Roughly 15.5 million students begin high school each year nationwide, and up to 30% struggle with the transition. Parker has programs in place to help assist with this transition. The Bridge, Retreat, and Orientation programs are ways for students to...

Every summer, locals and travelers await the exciting first weekend of August, otherwise known as Lollapalooza.  Lollapalooza began on July 18, 1991, in Phoenix, Arizona after musician Perry Farrell used it as a multi-city venue for his band, Jane’s...

As Upper School students fill the hallways during passing periods, breaks, and lunch, there’s one thing that they all have in common: they’re all holding cell phones. Whether it’s using one of many social media apps, texting someone, or merely checking...

Every year a group of 80-90 students joins Parker’s upper school and must learn everything from how to work the portal to where the biology classrooms are. This year 26 of the 89 incoming freshmen are new to Parker students who had never been in a room...

The transition to the unknown is a big change in any circumstance, especially when the unknown seems almost unprecedented. “Almost” is the key word in regards to Parker’s new schedule that features an eight-day rotation.  Debuting this year,...

Cookies can be described in two ways. Chewy and sweet, or educational and entertaining. While the first description describes some of the desserts in the cafeteria, the latter describes the Cookies program, a two day experience where Upper School students...

The Parker Colonels baseball team beat Noble Academy on Sunday, May 14, with a score of 15-0. Contributing to that success was freshman Joseph Evans’s no-hitter.  Evans said that the team's thought process going into the game was “to get a lead...

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the Parker Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) Underwater Robotics Team, Subaquatic Solutions, attended the MATE ROV Competition for underwater robotics, along with seven other high schools. The competition was held at Hoffman...

As I sat down in Dr. Frank’s office to conduct an interview, I couldn’t help but notice the various items that decorated his walls and shelves. Photos of him, both working at Parker and attending Parker adorned a table. Handwritten notes, some clearly...

The Middle and Upper School Director of Studies: for the past seven years, Sven Carlsson had that title. Until recently, that is. This upcoming year, Carlsson is leaving his post in the administration to take over for Advanced Precalculus and Statistics....

On Saturday, April 27, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) hosted Parker’s Spring Athletics Showcase for the first time in three years. “Four out of our five spring sports were able to compete,” said Athletic Director Bobby Starks. The four games...

There was a clear blue sky and the sun was shining on the day of Pat McHale’s memorial service. The day’s vibrance was a preview to a light-hearted celebration.  Pat McHale was a renaissance man who had a plethora of experiences in his life. ...