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Back to School Day gives parents a peek at campus life

by Saria Lum and Dyuthi Vallamsetty
September 22, 2025
Parents laugh at a joke told by computer science teacher Swati Mittal. Mittal explained the curriculum for AP Computer Science A and told stories about the students.
Parents laugh at a joke told by computer science teacher Swati Mittal. Mittal explained the curriculum for AP Computer Science A and told stories about the students.
Lily Peng
Spanish teacher Diana Moss talks to parents. She gave the parents an overview of the course and what they could expect.

Upper School parents were invited to Back to School day to meet teachers and experience their student’s schedules on Sept. 13. 

Each session was brief, yet purposeful. Parents spent ten in each of their children’s class periods and fifteen minutes in advisory. During this time, the teachers introduced themselves, explained the classroom expectations, and went over a few exciting units. Beyond logistics, however, the central goal was connection – building understanding and trust between families and teachers.

Spanish teacher Diana Moss talks to parents. She gave the parents an overview of the course and what they could expect. (Lily Peng)
Physics teacher Ms. Lisa Radice waits with parents of freshman students in her advisory as they fill out their name tags before the first bell. They later joined classroom sessions mirroring the schedules of their students

For AP Biology teacher Matthew Harley, that sense of connection was at the heart of the event.

“What I want [parents] to come away with is that I am enthusiastic about my subject, about what I teach, and that I recognize that they are students with other classes and commitments,” Dr. Harley said. “Especially in junior year, there might be a lot of stress. As a teacher I understand that and can work with students if they’re having those types of issues.”

Physics teacher Ms. Lisa Radice waits with parents of freshman students in her advisory as they fill out their name tags before the first bell. They later joined classroom sessions mirroring the schedules of their students (Dyuthi Vallamsetty)
Juniors Tanisha Vaish and Ameera Ramzan promote the Conservatory to parents. Many booths for organizations such as Harker Robotics and Harker Athletics greeted the parents before they went to their first period classes.

Student organizations like Robotics, Business & Entrepreneurship gathered in front of the RPAC to introduce parents to the various extracurriculars their students participated in. Student volunteers manned the booths, as well as answered questions, executed demonstrations and showcased the wide range of activities at Harker.

 Mariam Jalil, parent of Sofe Jalil (10) and Minal Jalil (12), appreciated the chance to connect with the student volunteers. 

“From the beginning, I got to meet some student representatives from different clubs [and] the Harker community,” Jalil said, “I love to meet them, as it’s a little glimpse of a day in the life of my child.”

Juniors Tanisha Vaish and Ameera Ramzan promote the Conservatory to parents. Many booths for organizations such as Harker Robotics and Harker Athletics greeted the parents before they went to their first period classes. (Lily Peng)
Juniors Tanisha Vaish and Ameera Ramzan promote the Conservatory to parents. Many booths for organizations such as Harker Robotics and Harker Athletics greeted the parents before they went to their first period classes. (Lily Peng)

Members of Harker’s leadership teams managed stations around campus, escorted parents to classrooms, provided directions and answered questions.

“I decided to help out at Back to School day because I knew that this would make a strong impact,” said Student Council representative Ameya Choudhary (10). “I love talking to new people and parents and getting to know more and more people in the Harker community.”

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