Pelham High School will host its annual eighth–grade parents’ night Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m., as teachers and staff welcome the parents of incoming freshmen.

Are you wondering if rearranging everyone’s schedule is really worth the effort?

“Eighth–grade parent night lays the foundation for your child’s high school experience,” said Rebecca Burnett, freshmen lead English teacher at Pelham High School. “You have to be here.”

This night is an opportunity to begin to understand the very real difference between middle school and high school. If you’ve already had a child come through the high school, eighth–grade parents’ night is a great chance to see who and what is new at school.

Freshman Counselor Shane Howard will visit both middle schools that flow into Pelham High School to talk with the eighth–graders and distribute scheduling materials to those students. But this event is the parents’ chance to ask questions. After parents pick up summer reading lists, stop by information tables and meet a few teachers, a brief presentation is given in the auditorium concerning all facets of high school life, ranging from dress code to homework.

Soon–to–be–sophomore Katie Scott remembered not realizing what high school would be like.

“High school is harder than I thought it would be, but high school is also so much more fun than I could have imagined,” Scott said.

High school increases academic demands and prepares kids to study harder, read more and rise to the challenge of preparing themselves for collegiate studies. Much is demanded of our students, and watching these students realize they can meet the difficult challenges of high school and gain the confidence, knowledge and skills that they need to succeed is one of the great joys of teaching and parenting.

If you’re the parent of a current eighth–grader who will enter Pelham High School, won’t you come out and meet the people who will join you in taking such pride and delight in your child in the years to come?