OT - Requesting class placement for kids

[PrincessBelle39]

Our school is now accepting requests for class placement for 2010. I am at a loss at how to write the letter and hoped there might be someone here with some better letter writing skills than me.

Some background.

My eldest daughter will be going into Grade 2 which is her third year of school. Its a small school with about 150 kids but growing every year. There are too many kids for one class. In her first year (we call it Prep here) they had one straight prep class and a prep/grade 1 class. My daughter was in the prep/1 class along with 5 other preps (the rest grade ones) and whilst she did well academically, it was harder socially. All her friends were grade one girls and of course all moved into a different class this year meaning she basically had to start again friendship wise. Even though she is a very confident child, she struggled towards the end as the girls in the straight prep class wouldn't play with her as 'she wasn't in their classroom.' This included her best friend from kindergarten and to be honest the friendship has not got back on track since this. This year she is in grade one with most of the other grade ones and things have improved. However, there is a class with again just 6 grade ones this year who have been separated from the rest due to not enough room in the class. I don't want my dd to be in this position again next year and want to request she stay with the majority of her grade.

My youngest daughter is due to start prep next year and due to numbers again, its going to be a similar thing. But she is much more timid and would not cope as well with it as her sister. She struggles to make friends due to her shyness and its taken her a while to open up a small group of kinder friends. I really don't want her separated.

I've tried a couple of letters but nothing sounds right. I want something short and sweet but stressing that they stay with their age group. Any suggestions as to wording would be a great help.

Suzanne

[happymommy]

If it's such a small school, honestly I'd make an appointment to talk to the head of the school. You can lay it all out there, and discuss the best options for your children. A letter seems too impersonal.

[MSSANDRA]

I would just say what you said here. The mixed ages groups are not the best learning situation for your children for these reasons. I agree that a face to face is a good idea but also put it in writting to hand to the head mater (principal) so he does not forget exactly what you need.

[Mathfailure]

My youngest was going to be in this kind of situation, grade one and grade two mixed.

I asked for him not to be in it and stated clearly my reasons. Short sweet to the point.

For my son he would be too distracted by a different lesson while he was expected to be doing something else. He is just too social and would want to be 'in' on everything.

So a different reason, but you can use the same approach.

State what you want, state why, offer to answer any further questions in person. Really like a three paragraph letter. You know your children best.

[surfgirl]

I would follow the advice above.

1) make an appointment with the head of school. Explain that it is a social issue - they understand that. (btw, what does her teacher now say about her socially ? I would know that answer b/c the principal/hos will probably ask him/her).

2) write a letter confirming everything that you talked about with the principal/hos. During the above meeting, ask hos how she would like it in writing - email ? snail mail?

3) do not accept hos/principal's word that it will be taken care of. Write it down anyway. Sometimes another person will take first crack at assigning classes and anything in writing will be taken into account first. The principal/hos usually will review it, but a letter always is better.

good luck!

(do you have a guidance counselor ? Have you talked to her ? )

[mousebymarriage]

Originally Posted by happymommy

If it's such a small school, honestly I'd make an appointment to talk to the head of the school. You can lay it all out there, and discuss the best options for your children. A letter seems too impersonal.

I agree, sometimes a face to face meeting is much more effective than a letter.

[Mathfailure]

I have actually found a paper trail is almost always better.

My son's school only had 6 classrooms, 2 each K-2, but I did not want any forgetting of the conversation or room for error. I got along alright with all of the staff, but so much goes on in a day, written seemed the best way for the request to be remembered correctly.

[PrincessBelle39]

Thanks for the replies. I spoke to my eldest dd's teacher this afternoon. She says I need to put it in writing. Our principal is away on long service leave at the moment so we have a fill in for the rest of the year. I'm to put it in writing to her. The teacher seems to think that dd7 is already earmarked for the class with the majority of grade 2's next year which makes me feel a little positive. But she couldn't tell me with the younger one. As she will be the teacher for the straight prep next year and know's my youngest dd (as the other has been in her class for two years now), I'm thinking that perhaps dd5 is down for the composite which worries me a bit. Its one of those times that I wish I had a crystal ball to do the right thing. I want her with the majority but hope that her closest friends are in there too and that I am not having her separated from them. We don't have guidance counsellers here. I basicaly wont know if the requests have been granted until its too late to do anyting about it.

[The Hendies]

For What It's Worth, our DD was in the same boat as a 3rd grader. She did O.K. academically, but socially, she was lost. She started K as a 4 year old and didn't turn 5 until mid-December. Keeping her back that year was a good plan for her. If doing a lateral move for your little DD is an option, you have a great plan. I learned early in my children's public education, academics isn't everything, and parents must be their child's best advocate! A well rounded, happy child is just as important! Good Luck!