News & Events
News
2025
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May
“Francis W. Parker School makes playoffs at Scholastic Bowl National Championship Tournament”
The US Scholastic Bowl was featured in the Daily Herald!Read More -
Chefs Compete in Chemistry Cook Off
Read MoreUpper School students learned the science behind an entree, prepared it and served it to faculty judges -
Chess Champion Among Top 100 in the Country
Read MoreSophomore Josephine McCloskey was recognized as one of the top chess players in the nation under 16 -
Creating Connections Between France and Parker
Thirty-seven sophomores from Saint-Augustin, a private school outside of Paris, were accompanied by four chaperones, including their school principal, for the first round of an exciting new exchange launched by our French programRead More -
Enrichment and Immersion in Upper School Mandarin
On April 16, Mandarin students took a field trip to Chicago’s Chinatown for a day of enrichment and immersionRead More -
Inaugural Horwitz-Barreto Visiting Scholar Talks Clean Water
Parker welcomed lead water strategist at Argonne National Laboratory and Co-Principal Investigator at the Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine Dr. Junhong Chen to campus as part of the inaugural Horwitz-Barreto Visiting Scholar programRead More -
Second Grade Experts Share Stories
Second graders began the nonfiction writing unit by writing a chapter book about something that made them feel they were an expertRead More -
Spring Music Explosion
Read MoreThe community was treated to a number of different musical performances showcasing the hard work of our students! -
Support Handmade by Harper + Libi
For their May Term Project, senior sisters Harper and Libi Horn are expanding upon a nonprofit initiative they created in honor of a friend they lost to cancer in 2021Read More -
Alum Producer Wins Three Jeff Awards
The work of Parker alum Mackenzie Jones ’11 was recently recognized with three Joseph Jefferson Awards—or “Jeffs”—Chicago’s version of the Tony AwardsRead More -
Amplify Wins Music Festival
Middle School singers in Amplify competed in Music at the Parks at Six Flags Great America, the first time a Parker MS choir has entered a competitionRead More -
Celebrating Literacy in the Lower School
The Lower School community recently hosted two experiences celebrating children’s books and literacyRead More -
Enjoy the Latest Issue of “The Weekly”
Read MoreThe Weekly staff has been working incredibly hard these past few weeks to bring you this latest issue -
FACCTS 2025
FACCTS 2025 took place at the University of Chicago Center in Paris and welcomed Parker faculty both in-person and digitallyRead More -
Parker Offers Screening of “How to Poison a Planet”
Read MoreSupport Chicago Water Week and take in an award-winning documentary on Monday. -
Photography and Architecture Students Take Field Trip
Read MoreUpper School Photography and Architecture students turned the city into a classroom in a recent field trip -
Senior Is an EarthEcho Marine Plastics Ambassador
Senior Jack Benson worked to inform the community about the impact of plastics in their communities during a recent event at the Griffin Museum of Science and IndustryRead More -
Sophomore Named to National Student Advisory Council
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) recently chose sophomore Miriam Johnson as one of 16 students to serve on its National Student Advisory CouncilRead More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athlete of the Week: senior Ben GrainesRead More -
World Record Rower Zooms with 5th Grade
Zara Lachlan—the youngest woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean solo, nonstop and unsupported—recently Zoomed with the 5th gradeRead More -
April
Alum Chocolatier Returns to Science
Confectioner Sarah (Levy) Imberman ’99 returned to Parker to provide students with a chocolate-filled lessonRead More -
Berkowitz Student Committee Awards Grant to REACH
The Berkowitz Student Committee held their annual Morning Ex to announce the selection of REACH (Refugee Education & Adventure CHallenge) to receive a grant for their work welcoming and assisting youth refugees as they settle in ChicagoRead More -
Building Cultural Bridges with Clay
Mandarin students got hands-on experience with Chinese heritage in a traditional Clay Figure Zhang WorkshopRead More -
Environmental Committee Tackles the Wild Mile
The Upper School Environmental Committee organized a service-learning trip to the Wild Mile of the Urban Rivers OrganizationRead More -
Hansell Poet Elizabeth Acevedo Dazzles Community
Parker’s 11th Annual Jeanne Harris Hansell Endowed Poet Elizabeth Acevedo spent last Thursday sharing her story, poetry and creative passions with the communityRead More -
Holi Celebration Enjoys a Colorful Success
Colors covered the courtyard as laughter echoed and smiles shined at Parker’s first-ever Holi CelebrationRead More -
Nanomachines Occupy Ninth Grade Science Students
Dr. Rama Ranganathan came to Parker to teach science students more about nanomachines within biological systemsRead More -
Serving Up Lunches for Service Learning
Fifth grade students helped combat food insecurity in a recent service activityRead More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athlete of the Week: senior Akaash NandiRead More -
Kratsios Lab Enhances Mind and Brain
Upper School Science students explored neurobiology in a pair of labs facilitated by University of Chicago doctoral studentsRead More -
New Location, Same 7th Grade Retreat Fun
The 7th Grade Retreat may have taken place at a new location, but fun, teamwork and new experiences were still the focusRead More -
Red Cross Club Sounds the Alarm
Prior to April Recess, students in the Upper School Red Cross Club gathered on a Saturday to install smoke detectors and provide home fire education in West Chicago as part of the Sound the Alarm eventRead More -
Second Grade Shares Cultural Knowledge
Second grade students showcased all they had learned about Brazil, Ghana and Thailand in a recent culminating eventRead More -
SK Explores Artificial Intelligence!
SK students have been learning about artificial intelligence by making connections with books, coding activities and different AI generatorsRead More -
Student Dances in Sold-Out Performance
Third grade student Nora Thompson’s passion for dance took center stage in a recent performanceRead More -
Upper School Spanish Students Immerse Themselves in Spanish Culture in Sevilla
Last month, 22 Upper School Spanish students traveled to Sevilla, Spain to participate in a linguistic and cultural exchange program with the Colegio Irlandesas de BamiRead More -
Vocal Students Attend Choral Festival
Upper School vocalists in Advanced Choral Ensemble visited Bradley University to share their talents in the John Davis Choral FestivalRead More -
Art and Spanish Team Up in 4th Grade
Read MoreWanting to showcase a broader view of curriculum that moves away from many Eurocentric plans, two Parker teachers worked together on a unit to help decolonize the curriculum that many schools teach across the nation. -
Eating the Rainbow in JK
Read MoreQuest Food Management Service Manager Zac Maness met with Parker’s youngest students to orchestrate a delicious matching activity welcoming spring. -
Field Hockey Athlete Among Top 100 in Nation
Read MoreSonia Pettinelli was recognized as one of the top field hockey players in the nation in the class of 2027. -
Math Professor is a Perfect Match
Read MoreParker welcomed a special visitor all the way from the University of Glasgow when Dr. Sofiat Olaosebikan spent two days with students discussing her work and research in designing algorithms to help matching programs. -
Parker Welcomes New Head of Intermediate and Middle Schools Traveres X. White
We are excited to announce that after an extensive national search involving 68 completed applicants, eight semifinalists and four finalists, Traveres “Tray” White will return to Parker as our new Head of Intermediate and Middle Schools starting Tuesday, July 1.Read More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
This week's Student-Athlete of the Week is junior Darcy Rachel.Read More -
Third Grade Explores Chicago at Morning Ex
Read MoreThird grade students shared all they learned about the city they call home at Morning Ex this week. Split into six groups, the entire grade shared facts and observations about their individual topics, showed off art projects they made and offered photos and videos from field trips focusing on their area of exploration. -
March
Jewish United Fund Recognizes Junior
The Jewish United Fund recently recognized junior Ella Goodman as one of its 18 Under 18 honorees for the 2024–25 yearRead More -
Rob Sanders Visits Parker
Read MoreRob Sanders, funny and fierce author of LGBTQIA+ literary nonfiction picture books, met with students during Pride Week -
Spring into Student Art
Read MoreCreativity and inspiration are on display in the most recent pieces shared on campus -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athlete of the Week: junior Helen AkliluRead More -
A Cappella Visitors Sing and Share
Yale’s Whiffenpoofs stopped by Parker to perform and workshop with student vocalistsRead More -
Eighth Grade Boys Win Basketball Championship
Parker’s 8th Grade Boys Blue Basketball team made history in their first season in the new basketball divisionRead More -
Freshmen Meet with Four-Legged Friends
As part of their Civic Lab, a group of 9th grade students spent time with some furry friends at the Anti-Cruelty SocietyRead More -
Ishamel Beah Visits Parker
Author, human rights spokesperson and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Ishmael Beah met with students to talk about his life and how it has informed his workRead More -
Math Excitement Jumps Around the Middle and Upper Schools
Middle and Upper School students participated in Math Kangaroo and other math challengesRead More -
Middle School Student Council Hosts Town Hall with Dr. Frank
On Thursday, March 13, the Middle School Student Council welcomed Dr. Frank for a dynamic town hall meeting, where students engaged in open dialogue with the administrationRead More -
Parker Celebrates Pride Hand in Hand
The US Pride Committee organized a special Morning Ex focusing on joy, pride and the importance of connectionRead More -
Parker Journalists Win McCormick Foundation High School Media Awards
On Friday, March 14, the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago recognized Upper School student journalists with McCormick Foundation High School Media Awards at the annual conference on the Evanston campus of Northwestern University’s Medill School of JournalismRead More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athlete of the Week: junior Dal HarrellRead More -
Journey “Into the Woods”
Read MoreSupport Upper School performers as they perform Stephen Sondheim’s classic mixed-up fairytale Into the Woods for the spring musical -
Participation Challenge Winners Recognized
Read MoreEnjoy these photos from the grade-level gatherings recognizing those with more than 85% overall participation in the Parker Fund this year -
Scholastic Bowl Wins Regional Tournament
Parker is happy to announce the US Scholastic Bowl team won the 2025 IHSA regionalRead More -
Science Fair Participants Demonstrate Scientific Inquiry
Student scientists in 1st–4th grades showcased independent projects of interest as part of the school’s annual Science FairRead More -
Senior Celebrates 1,000-Point Career Milestone
Senior Varsity Basketball Captain Miles Johnson had a tremendous achievement this season when he surpassed the 1,000-point Career Scoring markRead More -
Student Films Selected for Diversity Film Festival
Read MoreThe upcoming Youth Diversity Film Festival will feature the work of four Upper School student filmmakers -
Students Analyze Traffic Through Algebraic Thinking with Engineer Mark Love
After a one-year hiatus, engineer Mark Love returned to Parker to show the Upper School how they can use Algebra in practical applicationsRead More -
Teacher Query Featured on WBEZ
When students had questions about the use of road salt in the city, History Department Chair and teacher Susan Elliott reached out to NPR for an answerRead More -
Upper School Students Share Culture with 4th and 7th Grades
Two Upper School students led a special Morning Ex for students in 4th and 7th gradeRead More -
Celebrating 100 Days of Parker in SKL
The number 100 is a big one, and Lower School students in SK-Lackman recently recognized their 100th day of school in creative and fun waysRead More -
Chess Team Continues to Checkmate
Parker’s state-champion Chess team closed their final week of competition with a bangRead More -
Middle School Student Council Visits DC
Read MoreMembers of the Middle School Student Council recently visited Washington, DC for some firsthand interactions with history and government -
P.E. Teacher Pursues Passions All the Way to the UK
The community gathered for a touching Morning Ex from Physical Education teacher Tyler Heidtke on his adventure playing in the 35-and-older Men’s USA National team during the Touch Rugby World Cup, which took place in Nottingham, UK this summerRead More -
Parker Robotics Wins 1st Place Design at State Tournament
This weekend, Parker’s own FTC Robotics team #3507 Robotheosis competed at the Illinois FTC State ChampionshipRead More -
Professor Jacqueline Scott Speaks to Junior Civic Lab
Parker parent, Loyola University Chicago Associate Professor of Philosophy and Department Chair Jacqueline Scott, PhD returned to speak with juniors about the concept of “meta-oppression”Read More -
Research Reports, Public Speaking and Conversations Come to Life
Greenie’s 1st grade students visited to Alyssa Hasbun’s 3rd grade class for a special sharing experienceRead More -
Space Stations, Innovation and Challenge Absorb 5th Grade
During STEAM Week, students designed prototypes for mechanical devices that could support work on a space stationRead More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Athlete of the Week: Geometry teacher and statistician extraordinaire Victoria LeeRead More -
Young Women of Color Symposium Keynote Speaker Shares Her Story
Author, educator and speaker Jennifer De Leon took the Morning Ex stage to share her story of understanding her identity while growing up in America as the daughter of Guatemalan immigrantsRead More -
February
Chess Wins 1A State Championship
The Chess Team has won the 2025 ICCA Division 1A State Championship after their performance at the IHSA State FinalRead More -
Civil Rights Unit Celebrated in 4th Grade
Fourth graders celebrated the Civil Rights Movement unit with a special celebratory feastRead More -
Dumpling Party Celebrates Chinese Culture
Upper School Mandarin students shared the sights, smells, sounds, flavors and fun of Chinese culture with the communityRead More -
Parker Party Cookie Decorating Party Offered a Treat
On Valentine’s Day Eve, the Parker Party Co-Chairs hosted the annual Cookie Decorating Party, which raised more than $2,000 for the Financial Assistance Program.Read More -
Parker PM Enjoys Family Pasta Party
Lower and Intermediate School students who participate in Parker PM enjoyed an evening pasta party and connected with their peers, staff and parents and guardiansRead More -
Scholastic Bowl Receives Honors
The Scholastic Bowl team is heading to the Regional tournament and three teammates were selected to the 2025 All-Sectional TeamsRead More -
Student-Athletes of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athletes of the Week: the Chess TeamRead More -
BSU Celebrates “The Joy of Our Culture”
Read MoreThe Parker community enjoyed a special Morning Ex last week as members of the Black Student Union organized a Morning Ex, “The Joy of Our Culture!” -
Community Builds Through Choir
Student and adult vocalists from Parker’s extracurricular music groups recently shared their talentsRead More -
Dinner and a Movie Event Was a Success
Read MoreThanks to everyone who attended the Grandparent Dinner and a Movie event last Friday. -
Enjoy the Latest Issue of “The Weekly”
Read MoreThe Weekly staff has been working incredibly hard these past few weeks to bring you this latest issue! -
Parker Students Attend Civic Leadership Summit
A group of Upper School students joined peers from across the country to cultivate leadership skills and make connections at the NAIS Student Civic Leadership SummitRead More -
Parker’s Robot Is a TV Star!
Read MoreA special TV event made a star out of a robot created by the Upper School Robotics team -
Robotics Team Goes to State!
Parker hosted the Chicago League FTC Tournament, where the two Parker US teams competedRead More -
Seventh Graders Showcase Musical Theater
The class of 2030 demonstrated all they had learned about musical theater in a recent showcase of their emergent talentsRead More -
Shabbat Sharing and Bread Braiding Enlighten 1st Grade
First grade students learned about Shabbat and how to braid challah bread in a recent classroom experienceRead More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
Read MoreThis week’s SAC Student-Athlete of the Weekis junior Spencer Koh, drive team coach for Parker's FTC Robotics Team 3507 Robotheosis -
Winter Games Heat Up Junior and Senior Kindergarten
The Physical Education Department brought together Big Sibs and JK/SK students for big fun at their annual Winter Games eventRead More -
Actors Learn in Motion
Drama students visited Parker’s Dance Studio to enhance their emergent practice with movementRead More -
Asian Alliance Shines Light on Lunar New Year
The Asian Alliance affinity group recently led students in Intermediate, Middle and Upper Schools through a Morning Ex to celebrate and explain the Lunar New YearRead More -
Chess Advances to the State Finals
Fresh off its success at the Chicago Chess Conference Post-Season Tournament, the Chess team continued their winning waysRead More -
FWPMUN IX Reinforces Global Collaboration
More than 400 students from around the city participated in Parker’s 9th annual Model United Nations ConferenceRead More -
Red Cross Club Drive Donates Life
Parker’s school community was successful in collecting 35 units of blood at a recent American Red Cross Blood DriveRead More -
Rocket Scientists Brave Cold to Complete Successful Launch
Upper School students in Physics I worked through cold, windy weather for the past number of weeks to successfully launch rockets on Parker’s turf fieldRead More -
Sixth Grade Musicians Share Out
Members of the 6th grade band had their first performance for an audience of their parents/guardians and vocalist peers in a recent musical gatheringRead More -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athlete of the Week: senior Ben GrainesRead More -
Students Create Care Kits for Maria Shelter
Members of the Middle School Social Justice Club met before classes to make care kits for those served by the Maria ShelterRead More -
Third Graders Visit with Author Kate Hannigan
The Kovler Family Library and the 3rd grade welcomed author Kate Hannigan for a daylong visitRead More -
January
Chess Places First in Post-Season Tournament
We are very excited to share about the tremendous work our Chess team has engaged in this seasonRead More -
Families Display Creativity and Collaboration at the JK DEIB Gallery Walk
Families of Parker’s youngest students came to school to present projects based on themes in books at the Junior Kindergarten DEIB Gallery WalkRead More -
Grandparent Shares Personal Holocaust Story at Morning Ex
Parker’s Jewish Student Connection affinity group commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, January 27 by welcoming Parker grandparent Abba Lessing to the Morning Ex stageRead More -
Historical Documentaries Showcased
Upper School filmmakers premiered their final projects in a recent showcase of historical documentariesRead More -
JK Makes Pancakes with Chef Zac
Foodservice Director Zac Maness worked with JK students to make pancakes in a hands-on learning experienceRead More -
Parker Employees Earn CASE Achievements
Read MoreParker employees John G. Levi Chief Development Officer Brent Caburnay, Major Gifts Officer James Pomeroy and Assistant Principal Priyanka Rupani received recognition for their excellence and professional acumen at the recent CASE-NAIS conference in Washington, D.C. -
Student-Athlete of the Week
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athlete of the Week: junior Ari DeutschRead More -
New Student Art Ushers in a New Year
Art teachers have recently adorned the school’s halls with a range of work to welcome the new year with a creative flourishRead More -
Scholastic Bowl Scores Second Championship
Congratulations to Scholastic Bowl for winning their second championship of the season at the Loyola Ultima Tournament Championship in the Challenge DivisionRead More -
Student-Athletes of the Weeks
The Student Athletic Council Heads are excited to announce the SAC Student-Athletes of the past two Weeks: senior Bryce Johnson and junior Ava LinRead More -
Students Code Matching Games
Upper School computer programmers collaborated with teachers to code visually responsive matching games for peers to review new materialsRead More -
Welcome to SK City!
Senior Kindergarteners learned about cities and the different systems in cities that are necessary for people to live happy, healthy and safe livesRead More -
DEIB Speaker Discusses Truth, Identity and Self-Acceptance
Parker’s 7th Annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Speaker Lacey Schwartz Delgado joined students at Morning Ex and the public in the evening to take a journey of feeling different, uncovering the truth and accepting multiple facets of one’s identityRead More -
Middle School LEGO Robotics Competes at Sectionals
The Middle School FIRST LEGO League teams recently competed at the Sectional Tournament at Horizon Science AcademyRead More -
Senior Examines AI’s Role in Democracy
Senior Sloane Demetriou presented an independent study that took a close look at the impact of generative AI on the recent presidential electionRead More -
Seniors Dazzle at Poetry Reading
As a culminating activity in Alicia Abood’s senior Poetry elective, students invite parents/guardians and the community to attend a live poetry reading showcasing their passion and growth as poets throughout the semesterRead More -
Upper School Robotics Teams Report on Season
At a special Morning Ex, members of Parker’s FTC Robotics teams reported on their progress thus far and revealed what lies ahead this yearRead More -
Cross-Grade Curriculum Cultivates Community
Prior to December Recess, Upper School Advanced French students in Cynthia Marker’s class visited their younger friends in Tisha Johnson’s JK classrooms for music, creativity and connectionRead More -
Middle School Scientists Take on Climate Change
Sixth grade science students have been engaged in climate change projects offering practical ways they can take action and help the planetRead More -
New Year, Same Winning “Weekly”
Read MoreParker’s student newspaper The Weekly is once again ringing in the new year with recognition from SNO (Student News Organization) -
Writer’s Studio Students Create Robot Stories with 1st Grade
Knowledge exchange was on the docket for the day when Upper School students met with 1st graders to provide guidance on story writing and learned more about coding in ScratchJr in returnRead More
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2025
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.