for the NTB competition and had to identify the books correctly in response to audio clues (quotes) and visual clues. I congratulate all of the Reading Club participants for their dedication and enthusiasm!

Parker’s 3rd-5th grade NTB team participated in the HISD Contest at M.C. Williams Middle School on Thursday, April 3, 2014. Christopher Zider coached the team with help from Ms. Shafer and parent volunteers. The students partici-pating in the after-school Reading Program took a series of three tests covering 35 books to determine which students would represent Parker at the HISD competition. The team consisted of Téa Arvizu, Emily Bravo Valdespino, Samera Hayes, Samantha Jazmin, Abby Nitsch, Ellaynna Rodriguez, and Maddy Vanlandingham. Parker came in second against Condit Elementary and six other schools. Condit Elementary won the preliminary round and continued to the final compe-tition on Friday, April 4, 2014 against the other schools that won their preliminary rounds.

We are Parker Proud of all of the students that partici-pated in Parker’s NTB Reading Program this year. The list of books for next year’s Name that Book program was released at HISD’s Red Carpet Bookfair on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Barnes & Noble at Voss and Westheimer. Families can also get information about Name that Book on the web at http://www.hisdlibraryservices.org/Name_that_book_menu.htm. Students can find several of the books in Houston’s Public Library and read the books over the summer so they will be ready to “Name that Book” at the beginning of the school year. If you are interested in helping with Name that Book and/or your child wants to participate in Name that Book next year, please contact Susie Vanlandingham sbvanham@yahoo.com or Ms. Shafer sshafer@houstonisd.org.

Many thanks to:Christopher Zider for coaching the 3rd-5th grade team • and creating a new logo for the Name that Book Team shirts.

Rachel Theurer and Maria Infante for reading stories • aloud to the Reading Club and preparing the team for competition.

GiGi Starbuck for printing the neon rainbow tie-dye • shirts with Christopher Zider’s new logo for Parker’s Name that Book Team.

Ms. Richardson for allowing us to use her classroom as • our K-2 meeting location. Ms. Allen, Ms. Carter, and any other teacher in the library wing that let us use their room as a meeting space for our 3rd-5th grade group.

Ms. Shafer for being a Name that Book co-sponsor • and instilling a love of books and reading in Parker’s students.

Happy Reading!Susie Vanlandingham, Name that Book Co-Sponsor

A truism from warrensneed.com. Warren Sneed is the Director of the Jazz Department at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

If you miss practicing for one day, no one notices.If you miss practicing for two days, you notice.If you miss practicing for three days, EVERYBODY NOTICES!

THE RHAPSODYMy son, Zach, attended Parker Elementary and learned

to play the tuba. He performed his way through the band de-partments of both Johnston Middle School (Fine Arts Magnet) and The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He graduated in 2002 from HSPVA and his choice of music has been dismal, in my parental opinion, ever since.

Then one day, a few years after graduation, he was speaking with one of his friends on the phone and I heard him say "it was the greatest rhapsody I've ever heard."

My heart skipped a beat. A rhapsody at last! He liked something classical! Hurrah!

As I dashed to tell his father, it occurred to me, Zach had meant "rap CD."

Oh. B. Haverkamp

Items on the calendar are accurate as of press time. For questions regarding possible cancellations and new times, please call the main office at 713-726-3634.

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PARKER CALENDARMay 1 SDMC Meeting – 3:30 PM Guitar Concert – 2 PM for 1st & 2nd grade audience Guitar Concert – 6:30 PM for families and friends2 Spanish Club – 8:30 AM3 Spring Auction – 6:30 PM at Houston Athletic Fencing Center5-9 Stanford Testing6 Community Mtg. re New Parker School Building – 6:30-7:30 PM9 K to Children’s Museum – 8:30 AM-12:30PM “Heart is Smart” for 1st & 2nd grades – 1:30 PM10 Band to Houston Zoo – 11 AM12 4th Grade Piano Recital 3 PM13 STAAR test 5th grade Retakes 3rd Grade Piano Recital - 3 PM Violin Recital – A-K14 STARR 5th grade Retakes Violin Recital – L-Z15 Chorus Concert - 2 PM @ Parker for grades – K & 1st audience Chorus Concert – 6:30 PM @ Westbury Baptist for family and friends16 PTO Meeting - 8:15 AM 2nd Grade Piano Recital - 3 PM 5th Grade Piano Recital - 6:30 PM19 Youngest and Oldest Concert - 8:30 PM20 PALS & PREK Awards - 8:30 AM 1st Grade Piano Recital - 12:45 PM Adv. Band, Pre-Band & Jazz Band Concert - 2 PM for 4th & 5th grades Adv.& Jazz Band Concert - 6:30 PM for families and friends21 1st Grade Piano Recital - 12:45 PM G/T Expo - 4:30-6:30 PM22 VIPS Breakfast – 7:30 AM Beginning Band and Rhythm Band Concert - 2 PM for 2nd & 3rd grades Beginning Band and Rhythm Band Concert - 6:30 PM for families and friends23 1st grade to Old McDonald’s Farm 9 AM-2 PM 4th Grade Awards - 1:45 PM27 Kinder Awards - 8:30 AM Kolb & Kabay classes to Miller Outdoor Theatre – 9 AM-2 PM 4th Grade to Miller Outdoor Theatre 3rd Grade Awards - 1:45 PM28 1st Grade Awards – 8:30 AM 2nd Grade Awards - 1:45 PM 5th Grade Awards - 6:30 PM at Johnston Middle School Auditorium29 Last Day of School/ Class Parties - 12 noon

The Code of CooperationMake bright decisionsUse good judgmentSpeak with respectInteract with others positivelyControl your own behavior.

WE OURVOLUNTEERS!