School administrators and teachers know they can’t do their jobs all by themselves. They need the engagement and cooperation of the families they serve to ensure students have support for their education even after the final bell rings for the day. Scheduling an open house event is a critical element of fostering a successful school community because it gives families the opportunity to meet faculty and staff face-to-face and learn more about what their children learn and experience every day.
By following this school open house checklist, you can make sure you have an event that kicks the new year off on the right foot, encourages prospective families to join and ensures a higher level of parental involvement when learners are at home.
Building a Successful School Open House
Holding an open house night at the start of the school year can be a great way to get families on the same page and set the tone for what’s to come. However, there’s more to such an event than opening the doors and letting parents meet their children’s teachers. The most successful open house events tend to have some common elements:
- Meet and Greet With Teacher: This is perhaps the most important, and usually makes up the bulk of the evening’s schedule. When visiting each teacher’s classroom, they get the opportunity to ask questions about the curriculum, find out about any special events that may be coming up and meet with faculty members in a less-formal environment. This is very important, as parents and guardians want to know their kids are in good hands during school hours.
- School Procedures and Policies: An open house night also is a good opportunity for administrators to outline the school’s policies and procedures, especially those that pertain to classroom expectations. Communicating with families directly can help clear up any confusion because staff members will be there to answer questions or distribute school handbooks.
- Engagement Activities: Whether to help break the ice with parents, build stronger community ties or just keep children brought along from getting bored, having games and other fun activities scheduled during the open house can be very helpful.
- Enrollment: For private schools and academies, open house nights are crucial for attracting new families to their communities. If you run a private school, this is your chance to welcome prospective families and make your case. Typically, there should be a staff member at a table where these interested parents can ask about the enrollment process and take home literature about your institution.
Engaging Activities for Parents and Students
There are a number of ways school staff can engage with families and students during an open house in a fun way. These can serve not only to help everyone feel more comfortable with each other but also to give parents an idea of how their children learn in the classroom. Some ideas include:
- Scavenger Hunts: Teachers can encourage parents to go around the room to find any examples of their children’s work.
- Compliment Jars: Parents can be asked to leave any positive feedback they have about their child, the classroom, or the teacher anonymously by filling out index cards and placing them in a jar. The next day, teachers can read these compliments back to the class.
- Band/Choir Performances: Arranging for the school band or choir to give a short performance for open house attendees helps show students’ progress and skills in a very tangible form.
- Science Experiments: Teachers can set up stations where parents and their kids can perform quick and fun science experiments together, with the teachers explaining how they relate to what’s being taught in the classroom.
- Sensory Stations: Schools with very young students can set up special areas where kids can play with various sensory toys while parents talk to the faculty members.
Effective Communication With Parents
A successful open house can enhance the rapport between the school and parents, but it also has to be based in effective communication from the beginning. You need to make sure your event is properly announced well in advance and promoted through all available channels, from sending flyers home to email blasts and text messages. This is important if you want to make sure you have a high parent turnout. Social media is another powerful tool you can use to your advantage. For example, if your PTA or PTO has a Facebook group or Twitter account, make sure the open house gets promoted through those channels as well as your official school accounts.
Once you’ve brought your families together, you need to have a way to collect feedback about the open house as well as the school year in general. One of the most effective ways to do this is to have feedback forms available to all parents throughout the event. This way, parents can fill out the form and return it to the school even after the event is over, in case they think of anything after the fact. Periodic surveys sent through email or social media can be another good way to solicit feedback about your open house event. Many schools hold regular coffees or other types of informal gatherings with administrators, and these also can be a good time to get parents’ input.
Safety at School Events
Of course, it’s also important to make sure that your open house event will be a safe one. This means you should have school staff posted at your entrance to check in families and distribute name tags. Before the event, it’s a good idea to review school safety guidelines and emergency protocols with faculty and staff so everyone knows what to do in case of a problem.
Strengthening Your School Community
The families that make up your school community are your neighbors, and it’s only right that you should welcome them in the same way you would a friend. This is important not only to give parents a chance to see their children’s learning environment, but also to create a stronger bond between them and you. Hosting an open house sends a strong message that your school wants all students and their families to feel welcome and that you’re committed to forming a partnership with them. With the right planning and some creativity, you can have a successful event that ultimately helps foster better outcomes for learners.