Host: What is the purpose of the conference at the beginning of the year? Lee Dorman: Conferences at the beginning of the year are generally get-to-know-you introductory conferences. Most elementary schools and many middle schools conduct conferences at the beginning of the year. This is because they want to get to know the teacher, want to get to know the family, the teacher wants to get to know the parents and wants information about the child before the school year begins.