On Wednesday, September 23, 2009 Paint Branch High School hosted its annual Back-To-School Night. Paint Branch’s varsity Cheerleaders greeted the parents and led them through the front doors where a long line was headed towards a table filled with important information. Parents also had an opportunity to purchase panther gear such as shirts, sweats, and the very popular Panther cards.

       By 7 PM parents then gathered in the auditorium to hear a few words from Ms. Dixon and PTSA President Mark Weiser, who is the parent of a PBHS senior. Ms. Dixon spoke about the latest news on graduation and about the new school that is finally being built. “We are hoping to break ground by November, early January at the latest,” said Ms. Dixon.

      She also shared a touching story about how she was once in the parents’ position of sitting at Paint Branch for her daughter’s Back to School Night and how she told her daughter that she would never come back to that school without her because it was far too complicated.

      Fortunately for the parents, they had ROTC students to serve as tour guides. Unfortunately, there were still a few lost parents in the crowd, as well as those who were running a little late for their child’s class. Parents were to follow their student’s schedule, which was tweaked to fit into a 2-hour time period.

      Each class was ten minutes long, which made it rather difficult for teachers to get out everything they had to say. Before and after every class, an administrator would come on and let parents know which class they were supposed to be in, as if it was the first day of school. Teachers got a chance to talk to parents about the class they teach, what they will be doing each quarter, upcoming quizzes, tests, and assignments, and a little background information about themselves. Seventh period ended the night, and everyone headed home. Eric Adkins, father of junior student Erica Adkins, said, “Back-To-School Night went well. It was nice to meet the different teachers.”