On Thursday, April 23, Rock Ridge welcomed the children of faculty to celebrate National Take Your Child to Work Day. 

The classrooms, gym, and hallways were filled with young visitors shadowing their parents’ work and interacting with students and staff. Children got to see the impact their parents make on their students and the professional relationships between staff. 

Teachers across the school welcomed their children into their classrooms, offering them a glimpse into life as an educator, not just as parents. “They enjoy it,” P.E. teacher Bobby Lalli said. “They like seeing what I do. It’s fun for me to spend time with them and let them see the different dynamics that their dad works in.” 

For many of the children, the day was filled with hands-on activities. In Lalli’s classes, his children joined in on the badminton lesson and got to interact with the students.

English teacher Tyler Anderson included his two children, Claire Anderson and Gabriella Anderson, in class-wide silent reading time and had his children answer questions his students may have about him. “[The questions] were fun, and some of them [were] really funny,” Claire Anderson said. 

During class time, students were encouraged to get to know the children and immerse them in high school life and classroom routines. “I had three TAs in my second block, and they were very happy to show [my daughter, Layla,] around,” English teacher Johanna Walsh said. 

Beyond the classroom, children had the opportunity to explore different areas of the school, like the teacher’s workroom, where they got to participate with the other children in arts and crafts, designing a banner on which they could add their names, drawings, and handprints. “I really liked when all of the kids over here [played] together in the morning,” Gabriella Anderson said.

Not only did the children get to see first-hand the work their parents do, but they also got to engage in it. “I told Layla all the students were working independently, [and] that if they looked like they were working very hard, she could give them candy,” Walsh said.

However, the day was not without its challenges. Teachers still had to balance their normal responsibilities while keeping their children engaged. “[My kids] still want to ask me questions in the middle of my teaching,” English teacher Sara Watkins said. “It’s a lot of my attention being pulled in multiple ways.”

Despite these challenges, teachers do agree that the day was meaningful. “I think it helps [my kids] to be able to see what mommy does; she has this whole other life here,” Watkins said. “In particular, [for] moms who work full-time, for kids to be able to see that is really important.”