Community Building at Parents’ Night of Classes

On September 24, campus was abuzz late into the evening as parents and guardians were welcomed for Parents’ Night of Classes (PNOC), Marlborough’s version of back-to-school night. PNOC gives parents and guardians the chance to step into their child’s classrooms, meet their teachers, and explore campus in an abbreviated day-in-the-life experience. With more than one thousand guests on campus, the evening offered a unifying sense of community.

Head of School Jennifer Ciccarelli opened the evening by welcoming guests in Caswell Hall and sharing the theme of the year: Committing to Community. “At Marlborough, community isn’t just a nice buzzword we use or something that falls to the background,” she said. “It is the core of who we are and tending to it is the work we do every single day.” 

Before the parents set off to learn, connect, and walk in the shoes of their student, Ms. Ciccarelli offered advice on how families can partner with the School on prioritizing their child’s growth and learning: “What you focus on [in conversation with your child] sends a powerful message about what you value. When you ask your child about what they learned (rather than a specific grade or score, for example), you are signaling that you care about process, about growth, and about the learning, not just the outcome.”

“The highlight of Parents’ Night of Classes is getting to know the personalities of the different teachers my daughter interacts with every day,” shared Parents’ Association (PA) Co-President Karie Fleischmann (Isabelle ’25, Juliette ’29). “I see firsthand how each teacher wants all of the students to succeed in their classes.”

Marlborough faculty appreciate the bond the evening creates just as much. “This was my 22nd year at Parents’ Night of Classes, and it felt as energizing as ever,” Dean of Faculty and History Instructor Helen Mendoza reflected. “I love meeting the parents who have shaped our students and seeing the familiar traits they share. Getting to know families gives me a much better perspective on my students, and watching parents tackle the same activities their kids just did creates incredible energy in the room. At the end of the day, it's all about making those connections!"

PA Co-President Andrea Yamamoto (Cara ’28, Olivia ’28) echoed the importance of that sense of connection. “The event gives parents a unique window into our children’s lives at Marlborough. Being in their classrooms and hearing directly from their teachers helps connect the stories we hear at home with the experiences they are having at school,” she shared. “My biggest takeaway was how much thought, enthusiasm, and care the faculty bring to creating a thoughtful learning environment. I left feeling more connected to my daughter’s day-to-day experience and grateful for the community that surrounds her.”

Science Instructor and Dean of the Class of 2029 Maxime Edelstein captured what the evening means from a teacher’s perspective. “I appreciate that Parents’ Night of Classes offers an opportunity to lay the foundation for a positive relationship built on trust and presumed positive intentions,” she noted. “It’s a chance to communicate that we are on the same team, share a common investment in their child, and ultimately want to see every student succeed. Parents may not remember everything shared that evening, but I hope they leave with a sense of care, a better understanding of my intentions, and the reassurance that we are working toward the same goal: helping their child thrive.”

As the evening came to an end, the hallways quieted, classroom lights shut off, and parents headed home with an expanded perspective on their child’s daily life at Marlborough—and so much to talk about with them. PNOC is far more than a chance to meet the teachers. It is an evening devoted to strengthening the ties between every adult who cares for and educates the students of Marlborough.