On September 4, Granada Hills Charter (GHC) hosted its annual Back to School Night on the high school campus. Hundreds of families attended the event, which offered parents an overview of academic programs, opportunities to meet teachers, and a look into student activities on campus.
Parents began the night visiting club fundraising and informational booths and watching some groups on campus perform such as choir, marching band, and the dance team. The Parent Student Teacher Association (PTSA) also sold hot dogs and hamburgers for the GHC community. After this, they followed a modified class schedule, visiting classrooms, and hearing presentations.
“I’m able to put a teacher’s face to the name, as well as hear their lesson plan for the year, which I think is very important,” Clariz Garcia, parent of a senior said.
Although the main focus of Back to School Night is allowing families to hear directly from teachers about expectations for the year, the event also offers families a chance to support clubs and teams through food sales by buying their food items and learning about their programs. Student organizations set up booths, promoted activities, and connected with parents throughout the night.
The school holds Back to School Night at the beginning of the school year to highlight the school’s focus on community both inside and outside of the classroom. It is the perfect opportunity for parents to get involved with their kids’ school lives.
“It’s important for clubs to come out and show what they can offer to people and help people find new interests as well as new hobbies, new communities, and just have fun,” senior Cochise Washington said.
Teachers use the evening to introduce course plans, outline goals for the school year, and answer parent questions. Meeting face-to-face early in the year helps parents feel confident in kids’ education as well as make notes on what would help students succeed.
“It’s so early on that it allows the parents to understand how my class works so if they ever need assistance with their son or daughter or if they ever have questions, they know where to go,” English teacher Crystal Fernandez said.
As students, we have all been asked “What did you do at school today?” but parents rarely receive in-depth answers. Back to School Night provides families with a window into daily school life.
Many parents commented that the teachers went above and beyond to welcome parents to the campus on this annual event.
The event is designed to be welcoming and informative, balancing academic information with opportunities for students and families to connect.