A second set of bleachers were rolled out as incoming freshmen
and their parents packed Mattson Gym on Wednesday evening for the
fourth annual Preview Night.
A second set of bleachers were rolled out as incoming freshmen and their parents packed Mattson Gym on Wednesday evening for the fourth annual Preview Night.
Designed to inform eighth-graders and their parents about the school programs, clubs, sports and courses San Benito High School has to offer, Preview Night acts as a stage for the departments to showcase their best stuff.
“Things went really well tonight,” Principal Duane Morgan said. “Talking with parents and students, I could see that everything was well received.”
Ann Fata brought her daughter Elena, who is making the transition from Sacred Heart to SBHS in the fall.
“I think this event is great, because some of these kids are coming from much smaller schools, and being able to see everything and meet people makes them less scared,” she said.
SBHS’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. (ROTC) class got the evening started with a presentation of the colors and a drill routine.
Sophomore Sheila Verzosa said Preview Night is one of the ROTC’s greatest recruiting tools.
“We’ve had a lot of kids come to our booth tonight after seeing us perform,” she said. “It’s definitely a great way for people to see what we do.”
Mitch Molchan and Phil Torres couldn’t agree more.
“It’s something we’re interested in learning more about and maybe joining,” Molchan said.
The boys, both in eighth grade, are home schooled and a bit nervous about making the transition to high school. However, they found Preview Night very informative and entertaining.
Starting things off on the right note and impressing the roaring crowd with their musical talent, the women’s chorus sang the “National Anthem” and “How Can I Keep From Singing?,” and the Scarlet Regiment Band performed two numbers.
Organizer Stephanie Williams said Preview Night used to be a typical open house, but changing the focus to the eighth-graders has given the event a more intimate feeling and encourages more parents to participate.
“Preview Night is a great recruitment tool, and the friendly atmosphere really inspires students to get involved and find what they’re really interested in,” she said.
Before the crowd of hundreds was released to wander the displays and exhibits from the departments, SBHS cheerleaders took the floor and performed a routine. Head Cheerleader Lisa Farotto said this is a great opportunity for those interested in cheerleading to see what the squad is all about.
“I’ve had a few girls come up to me tonight interested in coming to tryouts,” she said. “Overall, I think Preview Night is a great way for incoming freshmen to see what our school is all about and how great it is to be a Baler.”
As the opening ceremony wrapped up, parents and students were invited to stroll through O’Donnell Gym, where booths and displays from student government, sports, arts, business, languages, student clubs and much more were set up.
Handing out apples and raisins, the Future Farmers of America booth had quite a crowd.
“Tonight is great for us because we get a lot of students who are interested in FFA, who may not have grown up with the farming or ranching lifestyle,” Senior Brett Fulgoni said.
Beyond the electives, the English, math, science and social science departments showed parents what to expect in their respective departments. Guidance counselors were on hand to lay out graduation requirements and to work on scheduling.
Counselor Tim Pipes said Preview Night is a great venue for parents to ask questions.
“SBHS is such a huge entity, and I think events like tonight personalize it,” Pipes said. “By breaking things down into departments, parents could come tonight and essentially ask anyone anything.”
