HS Back to School Night: Very low attendance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the secondary level, particularly HS they need to reimagine BTSN. It nice to meet all of the kids teachers, but its like 10min presentation mostly covering things that should already be included in the course syllabus.

They should be make it more like a school/community conference with different booths/activities/speaker sessions and workshops that people can attend. Then it would be worthwhile each year. For example you might not attend the college essay planning session Freshman year, but you might Junior or Senior year.

+1
There need to be a better reason to come in person than run around the building. Plus, schools could do something like this and also have teacher meet-up virtually.

I teach HS and really don’t see the point of in person BTSN where parents follow their kid’s schedules and get 10 min blurbs. I much preferred the virtual year where we recorded ourselves and had that available on our course page. Parents could view at their convenience. We did live zoom on BTSN according to a typical schedule and could give our 10 min presentation real time or just talk with parents who logged on. I generally prefer to let parents ask questions or chat anyway. I figure if it is important enough for them to come to BTSN, then I want to make sure I’m addressing their questions or hearing what they wanted to share. We can do that virtually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the secondary level, particularly HS they need to reimagine BTSN. It nice to meet all of the kids teachers, but its like 10min presentation mostly covering things that should already be included in the course syllabus.

They should be make it more like a school/community conference with different booths/activities/speaker sessions and workshops that people can attend. Then it would be worthwhile each year. For example you might not attend the college essay planning session Freshman year, but you might Junior or Senior year.

+1
There need to be a better reason to come in person than run around the building. Plus, schools could do something like this and also have teacher meet-up virtually.

I teach HS and really don’t see the point of in person BTSN where parents follow their kid’s schedules and get 10 min blurbs. I much preferred the virtual year where we recorded ourselves and had that available on our course page. Parents could view at their convenience. We did live zoom on BTSN according to a typical schedule and could give our 10 min presentation real time or just talk with parents who logged on. I generally prefer to let parents ask questions or chat anyway. I figure if it is important enough for them to come to BTSN, then I want to make sure I’m addressing their questions or hearing what they wanted to share. We can do that virtually.

"I much preferred the virtual year where we recorded ourselves and had that available on our course page." Does your principal prohibit this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason not to make BTSN a priority. It’s sad how bad parenting has gotten

What are the reasons to make BTSN a priority?

Not that poster, but for making social connections with the teachers and building a relationship so that if you ever need to advocate for your child, you will have a more direct, and therefore perhaps more successful, connection.

[Anonymous]

Who are you kidding? How are you going to make social connections with the teacher when she has seen 150 sets of parents in one night? But you definitely learn at a lot at BTSN. I didn't understand the curriculum or approach the teachers were taking and it helps me have some context when I hear about my child's day or if my child has any issues come up during the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the secondary level, particularly HS they need to reimagine BTSN. It nice to meet all of the kids teachers, but its like 10min presentation mostly covering things that should already be included in the course syllabus.

They should be make it more like a school/community conference with different booths/activities/speaker sessions and workshops that people can attend. Then it would be worthwhile each year. For example you might not attend the college essay planning session Freshman year, but you might Junior or Senior year.

+1
There need to be a better reason to come in person than run around the building. Plus, schools could do something like this and also have teacher meet-up virtually.

I teach HS and really don’t see the point of in person BTSN where parents follow their kid’s schedules and get 10 min blurbs. I much preferred the virtual year where we recorded ourselves and had that available on our course page. Parents could view at their convenience. We did live zoom on BTSN according to a typical schedule and could give our 10 min presentation real time or just talk with parents who logged on. I generally prefer to let parents ask questions or chat anyway. I figure if it is important enough for them to come to BTSN, then I want to make sure I’m addressing their questions or hearing what they wanted to share. We can do that virtually.

The recorded sessions are useless. But, you can do a live virtual session where parents can ask questions and engage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do high school parents need to come.in person? Makes more sense to do this virtually, or at least have a virtual option.

The virtual option requires a lot of tech, logistics and personnel that MCPS doesn’t have to make it work. In truth, it’s either in-person or all virtual.

And if the majority want in-person, then be ok with missing it or make it a priority to be there. Not everyone and everything can be accommodated all the time.

That's a bunch of bunk.

[Anonymous]

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If people have noticed low attendance at Sherwood and noticed consistently high attendance at Bethesda high schools, well, is anyone surprised? Upper middle class parents of the DC area are very invested in their kids' education, because their own socio-professional success depended on their own education. Yes, there are exceptions to this rule! But in general, it's true. End of story.

You must not know the Sherwood community because parents are very involved and back to school nights are usually jam packed. This has nothing to do with your ridiculous class status theory.

Isn't this the school with repeated incidents involving students yelling racist remarks at other schools' players and then not really apologizing and then the administration refusing to do anything about it until MCPS got involved?

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-investigates-racist-incident-at-sherwood-einstein-girls-basketball-game/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-high-schools-racist-incidents/2021/10/10/2b22abfa-2878-11ec-8831-a31e7b3de188_story.html

What does that have to do with btsn?

Just does not seem like a very nice school.

It’s a great school. There are stupid kids everywhere, including whichever school your kids go to.

The coaches and administration did not handle it properly. It's not just about the kids. It was about the whole reaction from the community. And as you can see the parent above who is not apologetic or mortified but defensive.

What school do your kids go to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason not to make BTSN a priority. It’s sad how bad parenting has gotten

What are the reasons to make BTSN a priority?

+1 My kid is a junior. I always went in ES and MS but high school, where they have 7 different classes/teachers…I just do t feel a pressing need to go. And nobody would accuse me of not being an attentive parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What could you get out of BTSN in HS? You teacher will hardly remember most kids’ names by the end of the year, and impossible to remember your face. The contract that they gave to the kids about class rules and expectation is informed enough. Otherwise just email them in ParentVUE

Agreed. Unless it’s the first time I have a kid in the school, I don’t get much value from spending 10-15 mins in a bunch of classes. I’m not micromanaging homework and assignments in HS, so I don’t really need that information crowding my brain.

+1 I don’t really get the point, unless your kid is a freshman. I do email the teachers from time to time over the course of the year, because my kid has an IEP, but she has learned to advocate for herself at this point, and prefers it that way. Why is BTSN important at the high school level, beyond freshman year??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason not to make BTSN a priority. It’s sad how bad parenting has gotten

What are the reasons to make BTSN a priority?

Not that poster, but for making social connections with the teachers and building a relationship so that if you ever need to advocate for your child, you will have a more direct, and therefore perhaps more successful, connection.

NP. At my younger kid’s ES, I know the teacher and school well because my older one had that teacher a couple years ago in the same grade. Do I get to stay home?

[Anonymous]

Went to Churchill BTSN and crowded with involved parents. Very professional and well worth attending. Both parents attended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do high school parents need to come.in person? Makes more sense to do this virtually, or at least have a virtual option.

Stop being lazy. Don’t you want to see your kids classrooms and get a sense of the actual environment?

[Anonymous]

I like BTSN. It gives me a sense of who my children’s teachers are when they talk about them. My son is at PHS and in magnet (straight A student thus far in HS). He struggles in one class, is shy, and I made a point to let the teacher know. I feel like it’s easier as you can read the teacher too.

Usually it’s the only time I will talk with teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do high school parents need to come.in person? Makes more sense to do this virtually, or at least have a virtual option.

Stop being lazy. Don’t you want to see your kids classrooms and get a sense of the actual environment?

What their classrooms looks like has zero value on the education they are receiving. I attend other worthwhile events at the high school, so nah...BTSN is definitely not indicative of good parenting, but nice try. I'm super glad it makes you feel superior though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do high school parents need to come.in person? Makes more sense to do this virtually, or at least have a virtual option.

Stop being lazy. Don’t you want to see your kids classrooms and get a sense of the actual environment?

DP. No. I've been in the building. I've been in classrooms in the building.