Whether your child is returning to the school they attended last year or moving to a brand new campus, getting ready for the first day of school can be as exciting as it is overwhelming.
“Choosing a school for our children is like selecting an extension of our families,” says Cyana Rahming, principal of Sunset Yards Middle School in Brooklyn, New York. “Fortunately, in the digital age, most information about programs and policies is easily accessible, which is very useful for comparing options. However, an open day allows you to discover a school’s philosophy for yourself. This is an opportunity to begin building critical relationships, which result in a partnership to cultivate our children’s educational experiences.
An open day can be structured in different ways depending on the school and the neighborhood. But whether it’s getting to know the school administration or meeting other parents, experts agree that a school open day is full of opportunities and information not to be missed. Here’s why.
“An open house is planned to give a sense of the community and what it would be like to be a member of that community,” says Nick Fiori, director of recruiting for Prospect Schools, a network of public charter schools in the K-12 in Brooklyn. , New York. “It’s an opportunity to meet teachers, the principal, other parents and get your big questions answered.” It’s a look at what our community is doing and an opportunity to show what it’s like to be a part of it.
Open houses can be designed for prospective families, new families as well as current families. For prospective and new parents, an open house welcomes families to campus to learn about a school beyond its website, says early childhood education specialist Gay Cioffi, who served as principal at Little Folks School in Washington, DC for 38 years. This can happen in many ways, including getting to know physical spaces, touring the inside of classrooms, and, perhaps most importantly, witnessing how teachers, administrators, and students parents interact.
For currently enrolled families, a school’s open house is a way to introduce parents to the new staff and any changes that may have occurred during summer break, Cioffi says. “It’s also an opportunity to welcome families back and highlight upcoming events,” she says.
A school’s open house for current parents is typically scheduled at the beginning of the school year, while open house for prospective families is typically scheduled throughout the year.
Although policies vary from school to school, students are usually invited to open houses and educators strongly recommend that they attend. “We encourage parents to bring their children,” says Fiori. “It’s really a shared experience where we’re looking to foster the parent-student connection but also the parent-staff connection.”
As students get older, attending a school’s open house becomes increasingly important, Fiori adds. “What is interesting about registering children at different levels is that parental participation starts very strongly,” he explains. “But when it comes to high school, it’s really about the student. They are the ones who have to graduate from this school and they have to make a truly adult decision about what they would like to do in order to have the experience they want. At an open house, they can get their own perspective on what the experience at that school would be like.
“We encourage parents to bring their children. It’s truly a shared experience in which we seek to foster the parent-student connection but also the parent-staff connection.
— Nick Fiori, director of recruitment for Prospect Schools, a network of K-12 public charter schools in Brooklyn, New York
An open day at a primary school is usually organized by the school principal and teachers. “Although our open houses are exclusively for new families, we always invite current families to come as guests as well,” says Fiori. “We want key members of our community to be there to tell them what it’s like and offer them the opportunity to experience this with other parents.”
Programming for an elementary school open house will most often include a presentation that will give parents an idea of what a day in the life of a student is like. “Many places even offer short videos of their classrooms,” says Fiori. There will also be time for ask questions of teachers and administrators.
For younger students, open houses also tend to offer kid-specific programming, like arts and crafts activities, which create plenty of opportunities for kids to make new connections. “The kids will definitely make friends,” Fiori says. “Every time we have an open day, the young children who come inevitably start to form relationships. »
Middle and high school open houses often involve a larger portion of the school community, including current students, school counselors, and administrators in charge of things like school operations, student life, and athletics . This gives families the opportunity to ask questions about any aspect of the student experience, not just academics.
“An open house or parents’ evening connects educators and students with the community,” explains Nicole Rossi-Mumpower., assistant principal of Robbinsville High School in Trenton, New Jersey. “We must all work together for student success. Inviting families (to our school) only enhances that experience.
Here Rossi-Mumpower explains some experiences of her school projects for parents and students in grades 9-12 at the start of a new year:
- A brief overview of the school and what to expect
- Meetings with school administrators
- School tours for parents and students led by current upperclassmen
- Tables hosted by faculty representatives from various disciplines to provide specific information on curriculum and course expectations.
- Discussions with student representatives from various sports and clubs
- Light snacks and time to socialize with parents and current students
Experts agree that open days at schools are informal, so when it comes to what to wear, there is no dress code. “Open houses are a party,” Fiori says. “They are meant to be fun events and not stuffy at all.”
That said, parents should come to an open house event ready to ask questions. “Parents should familiarize themselves with a school’s mission and curriculum by using websites as a resource, to start,” says Cioffi. “From this research, questions may arise that can be raised during your open day. »
This is especially important for future families. “Prospective parents should come to the open house with an idea of what you need to know to choose a school for the school year,” says Fiori. “Be prepared with the questions you need answered to make a choice. »
Here are some topics Fiori recommends asking questions around:
School operations
“A lot of things that parents underestimate in a school have to do with day-to-day operations,” says Fiori. This could include, for example, organizing medical records, travel or transportation. “Operations are simply no longer consistent across all public schools. Some places prioritize certain things and not others, so you want to ask questions about what’s important to you.
Academic vision
“It’s important that the parent aligns with the principal’s educational philosophy,” Fiori says. “I would suggest parents dig a little deeper. Public schools are required to respect criteria imposed by the state and public institutions, but how does the principal determine what the academic success of his students is? They can talk about test scores, but you want to ask them what this person’s vision is for academics at their school.
Course and event details
To get a clear picture of your child’s school day, Fiori recommends asking questions like “What is the structure of a typical school day?” and “What are the class sizes?” » As for what not to ask? “Don’t get carried away with the upcoming school year,” Fiori says. “Sometimes people want all the details about upcoming events, but they just aren’t set yet. Instead, ask yourself how things have generally gone in the past.
Experts agree that you should make every effort to attend your school’s open house. But they understand how busy parents’ schedules are – most are busy parents themselves! “The reality is that when dates and times don’t work out, everything is fine,” says Rahming, who admits that her own daughter’s school events are difficult for her to organize as principal.
If a parent cannot attend an open house, Rahming recommends the following:
- Contact school leaders to see if any information can be passed on to you immediately (e.g. presentation slides, brochures, etc.)
- Ask for another time to meet with someone so they can share what was covered at the event. “Online virtual meeting platforms have worked great for my family and me when schedules are tight,” says Rahming.
- Schedule an in-person meeting on campus. “A private tour without crowds is also helpful for students who may feel anxious about the transition or who are overstimulated by big events,” says Rahming.
The essential ? “Families should feel encouraged to find another option if they can’t attend their school’s open house,” says Rahming. “Keep in mind that schools want to meet you and it’s important that you have time to start building that relationship.”