TUSCAN LETTER DISCOURAGING CLASS PLACEMENT CHANGE REQUESTS

Tuscan Principal Malikah Majeed, whose practices we have not always agreed with, is setting a May 9 deadline for parents to submit their requests for student placement for the 2014-2015 school year.

We have always been fairly vocal against parents seeking to change class assignments so we have to agree on this one.

The entire letter issued Thursday is below:

Dear Parents/Guardians:
Happy Spring!

Spring Recess is Friday, April 18th – Thursday, 24th. Please remember, Tuscan School will be open on Friday, April 25th.

We have already begun planning for a wonderful, positive and productive 2014 - 2015 school year for Tuscan’s students, faculty and staff. Our goal is to continue our focus on meeting the needs of all of our students through high expectations and exemplary instructional practices. We believe that the learning process evolves uniquely for each child and take great pride in recognizing our students as individuals.

To create the best learning environment possible for each and every student, soon we will be establishing classes for the coming school year. The goal of this vital professional task is to ensure that all classes will support productive and joyful learning experiences for all of Tuscan’s students.

In order to create optimal classes for teaching and learning, numerous factors must be considered by teachers when they convene in grade level meetings to equitably create heterogeneously grouped classes. Student placement is based on each student’s academic strengths, work habits, areas in need of growth and development, social and emotional skills, as well as, students’ temperaments, interpersonal relationships and interactions with peers. Gender and ethnicity must also be considered.

We know that individual children require certain kinds of classroom environments or teachers with particular teaching styles. Teachers are aware that certain children need to be - or need not to be with certain other children. We must consider all of these factors in order to create the best possible combination of classes for teaching and learning.

While a parent’s desire to see their child placed with a specific teacher is singular, our efforts are based on multiple factors and considerations; therefore parental requests are strongly discouraged.

Should you have a compelling concern that you wish to share, a letter must be submitted to the principal only and not to your child’s classroom teacher no later than Friday, May 9, 2014. Your understanding and cooperation is greatly appreciated.

We appreciate your active involvement and we thank you for your continued support. The staff and I hope that the Spring Recess will be an enjoyable and rejuvenating time for you and your family.

With warm regards,
Malikah Tamar Majeed
Principal