Private School Open Houses
Over the coming months, the area’s top private educational institutions will be holding open houses...

POivpteSchool r a e n HOuses By nicole Canfora lupo GEt an insiDEr's pEEk at top loCal institutions Ever wonder what the area's private schools are really like? Find out in the coming months as open houses provide a rare opportunity to gain an insider's look at these well-known and wellrespected institutions. Discover how academically rigorous they are, what the social environment is like— and the answer to that all-important question: Can your student reach his or her full potential there? We asked private schools how parents can come away from an open house armed with all they need to know to make one of the most important decisions in their child's life. pictured above: Classes at Montclair kimberley academy (left and right) and the oak knoll school of the Holy Child (center) 12 Vicinity MAGAZinE September 2009 hether your child is in kindergarten or you want a high school that can prepare your teen for the rigors of college, attending open houses this fall gives you some wiggle room to consider your choices and send out applications on time. But how do you know where to start? irst, come up with a list of your top six or seven choices, advises Matthew Cannizzo, admissions director at Seton Hall Preparatory in West Orange, an all-boys Catholic high school. Attend their open houses, ask questions, and use what you learn to whittle the list to three or four schools. After all, you want to make a well-informed decision about where your son or daughter can excel academically and gain in self-esteem. But can a single evening really answer all of your questions? Probably not— yet open houses are still well worth your time. "It's a chance to learn what the school is about," notes Cannizzo, "and find out if it has the kind of programs the parents and students deem critical" for success in school. "Open houses are a basic introduction to see whether or not this is a school to keep on the list," he adds. "For most families, it's their first encounter with a particular school. It's very important for schools, too, because a first impression is lasting." Sarah Rowland, director of admissions and financial aid at The Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, has worked in both student placement and admissions. "An open house is an opportunity to get an overview and a feel for what the W F (continued on page 14)

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