Online Orientation Instead

2021 is anything but ‘usual’, meaning many boarding schools and residential colleges are being faced with the real reality of not being able to meet on campus with their new 2022 students and families. Amongst these new sets of challenges, it is allowing many boarding schools to rethink how they can continue to offer families the opportunity to meet, connect and explore their exciting new living and learning environments before arriving next year.

For many boarding schools the traditional orientation day takes place in many ways, including as a delicious morning tea, a blissful evening sundowner, for those brave enough, a sleepless sleepover, or finally much to many students’ distaste, a smorgasbord of academic testing. So how can boarding schools still deliver these thoughtful orientation experiences from a distance?

The answer to many of our most our recent dilemmas, is by turning to the online world. Which is allowing many boarding schools to continue offer tailored, considered, and engaging opportunities for your new students and their families alike on platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.?

Ways to win your audience at your online orientation

The best orientation days to organise, run and be a part of are the days that are simple for boarding families and boarding staff alike. Building real connection and relationships between students, families and staff with online orientation experiences is not only possible but easy to implement.

?Below are some suggestions when considering moving to an online orientation event for families and/or students alike.

?How best to connect with students and families

?1.???? Offer students and families the opportunity to connect over several weeks. This helps to create familiarity and reduce the overwhelm of connecting online. It also allows schools to introduce several topics or people with ease.

2.???? Keep the groups small. A maximum of 12 families/students at a time allows for connection to take place. Offer consecutive sessions if needed for larger groups. This also allows families to have options to pick a time that is best for them.

3.???? Use the wonderful resources that you already have by engaging staff, past students, or current families to help facilitate and share their experiences and advice.

Finally, apart from getting the general gist of the location and surrounds, what families most want is quality connection. They want to leave the orientation experience knowing they have made the right choice for their child and family alike.

?Teneeka Hill

Boarding Transition Facilitator

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