February 28, 2023
Dear ARK Families,
I find it hard to believe that it is time to write a letter to you about class placements for the upcoming school year. Developing healthy and workable class sections for the next year is one of the most important tasks we have as educators. The ideal is to form class placements that allow for maximum academic and social development for every student.
During the process, teachers consider their knowledge of each child’s learning preferences, which children work well together and which children might benefit from being separated, and the developmental level of each child. They also consider each teacher’s instructional and classroom management style when making the teacher-student match.
When developing classes, our goal is to achieve a balance in areas such as gender, ethnicity, and diversity in academic and social development. Thoughts from current teachers and specialists in other disciplines, principal observations, and the information you provide, are considered during this process. Ultimately, I will be making the final approval of the class lists. I hope you will trust my final decision and understand that a significant amount of work and thought go into creating the placements.
If you are concerned about your child, you may address your thoughts confidentially by completing this Google Form. Please present pertinent information about your child and describe the learning environment that you believe will maximize your child’s success during the upcoming year. Concerns might include your desire to keep your twins together or have them placed in separate classes or a known conflict with another student.
Please understand that requests for a specific teacher would not be appropriate. Instead, highlight the environment that you feel will maximize your child’s learning and comfort level and the characteristics you would like in your child’s teacher. You should also take into consideration that teacher placements may change next year. For example, teacher “A” who taught your child in kindergarten may teach 4th grade in the upcoming year.
Requests for placement considerations are due Sunday, March 12, 2023. Requests received after this date will not be considered.
If you have requests for me to consider, complete the form below. If you have multiple children, complete the form for each child.
Sincerely,
Eugene S. Park
Principal, A. Russell Knight Elementary
