By Ezra Kim
The Mirror
News Editor
By Tyler Jung
The Mirror Staff
“We wanted to expose parents to college, what their children will be exposed to on their first day of college,” said Mrs. Rose. “It helps them to open the idea of their child going through a four-year college.”
CAMPUS NEWS
College Field Trip for Parents
February 6, 2017
CAMPUS NEWS: Parents take a field trip to the campuses of UCLA and Pepperdine.
Van Nuys High School’s Parent Center has hosted the first parent school field trip on January 25 to tour the campuses of Pepperdine University in Malibu and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in Westwood.
Parents were provided school bus transportation, leaving from Van Nuys High School at 8:00 a.m.. First up on the list was Pepperdine University. Parents got a tour around the campus, experiencing a typical day in a private university. The tour was led by an on-campus tour guide, who showed the parents around the private university.
The group then left for UCLA for a second tour, this time led by Van Nuys College Coordinator, Mr. Hosea Corado, who experienced the campus for nine years. Parents got to experience the more lively public university campus life, and saw features such as the Bruin Walk, the UCLA student dining hall, concert halls and the Bruin stairs.
As a California State Credentialed Family Educator, Mrs. Rose Avetisyan emphasized the importance of this trip to the Van Nuys parents by explaining the various opportunities students will have after high school.
“We wanted to expose parents to college—what their children will be exposed to on their first day of college.” said Mrs. Avetisyan. “It helps them be open the idea of their child going through a four year college.”
Mrs. Avetisyan also explained the added benefit of improving inter-family dynamics.
“Parents are the engine of the ‘family train,’ and exposing parents to colleges can foster higher family education values and development.”
Students also participated the trip by delivering field trip slips to their parents. “A fun reverse role” said Mrs. Avetisyan, as parents are signing field trip slips for themselves.
Principal Yolanda Gardea helped make the tours possible by providing the Parent Center with school buses. “I am very grateful for Mrs. Gardea for helping us set up this parent event,” Mrs. Avetisyan said.
Parents also gave positive feedback regarding their recent experience in a meeting held on January 2 during second period.
One parent said, “I really enjoyed the architecture and structures of the buildings. The food was also great. Both campuses were beautiful.” Another said, “My favorite part was being able to go to a real live college basketball court. It was so amazing to actually be there.”
Both Mr. Corado and Mrs. Avetisyan are looking forward to taking another field trip to local colleges next year.