OPEN HOUSE / FAMILY FUN NIGHT

Your students and staff have worked hard all year, and there is no better time to showcase your school’s accomplishments than Open House. A successful open house creates enthusiasm and pride within the school’s community. Listed below are some suggestions for a great open house:

1. Begin the evening off with a freshmen orientation. Invite 8^th graders from your feeder middle schools to learn about the school. Send out an invitation approximately one month prior to the open house. The orientation begins one hour before the start of Open House. During this time, have your head counselor, athletic director, activities director, and principal talk to the students and parents. Once the orientation is over, invite them to enjoy the fun of your open house.

2. Encourage on-campus clubs on campus to sell food and drinks. Tell your clubs to make top quality food because it will be gobbled up by the end of the night. Don’t forget to have one of your clubs sell coffee.

3. Put on an art show in your multi-purpose room. Showcase some of the best projects of the year.

4. Have your drama department put on mini-plays/ scenes in the theatre throughout the night.

5. Every 15 minutes have a new activity on your school’s main outdoor stage. You can have cheer, dance, flag, and band perform at different times.

6. Sponsor a sidewalk-chalk art show by the art department.

7. Rent carnival games and turn your open house into a carnival type atmosphere.

8. Have a centralized science project exhibit.

9. Set up tables for all of your varsity sports teams to meet and greet perspective players and parents.(You can combine this with the 8^th grade orientation.)

10. Have a program available to hand out.

An Open House Party
By: Vince Ferry

Schools are under continual scrutiny, whether test scores, the media, or new political agendas are the main focus. It’s not all too often that schools are recognized for all of their positive accomplishments. Therefore, it is imperative to take advantage of a night such as Open House to provide the school’s community with a more accurate account of what is taking place within the school’s walls. As a result, many schools are giving their Open House a new look, and are viewing it as a night of celebration.

Trying to establish a sense of community within schools is very important. The school remains the one entity that can unite an entire community. Even if Open House serves as nothing more than neighbors getting to know neighbors, then it should be viewed as a huge success.

Listed below are a few things that can help turn an Open House into a community block party:

1. Create a carnival-type atmosphere. Schools are starting to provide carnival games and rides for those who attend their Open House.

2. Have a good old fashion barbeque. Solicit the helps of clubs on campus to provide a smorgasbord of food. This can also provide a great opportunity for your clubs to have a fundraiser.

3. Plan activities on your outdoor stage throughout the evening. In the program, delineate the times that groups such as cheer, dance, choir, band, and flags will perform. Also, have ASB students conduct a number of brunch-type activities for your attendees.

4. Kick off Open House with an 8th / 6th grade orientation. Invite your incoming 9th and/or 7th graders to the Open House. Provide both them and their parents with important information, but most of all make it fun. This is a great time to put on a mini-rally for these incoming students. Also, set up tables in an area where these students can meet future coaches and advisors. This is a great way to get these students excited about coming to the school next year.

5. An art show in the school’s multi-purpose room is a great way to showcase the school’s art program. Moreover, allow the art students to put on a sidewalk chalk art display.

6. Many schools hold their science fair the night of Open House.

7. Be sure to have music playing throughout the evening.

8. Invite local businesses to Open House to conduct a job fair for students. This is a great service for both the students and local businesses that support the school.

9. Create a slide show of all the activities that have happened on campus throughout the year.

10. Place student greeters at the main entrances of the school.

Open House should be a fun night, a night of celebration, and a night that highlights all of the hard work that takes place within schools.
 

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