Annual school activities focus attention on what parents need to know to boost student success

For Joppa View Elementary Principal Victoria Layman, there are few annual schoolwide events more important to the success of her students and school than the annual Back-to-School Night.

“Back-to-School Night offers a wonderful opportunity for the parents to meet the teachers and to learn about the expectations for their children for the upcoming school year,” she says. “It’s all part of our belief in building strong home-to-school communication; we know that children with involved parents are more successful at school.”

And, she adds, there’s one other benefit for children who attend Back-to-School Night with their parents: “Our students enjoy locating their desks and lockers.”

It’s the same story across Baltimore County as schools from Arbutus to Edgemere gear up for the 2006-07 school year – few events on the school calendar are as important as Back-to-School Night.

“Back to School Night provides parents with the opportunity to begin to establish positive relationships with their children’s teachers,” said Barbara Cheswick, principal at New Town High School. “They have an opportunity to experience what their child is expected to do in each classroom. Understanding those expectations for student learning is the first step in developing those relationships.”

The activities, which are scheduled at nearly every Baltimore County public school from now until mid-September, combine school spirit with plenty of practical and important information for all parents and caregivers.

For detailed information about a specific school’s Back-to-School Night, parents may call their child’s school or check on the school’s web site. For a complete listing of Back-to-School events at schools throughout Baltimore County, visit the BCPS web site at www.bcps.org/schools/.

By attending a Back-to-School event, parents may learn about upcoming school activities, school protocol and rules, new staff, improvements to the school building over the summer, or many other aspects of school life that could help students as they navigate hallways and learn new faces, schedules, and lessons during the first few weeks of the school year.

At many Back-to-School Night events, there are also opportunities to meet teachers and administrators, visit classrooms, the school library and computer labs, and learn what children will be learning and doing during the school year.
 
And because parent involvement is so vital to a child’s academic success, Back-to-School Nights are a great way for parents to learn about and become involved in the life of their child’s school.

“Back to School night sets the tone that a home-to-school connection is primary in addressing student achievement,” said Jacksonville Elementary School Principal Deborah Glinowiecki. “Parents are provided an overview of the new curriculum as well as routines and expectations for the upcoming school year. This enables them to provide support for the student at home.”

Story by Charles Herndon, communications specialist for BCPS