Florida High hosted its secondary open house on Aug. 28. Parents or guardians had the opportunity to follow their child’s class schedule and learn about their courses.

     “It was very informative. We learned a lot, and it was nice to meet the teachers,” parent Romanise McSwain said.

     The open house also gave students a chance to feel supported, as they saw their parents engaging with their school lives. Freshman Rose Oliff said she appreciated that her parents could see what her classes were really like.

     “It informed the parents what was going on in the classes,” Oliff said.

     Freshman Oliver Stacy agreed, adding that the event bridged the gap between school and home.

     “I thought it was important for the parents to learn about our school day,” Stacy said.

     Teachers, too, found value in the turnout, noting that face-to-face conversations help build stronger connections between school and families. Science teacher Michael Moran said he enjoyed introducing himself and giving parents a glimpse into his classroom.

     “It’s always great to get to meet some of my students’ parents and connect with them,” Moran said.

     Moran appreciated how many families made the effort to attend, even those with older students. He said the event highlighted how important it is for parents to experience what their children are learning.

     Social studies teacher Jeremy Mello echoed the sentiment, emphasizing how the event brings classroom life into focus for parents.

     “Open house is important, because it gives parents a chance to actually see the class their student is doing every day and see how they get from class to class. It also gives parents the opportunity to see the actual learning environments their child is in every day,” Mello said.

     Administrators felt the event was equally valuable, stressing how it opens communication at a time when parents may not always get a full picture at home. Dean of Discipline Kevin Helms added that the event helps maintain family involvement, especially as students get older.

     “As you come up from elementary school through middle school, there’s a lot of teacher engagement and engagement of the parents. As you get into high school, the communication goes strictly to the student,” Helms said. “This event gives the opportunity to parents who still want those lines of communication and get in and see the classrooms.”