Rebecca Mestel

Like most teachers, math teacher Michael Di Paola goes over his class syllabus with his students’ parents.

Every year, Amador hosts back to school night for students’ parents, and this year was no different. On September 6, parents filled the school as they followed their student’s schedules. The schedules led parents through their students’ classes, spending ten minutes in each, complete with seven minute passing periods. 

“Back to school night is important because it allows us as a school to reach out to the community and connect with them in a way that we don’t normally get to. It’s really a unique and special night to make those special connections with parents,” said Melanie Harris, one of Amador’s vice principals.

This year’s back to school night began with a welcome by AV Principal Jon Fey before parents headed off to first period.

“I think [back to school night] allows parents to put a face to a name, it allows them to see what their students’ schedules are like, and…it makes that in-person connection that you don’t necessarily get because most of our communication is email,”said Harris.

Back to school night helps parents better understand their children’s school experience and class expectations.  Many parents use it as an opportunity to see what their students experience everyday.

“I think [back to school night] is great because you have the opportunity to see what the environment your kids are in each day looks like,” said Teresa Sapriza, parent of a sophomore.

For teachers, back to school night is a chance to meet parents face-to-face and explain what the school year will bring. Every teacher has their own approach to back to school night, but many often give a general class overview.

“I usually cover the highlights of my syllabus, so it’s kind of like what I do on the first day of school. I even play music when [parents are] coming in, and it’s so short, it’s only a ten minute spiel, so it’s pretty much filled with introductions, a little bit about myself, some information about the class, what the year might actually look like, and what we’re going to be studying,” said Mairi Wohlgemuth, AP US History teacher.