Back to School
As area schools prepare for classes to resume, administrators and educators gear up to welcome prospective students and their families on campus for a closer look.
by Bill Donahue

In an increasingly digital world, some things are still best experienced in analog. Determining which school a child should attend is a prime example. While websites, social media, and other digital resources can provide valuable facts about a school’s academic and extracurricular programs, graduation rates, and overall approach to education, there’s just no replacement for seeing a school in person.
 
Open-house events are a great opportunity to do so, according to Maria Breck Gunn, director of enrollment management for the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, an all-girls, Catholic college-preparatory academy in Villanova.
 
“Open houses go beyond the facts; they provide an environment where families can experience firsthand the culture and community of a school to determine ‘the fit,’” says Gunn. “Fit is what will distinguish one school from another. It will help a student envision herself in a classroom, on a team, meeting friends, and walking around campus.
 
“The greatest value of attending an open house for a student is determining if that school can be a second home,” she continues, “a place where hopes and dreams for the future can be realized, a place where she can be seen, be heard, and be valued. Similarly for parents, an open house is an opportunity to experience the people, places, and programs that will prepare their child to be the best version of themselves.”
 
Germantown Academy, an independent college-preparatory school in Fort Washington, offers multiple ways for prospective students and their families to learn about the school’s culture. At upcoming “am@GA” events slated for September, October, and November, for example, families can tour the campus, inquire about signature programming, and meet with members of the GA community—administrators, educators, coaches, and, most importantly, students.
 
“There’s no better way to learn about a school than to experience it yourself,” says Laura Martin, GA’s director of admission, enrollment, and financial aid. “Our students are a huge piece of our events; there are no better storytellers than our GA students. We can provide a lot of information by sending out mailers or posting it on the web, but to experience the school and feel it in person will guide families as to what will be their best choice.
 
“They get to see and feel the school in action, and it’s important to pay attention to how you feel when you walk around,” she continues. “For parents, they’re asking themselves, ‘Is this a place where we can see our family?’ For students, they’re asking, ‘Can I see myself going to school here?’”
 
Most open-house events last an hour and a half to two hours—a worthwhile investment of a family’s time, according to Gunn of the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur: “It is an opportunity to have questions answered and determine what sets a school apart from other institutions.”
 
While area schools prepare to welcome students back to the classroom after summer break, they’re also putting the finishing touches on open houses scheduled for autumn. If they haven’t already, schools in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, including those listed here, will soon announce upcoming open-house events on their websites and/or social-media channels.
 
BUCKS COUNTY
Archbishop Wood High School
archwood.org
 
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
conwell-egan.org
 
Holy Ghost Preparatory School
holyghostprep.org
 
Newtown Friends School
newtownfriends.org
 
Solebury School
solebury.org
 
Villa Joseph Marie High School
vjmhs.org/openhouse
 
CHESTER COUNTY
The Concept School
theconceptschool.org
 
Delaware Valley Friends School
dvfs.org
 
Malvern Preparatory School
malvernprep.org
 
The Phelps School
thephelpsschool.org
 
Villa Maria Academy High School
vmahs.org
 
DELAWARE COUNTY
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
ndapa.org
 
Archbishop John Carroll High School
jcarroll.org
 
Delaware County Christian School
dccs.org
Innovate Academy
innovateacademy.com
 
Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School
bonnerprendie.com
 
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr
shabrynmawr.org
 
The Shipley School
shipleyschool.org
 
Valley Forge Military Academy & College
vfmac.edu
 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Abington Friends School
abingtonfriends.net
 
Academy of the New Church
ancss.org
 
AIM Academy
aimpa.org
 
The Agnes Irwin School
agnesirwin.org
 
The Baldwin School
baldwinschool.org
 
Center School
centerschoolpa.org
 
Dock Mennonite Academy
dock.org
 
Friends’ Central School
friendscentral.org
 
Germantown Academy
germantownacademy.net
 
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
gmahs.org
 
The Haverford School
haverford.org
 
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
jbha.org
 
La Salle College High School
lschs.org
 
The Meadowbrook School
themeadowbrookschool.org
 
Merion Mercy Academy
merion-mercy.com
 
Mount Saint Joseph Academy
msjacad.org
 
Perkiomen School
perkiomen.org
 
PHILADELPHIA
The Crefeld School
crefeld.org
 
Father Judge High School
fatherjudge.com
 
Nazareth Academy High School
nazarethacademyhs.org
 
Roman Catholic High School
romancatholichs.com
 
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
sjprep.org
 
West Catholic Preparatory High School
westcatholic.org
 
DELAWARE
Archmere Academy
archmereacademy.com
 
Salesianum School
salesianum.org
 
Tatnall School
tatnall.org
 
Ursuline Academy
ursuline.org
 
NEW JERSEY
The Bridge Academy
bridgeacademynj.org
 
The Lawrenceville School
lawrenceville.org
 
Notre Dame High School
ndnj.org
 
The Pennington School
pennington.org
 
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
stuartschool.org
 
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, August 2024.