Every year, new and returning Soundview students and their families gather at school for the annual Back to School Picnic. It is held on the Friday before the start of school and is the event that traditionally opens the Soundview school year. It is an informal opportunity for new students to meet their classmates and new parents to meet other Soundview parents. Faculty and administrators as well as alumni parents barbecue hamburgers and hotdogs while picnic-goers help themselves to the array of salads, dips and desserts prepared by parents.