Prepare for an Open House

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

A virtual open house is an opportunity to meet the staff and ask questions to learn more about the school and its programs. Events may be hosted through an online platform such as Google Meet.

Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know to join a virtual open house.

BEFORE THE EVENT

• review information about programs you’re interested in 
• visit the website of schools you're considering for your child
• make a list of priorities and what’s important to your family 
• help your child consider all the options and activities available 
• have a list of topics to discuss handy so you’re ready to ask questions 
• have your child join you

To attend a virtual event, make sure your computer or device is ready. You will need to: 

• set up your computer, laptop or mobile device in a quiet area with few visual distractions
• consider using one device if multiple family members wish to attend since every device used to join the event counts as one participant—sharing a device allows more people to join the event
• use devices that are fully charged or plugged in
• check your microphone and camera ahead of time in case there are any potential issues

If you don’t have a camera or microphone, you can still join a virtual event to listen to the discussions.

JOIN THE EVENT

When it’s time to join the event, go to the school website and look for the event link on the home page. 

If the open house is hosted through Google Meet:

• you must sign in to a Google account to attend the event 
• Google no longer allows anonymous users (anyone who isn’t signed into a Google account) to attend a Meet to help prevent disruptions  
• parents with children who are Division students can choose to sign in using their child’s @share.epsb.ca account

If the open house is hosted through a different platform:

• visit the website of the school you’re interested in to view important details or instructions about joining the event 
• you may need to create an account 

AFTER THE EVENT

If you have additional questions or missed the event, contact the school.

TOPICS TO DISCUSS

Here are a few topics to discuss with school staff at an open house.

PROGRAMMING AND OPTIONS

• alternative or special education programming
• honours programming
• complementary courses
• extracurricular activities 
• athletic teams

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

• school or classroom expectations
• orientation for students entering Kindergarten, junior high or high school
• counselling supports
• parent volunteer opportunities

ACADEMICS

• homework expectations
• academic supports (i.e., homework club and tutoring)
• how students are assessed