As temperatures continue to fall, the harsh, chilly breezes begin to blow into the start of the second quarter. For many students, the beginning of the second quarter is just one of the many reminders to keep their minds focused on their academics. While the first quarter was a slow-paced introduction to the school year, the second quarter is when teachers and students begin to find their rhythm with their schedules and grades.
To ensure that students begin the second quarter on a good note, the yearly Back-to-School night was held on November 13th in both cafeteria A and B, and was met with large crowds of curious parents. Within the cafeterias, teachers were separated by subject to make navigating easier for parents: science, art, and math in one cafeteria, and English, history, and business in the other.
For many teachers, this was their first time participating in a Malden High School conference night. Art teacher Courtney Gould, who previously worked at Ferryway, was one of these teachers. One key difference Gould mentioned between conference nights at both schools was how all of the teachers at Malden High were located in one area. “In all my years at Ferryway, we always had Caregiver-Educator Conferences in our own individual classrooms. Typically, parents and caregivers would sign up for an appointment with their child’s teacher,” noted Gould.
Gould continued to mention how this setup was very convenient for the high school level because of how many teachers there are, allowing for community building. “I saw a lot of smiles and connections being made, which was nice, and something you don’t necessarily get when conferences are held in individual rooms,” added Gould.
In the usual Malden High School tradition, a bake sale was held during the conference in front of both cafeterias. The class of 2026 and class of 2027 collaborated to sell tasty baked goods, savory popcorn, and bold coffee, which filled the room with a mix of delectable aromas.
A key part of the conferences that many teachers seemed to love was making connections with their students’ families. “I really enjoyed seeing all of the families and many of my current and past students,” English teacher Pasquale DiBenedetto expressed.
Overall, the conferences solidified the stability of the Malden High School community and marked the start of a successful school year, combating any previous worry about various changes within Malden High School such as schedule changes and new lunch policies, as students began to adapt to these new changes.
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