#168

With our Spring 2021 Open Week coming to a close, this is an optimal time to reflect on the last few days. I continue to see Open Days, as shared in my October 2019 Open Day Reflections [Blogpost 95], as an opportunity for those in our immediate community and beyond to learn about our school. As happens during regular admissions appointments, visitors have a guided tour and see teaching and learning in action, meet with members of our school community and leave campus with a palpable sense of our school and that for which we stand.

In a typical school year, we hold two open days - one in March and one in October. Since our last on campus Open Day in October 2019, we have (as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic) held two online sessions in March 2020 and October 2020. Mindful of our current Covid-19 SOPs and the need to minimize the number of visitors on campus at the same time and ensure physical distancing, we chose to extend our March Open Day to an Open Week. In addition to these on-campus appointments, we have also offered virtual appointments for those families who are overseas or for those currently in KL, but not comfortable with or able to do an on campus visit. As often happens during an Open Day, we attract families who are very keen to enroll and wish to take advantage of the application fee waiver as well as others who are simply looking to see what is on offer with the view to possibly enrolling at a later date. I am mindful that whilst some families visit and do not submit an application, we do hope that they enjoy the experience and will speak highly of our uniquely diverse international school community and all that we offer as an IB World School with a focus on ensuring a holistic and balanced curriculum.

In preparing for this year’s Open Week, we drew on practices from previous years such as informing faculty and support staff, marketing through social media, the registration process for an Open Week appointment and ensuring we have interpreters on hand. In light of the current Covid-19 SOPs, we made adjustments in terms of the number of visitors on campus at one time, restrictions as to areas which could be visited as well as plans for an Open Week entirely on line had we been subject to changes in our SOPs due to government implemented restrictions.

One of the biggest joys, be it during regular days or Open Days/Week, is meeting families. Each family has a unique story in terms of education, experience and expectations. During our meetings we spend the time getting to know the individual family and, as part of our focus on ensuring a personalized and smooth process for families from initial inquiry to enrollment and beyond (for further details, please see the linked blog post), answer questions on a whole host of topics including, but not limited to our school’s mission, vision, and values as well as questions relating to how long we have been established, ownership of the school, IB vs Cambridge, homework policies, use of technology in the classroom, extra-curricular activities, visa process, EAL support, World Language options, schools fees and university acceptances.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and current SOPs - how have plans for your Open Day/Week and the execution thereof been impacted?

References:

• Brady, A. (2019) Open Day Reflections [Blogpost 95]

• Brady, A. (2020) Admissions: From Initial Enquiry to Enrollment and Beyond