Before the end of September, all three divisions of Abington Friends School will host Back-to-School Nights, giving parents a chance to visit with their student’s teachers in a classroom setting. In this blog post, Lower School Director Andrea Emmons explains, from the School’s perspective, the educational reasons for this annual rite of the new school year.

“When we welcome families for Back-to-School Night at the start of the school year, we are hoping to do more than get to know new faces and show people around their child’s classroom. Rather, Back-to-School Night is a unique opportunity for us to articulate our vision for the school year. It is this vision that guides us in the work of planning and developing curriculum.

“Back-to-School Night is an essential point of connection with parents, a formal start to the collaborative processes that comprise the best learning communities. Examples of this collaboration exist throughout each division of Abington Friends School: Geologists willing to share their expertise in a science class; doctors participating in the MedEx program, those skilled with needle and thread willing to teach students how to sew … the list is endless.

“Each person in our community possesses talents, which, when shared, make our school a place where learning is pushed beyond the confines of a classroom. Back-to-School Night helps families see the ways in which we are seeking to teach students and is one of the first opportunities we have to invite families to be part of teaching and learning.

“Back to School Night is an invitation to families to join us in helping students engage with big questions, to talk with them about experiences at school, to explore topics raised in the classroom, to pose new questions and to share perspective and expertise.  Our hope is that when families leave Back-to-School Night, they have a shared understanding of our educational mission and feel a strong sense of connection and partnership with the School.”