OPINION: Curriculum Missing from Murrieta Mesa’s Registration Night

Last night, Monday, March 12, I attended Murrieta Mesa High School’s (MMHS) Eighth Grade Student Registration Parent Night. I received an email for the event and four—yes four—voicemail messages from the school. Having a child who will be entering ninth grade next year and being that Mesa is our home school and all my older children went to a different Murrieta high school, I was looking forward to learning what Mesa had to offer. According to the flier I printed from the MMHS website, the evening would include highlights of MMHS programs, pathway and program exhibits, and information on high school courses. It was also noted that counselors and administrators would be available to answer questions.

I guess I interpreted the announcement differently, because the only things that were presented to us were highlights of MMHS programs, and by that it was limited to performance programs. We were entertained by singers, comedians, dancers, cheerleaders and musicians, but I thought that was the introduction to the evening. I did not realize until it was announced after the performances that there was no formal presentation. If we wanted more information, we had to funnel ourselves from the large auditorium through a single door into a smaller auditorium where booths were set up for the different school programs. Great for the programs, I thought, but I wanted to know about the courses. Yes, there were counselors, but only one for the ninth grade (from what we were told at the pseudo presentation). The line for the counselor, as you could imagine, was quite long, and after visiting many of the program tables, I decided not to speak to the counselor as I did not want to feel rushed, nor did I feel like I wanted to rush others.

Do not get me wrong, I am excited for my child to attend MMHS in the fall, but I was clearly misled by the advertising for this event. I spoke to a few people there who had the same befuddled look on their face as we politely crammed through the single door. When I expressed my confusion about the content of the evening, they indicated the same expectations. I have heard great things about MMHS’s academic pathways and was looking forward to learning firsthand how their pathways work, what students have remarked about them, how education at MMHS is different than other area schools, and how I can support my child through the programs. But all I was offered was a chance to stand in a long line and speak to a counselor. I felt sorry for that counselor who probably had to repeat herself at least 50 times.

It turns out that my child received information on the curriculum when MMHS visited her local middle school recently. She had the course schedule and booklet which further defines the classes—much like college bulletins do, but I still feel disappointed that the administration at MMHS could not rally behind their academic program at this pivotal event. The best they did was to announce all the colleges one—one student—was recruited by. I have no idea what pathway she was on, what her four years at Mesa looked like, if she juggled academics with performance art clubs or other clubs, etc.

I hope in the future MMHS—and all area high schools will take this criticism to heart and try to give parents what they really want—a real presentation on the curriculum and how to help our children navigate through high school.