Our Mission
The
mission of Graham & Parks is to educate the whole child: to help
every child in our school fully develop his or her unique intellectual,
social, and emotional capabilities. Download the full mission statement >> (pdf)
View School Improvement Plan >>
View School Report Card >>
History
Graham
and Parks is the result of joining two schools in 1981 -- the Cambridge
Alternative Public School (CAPS), which was a small, nationally
acclaimed magnet school, and the Webster School, which was a small,
traditional neighborhood school. The School was renamed after Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005), inspiration for the modern civil rights movement, and Saundra Graham,
a local activist for social, racial, and economic justice. The school
was located on Upton Street from 1982 until 2003, when we moved to 44
Linnaean Street. Learn more >>
Whole School Values
Our
goal is to create a set of core values that reflect the mission of our
school. We want everyone at Graham and Parks to “own” these values; that
means that we talk to children about them, and we explicitly explain
and model what our values look like and feel like. Read more >>
Curriculum
The
educational program is highly individualized, with an emphasis on
teaching the Common Core Curriculum Standards in creative ways. The
curriculum is developed by teachers and focused on building concepts and
ideas. It is hands-on, project-based, integrated, multi-cultural and
acknowledges diverse family groupings. We emphasize cooperative learning
since we believe that learning is primarily a social activity. Explore the Curriculum >>
School Life
We
try to balance freedom and responsibility for the students -- we are
truly concerned about the child and the curriculum and we are concerned
with trying to educate the whole child. We place a strong emphasis on
self- and social-awareness: we want our children not only to be capable
-- to have skills and knowledge -- but to be lovable -- to like
themselves and others and to work well together.
Parent Involvement
Parent
involvement is unique. Parents not only are invited to volunteer in
classrooms and to initiate curriculum linked projects. They are also
involved in many aspects of decision-making - from the hiring of staff,
to deciding how fund-raising money will be spent. Parents are supported
by a part-time Parent Liaison. In addition, the city makes available (by
appointment) Citywide Liaisons in several languages including Creole
and Spanish, as well as a LGBT Liaison to support Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender families and youth. Get Involved >>
After School Opportunities
We
have an after-school childcare program grades K - 4, an after-school
Community Schools Program offering enrichment classes for students
grades K-5, and an after-school academic learning center for grades 3 –
5.
Enrich your child >>