April 27, 2011 - Placements & Enrichment

Dear Parents,

Placements for Next School Year

Soon the teachers and I will begin to look ahead to class assignments for next year. Much time and effort is put forth by the staff to create balanced classes. Every year, we are asked many questions about how students are placed in classrooms from year to year. The intent of this letter is to share the most frequently asked questions and provide you with answers.

Question:            What is the process for creating new classes each year?

Answer:            At the end of each year, the staff and principal get together and create balanced heterogeneous classes using the following criteria: academic performance (math, reading, and language arts), student behavior, leadership, gender,  and additional needs identified by this year’s classroom teacher.

Question: If parents know their child best, why shouldn’t they make the decision for placement of their child?

Answer:            Because classrooms are very complex, interactive places of learning, and group dynamics play a significant part in the overall effectiveness of the classroom learning environment. When classes are put together, a high priority is placed on matching complimentary personalities of student to student and student to teacher.

Question:            Should I ask my child who he/she wants for a teacher?

Answer:            This is not a good idea. If a child is asked and the request is not granted, the child may not

understand why and can feel an overwhelming sense of disappointment and even rejection.

Question: Do you purposefully place students with their friends?

Answer:            No, we do not. Our goal is to create a school climate in which all students feel like they

belong and can foster existing friendships or form new friendships with whomever is in their class.

Question:            If a parent makes a request to this year’s teacher, or the principal, will they be assured of getting the teacher requested?

Answer:            No, parents are not to request a teacher by name. If they do and a student does not get the teacher requested, this usually causes disappointment and anger which can lead to an unhappy situation for the child as well as the teacher. All parents want a teacher who is caring, sensitive to individual needs, knowledgeable, and can provide engaging, academic challenges in a non-threatening learning environment. If a child has a learning need, this information may be put on a “Student Educational Information” form. Please submit completed forms to the office. Completed forms for the upcoming year will not be accepted after May 20. Only the specific information relating to your child’s specific need will be considered when making placements.

Thank you for your continued support in working with the staff here at Walt Disney Elementary. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or your child’s teacher.

After School Enrichment Classes 

We recently opened registration for two quality after school enrichment classes here at Walt Disney. While the Video Production class sold out in one day, there is still space in our Spectrum of Science workshops. Download the flyer here and register soon directly through Spectrum of Science.