Following completion of the first step (due by this Friday, 5th June – info here ), we would subsequently like you to place students into class groups – this will be a similar process to last year.

Process

  • The deadline for completion of this process is the end of the day on Friday, 12th June
  • Leaders should arrange a meeting in order to divide students into classes, as per the below:
    • Y1-> Y2: 5 classes
    • Y2-> Y3: 5 classes
    • Y3-> Y4: 5 classes
    • Y4 -> Y5: 3 classes
    • Y5-> Y6: 3 classes
    • Y6-> Y7: 3 classes
  • It may not be possible for you to have all the Chinese and International members present at this meeting, due to teaching commitments and teachers being overseas. It is imperative that leaders, both Chinese and Western, work with their teams, and together, to ensure everyone’s input is heard. Ensure that the relevant Student Support Teachers have had input.
  • It would save time if teachers tentatively divide their students up into class groups before this meeting
  • Stick each student’s info card on the class list posters – write the child’s name in pencil under where you plan to stick the child’s name (in case they fall off)
  • Current classes do not need to be evenly split up. (Eg, if there are 10 girls in a class, they do not have to be split up into 2s. You may decide to have 4 in two classes, 2 in one and none in the other two)
  • At the end of the process, leaders should fill in this form: blogs.pd.ycis-sh.com/…/Class-Placement-Summary-Form-2019.docx
  • Hand the posters and the forms to Ivy/Elia (Y2-6) or Janelle (Y7).

Balancing Class Groups

  • Take into account that you should be looking for the following to be balanced as far as possible (colours relate to the stickers from step 1):
    • Green (ability)             Advanced (possible leader / usually needs to be extended)
    • Grey (ability)              Student – meeting expectations, no issues
    • Blue (ability)               Student struggling to meet some expectations (probably on LS register)
    • Red (behaviour)          Students displaying some behaviour issues / concerns (identified by class teachers)
    • Pink (Sig Support)      Academic concerns/requiring individual support plan/IEP (identified by LS teachers)
    • Yellow (EAL)             EAL (for next year) – Identified by EAL

Other things to take into account:

    • Gender balance
    • Friendship groups
    • Clashes between students
    • Native English speakers
    • Chinese 1st Language speakers
    • Nationality / culture
    • Learning styles
    • Mix of leaders between the classes
    • Mix talents of students across the classes – ie sporting abilities, musical, artistic / creative etc
    • Classes across the year level have a mixture of parents who would get involved
    • Students are evenly spread across the classes so that the new students will also be evenly spread

Please Note

In all these cases, please keep a record of all requests and attach them to the class placement posters

  • If any parents make requests (eg to be placed with friends, type of teacher etc…) then please tell them that we will consider it, but that we will not be able to guarantee it.
  • For parent requests for specific teachers, please state that we are unable to take requests for specific teachers. However, please reassure them that we will place their child with a teacher whose teaching approach suits their child’s preferred learning style.
  • Teachers may also have suggestions for a specific teacher, due to type of teaching style that might suit a student in a special case – e.g. learning support, social issues etc… – in these cases send email to Rob
  • FYI: Please find attached the parent email: Parent Letter.