PTCs - Learning Together, Growing Together

You could feel something special about the energy on campus during this week’s Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs). As families filled the halls, classrooms, and shared spaces, our community came together to celebrate learning and growth.

In every division, the approach to conferences reflects the same core belief: learning is most powerful when it’s visible, reflective, and shared.

Making Families Part of the Process

In Elementary School, families participated in Learning Journeys. These sessions were carefully planned, prepared, and led by the students. They chose what to share to demonstrate their growth, challenges, and joy of learning. Each student had a story to tell and was proud and excited to share with their parents what they have been working on in class. 

Middle School embraced the transitional nature of adolescence with Student-Led Conferences. The students acted as guides, walking their parents through their daily routines—changing classrooms, presenting projects, and even demonstrating lab skills like dissecting a pig heart! The teachers were nearby to support if necessary, but as with the elementary school, the students took the lead. This format gave students space to reflect on their development, build confidence in their communication skills, and take ownership of their learning.

High School offered an arena-style setup. Families came at a time that suited their schedule and rotated through a series of short, focused meetings with their child’s teachers. Teachers prompted the students to lead the conversation, which typically focused on the students setting goals, identifying challenges, and discussing strategies to help them finish the year successfully. This format kept the pace dynamic while promoting student agency. It also gave parents a panoramic view of their child’s academic life. The conferences were not long but still had remarkable depth.

Partnership Beyond the Conferences

What made this week’s conferences especially powerful wasn’t just the turnout—it was the sense of purpose. Families weren’t there as passive recipients of information. They were active participants in their children’s education and in our shared commitment to their growth.

When students are empowered to reflect, explain, and lead conversations about their learning, they develop skills that last far beyond the classroom. And when families are invited into that process, they don’t just observe it—they become part of it.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are moments of connection, celebration, and growth—for students, teachers, and families. And they are just one part of a broader culture of partnership that makes SSIS unique. Opportunities such as parent coffees, classroom showcases, special performances, and PTA events offer additional ways for families to stay engaged in the school community throughout the year!