Open House Ideas
Opening the Doors of Middle Schools to Parents
Every autumn, it's not just students who head back to school. Often, their parents do too. Whether it's picking their children up after practice, helping their kids with homework at night, or buying poster board for the first project of the year, parents are involved in school once the first bell rings each fall. Thus, many middle schools designate a night early on in the school year where both students and parents are welcomed back with open arms and open doors.
Many middle schools host an Open House, while others hold a Back to School Night; some schools even offer an evening for students to Take Your Parents to School. These various events have similarities and differences among them. However, the predominant premise behind all of them is providing parents with answers, ideas, and information that will help lead to a successful school year for everyone involved. Most likely, there is a lot to cover in a little time. The following list of suggestions is meant to offer middle school teachers and teams some topics and ideas that could be tweaked or included in an evening when school is in session for parents.
- Allow parents to tour the school, possibly using student volunteers as their tour guides.
- Provide parents with their child's daily schedule. Encourage them to visit each classroom in the order their child does each day.
- Tell parents the locker number and combination of their child's locker. Ask them to open it and check out its current organization.
- Invite guidance counselors, school social workers and psychologists, and the school nurse to meet with parents as well, giving them general information on how they can assist parents and students throughout the year.
- Encourage the PTO to be present and available to speak with interested parents. Have information ready for parents to take home regarding fundraisers, Market Day, spirit wear, and any upcoming events.
- Compile a list of anything and everything parents should know regarding team rules, policies, expectations, team websites, school phone numbers, field trips, etc.
- Ask parents to provide contact numbers and addresses as well as any other information the team needs in order to best communicate with them.
Obviously, every middle school is unique. And different parents need different things from teachers, just as different students do. However, hosting a night where parents are invited into their children's school, and welcomed into their children's classroom, is something that middle schools need to do and something that parents of middle school students want to happen. It might be a small step, but it's definitely a sure step in the right direction to start off the school year.
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