Adding to the energy of the event, inside the gym was an Edgewood Middle School basketball game and the combined results had the community centerpiece of rural school system hopping with excitement.
School officials said they wanted to try a “one-stop shopping” experience for parents and students in a departure from the traditional, appointment-scheduled parent-teacher conference approach.
Heather Sprohe walked away smiling from a one of the dozens of small tables set up in the adjacent cafeteria for teachers, who sat and waited to meet with any middle or high school parent who wanted to chat with them.
“I enjoyed it because I could go at my own convenience. I don’t have schedule an appointment with my child’s teacher and then come in,” said Sprohe.
“It was really nice and I was already at the school watching my son play basketball so it was convenient to come over here and meet with my daughter’s teachers.”
Fellow Edgewood parent Angela Smith the event “has a community feel.”
“And I appreciate all the different options we have,” said Smith as she joined a crowd of other parents making their way into the school’s auditorium to see a presentation on navigating the college application process.
Ease and convenience were the goals, said Pam Pratt, spokesperson for the 3,881-student district that includes the city of Trenton and parts of three rural townships.
“It was very well-received by parents and we hope this will be the first of many to come,” said Pratt.
Doug Geygan, principal of Edgewood High School, doubled as a hallway traffic cop directing the crowd around various rooms near the sports arena.
“We wanted to show off our building and show off our teachers,” said Geygan.
“We have great programs here at Edgewood High School and we want all our 8th-grade students – and our open enrollment students – to see what course offerings we have … when they start making registration decisions in the next couple of weeks.”
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