Berkeley Parents Network: How Involved do I need to be?

Berkeley Parents Network

How Involved do I need to be?

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Berkeley Public Schools > Berkeley High School > How Involved do I need to be?

April 2000

My daughter is BHS bound for next year, it is the first time we will be dealing with the Berkeley Public School System. This is not totally by choice, and I am very concerned even worried. I need to know what are the best tools I can use to make it a successful experience for her academic success and her social well being? I hear parents saying, you need to be there and involved, I work part-time I can do that, but what does it concretely mean? I am sure it's not baking cookies anymore. Teenagers are embarassed by their parents presence...right? What should I know or learn from parents who are there?

It depends on the child. You can get away with minimal involvement if your child is pretty good about taking care of business. Just save a copy of her schedule (for teachers' names just in case), sign up for the BHS e-tree, and go to the open house (so you can get a look at her teachers). Everything else will go along fine on its own. If your child is not very good at paying attention to deadlines, assignments, announcements, etc. and doesn't want to talk to teachers and counselors when problems arise, then you'll have to help out. Do all of the above, plus be prepared to call and meet with teachers, department heads, and counselors as needed. - from an anonymous parent who has only been to BHS 2 times in 3 years

I would advise that you come to the PTA Meetings and see what ways you can be involved. There are many. Talk to your daughter and see what she considers "acceptable." I worked in the Information Booth once a week for 3 years. My daughter knew I was there once a week and avoided me (unless she needed lunch money). But I learned a lot about the school by being there and felt connected. I got to at least see those bulletins once a week! There are many options. Go to PTA.

Dear Parent,
BHS teachers and administrators expect Berkeley High students to take care of things themselves. So you as a parent have to work with your student so that he/she will be comfortable making appointments with her counselor or a teacher. Whenever I went to see someone at BHS, I always insisted that my daughter (who is now a senior) accompany me. Even though she is fairly shy, by the end of her junior year, she was pretty apt at making appointments, getting help, applying for special programs, etc.

You should be prepared to help her keep dates in mind....now when is sign-up for a sports' team, or an audition, or whatever. And certainly, when your student is making out their schedule, it behoves you to see what they have selected (what course, not what teacher), and compare that with what courses the school tells them they will need to take in order to graduate, go to college, whatever. I found reading the BHS catalogue very helpful and I tried to insist that my daughter read it with me.

I think one area of adjustment that is difficult for many kids, particularly kids who come to BHS from non Berkeley schools, is learning to focus. Your student will have to decide to apply herself or himself at the academics. No one will nag her or him. And concurrently, she/he will have to learn to ignor some things which other students will be doing, which might be deleterious.

All these skills become especially valuable as your student interacts more and more with the non-high school world.

And even though you mentioned that your student is going to BHS because there is no other choice, don't worry. BHS students seem to do very well in the world. And they certainly have a great understanding of the complexity and diversity in the United States. Good luck. -- A parent of a soon to be graduating student.

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