Jr. Bill parents came to Saint Louis U. High last night for the annual Back to School Night. While students were home cramming homework and preparing for the next day at school, parents were trying to find their way around the building. The evening marked a return to in-person Back to School Night for the first time since the current seniors were freshmen.

“Back to School Night is a chance for parents to walk through their kids' schedules,” said Assistant Principal of Academics, Kevin Foy. “They can meet their sons' teachers and get a light sense of what goes on in classes.”

The journey started in each student's advisory room for a short introduction to what advisory is, and then parents attended periods A through G. Each class meeting was 10 minutes.

“It’s not time for parents to ask a bunch of questions,” said Foy, “its a quick meet and greet, maybe shaking hands on the way in and out.”

Back to school night this year was different than the past two years returning to how it was pre-Covid, allowing for a more immersive experience than what zoom offered.

“ It allows parents to get face time with teachers and have a sense of what the courses are trying to accomplish,” said Foy.

 The goal is for parents to gain an understanding of not only their students' day, but what it is they are trying to accomplish. This will give parents a better understanding of their child’s week.

“I talk about what I'm passionate about,” said math teacher Stephen Deves. “I talk a little bit about my class but mostly focus on how they can support their son.” 

Your parents are doing exactly what students do on a daily basis just in a much shorter time and they love it. Most parents even look forward to Back to School Night.

“I remember when I was first teaching here I asked my mom what she got out of Back to School Night,” said Deves. “She said the first and most important thing was to meet the teacher and get to know who was teaching her son for nine months of the year.”

Back to school night is nothing special. It is a way for curious and invested parents to get to know a little bit more about the mystery of their sons' days. It is most importantly a night that ensures parents that their kids are in a good environment and getting the most out of their education. On both ends, parents and teachers, the night was a success. Teachers got a way to find out more about their students that gives them a better understanding on how to most help them throughout the school year as parents do the same. With everything going on, both sides have one interest in mind:  the betterment of the students and to have a good night.

“I think it's just fun to meet the parents,” said Deves. “And I think it's fun for them to meet us as well.”