"They just want to find out if you're nice, and if you are going to be fair and reasonable," Cochrum said.

Cochrum, who has been teaching for 10 years at the high school, said many of the freshmen take her biology class to accelerate in science, going on to take chemistry and advanced placement classes.

"Parents have high expectations for their students gradewise, and they want to find out what they can do to help them succeed," she said.

Saratoga parent Barbara D'ercole said she attended Back to School Night to ensure that there are ways for her daughter, Amber, to get extra help in classes such as geology. D'ercole also said that, in classes where Amber exceeds, she wants to make sure those courses are stimulating and satisfying. Amber, a sophomore, is on the school's spirit squad and sings in the choir, which her mother said make for a well-rounded and healthy high school experience.

The bleachers of the high school gym were packed with parents of Falcon students at Back to School Night—all with campus maps and class schedules in hand. They were ready to attend an abbreviated version of their child's classes for the evening. Each of the seven class periods lasted 10 minutes. There are currently 1,345 students enrolled at the high school, said Assistant Principal Gail Wasserman, and many of those students had at least one or both parents representing them.

"The parents are tired by the end of the night from doing all that walking, and they are always getting lost," said Assistant Principal Karen Hyde. "But they're not carrying 55 pounds of books like the students."

Parents Harry and Diana Luoh watched their children perform as a special highlight at the start of Back to School Night. Their son, David, performed for parents in the jazz band, and their daughter, Lisa, sang in the choir. Both the a capella and concert choir performed, after only 10 days of rehearsing.

David plays the trombone for the jazz band, the tuba in the marching band and the violin with the Saratoga High School orchestra.

"That's his major—music," Harry said jokingly.

Since David, a junior, works so hard academically, Harry said music is a fun part of his course load. Diana said she was looking forward to meeting her children's instructors especially because she might not have the opportunity to do so again during the school year.

"It's the only time we come face to face," she said.

Parent Barbara Sotiriadis said her sophomore son, Mike, who is a bass drummer in the band, gave her his class schedule for Back to School Night at the last minute.

"I don't get a whole lot of information," she said. "Boys are notorious for that."

As she mapped the route of her son's classes for that evening, Sotiriadis said it was great to see Saratoga High School Principal Dr. Kevin Skelly and other administrators representing the school and district.

"It's really a nice feeling to see our principal here. He's at just about every event I attend," she said.

Skelly introduced himself to all the parents before they headed off to meet the teachers, welcoming both new and veteran parents. With a chuckle, Skelly told parents that only at Back to School Night they wouldn't receive detention if they were late to class.

He reminded parents that their sons and daughters were lucky to have enthusiastic teachers who sparked creativity in their students, as well as inspiring them to grow, learn and mature.

"There's something about that beginning of the year that holds such promise," Skelly told parents, encouraging them to partner with teachers in the development of their children.

Physical science teacher Jill McIntyre demonstrated to a classroom full of parents how they can check their child's progress, missing assignments and grades on her website.

"It's so you can keep up with your kids," she said. "You can either tell them you are doing it or not tell them."

Autoshop and woodshop teacher James Jolliff reassured parents that he would not teach their children anything dangerous in his classes.

"I will not teach your kids how to race cars," he said. "That's the one thing I won't do, but I'll do everything else."

Cochrum offered parents suggestions—have their children start their homework before 10 p.m., eliminate distractions, make sure they stay home if ill and have them come to class rested and ready to participate. She also told parents that the students have a class set of textbooks and another set to keep at home.

"If you don't see that book out every so often, be concerned," she said. "If you don't see lecture notes out, be concerned. And if they are in a crisis, have them come see me."