Classroom Placement

Classroom placement is a process that is child centered and takes teachers and staff many hours of careful thought and consideration.  We look at gender, learning abilities, peer combinations (both positive and non-constructive) and form equitable classroom communities that ensure both social and academic development for all children.  When making classroom placements we always consider the individual child while recognizing that each child is also part of a complex equation.  Once the classroom communities have been formed the movement of one child from the group damages the integrity of the group and causes a chain reaction within the classroom balance.  Rest assured that all of our teachers and staff have the skills to help children adjust to their new learning environment. Many parents have questions over the years regarding our placement process so I thought it would be helpful to address some of the more common questions that I have been asked over the years.

Can I ask for a particular teacher for my child?

We respectfully ask that parents not ask for a particular teacher for their child.  Doing so is very awkward for the teacher and it is very difficult to successfully build the most productive, balanced class groups on the basis of parent requests.  The teachers spend many hours thinking about the best learning environment for all students and we ask that you trust our process.  Thank you for your cooperation.

I would like my child’s best friend placed with them in their classroom – is this a request I can make? How do I communicate that?

Parents are welcome to share with the classroom teacher and school counselor, names of friends that their child would like to be with in their classroom.  Please note that this will not ensure that the students will be placed together.  We find that children placed with their best friend often work and play exclusively with each other, and this does not promote the diverse social interactions we try to foster.  However, we also try to make sure every child has some “support” from other children in class placements.  We find, that young children change best friendships often, as parents well know. 

If my child is having difficulty getting along with a student can I request that they not be placed together?

If your child is having repeated difficulty with a student in his/her class, you will need to inform the teacher, counselor and the Principal so problem solving can take place.  Part of the school experience is to learn to function socially with all kinds of people, to prepare children for that reality in life.  Our placement process works hard at separating the most non-constructive relationships, as best we can. 

If my child is upset about their placement how do I best support them as a parent?

Occasionally children are upset with their class placement.  It is not uncommon for individuals to hear that a certain teacher is the best to have or to feel that one teacher has a reputation for being too strict – often these “reputations” are what leads to the child’s feelings.  It is critically important for you to know that students’ attitudes towards their teachers and school are highly influenced by the attitudes and strategies of their parents.  You can provide your child with a successful beginning of the year experience by responding to their classroom assignment with positive enthusiasm.  Through confidence in our children’s ability to deal with change and parent’s cooperation and trust, we can all work together to enhance personal development and provide a positive school climate for all. 

I hope that you found this Q & A helpful - it's hard to believe that the end of another school year is upon us!