2023, Term 3 interviews are ONLINE using Webex, a web-based application that enables face to face meetings with your child’s teacher from the comfort of your home or office.
Attending meetings online:
- You need an internet enabled device with a camera and microphone in a quiet environment
- At your meeting time, click on the teacher’s name.
- Click ‘join meeting’, then ‘join from browser’ and enter your name.
- You will enter a waiting room and the teacher will be notified
- The teacher will grant you access to the meeting room at the beginning of your meeting time
For more detailed information on this process, click here.
Purpose:
Open communication with your child’s secondary school is especially important through the changes and challenges of the adolescent years. Schools and teachers, as well as support staff including counselors, are in an excellent position to watch how your child is developing and learning.
The College provides an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet with their child’s teacher twice per year to discuss their progress. Students are expected to attend the interviews with their parent/guardian. The date of Parent Teacher Student Interviews is communicated via email and through Compass Newsfeed. Interviews are booked through Compass.
Parent teacher student interviews give you a great opportunity to:
- learn more about your child’s academic, emotional and social development
- meet and get to know your child’s teachers
- help your child’s teachers understand more about your child
- make plans with the teacher about how you can both support your child
- build a relationship with your child’s school.
- show your child that you’re interested in their learning needs and what’s happening for them at school
Before the interview:
The interview time tends to pass quickly so it helps to be well prepared. A list of questions will help you remember what you want to talk about. For example:
- What are my child’s strengths?
- What does my child struggle with?
- How much homework should my child be doing every night?
- What can I do at home to help with my child with schoolwork?
- What can you tell me about my child’s behaviour in class?
- How is my child getting along with other students?
- What support services are available for my child at school?
At the interview:
Interviews may be online or in person. This may be the first time you meet your child’s teacher. Please be assured that it is normal to feel a bit nervous and that teachers will make you feel at ease in the interview. You’ll have a pre-arranged meeting time so it’s important to be on time.
Being open and friendly will set you up for positive communication with the teacher. You can show that you respect what the teacher is saying by listening carefully and trying not to become too defensive, even if you disagree with the feedback. It’s important to get as much out of the meeting as you can, so if you don’t understand what’s being said, ask the teacher to explain to clarify or expand on a point.
If you have to discuss any problems with the teacher, it helps to come ready with some possible solutions, or at least some positive and practical suggestions. Be willing to listen to the teacher’s ideas too. The aim is for you and your child’s teacher to work on problems in partnership with each other. After all, you both share the same goal of wanting your child to learn and feel successful. If you make any decisions, it’s good to agree on who will follow up and when.
In person interviews may be held in open areas. If you know that you want to raise a sensitive or confidential topic with a teacher, it might be a good idea to arrange a separate meeting.
