We always go to Open House (in high school). Several other parents are always there. My current kid pretends not to like it but I’m not even sure that’s true. He’s usually interacting with us a lot while we’re there even though he doesn’t have to. His friends are too. I don’t see why people think it’s such a negative to go, even if you don’t want to go yourself.

Anonymous wrote:Our ES always do Parent Open House on Columbus Day, i talked to the Principal this week, he said they will likely be doing it on Veterans Day this year.

That makes sense. Friday, November 10 will be the federal holiday in lieu of Veterans Day which is Saturday the 11th.

Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day is October 9, 2023, and that is also an MCPS Professional Day For All Staff; No School For Students. So the open house would not be able to be held then this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Open House varies by school?

It has for the last five years. As demographics of the county changed, it is no longer the case that most parents have that federal holiday off. Schools have begun setting the date for open house to a day that works for most of their population.

I completely understand that there may be a significant number of parents who don’t have Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day off work, but how would there be a better day to have an open house than a federal holiday that schools don’t observe? What other day can a significant number of parents attend, yet schools are open?

Our ES always do Parent Open House on Columbus Day, i talked to the Principal this week, he said they will likely be doing it on Veterans Day this year.

Technically, you as a parent can observe your child’s classes any day so long as you are really just observing and not interfering with the lesson or creating a distraction. You just work with the principal to find a date to come. Very few people use this option because after Grade 2, your child doesn’t want to be only student whose parents are following them around all day.

Anonymous wrote:My kids have attended/continue to attend, elementary, middle and high schools in the Bethesda area, and their schools have always had Columbus Day Open House. The hours vary. Sometimes it's just the morning, not the whole day.

Your school probably hasn't sent out a notice yet.

+1
But they very well can't have it on Columbus Day when it's no longer a school day and it is unusual because none of DCs schools have it on their back to school calendar and it's usually on their.

My kids have attended/continue to attend, elementary, middle and high schools in the Bethesda area, and their schools have always had Columbus Day Open House. The hours vary. Sometimes it's just the morning, not the whole day.

Your school probably hasn't sent out a notice yet.

I know in the other thread, some parents were questioning Back to School Night's relevance for high schoolers, but I have to say I think the idea of Open House is really the head scratcher. Why would parents just want to sit in on their kids' classes for no reason?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Open House varies by school?

It has for the last five years. As demographics of the county changed, it is no longer the case that most parents have that federal holiday off. Schools have begun setting the date for open house to a day that works for most of their population.

Yup. That's what I thought.

Anonymous wrote:I think Open House varies by school?

It has for the last five years. As demographics of the county changed, it is no longer the case that most parents have that federal holiday off. Schools have begun setting the date for open house to a day that works for most of their population.

I think Open House varies by school?

I thought they usually did it on Columbus Day which used to be an MCPS school day but it looks like it's a professional day this year.

It's September 5, maybe they haven't announced it yet.

I may have the terminology wrong but isn't there usually one day (Columbus Day) when parents are allowed to visit the child's classes for a short while?