I will chime in as a teacher--really, the orientation is so everyone knows what to expect for the child that year. And I'm sorry but it kind of hit me wrong when you said you have her Weds, so you need to know about Thursday tests. I mean, yes, of course, you do need to know about Thursday tests. But she is your child 24/7/365, right? So even if something isn't due on Thursday it doesn't mean you shouldn't/can't be informed and interested and willing to help out. Sorry, I just hate it, as a teacher, when parents try to parcel out their child's education into 'his responsiblity' and 'her responsibility'.
One thing I vowed, having seen just about everything as a teacher, is that I would not make the teacher schedule two conferences bc Dan and I couldn't be in the same room together. I know as a teacher I would probably forget something when talking to one parent, or mention something to one and not the other. If you want to make sure you are on the same page concerning your kids, sorry, but you really are better off going to these things together. I mean you don't have to carpool but I don't think it kills you to be in the same geographic location at the same time.
