Inside Geneva Schools: Parents Learn Plenty at Back to School Night

So, Tom and Kim Crawshaw, you've just finished an hour-and-40-minute madcap rush through your son Liam's daily schedule at Geneva Middle School North's Back to School Night.

What did you learn?

"We learned that we just got another great team of teachers," Tom said. "Everybody's enthusiastic, from the math teacher to language arts to the physical ed teacher. It's just so encouraging every year to see how many great professionals we have here in the school system."

Hundreds of parents strode through the halls and sat in classrooms Tuesday night, including Paula and me, meeting teachers and getting an inside view of our kids' daily activities, disciplines and routines. 

We learned a lot about what to expect in homework assignments, tests, curriculum, textbooks and teaching philosophy and had a chance to see firsthand some of the projects and personalities our kids talk about around the dinner table.

We even learned a few things our kids neglect to tell us.

Here are a few I picked up from the Back to School experience:

First hour (7-7:15 p.m.): Social Studies, David Kimball

I learned that I need allow more time and get there early—and to bring two copies of the schedule. I dropped Paula off, parked the car, asked Principal Larry Bidlack if it was OK to write a story, he said yes, and I made a beeline for Room 143. Only problem: David Kimball's class was in Room 134.

So I had a cookie and a cup of coffee. Which was very good.

Second hour (7:19-7:27 p.m.): P.E., Chris Westerhoff

Heart monitors are the new thing. The challenge for physical education teachers is to get the kids to wear them and put them on properly.

There will be fitness testing for eighth graders later this fall, working up to the mile run. 

"You'll hear about it; they'll be moaning," Chris gives us fair warning.

And of course, as soon as gym uniforms are washed, have the kids put them straight into the backpacks. Don't wait until 7 a.m. Monday when you're rushing out the door, Chris says. Good advice.

Third hour (7:31-7:39): Algebra, Val Demich

The algebra class has 31 students this year. Val Demich is a hoot.

"I picked the eighth grade on purpose," she says with a smile. "I enjoy their trouble with authority. This class is excited to be alive!"

Through a glitch in the system, some parents paid $10 for a CD version of the algebra text book that doesn't actually exist. Val assures them they can get a refund and tells how.

Fourth hour (7:43-7:45 p.m.): Language Arts I, Kate Ritter

"I do have high expectations. I am your child's educational cheerleader, I really believe that. I am here to help them be better people, better educated people," Kate Ritter says.

If the kids tell you they don't have homework, "Baloney," Kate says. They'll be reading eight or nine novels this year, including Tangerine by Edward Bloor, which is the one book all the eighth graders are required to study.

Some of the novels are challenging and have content that a few parents might find to be too adult. If that's the case, talk to the teacher, and he or she will adjust. "Please help me in determining what is appropriate for your kids," Kate said.

Fifth hour (7:43-7:51): Language Arts II, Kate Ritter

The language arts classes are in a block, back to back, which allows teacher and students to cover more territory. Part of the territory this year includes expository, narrative and persuasive writing.

Nine weeks of writing, nine essays. "I would like them to read better, write better and think better," Kate says.

Sixth hour (8:08-8:16 p.m.): Science, Jill Marsh

Jill Marsh has a Web site and a weekly syllabus, online games and a mousetrap project in store for the science class this year.

As fun as it sounds, I'm intimidated. We're talking chemistry and physics here.

"We get into the periodic tables, atoms, solids and fluids and gases, and then the really tough stuff is the ionic and covalent bonding chapter, which is kind of around winter break," Jill says.

"I took a class at Fermilab and learned how to incorporate all their huge resources and information into the classroom. And it's fantastic. There are a lot of awesome labs and hands-on activities that we do to make it applicable here in eighth grade to what they do there in real science."

Teaching is in the blood. Jill's dad, Ray Phillips, taught at Western Avenue School for 36 years.

Seventh hour (8:20-8:28 p.m.): Band, Jason Flaks and Chris Jamrose

The band has guest conductors and speakers, courtesy of the Music Boosters.

There will be performances in November, including a special eighth-grade-only Veteran's Day ceremony at 7:30 p.m Nov. 11. There are concerts on Feb. 17 and May 19. Students are expected to practice 100 minutes each week.

"If they realize on Sunday at 11:30 night, that they didn't remember to bring their homework they can log into the Home Access Center." Jason reminds us. "So now there's absolutely no reason their homework should ever be late."

Eighth hour (8:32-8:40 p.m.):  FACS (home ec), Anne Krahulec

For Tricia, the school year is split between home economics and art.

In home ec, they've already made pies and banana bread. They'll sew their own sweatshirts, "and the kids do love to wear them," Anne says. They'll cook international foods, including homemade egg rolls. There's a unit on microwave cooking.

The class is co-ed, and boys participate proudly. Anne gave one group a bunch of letters to decorate a cake. The girls used X's and O's for Valentine's Day hugs and kisses, the boys made football formations in a Super Bowl theme.

Afterward (8:40-9 p.m.)

When it's over, parents talk with teachers, neighbors meet in the halls and compare notes. Not to get all Norman Rockwell about it, but Back to School Night reminds you of that sense of community that makes Geneva so special.

"I love Back to School Night," said Amy Vanthournout, whose son Andy attends GMS North. Some of the teachers, like Ms. Ritter, had my oldest son. So I like coming back and seeing familiar faces."

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