Goffstown High School hosted the annual open house on October 2nd, 2025. Parents understand their students’ class schedules and learn what their kids are doing in class during the open house. The night starts at 6:30 with parents reporting to their child’s first period class and ends at 8:25 with their eighth period class. They get about 10 minutes in each classroom, which only allows for a brief overview of the course. 

Mr. Lambert, a biology teacher at GHS, says he enjoys meeting parents and that it helps him learn more about his students. He also states that he believes parents enjoy meeting him and learning more about the course. “They have a unique glimpse at what their students are exposed to or experience each day and a more personal connection with teachers” says Lambert. Parent attendance at the open house allows them to understand the daily life of students and their classes, as well as the work load and teacher expectations. Ms. Leblanc, a math teacher at GHS, believes that meeting a teacher in person creates a more human relationship.  Leblanc states that she finds open house useful to learning more about her students but “with the structure of open house it’s not a great environment to be able to talk to parents about their child in particular” she emphasizes. With the schedule of the event and number of parents in a room it can make it much more difficult to connect with specific people.

According to Mr. Lambert and Ms. Leblanc, their numbers this year were lower than any other previous years. “I think it’s because we live in a digital world where you can make a doctor’s appointment online or go to the grocery store. You don’t have to leave your house to do most of the things you do. People work enough to squeeze in another two hours on a work night. People show up more when they are not satisfied with the school” states Lambert. However, some teachers had even more parents show up to open house, like Mrs. Pozin. Recently either parents have been satisfied enough with the school to not bother going to the open house, or don’t have time or want to attend anyway. Another hardship is the time. GHS hosts their open house from 6:30-8:30 pm on a Thursday night. That leads to many people being unable to attend or getting home late when having work the next day. Lambert believes that the schools should continue open house, but they need to find some way to improve it, maybe by offering an online option. Leblanc states her attendance in particular was lower this year. She believes it is because of having older students, the date of the event, and the time which it is hosted. 

Leblanc states, “I think we can continue the open house, but I think that there should be a conversation on the other ways in which we can have a more productive evening”. Lambert reasons, “Open house is incredibly important even for parents who don’t think they need to come. It makes things better when they come. The school needs to find a way to increase participation. The better the school runs the better the students do.”