By Nancy Azzam

On Thursday, April 25, Granada Hills Charter (GHC) hosted its annual Open House on the Zelzah campus. This event allows the GHC students and staff to show off their hard work this school year. Whether it was with teachers in classrooms, with performances on the, or with the art show in Highlander Hall, everyone had the chance to present all they had accomplished this school year to parents and community members. 

A lot of parents tend to skip out on this night because it turns into a “been there, done that” situation, especially when they don’t have children in the performances. Other parents–especially those who have multiple kids–may find events like Back to School Night and Open House draining.

However, Open House is an important opportunity for parents to become involved in their children’s academic lives. Parents can meet their students’ teachers, familiarize themselves with various curriculums, talk with other parents, and express their concerns. As students, we see our parents’ efforts shine at events like these, and we appreciate it. 

Parent attendance is also helpful for the many clubs and extracurricular activities on campus, many of which have booths; selling food to fundraise while also raising awareness about their team. This is also an important time to inform parents and students about how they can participate in the Granada community. 

“I really enjoyed introducing my parents to all of my teachers and showing all that I have done throughout the year to them,” junior Luke Barmaksezian said. “It was also cool to be able to support a bunch of extracurriculars and learn about them at their booths. It made me feel really connected to my school community and my peers.” 

Some of these student groups who participated in Open House included the GHC Associated Student Body (ASB), Mock Trial, DECA, Envirothon, and more. 

Additionally, the choir had stunning performances, singing both “Problem” by Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. A newly formed all-boys choir also made an appearance and wooed the audience.   

Overall, Open House promotes student, teacher, and parent engagement and involvement in our high school community and serves to benefit all despite what many may see the event as.

“I absolutely loved it,” Luke’s mom, Ani Barmaksezian said. “I got to see my daughter perform for choir and meet both of my kid’s favorite teachers whom they have been talking about all year. As a mom, it made me feel happy for my kids and makes me proud of what they have been able to accomplish.”