KO hosted its annual Curriculum Night on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., allowing parents to experience a day in the life of their children.
Curriculum Night registration began at 5:30 p.m., and at 6:00 p.m., Head of Upper School Lisa Loeb gave an introductory speech to all the parents, sharing the importance of the night and the schedule. All parents first went to see their children’s advisor, and then, directly from there, they started the schedule, periods one through eight.
If they had any questions about how to get somewhere, they could ask any of the Shield and Dragon members or teachers they saw. The parents spent 10 minutes at each class, participated in some fun activities, and left at around 8:30 p.m.
Most parents came to Curriculum Night to get a glimpse of what their children do at school. The program fosters connections between families and teachers as parents accompany their children through their day. Jodie Sadowsky, the parent of Noah Sadowsky, attended the event. “I wanted to get an idea of my child’s day at KO and what they were learning,” she said, “and meet their new teachers, reconnect with their old teachers, and just get an idea of what life is like for my student. In some cases, it’s the only time that teachers will connect directly with the parents.”
During Curriculum Night, teachers planned various activities and exercises for parents/guardians to participate in, giving them a sense of the class. “We did impromptu speeches.” Performing Arts Chair and Director of Theater Kyle Reynolds said. “The parents were given 90 seconds to write a speech that was delivered for 90 seconds. Some of the topics were intentionally a little kooky and unconventional. For example, why I’m a cool mom was a topic.”
Mrs. Sadowsky listed some of the things teachers do during the night. “We go from room to room, so the teachers usually give a good orientation to what the class is about,” Mrs. Sadowsky said, “and a little bit about themselves, and their expectations for the kids.”
Mrs. Loeb explained the most significant point of Curriculum Night. “I think there are a lot of positives that come out of Curriculum Night,” Mrs. Loeb said. “The main objective is for families, parents, guardians, to come in and see the people in the spaces that their kids are working with.”
She emphasized the partnership between parents and teachers to help students be their best selves. “We love you, but in a different way,” Mrs. Loeb said. “We love you in the sense that we want you to turn into the best version of yourself – as a scholar or as an athlete or as an artist or whatever, just as a human being.”
Mr. Reynolds shared his thoughts on why he thinks the night is so valuable. “It’s so important for the parents to see the day and the life of a KO student,” Mr. Reynolds said. “And often by the time you guys get home, you’re so exhausted by the day and the sports and the classes that it’s probably hard for you to share what it’s like to be here every day, living out of a full schedule. So I think it’s important that they get to see all the amazing opportunities that the school offers.”
KO’s team of Shield and Dragons, run by Senior Associate Director and Head of Shield and Dragons Rebecca Benavides, was there to help. Mrs. Benavides explained the layout of the Shield and Dragon members during the Night. She said that all members were scattered throughout the KO buildings to assist any parents who were lost or had questions. There were approximately 25 Shield and Dragon members, split between two shifts, during the night to help parents navigate from classroom to classroom.
Mrs. Benavides is not just a faculty member at KO but also a parent of two students who attend. What she likes most about Curriculum Night is that it gives an idea of your child’s everyday life interactively. “It’s fun,” she said. “Even sometimes they engage us in a little activity of what our students might be doing, or we get to see a piece of their work, whether it’s in art class or an English class.”
Every year, Curriculum Night proves to be a success, with teachers, parents, and students eagerly anticipating it. This night is one of the only times the parents of the KO students can meet the teachers, learn about their learning styles, and enjoy a night at KO. “It’s an important way for us to get to view our students’ lives, and have a level of understanding about what they’re learning in each class, what the teacher is like, and what the classroom environment is like for them,” Mrs. Sadowsky said.
