Student Placement Process

Dear Maple Hills Families,

Each spring we complete a thorough and thoughtful process to place students in classes for the following fall. The classroom placement process is VERY complex and many factors enter into the decision-making process. Our primary priority is to create a mix of students in each class to promote a positive social and learning environment, which means a balance of academic and social factors. Each of the following are considered before final rosters are prepared:

• Program needs of students
• Balanced class size
• Balance of achievement levels in literacy and math
• Behavior factors regarding each student
• Compatibility of students with others in the classroom
• Teacher, Guidance Team, SpEd, Specialists, and Principal recommendations
• Independence levels and social needs
• Equal consideration for each child

 

The staff take the task of placement very seriously. We believe that after working with your student throughout the year in an academic setting, observing how the students interact with each other, knowing the academic curriculums, etc., the team of teachers take much time, effort and care to make the most thoughtful placement of each child.

As parents you may have pertinent information about your child that you would like considered in the placement process. Examples of information staff find helpful are: “Please separate my twins, Jimmy and Johnny,” or “My child has recently been diagnosed with anxiety and I would like the principal to be aware of this new diagnosis.”

There are also examples of comments that we all agree upon, such as, “We want a warm, nurturing, caring environment for our child,” “We want our child challenged,” “We want our child in a structured classroom.” We take these comments as a given; it is each teacher’s responsibility to provide a nurturing, challenging, safe environment for every student. The task for the current year teacher is to develop balanced classrooms based on the knowledge they have about all of the students. 

If you choose to provide specific information regarding your child that is unique or regarding information that the teacher does not have or may be unaware of, please provide a letter in email to JoEllen Tapper, Principal. You may bring a letter to the office or send by email to Principal Tapper at: Tapperj@issaquah.wednet.edu

You will receive a confirmation email from me within 48 hours of its arrival. Please ensure that your email or letter is sent and received prior to May 5, in order for your input to be considered. If you do not receive a confirmation email from me, email again and/or leave a message with the front office at 425-837-5100.

Please do not write a letter to ask that your child be placed with specific friends. We expect all students to make new friends and work with a variety of students in their classes. The parent input process is also not intended to offer the opportunity to request or describe a specific teacher. Any request to be placed with a specific teacher will be disregarded and the letter returned. Such input cannot be part of our classroom placement process as it is not always in the student’s best interest and staffing also changes from year to year. 

Please be assured that these letters will be kept confidential and are not given to the teacher. For this reason, this is not the right place to share information about your child for their new teacher. For most families, initiating with their new teacher after school begins about transition concerns is the most effective way to foster communication and ensure that their child’s needs are met by their teacher. 

Once a letter is received, the administrative team will read and review the parent input. Please note, submission of the parent input is not a guarantee that the school will be able to accommodate the parent request. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to email or contact me at any time. 

 

Thank you,

JoEllen Tapper

tapperj@issaquah.wednet.edu

425-837-5100