Forsyth County Schools are preparing for a busy school year, and an even busier 'Open House' night.
“There’s a lot of good energy, excitement, lots of crowds and lots of traffic outside,” says Principal Kathy Rohacek.
The evening is designed to introduce students to new teachers, new schedules and sometimes, new schools. “Because that transition to sixth grade from elementary is so important, we would have some meltdowns and some tears. And this has pretty much eliminated that. It sets the tone for, this is a safe place, a place where I’m going to learn, I’m going to have fun, I’m going to meet new people, there are going to be expectations of me, but it sets the tone for the whole year,” says Rohacek.
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Parent Mike Millett agrees. His daughter Molly is starting fourth grade. He says kids face a new year with a bit of trepidation.
“They don’t know who their teacher is going to be, who their classmates are going to be. Sometimes they may have heard some things about the teacher from previous years and hoping they get that teacher or hoping they don’t get that certain teacher,” he says.
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In addition to learning about your student’s teacher and schedule, parents learn about student drop-off, which school supplies to buy, what kind of P.E. clothes are required, the dress code, how the school lunch payment system works, and how to sign up for the Parent Teacher Organization, or PTO, among other details.
Some schools, like Vickery Middle School, offer camps for transitioning students. VMS holds Viper Camp immediately after Tuesday night’s Open House.
“They do team building, they get their lockers and learn how to open them, which is a very big deal for sixth graders. It just gives them the confidence to get comfortable with that first day of school,” says Rohacek.
Rohacek encourages parents to come to the open houses, because it sets the stage for a successful school year. “It’s critical. So on that first day, they’re not standing in the middle of the rotunda with this deer in the headlights look: what do I do now?”
Many elementary open houses are held from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, but for middle schools and variations, check your school's Web site for more information.
