Dear Families,
Thank you to all families for helping to make our back to school start up so smooth and settled. These first days back have gone exceptionally well and the kids are already quite relaxed and happy!
We have been working extremely hard to finalize our new class placements for all the kids. Our school’s preferred configuration is combined classrooms so most students will once again be in combined classroom contexts. We prioritize this configuration because research has found there are a number of positive social and emotional benefits to being in combined aged contexts compared to single grade classrooms. We consider peer connections as part of this conversation but we do not build classrooms based on student friendships alone. I have provided a summary about some of these research details below so families better understand this process.
We are still planning to transition into new classrooms tomorrow morning shortly after the bell. Students should return to their current classrooms initially and we will transition to new classrooms later in the morning. To avoid any confusion students will go back to their current pods at the end of the day. This will provide families with a consistent pick up and drop off point. This Friday the POD pick up and drop off locations are the same as this week and all last year.
At the end of the day, we will send a map with classroom information home with younger students’. This information will help families know where their child’s new POD/ classroom location will be beginning Monday onwards. We will again have staff at the front and rear of the school in the morning and afternoon to assist. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need assistance!
Parking Lot Update:
Thank you for everyone’s patience and attention in our parking lot area! The first few days have gone very smoothly. To ensure we continue to make this area as safe as possible for the kids … we ask that drivers please remember to drive as far down the school driveway as possible before pulling over to the right to drop students off. This allows more vehicles to safely drop off and exit the school parking areas.
For easier access to the school we also strongly recommend families consider the following whenever possible:
- Walk to school
- Park away from the school and walk onto the school grounds
- Most traffic congestion can be avoided by arranging drop off and pick up times 10 minutes before the morning bell, and 10 minutes after the dismissal bell.
- Consider a “drop and go” routine in the parking lot to avoid the need to park and reduce congestion. We have staff outside everyday both in the front and at the rear of the school both before and after school to assist students.
Litterless Lunches:
At c̓əsqənelə we spend a lot of time teaching the kids about recycling and how to better take care of the environment. As part of this instruction we also ask the kids to have litterless lunches where wrappers and containers brought from home are returned home to be cleaned or recycled properly. Students are asked to pack out whatever they don’t eat within their lunch each day to help us to better care for the school and environment. Any support and teaching you can do at home to help the kids understand the importance of reducing, re-using, and recycling is greatly appreciated!
Information & Research on Combined Classes:
This year most students are again in combined classrooms. Combined classes are a reality in every elementary school, and every child will be in both straight and combined classes during their elementary school years. Some parents can be concerned about possible negative impacts of being in a combined – there is none. With this in mind, we have put together some information below about combined and straight grade classes to help families better understand:
- Research has shown there is no difference in academic achievement between children in split classes versus straight grade classes.
- A single grade class is a multi-grade class as children are all at different stages of development. Every child develops at his/her own rate and pace.
- Three common misconceptions about combined classes.
- A combined class is comprised of the more capable students in the younger grade and students who struggle in the older grade.
Truth: Every class is balanced both academically and socially whether it is a straight or combined grade class.
- If a child is in the older grade with younger students, they will not be challenged.
Truth: Teachers use differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all the learners in both straight and combined classes. Instruction is customized to students’ stages of learning.
- In a combined class, students will miss grade level curriculum.
Truth: A teacher in combined classroom is to be able to integrate different subject matters and bring students together to promote a one-class atmosphere.
- Sometimes, children may remain with a teacher for a second year. There are many benefits in continuing with the same teacher and in the same learning environment for more than one year.
- The teacher knows the students abilities and is therefore able to provide appropriate instruction.
- Students can continue a second year with familiar routines and expectations, which naturally leads to leadership skills.
- The child and teacher have built a relationship of trust over the years. The student becomes extensively familiar with the learning environment and naturally begins to understand her/himself as a learner and a person.
- Benefits for the students
- The older students have opportunities for leadership, mentoring and peer support. They learn to be positive, mature role models for the younger students.
- The younger children gain self-confidence and maturity by being exposed to older students.
- There is greater peer-to-peer learning in blended classrooms.
- Students develop friendships across grade levels and instil a greater sense of responsibility for one another, and a better sense of community.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wheatley