‘Back to School Night’ offers new experiences
Class principals Lenny McCarty, Janet Brown, and Lance Miller serve up refreshments to students and parents at 'Back to School Night.'
Elizabeth Hughey, Editor-in-chief
August 27, 2010
Filed under News
Aug. 23 was the night of Belton High School’s annual “Back to School Night”. “Back to School Night” is a night where parents get the chance to go to all the classes that their children have and see what they go through every day. There are also club and event tables set up to get students into after school activities.
BHS Principal Virgil Poisal said that this gives the parents an opportunity to get to know the teachers and find out about classes.
“We have parent teacher conferences in September, but this gives parents the same experience students have,” Poisal said.
Like past years, the Pro-Start class prepared food for all the parents, students, teachers and other guests who attended. This year hamburgers, chips, and cookies made the menu.
The main purpose for “Back to School Night” is not the free food though. It is to introduce parents to the classes and to get students involved in activities out side of the classroom. Dr. Andrew Underwood, the new superintendent, said that students involved in after school activities are two times more likely to graduate.
“All students should be involved in at least one after school activity,” Underwood said.
In the upper gym there were tables set up for clubs and other school organizations. There were tables for sports, PTSA and almost every club the Belton High School hosts.
Senior Kayla Austain was working the FCCLA table, where she was trying to get new members to join. She said she stayed after school to also help Pro-start set up food for the big night.
“I’m trying to get as many people as possible to join,” Austain said. “We’re a club dedicated to family and community and we get to go to leadership meetings and travel to fun places.”
Senior Maresa Arnold, president of the art club, said that this year they are trying to switch things up to draw in more members. She said they are trying to make things more appealing and fun.
“This year we are trying to plan things like a semi-annual picnic and a field trip to the Nelson Atkins Museum,” Arnold said. “There are other things like you can letter and get chords for graduation. We also paint murals on the walls, so you get to leave your mark on the school.”
Freshman Collin Hughey said he really liked the way it was set up. He said it helped him feel more like a part of the high school.
“It gives me a chance to do after school things before I actually get to the school,” Hughey said.
The “Back to School Night” tradition was up held in the spirit of getting parents to understand the students schedules and to get more students in more after school activities. All in all it was a great way to get parents more involved.
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