[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58RxCMiLrVA&w=560&h=315]
As you may have heard, we have very large class sizes in both our 1st and 2nd grades right now (30 or more kids in many of the classes). Thankfully, we have qualified for an additional teacher who will help lower class sizes. Her name is Mrs. Deklerk, and we’re so impressed with her in the first few days we’ve gotten to know her. She will be teaching a newly created class in 2nd grade. After having studied out the class-size issue with our faculty and the School Community Council, we are also creating one split-grade class that will allow Mrs. Deklerk’s addition to benefit first-grade class sizes as well. Mrs. Matsumura, one of our current second-grade teachers who has taught several split-grade classes in the past, will teach the split-grade class at Armstrong this year. Mrs. Deklerk’s addition and the split grade headed up by Mrs. Matsumura will bring all the class sizes in 1st and 2nd grade down to 26 kids.
The good news of this plan is that we’re getting all the classes to a more appropriate size. The tricky part of the plan is it means we must make some class assignment adjustments to fit the new model. I’ve already phoned and emailed all the parents of students who will be moved into a different class. If you have a 1st or 2nd grader but haven’t heard your student is moving, you can assume he or she will remain in the same class with the same teacher after the change. We’ll make the adjustment to the new classes beginning on Tuesday, September 22.
I know this is a significant change that will bring back some first-day jitters for some students for a couple of days. However, I’m confident they’ll all feel excited and happy in their new setting soon after we make the change. If anyone has any questions or concerns they would like to talk about, please don’t hesitate to call me directly on my cell phone throughout the weekend at 385-646-5285.
Thanks so much for helping us make this needed adjustment. We’re confident this will provide a more ideal situation for all our first and second graders this year.
