Arlington teachers confer more

By Eric Stevick

Herald Writer

ARLINGTON — In Arlington, parent-teacher conferences don’t end at the middle school door.

Six years ago, the school district recognized that parents yearned for one-on-one time with their children’s teachers and brought them to middle school.

This fall, Arlington High School, taking a lesson from younger grades, opened its gym as well, meaning parents with children from kindergarten through their senior year now have a forum to discuss their students’ progress.

Marjy Chilelli, for one, is thankful.

Chilelli has a freshman at AHS and an eighth-grader at Post Middle School. She met with teachers from both schools in November, learning not just about how they are doing but what they are doing in school.

Often, students are short on details with Mom and Dad about what they are studying in school. "It’s just another tool to help your child," she said.

It’s a sentiment expressed by other parents.

"We are not done being parents just because they are in middle school," said Liz Moore, who has been on both sides of the table at the parent-teacher conferences.

Last week, Moore met with parents in her role as a seventh- and eighth-grade teacher at Post. Three weeks ago, she was the parent asking questions of her 16-year-old son’s teachers at Arlington High School.

As a parent, she learns what to ask her son so she doesn’t have the "How’s school? Fine" conversation.

To Moore, the value of the conferences is not just the immediate information parents get from teachers.

"Parents send a real clear message to their kids that education is very important when they take the time to come to these events and also show that they care about their child," Moore said.

Holly Harris, a Post teacher, believes the conferences can reassure parents with middle schoolers that it’s OK to continue following their children even if they are becoming more independent.

"This is the point that we need parent involvement the most," Harris said.

At the middle school and high school, teachers, parents and sometimes students sat across from one another for six to 10 minutes in afternoon and night sessions. They discussed everything from how the student was performing in class to what may be happening at home.

Ed Richards, who teaches eighth graders at Post, particularly likes having the parent and student at the table. "Then you are not talking about him, you are talking with him," he said.

At Arlington High School, about 600 report cards were distributed at parent-teacher conferences Nov. 8. That represented about 43 percent of the student body in the school’s first attempt.

Setting up meant moving 90 tables and 600 chairs to the gym. Parents began showing up long before the first of two sessions.

"One of the things we have been accused of as educators for a long, long time is it seems we live in a vacuum," said Bob Penny, the AHS principal. "This was our effort to bridge the home and the school. It’s something that needs to be done and should be done."

You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446 or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Liam Shakya, 3, waves at a float passing by during the Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates Fourth of July with traditional parade

Thousands celebrated Independence Day by going to the annual parade, which traveled through the the city’s downtown core.

Ian Saltzman
Everett Public Schools superintendent wins state award

A group of school administrators named Ian Saltzman as a top educational leader.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.