After an average day at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), parents arrived on campus for Back to School Night. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., parents and guardians were able to experience the day-to-day life of their teens, whether it be seeing the classes they are taking or learning more about their clubs and extracurriculars.
Parents strolled around the quad where multiple tables were set up and different programs like Bioscience, DTech and Yearbook presented information to parents about their activities. Additional tables were set up for parent resources, such as translation devices and student schedules.
The event began with parents going through their students’ schedules, starting with seventh period, then first through sixth. Dragon parents had the chance to get a feel for the school’s culture, values and opportunities.
Rebeka Acker, a Foothill Tech parent, expressed what stood out to her on campus, stating “I love the FIRE [Foothill Intervention, Reinforcement and Enrichment] thing, I feel like it’s really helpful” and “I like how the teachers work together … just to be more effective with the kids.”
Jackson Hall, a new teacher on campus stated, “One thing about Foothill Tech is lots of parents attend … that was a fun and interesting part of Back To School Night” stating the importance of parent involvement as well. “Research suggests that parental involvement in education is the number one determinant of success for a student’s educational outcomes,” Hall said.
To get more involved in their students’ school life, parents had the opportunity to join the Parent Faculty Student Organization (PFSO) or learn more about donating to Foothill Tech’s athletics through the Foothill Technology Booster Club.
In case parents needed assistance, Associated Student Body (ASB) representatives were stationed around the school offering childcare in room D104 and helping parents access their students’ class schedules.
Liam Macario ‘25, a Bioscience representative, offered families information about the Bioscience program at Foothill Tech.
He shared, “We are just trying to promote Bioscience as a whole,” and “spread awareness about Bioscience.”
Additionally, Drama representative Benjamin Barnett ‘26, provided information about the upcoming productions at the Drama stand. Barnett said, “In our first semester we are doing a variety show and then in our second semester we will be doing “Mean Girls The Musical” and we are really excited to be putting that on.”
During third period, several announcements were made to inform parents about upcoming events and other key information. ASB President, Rhea Gill ‘25, highlighted the exciting school activities ahead, such as the “Thriller”-themed Renaissance Rally. She also explained what Renaissance is and shared the school theme for those who might not have known.
Unlike last year, there was no social following third period visitation. In previous years, the social gave parents the chance to mingle over food and drinks while learning more about the various programs at Foothill Tech in the quad. Although there was no slotted social time built into the schedule, some parents still found time to do this before class visitations began and during passing periods.
Barnett shared that the previous “free period in the middle of Back to School Night … was a really nice opportunity for everyone to congregate and really take a detailed look at the clubs.”
Every start of a new school year brings excitement and anticipation for things to come. Back to School Night at Foothill Tech provided a venue for staff members and families to create a connection between school and home, and come together as a community, working together to ensure student success.
