As a parent, you have an opportunity to guide your child and help them choose a high school where they can reach their full potential! Visiting several schools is the best way to find one that suits your child’s interests and needs. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Public schools: For information about public schools, including open house dates (usually scheduled in September or October), visit the school service centre or school board affiliated with your sector.
Private schools: For information about private schools, head to this website.
Before attending any open houses, it is important to ask your child what they expect from their future school. There are also practical aspects to consider:
Are they interested in taking a specific program (e.g., international studies, sports, arts)?
How will they get to school (e.g., on foot, by public transit)?
How far are they willing to commute every day?
Etc.
Extracurricular activities are an important part of teenagers’ lives. Among other things, they provide an opportunity to make new friends, gain a sense of belonging, and build self-esteem.
This is why it is a good idea to look into what types of extracurricular activities are offered by different schools:
What activities are available?
What are the registration deadlines?
How much do the activities cost?
Do kids need to have a minimum level of experience?
Are there tryouts?
Will the school supply equipment?
If your child has an individualized education plan or special needs, we recommend checking with each school to find out what resources and services they offer. You may want to ask the following questions:
What services are available (homework assistance, remedial instruction, career counselling, etc.)?
How long does it take to get an appointment?
Etc.
When visiting schools with your child, you can also ask questions about specific topics you want to know more about:
Deadlines for registration and admissions tests
The typical school schedule
Homework volume
How the school communicates with parents
Etc.
Your child is sure to have a few questions of their own, especially for the students helping out with the open houses:
What do they like about their school?
Are there any orientation activities for Secondary I students?
Etc.
An open house is the perfect time to check out a school’s classrooms, music and dance rooms, library, science labs, and cafeteria. Here are a few things to look for:
Does the gym have a variety of athletic equipment?
Is the library well stocked?
Is the lab equipment up to date?
Does the cafeteria offer a variety of options?
Etc.
It can be helpful to jot down your observations about a school (the atmosphere, positives and negatives, etc.) right after your visit so that you can go over your notes later. This will make it easier to remember important information and compare the schools.
Feel free to use our printable parents’ notebook for high school open houses.