Belonging at Parker

Between classes and long study sessions across Parker’s campuses, students might notice bubbles drifting through the air, a therapy dog wagging its tail, or classmates gathered around a table with Play-Doh. It may look like just play, but behind it is a thoughtful effort to benefit student well-being.

“Wellness Wednesdays” is an initiative designed by the Student Health and Wellness team to strengthen relationships between students and the counseling team while also breaking down the stigma that can come with asking for support. At its core is a simple idea–students are more likely to reach out when they recognize the people who are there to help. 

“The wellness team is for everybody,” said Head of Student Support and Wellness Dr. Megan Storey Hallam.

Throughout April and into Mental Health Awareness Month, the program will introduce activities and resources that build practical skills and encourage balance. From study sprints that emphasize the importance of intentional breaks to collaborations with the tech and education teams that highlight accessible wellness tools. 

These Wellness Wednesdays are also a reminder that wellness doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as taking a breath or playing with friends.  

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Upcoming 2025-2026 Upper School Wellness Wednesday events:

April 15, 2026 – Spring is in the Air: April is a reminder that growth is a process. Some days feel bright and steady. Others feel cloudy and heavy. Both are part of becoming who you are.

We will focus on the importance of self-care by encouraging students to think about how they can be kind to themselves during the busy school year and with their various commitments. We will ask them to write down their ideas for self-care, and in return, they will receive a self-care item of their choice (which will be fun giveaways!).

May 6, 2026 – Reset and Refocus: Use Play-Doh to decompress, refocus, and reshape your stress into something more manageable. Small moments of pause can make a big difference.
We will provide Play-Doh to help alleviate stress during AP exams this year.

June 3, 2026 – Cool Down for Summer: Cool off with a refreshing popsicle at our Wellness Wednesday table! It’s a great way to take a breather, enjoy the moment, and celebrate the upcoming summer. 

We will give out popsicles to encourage taking breaks, enjoying the moment, cherishing time with friends, and preparing for summer. We will ask students to share how they plan to restore their energy over the summer. 

Upcoming 2025-2026 Middle School Wellness Wednesday events:

At the Middle School level, Wellness Wednesdays are already making a meaningful impact through student-led efforts. As part of the Francis Barkers Therapy Dog Club, students work alongside their advisor to plan and facilitate monthly Wellness Wednesday activities, often joined by Miso Soup, the Middle School’s therapy dog. 

April 15, 2026 – Bubbles & Breathing: The Barkers will educate students about mindful breathing and will hand out bubbles for students to practice deep exhales. 

May 13, 2026 – Celebrating Teachers: We will celebrate teachers by having students write a message of appreciation on a card that the Barker students will wrap and deliver to teachers. 

June 3, 2026 – Rainbow Club: The Barkers will partner with the Rainbow Club to celebrate Pride Month. Miso will be a "pride puppy," and we're coloring his fur in rainbow colors to celebrate the event. 

2025-2026 Lower School Wellness Wednesday events:
At Lower School, students participated in a Wellness Wednesday before Winter Break, where they made snowflakes to hang around campus. This exercise highlighted the uniqueness of each snowflake, just as we, as individuals, each have special things about us to celebrate: a favorite hobby or skill, our heritage, the languages we speak, or things that matter to us. Once the students cut out their snowflakes, they wrote or drew something on them that made them unique.

In addition to Wellness Wednesday, the Lower School community garden acts as both a service project for the Parker community and a hands-on haven for wellness and social-emotional learning. Supported by the student-led Green Team, every grade level participates in planting and composting. Daily garden care routines—including watering, tending, and carefully looping pea tendrils through the trellis—teach students responsibility and self-management. At the same time, collaborative planting builds essential teamwork and a shared sense of purpose.

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Wellness Wednesdays and other student wellness activities reinforce that well-being is not something separate from the school day, but an essential part of it. We appreciate our Student Health and Wellness team taking the time to plan these events across Divisions, along with the other critical services they offer students daily. 

 

This past trimester, individual Lancers and student organizations traveled beyond our campuses to participate in competitions spanning from the STEM disciplines to the dramatic arts. Many of our students received special awards and recognition at these events for their hard work. Continue reading below to see where our students competed and the accolades they received.

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California State Thespian Festival

Last month, 22 Upper School Drama Club members represented Parker at the California State Thespian Festival, showcasing their incredible craft and artistry. These students were accompanied and guided by Parker instructors Ryan Olson, Soren Carey, Ryan Griggs, and Joey Kurz. Competing with over 1,700 top theater students statewide, many of our thespians received special recognition for their artistic achievements.

First Place Winners:

Short Live Action Film (Tie)
Ike Von Behren, Class of 2027 (“Squibley”), also received Judges' Choice

2-Person Scene (Tie)
Graham Kroonen, Class of 2027, and Ike Von Behren (“Lend Me A Tenor”)
Sienna Buttaro, Class of 2028, and Sarah Dago, Class of 2026 (“Baby with the Bathwater”)

1st Place (tie), Musical Theater Solo (Tie)
Lila Kisch, Class of 2029 ("Beyond My Wildest Dreams" from “The Little Mermaid”)

Makeup Design
Benjamin Rupani, Class of 2028 (“She Kills Monsters”)

Second Place Winners:

Stage Management
Sarah Dago (“Matilda the Musical”)

Superior Ratings:

2-Person Scene
Ava Cherry, Class of 2028, and Clare Makely, Class of 2028 (“Antigone”)
Elliot Carson, Class of 2028, and Amelia Upasani, Class of 2028 (“Rabbit Hole”)

Monologue
Alexis Vann, Class of 2026 (“Pretty Theft”)
Danni Ziegler, Class of 2026 (“Laughing Wild”)

Duet Musical Theater
Graham Kroonen and Charlotte Ramers, Class of 2026 ("Fine" from “Ordinary Days”)

Mainstage & Festival Finale

Four of our students were invited to perform or present on the Mainstage in front of 1,800 festival attendees. Lila Kisch danced in the festival’s opening number, "Another Day of Sun." During the student presentations, Ike Von Behren showcased his film "Squibley”, and Graham Kroonen and Charlotte Ramers performed their song "Fine.”

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Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair

We celebrate two Parker students who participated and received special recognition at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. These students conducted independent research on an issue of interest and designed original projects. Then they presented their work and findings to judges with field-level expertise. 

Valente Azevado, Class of 2030

Valente designed and produced a robotic hand that responds to voice commands. As a result of his hard work, the Fair awarded him first place in the junior division in Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics. He also received the Special Award from the Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association. In addition to qualifying for the California Science and Engineering Fair, Valente was also a nominee for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

 

Shounak Ray Chaudhuri, Class of 2026

Shounak made advancements towards implementing autonomous vehicle platforms in emerging global markets such as India. Shounak’s dedicated research efforts earned him a spot as a finalist for the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix. In addition to being a runner-up for the Grand Award, Shounak qualified for the California Science and Engineering Fair.

 

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USC Model UN

22 members of Parker’s Model UN team participated in USC’s Model UN Conference on February 28 and March 1. Our student delegates researched, competed, and debated over a wide range of global issues in specialized committees alongside other high school attendees.

We offer our congratulations to these students who received recognition at this year’s conference: 

Exemplary Research: Mirabelle Egilmez, Class of 2028

Exemplary Research: Jayati Babla, Class of 2028

Verbal Commendation: Josephine Choy, Class of 2026

Honorable Mention: Gabriella Price, Class of 2027

Outstanding Delegate: Cassia Cromwell, Class of 2027

Under the guidance of mentor Morgan Shekter and chaperone support from Chelsea Blanco and Rachel Krause, these students exemplified the finest qualities of Parker through their professionalism and kindness.

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We hope you join us in congratulating these students for their amazing hard work and extraordinary dedication. We are happy for their successes and look forward to what they do next!