Highlight of the Week

We enjoyed welcoming the students back to school after spring break!  It was wonderful to hear how you spent your time with your family over the break.  I was proud of the children for their ability to settle into classroom routine so quickly.  We look forward to our final months together!

Class Placement Process

Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and other staff members. We take this responsibility very seriously. The process for creating class lists is as follows:

· First, teachers think about the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision making process.

· Next, teachers meet together as grade level teams to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs.  Teachers consider each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they match each individual child. Learning specialists and the specials team collaborate with classroom teachers throughout the process and share their insight as well.

· Each grade level team types a draft set of class lists that are then submitted to me. One at a time, I will consider each student and his/her placement. At this time, parent input is also considered. Any changes in the draft lists are reviewed by the classroom teachers to ensure balance. 

· Class lists are finalized in August to reflect all new student enrollments. This process happens across grades K-4. Our 5th grade team also collaborates with teachers at Cimarron Middle School to ensure students’ success in 6^th grade.

We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. It is a delicate balancing act which takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children. Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child. Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons and that our process benefits all students. Because of the input and thought given by teachers, parents, and administrators, we are reluctant to make changes once this process occurs.  While it may seem difficult to imagine, moving just one child can disrupt the balance of an entire classroom.

I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information about your child’s learning style and needs, received on or before THURSDAY, APRIL 25^th . While we welcome your input, specific teacher requests will not be honored. Please put your thoughts in writing and address them to me (Jenny Brown).  I will accept either a hard copy letter or email (jebrown@dcsdk12.org).

I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are in writing. As you can imagine, we receive lots of parent input, and verbal information is nearly impossible to track. Further, please direct all of this communication to me as I am ultimately responsible for reviewing final class lists in July when teachers are not working.

Mark Your Calendar

* April 12 – April 20: Elementary School Art Show –  @ Park Meadows

* April 19: Sock Hop  @ 5:30-7:30PM

* April 26:  No School – Teacher Comp Day

Opportunities

* Volunteer to help at the sock hop! Contact the PTO.