THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 24, 1995 TAG: 9503220183
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04B EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Teens At Large
SOURCE: BY SAREIT HESS
HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Webster's defines ``flipside'' as an opposite or reverse. The opposite of dark is light, soft is hard, and the opposite of teenage students are adult students, namely parents.
Welcome to a day of flips.
Bayside High School recently hosted its third annual ``Bayside Flipside'' - a day of confusion, wonder and excitement for faculty, students and parents.
``I have never seen halls this crowded before, especially at a school,'' said Deane Donohue, who spent the day with her daughter, Tracey, a sophomore. ``With all of the construction I'm amazed the students still get to class on time. But I'm impressed with how well the kids are (doing).''
This year approximately 170 parents came to remember their high school years with their children. The students had an option of either going to school with their parents or staying home and doing an ``educational'' project on their own.
Sophomores Jason Lesnick, 15, and Danny Tepovich, 15, decided to stay home and let their parents figure out high school life on their own. Their ``educational'' project was sleeping in the whole morning and then playing basketball.
``Hey, we studied the art of basketball. I wanted my parents to see what school was like and they wouldn't get the whole picture of it if I was there with them,'' said Lesnick.
Most of the parents said they were impressed with how well the youngsters adapted to the inconvenience caused by the construction of an addition to relieve overcrowding. This means more kids to have to go outside between classes, and hallway conditions become similar to rush hour traffic.
``It was funny having my mom hold on to my book bag during bells,'' said 16-year-old sophomore Kevin Cherwa.
One parent was overheard saying that Kennedy Airport in New York City is easier to walk through than the halls of Bayside. Another parent grumbled that he preferred privacy when changing in the locker room for physical education class.
Margie Boltz, chairman of the school's Communication Action committee, helped organize ``Flipside'' this year. She was happy everything went smoothly.
``Bayside is taking the incentive to show the community that we want their involvement with their children's education. Parents expect the worst when they come to a student's school, but when they leave they see it is not that bad of a place,'' said Boltz.
Spanish teacher Eldon Wadle said that the parents who knew the language participated but most ``didn't have a clue.''
Although many parents said they enjoyed themselves, some complained about the day being so long for their kids. One mother was upset that her son had to ask permission to go to the restroom because he didn't have enough time in between classes.
Another parent said that the stress and pressure on the students was enormous. In most honors classes the students are piled with work and expected to learn it. The students are used to it, the parents are not.
No matter their reaction, all the parents had one thing in common: They learned something. MEMO: ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sareit Hess is a sophomore at Bayside High School.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by
MORT FRYMAN
Francine Grant, right, immersed herself in ``Bayside Flipside'' by
wearing a flannel shirt and a hairstyle similar to daughter,
Shawnte's.
Ed Jennings, and daughter Jaime, a junior at Bayside High, try to
comprehend a lesson during an oceanography class at ``Bayside
Flipside.'' The annual event gives parents a chance to attend
classes with their children, or alone, to experience a typical
school day.
by CNB