Students rejoice every year for the half day they get when Back-To-School Night rolls around.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 97% of schools across the country, host a Back-to-School Night. Here at River Dell, Back-to-School Night has been a time-honored tradition.
From 7-9 pm, parents hustle over to the school and frantically follow their child’s schedule. The parents then attend 10-minute course seminars hosted by the teachers.
Mr. Kleinfelder, a tenured math teacher here at River Dell shared he has attended Back-to-School night for each of the 21 years he has been at River Dell. “I’m giving out a handout that covers my expectations of the students and the topics we are covering for the year.”
Madam G, the French teacher for the entire district, has a PowerPoint that covers the French curriculum for each level. Madam Guerriero revealed, “Tonight will be quite fun for me since I know most of these parents from their previous visits.”
Mr. Giorgio, the student’s assistance counselor, was happy to share he loves attending Back-to-School Night because it allows him to talk to parents and make them aware of the mental health assistance he can allocate to students.
Teachers and Administration had nothing but good things to say about Back-to-School Night, yet others aren’t giving such a glowing review. Heather Corrigan, a parent of a sophomore here at River Dell thinks, “There’s got to be a way to cut down the night. 7-9 is crazy!”
Antonella Gutilla a parent of a sophomore and a senior, overheard Mrs. Corrigan’s sentiments and wondered, “How could you possibly cut down the time? Each meeting is already ten minutes!”
The students of River Dell couldn’t come to a consensus; students have mixed reviews. Fallon Grebla, a student in her junior year thinks, “Back-to-School Night is necessary, especially for freshman parents and students.”
Sophomore Emily Aguilar voices analogous views, “Teachers can’t get specific with each parent. They can only really talk about the class as a whole.”
Well, Mr. Pepe, former River Dell student, now Principal, and parent of a freshman clears the air on Back-to-School Night.
When asked to estimate the percentage of parents that attended Back-to-School Night, Pepe thinks it was about 60-70%.
He admits he thinks the night was a success, but he also wants to improve those numbers. While the custodians were busily working together to get the building spotless, Pepe was restlessly thinking about ways to improve a night that Mr. Flanagan thinks is “purposeful and deeply rooted in education tradition.”
