Students Help Create Community Feel at Back-to-School Night

Back-to-School Night normally brings about thoughts of parents wandering the halls looking for a few minutes to hear a presentation from teachers and possibly grabbing a few seconds to address a personal concern. But Thursday night's Westfield High School Back-to-School Night did not look anything like this.

While parents were there wandering the halls and hearing from teachers, the school was also packed with students, manning decorated tables, looking to raise funds for various causes. The school's clubs and sports teams set up tables to raise money and awareness, along with building a sense of community.

"Tonight is a celebration of the entire school community and that includes all the organizations in the school," WHS Principal Peter Renwick said.

Many of the sports teams were selling clothing and other merchandise decorated with the team's name and logos. The wrestling team was out for their second fundraiser of the year, focusing mainly on selling magnets, noting they are an underfunded team.

The volleyball team and breast cancer awareness club were promoting the Play for Pink breast cancer awareness fundraiser occuring on Oct. 2. The tables included selling breast cancer awareness items. Other tables helped raise awareness of up-coming events including the Student Council and the Young Democrats.

The marching band was selling a variety of Westfield sweatshirts, blankets and reusable shopping bags, while the choral groups were selling reusable mugs. The girls and boys soccer teams banded together to raise money for Friends of Westfield Soccer.

"We're trying to raise money for high school soccer here," WHS senior Ryan Krasnoo said. "It has helped us get new equipment in the past. It's a profitable fundraiser every year and we hope it's a success."