Back to School Nights

In August, most schools will be starting the school year. Each year starts a new journey for our kids, and this year promises to be another great one. My son Dominick will be starting middle school, and my daughter Amaia will be entering 7th grade. My kids have already mentioned back to school night events and open house, and I already have the dates in my calendar to make sure we attend. But what is back to school night? What is an Open House?

Open House Night

Some schools have gotten creative about open house school nights. Some open house school nights are considered a fun night for students to meet and greet the school principal, administrators, support personnel, and teachers. I have seen school nights involve an ice cream social or a picnic event. An open house school night provides students and parents an introduction to the school personnel, a class schedule, and in some cases, a chance to meet your child's teacher. Keep in mind that there are times when class lists and your child's teacher might not finalize, and changes may happen. This happened to us once when we went in and thought we met my child's teacher, but once school started noticed, the class teacher changed. There are several reasons why this might happen, such as last-minute class additions, classroom size adjustments, or gender balance across different class sizes. Back to school night is also when you'll get to find out about uniform policies, specific class list materials. For students, this is the time to figure which of their friends will be in the same class. Most schools send a letter or make an all call to inform parents of the dates and times of back to school night and open house. This information is also available on the school website.

What to do during Open House Night

Not everyone attends open house school night, but for me, this is the perfect time to meet my child's teacher(s) and start to make a connection with school personnel. In my case, I have taken advantage of the open house school night to let the teacher know of my daughter's IEP. In most cases, the teachers were not yet aware of her educational needs, but my first mention alerted the teachers to look into my child's IEP needs. This night was also a good time to figure out school supplies and uniform policies.

Back to School Night

Although both events are very important, Back to School Night seems to be the most attended event at the beginning of the school year. Parents get to be a student and attend each class. Back to School Night gives parents an understanding of what your child's school day is like. The school shares homework policy, homework help, class schedule, and class requirements during this time. As a parent, you'll get to envision your child's time during each class to get an idea of what their day will be like in school. Textbooks and curriculum materials are provided. Some teachers take the time to get to know your child and provide parents with contact information. Back to School Nights often showcase afterschool activities, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

What to do during Back to School Night

As mentioned above, Back to School Night is the most attended school night by parents. Parents should attend Open House to get an understanding of the school routine for their child. Ask questions about homework policy and what to do if your child needs extra help. Connect with your child's teacher and schedule an appointment or a phone call to discuss your child's specific needs if necessary. Discuss potential sports or after school activities to figure out what to do to get your child to sign up for sports. Finally, sign up for the class email list or class dojo account if available. If your child is attending a dual language immersion program, this is the perfect time for you to get an idea of your child's school day.

Parent involvement is a critical piece of the puzzle in education. Students that see their parents show interest in their education will most likely appreciate their years in education. Teachers tend to be more engaged when they see families show interest in their child's education. As an educator, I believe it is never to late to get involved in your child's education.