On Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:40 p.m., parents and guardians of students at SPFHS came to meet their children’s teachers and get a glimpse of what everyday school life is like at Back to School Night.

Back to School Night has been around for several generations, used as a tool for parents to get to know the teachers and their curriculum. At SPFHS, students get the privilege of a half-day of school, so the teachers can finish preparing their presentations.

Throughout the night, many clubs lined the halls, from Model U.N to Black Student Union, to promote their club and fundraising for future events.

“I find [Back to School Night] very helpful to meet the teachers and learn what curriculum will be covered throughout the school year and what each teacher’s expectations are for the class,” Christina Psathas, parent of a sophomore at SPFHS, told The Fanscotian.

Despite all the great things this event brings, why doesn’t every parent choose to attend?

“My parent friends often dread Back-to-School Night though they want to meet the teacher(s) and support their kids’ education,” according to Mitzi Stover, a former public school teacher. “These parents generally are happy with their kids’ school. But, Back-to-School Night can sometimes be unnecessarily difficult for parents.”

Additionally, some parents simply don’t have the time out of their busy schedule or access to childcare for their younger children who stay at home.

Even though this is always a very successful event, there are improvements that can be made for the future.

“I wish there was more time with each teacher’s expectations rather than only ten minutes,” Psathas said. “This is not enough time for teachers to complete their presentations and answer any questions parents have.”

Overall, the annual Back to School Night event achieved its goal and purpose. It provided different clubs an opportunity to fundraise and showcase themselves, while offering parents a chance to meet and connect with their children’s teachers.