On  Sept. 5, Back to School Night welcomed Phoenix families, new and old, to take a walk in their student’s shoes by experiencing a condensed version of a typical school day. The evening was carefully organized to ensure that parents could meet their children’s teachers, explore the school’s curriculum, and immerse themselves in the Phoenix experience. 

The night kicked off with parents heading to their child’s advisory class, where teachers offered an overview of the advisory program. For eight minutes, they discussed the purpose of advisory, touching on topics like academic skills, support, and resources available throughout the school year. Following the advisory session, parents were given a six-minute transition period to navigate the hallways and find their way to their child’s first class.

This pattern — eight minutes of class, followed by a six-minute break — repeated for all eight blocks. Each classroom visit offered a brief yet informative snapshot of what students would be learning in the coming months. Parents listened as teachers outlined lesson plans, explained grading policies, and discussed key milestones for the school year.

Parents were not the only ones present during the evening. Student clubs, including Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), an organization that prepares students for futures in business, were also hard at work, using the event as an opportunity to showcase their activities and promote the group. “We’re trying to get [parents] into the store and trying to get them to know about DECA,” Vice President of Community Relations junior Sruthi Vivek said. “I definitely hope that parents figure out what DECA is, get merch for their children, and talk to their kids about DECA so that they’re prompted to work with [us].”

Throughout the night, staff members like family liaison Sophia Saib could be found guiding parents through the hallways and answering questions. She values the community at the school, and believes that students will benefit from the support they will receive throughout their four years. “I hope they appreciate the school and what we offer and the resources and I hope they see that we are a Rock Ridge family here and they know that their children are going to be comfortable and well taken care of,” Saib said.

Some parents were already familiar with the school, having older children who had passed through the same halls, and were confident that they had learned vital skills to prepare them for life post-graduation. “[My daughter] has learned a lot in these four years about confidence and relationships and how to advocate for herself,” Katie Rivers, mother of senior Kaylie Rivers, said. “So as she is getting ready to leave the nest, I have faith that she is going to be successful in what she does because she has that confidence and knows self-advocacy.”

Back to School Night ultimately offered more than just a tour of classrooms; it provided a snapshot of the school’s values: community, education, and trust. For parents, it was a chance to see firsthand how their children spend their days, meet the teachers guiding them, and get a sense of the supportive environment their children are a part of. 

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Maya Coleman

Marketing teacher Crissie Miller explains her class curriculum to parents.