Photo courtesy of Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School. Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School in Glenn Dale hosts its 12th annual high school fair from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21.

Published on: Wednesday, August 25, 2010

By Howard Feintuch

Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School hosts its 12th annual Secondary Education Night on Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The event brings administrators from parochial high schools, private high schools and boarding schools in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. to the Prince George’s County school to meet perspective students and their families.

The fair — designed for students in fifth through eighth grades and their families — is an opportunity to learn more about the admissions processes and other information about the respective schools.

“The events helps the community by bringing a major high school fair to the area that is open to the public and free,” said Roz Cruz-Williams, director of admissions for Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School.

Last year’s event attracted 34 schools and approximately 100 families. This year, 60 schools have been invited and a strong turnout is expected.

“Parents like the idea of having a wide variety of schools represented in one location. They can narrow down which schools they want to attend for open houses,” Cruz-Williams said.

When students and their families arrive at the fair they check in at a main desk and are given a brochure that lists the schools in attendance, where they are located in the building and information on each school, including such facts as tuition and student population. They then visit the various school booths to ask questions and gather additional information. Private rooms are available to discuss such issues as financial aid.

The schools are encouraged to bring student, alumni and parent representatives with them to answer questions about their own experiences and engage the prospective students and their families.

Representatives from Bishop McNamara High School, located in Forestville have regularly participated in the fair and find it to be an ideal opportunity for first introductions to recruiting students, as the school representatives learn more about the potential applicants and the potential applicants learn more about the school.

“I think the process of selecting a high school is very stressful for parents, but what Secondary Education Night does is help ease parents into it by exposing them to numerous choices,” said Marco Clark, president of Bishop McNamara High School. “It's a tremendous opportunity for students and their families.”

Kathy Newman, of Upper Marlboro, attended Secondary Education Night in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She found it to be an informative experience, and as a result of her visits she chose to send her sons Shane and Justin Kelley to Bishop McNamara High School. They are currently in their junior and sophomore years, respectively, at the school.

Newman recommends other families and their children attend the fair.

“Secondary Education Night gives you a chance to meet people from each one of the schools present, learn what they have to offer and better decide which school best suits your child,” said Newman.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School, whose student population is from preschool (age 3) to eighth grade, originally started hosting the fair in 1999 with the goal to assist families in the decision of where to send their children to high school. The original event featured 15 schools, primarily from Prince George’s County and Washington, D.C.

For additional information on Secondary Education Night contact Roz Cruz-Williams at 301-262-5355. Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School is located at 11902 Daisy Lane in Glenn Dale.