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Parker News

Parker in the News

To celebrate our students' hard work and passions outside of their time on campus, we have created the Parker in the News landing page. Periodically, the page will be updated, and the round-up of stories and links will be shared with the community.

Class of 2022-2023 NAIS College-Age Survey Report

Parker sends out the NAIS College-Age Survey to alumni each year to learn more about how alumni’s time at Parker influenced their success in college. Focusing on data from the past two years, the survey captures both quantitative trends and personal reflections from alumni. The following infographic is representative of responses from the Classes of 2022 and 2023. 

Parker Students Earn Acceptances to 340+ Institutions

Each year, Parker seniors make the important choice about where their next step will take them. Over the last three years, a strong commitment to academic excellence, athletics, extracurriculars, and other worthy endeavors has helped our graduating students earn admittance to over 340 colleges and universities.

Alumni Julie Newman's Ascent in Aerospace Engineering

Julie (Jester) Newman ’10 is an aerospace engineer, author, and STEM outreach champion. Put simply, Julie is literally having a blast in her career. Since graduating from Parker and studying Electrical Engineering at Caltech, she has worked on a wide range of space programs, including rockets, satellites, and even a mission to Jupiter. On top of that, she was recently recognized with the “20 under 35” award for her industry.

Parker Alumni Shake Up Mental Health Education

Few siblings have the opportunity—or the desire—to work with each other day in and day out. For Parker alumni Matt Rubin ’02 and Andrew Rubin ’05, their partnership has built a business that shapes careers and ultimately changes lives.

Practice Mindfulness with Madame Darma

Francis Parker School teacher Laurence Darmalingom-Hoover, known as Madame Darma to her students, teaches a mindfulness class for Grade 6 students at Parker. This course promotes wellness in the busy lives of our students

It's About the Teachers: Day of Giving 2024

Now in its eleventh year, the Day of Giving is a school-wide, one-day campaign to reward, retain, and recruit the people who create the Parker experience: our teachers. Since 2014, your donations to the Day of Giving have allowed Parker to invest an additional five million dollars in the areas that enhance the experience for our teachers: faculty professional development, competitive salaries, and robust benefits.

Students First: How Parker Fosters a Community of Belonging

Parker programs, curriculum, and activities create a community where everyone feels valued, included, and respected. We take special care to ensure that transitions between divisions and campuses run smoothly and new students easily settle into their life at Parker.  

Amplifying Student Voice Ignites School Spirit

Over the past year and a half, visitors to the Linda Vista Campus have witnessed the evolution of the Parker Forward project from demolition to completion. The project began with the School’s commitment to Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies and a strong vision for a campus hub that supported that initiative. Parker’s Athletic Director Mahina Hannemann-Gago wanted the project to stay true to the Parker value of Students First—emphasizing the need for a strong student voice to be visible throughout the new spaces. To accomplish this, Mahina called on the Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC) a representative body of interscholastic athletic and club programs comprised of over 30 active student-athletes.

Parker’s Independent Student-Athletes

Danika Yam, Class of 2026, was first introduced to fencing in the third grade by her friend’s parents, who recognized her agility and speed as ideal qualities for the sport. After meeting with the coaches at the San Diego Fencing Center in Escondido and learning about the different disciplines, Danika knew she wanted to be a saber fencer.

Parker Forward’s All-School Celebration

This fall, students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 5 trekked over to the Linda Vista Campus to celebrate the grand opening of the updated Silberman Family Student Life Center, the Douglas Aquatic Center, Vassiliadis Commons, and the Vassiliadis Athletic Center alongside their Middle and Upper School peers.

Birds of Different Feathers in Grade 8 Advisory

Students typically learn about birds in our science classrooms, but this fall, Grade 8 students were able to be inspired by avian behavioral patterns in a new way. During advisory, students participated in a unique Birds of Different Feathers work style assessment. This exercise allowed students to discover their “bird” personality type and learn how it influences their approach to work.

Parker at the Olympics

Taking place on a global stage, the Olympics are made possible by thousands of dedicated individuals working behind the scenes. Numerous Parker alumni, faculty, and parents are contributing to the 2024 Olympics—from athletes and coaches to physicians and caterers.

Inside SAAC at Parker

The Student Athletic Advisory Council is a representative body of interscholastic athletic and club programs. Student-athletes serve on the council and provide insight into the student-athlete experience under the guidance and mentorship of the Director of Athletics, Mahina Hannemann-Gago.

Please bear with us as archival content is migrated from our old Parker News website through December 2025.