Open house and course advisement night was hosted by Oak Park High School virtually on Feb. 25 from 6-8 p.m. Normally held at the OPHS Pavillion, students and parents in the past have been given the opportunity to ask questions to the counselors and teachers about courses and college advisement. However, it was a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“[Open house] will be a combination of live Q & A sessions and virtual presentations. It will be organized by departments and courses and will involve our counselors, teachers, PFA, College and Career Center, and ASB,” Principal Kevin Buchanan wrote to the Talon. 

The night began with senior Karen Dotan singing the national anthem and Buchanan going over the open house website. The OPHS Parent Faculty Association also shared a video message. Faculty and staff members worked to create videos and slides for parents and students introducing them to the course and its expectations. 

Future freshmen also had the opportunity to learn more about OPHS with their own website. 

“We have a separate Future Freshman Night site that is being organized by Ms. Svoboda,” Buchanan wrote. 

Parents and students were able to navigate to various links on the homepage of the open house/course advisement website, similar to Back-to-School night in the fall. The website contains links and resources for course advisement, as well as department Q&A meets and class information. 

“I was still able to get questions answered and gain some information that helped me make decisions about my classes. While in person is always nice, open house was definitely still informative this year as well,” sophomore Allyson Youde wrote to the Talon.