Back to School Night aims to offer a unique opportunity for all. Teachers have the opportunity to present their vision and method, parents get an idea of what their children will learn and clubs can advertise and collect donations. It’s a wonderful vision, and everybody approached it with enthusiasm, but the club showcase would have made even more of a splash if the parents were aware of the plan.
Twenty four clubs were present at Back to School Night this year, and they displayed the full breadth of what SPFHS has to offer. Everything from the Jewish Student Union to Club Inclusion to the Robotics Team, to SAGA. Enthusiastic club members manned every table, never missing a moment to advertise their merchandise, ask for donations or give directions to a parent in need of help.
Fundraising was one of the main draws for clubs to be at Back-to-School Night, and for a variety of different causes. Some clubs were fundraising for future trips, like Choir for the Boston music trip and Model UN for the Hershey trip. Others, like SAGA, the Bible Club and Club Inclusion, were fundraising for general club events in the future.
Unfortunately, most parents were not even aware that there would be clubs or fundraising at the event. While schedules for the classes were sent out, and maps were available upon entrance to the school, there was little-to-no information about club presence.
“I think it could have been helpful to [have given] parents an idea of what groups were going to be represented there beforehand,” Cathy Mirenda, the parent of a sophomore at SPFHS, told The Fanscotian. “I think the timing [of the night] overall was great, but there could have been a little more communication regarding opportunities for donation.”
Many parents were understandably too busy rushing around trying to navigate the school to stop by a club table for more than the second it took to ask directions. They did their best to look at the tables on their path from class to class, and find some spare change to make a donation, but finding clubs their kids would be interested in was not easy. If they had been given more information on what clubs would be present, more parents may have arrived earlier to scope out the club fair before classes officially started.
Ella Brainard, the Activity Coordinator for Club Inclusion, was there to fundraise and spread awareness of the club.
“I think [parents] didn’t realize how many clubs were going to show up,” Brainard said. “They seemed a little overwhelmed about it, because they see all these food tables and donation tables, and you can only donate so much.”
Classroom environment and a chance to meet the teachers is important. However, clubs allow parents to see the school-wide environment that their kids are learning in. They get to see the places where kids find community, feel supported and explore leadership opportunities.
This especially goes for clubs that focus on inclusivity and community, making the school a safe and diverse place.
“I think it’s important for the parents to know that their kid is welcome in school and has a place where they can go to feel included,” Brainard said. “Club Inclusion is where students come together and do a lot of games and activities that bring us together.””
It is so important that parents get an insider look at what their kids do in the school day, for more than just classwork. A few extra sentences in the email sent out, a list of the available clubs and fundraisers attached to the schedule, even just a note dropped on the SPFHS Families Connect facebook group – and the clubs would have seen even more parents at the tables. Next year, let’s plan this better, so that the night truly will show off every amazing thing this school has to offer.
