Back-To-School Night

Did you know that it is Back-To-School Night season in Baltimore County?  At the school where I work (you all know where it is!) tonight's the big night.  Teachers will be on hand to greet parents, many of whom will be walking through this building as former students!  The Administrators will be out and about, so that parents and guardians can meet them.  Athletic coaches will be out in the halls, talking up their sports, and wanting to meet the parents of their players.  Members of the Student Council and various other student groups will be at school, helping parents find their way around, or trying to interest students and parents alike in events coming up in our school. 

I know all you parents out there went to Back-To-School Nights when your children were in elementary school.  That's really important, right?  It was the way to get a feel for the environment your little lovebug was in all day long.  It was a way to meet the school nurse, and see how the classroom was laid out.  It was a way to see if the stories you had heard from your fifth grade boy were true.  You know the story. . . "No mom, I don't have any homework on the weekends.  It's a Baltimore County Policy.  Teachers aren't supposed to give us homework over the weekend!"  Remember that one? 

Today, your little lovebug, the boy who claimed not to ever have any homework is a freshman or a sophomore or quite possibly a senior at Parkville High School.  (Maybe he goes to another local school, but we're using PHS, because tonight is Back-to-School Night at Parkville!)  You don't need to go to school tonight, do you?  After all, he's a teenager, and he knows what he is supposed to do. 

Wrong answer!  As a parent and as a person who works with teenagers in the schools.  Your little boy or little girl would LOVE for you to show interest in his or her life by coming for Back-To-School Night.  They would love to see how you perceive their English teacher or their Gym teacher.  They would love to have you know what the renovated cafeteria looks and feels like now that it has air conditioning! 

Your teenager would roll her eyes if you asked her whether she wanted you to come to Back to School Night.  But if you went, I'll bet that when you got home from it, she'll ask you questions.  "So dad, what did you think?  Isn't it a Loooooong walk from the cafeteria up to my American Government classroom?"  "What did you think of my Math teacher?  Isn't he cool?"  "Did you see the new ninth grade principal?  Did you talk to him about me?"  "Hey mom, did you see my picture on the wall in the front lobby?"

Your teenage students don't need you to smooth the way for them as much as they used to.  They don't need you to hold their hand as they walk to school, and they don't always let you kiss them goodbye in front of their friends.  But your teenage children need you to check out their school and maybe even participate in activities there.  Join the Magnet Boosters.  Sign up for PTSA.  Buy a mum from the PTSA.  Volunteer for a fundraiser.  Offer your services as a parent volunteer (yes, high schools do use parent volunteers. . . when they can get them!), even if just to make a half an hour's worth of photo copies.  Volunteer to help with the Post Prom Party for seniors. Meet as many teachers as you can. Your child needs you to be involved with their school, even if just a little bit.  He or she may not tell you how important it is for you to be involved, and may even look discouraging, but in the end, they'll be thrilled that you went!  Even more so, when their teachers tell them how great it was to meet you.  If you are wondering about the who's, the what's and the where's, please leave a comment below, and I'll do my best to answer your question!

(If your high school student goes to Overlea High School, BTSN is tonight from 5 - 7, Eastern Technical HS is having theirs tonight as well from 6:45 - 9:00.  Most of the other local high schools have had theirs already.  But you can check the BTSN schedule for all Baltimore County Schools at http://www.bcps.org/news/back-to-school.html!)