September 7th, 2017

Please read the following letter from Mr. Thorne (our principal) in regards to upcoming changes in Grades 4 and 5. 
​

Dear Parents,

Many of you have expressed concern about the size of our grades 4 and 5 classes, a concern that we
share. As promised to those who spoke to us about it, the school district has allowed us to address the large numbers by hiring a new teacher. Because the numbers in each class alone are not sufficient to justify splitting each class, and because the district Is limited in its resources, the best option is to offer a grade 4/5 combined class to go along with our grade 4 and grade 5 classes. When done, the classes will each have approximately 20 students in them.

The grade 4 and 5 teachers, the grade 3 teacher from last year who knows our grade 4 students along with school administration will be looking closely at our students to determine which students we feel may benefit more by being in a grade 4/5 combined class of about 20 students. Please note that it is not fact that the weaker grade 5s and stronger grade 4s will automatically be in the combined class. We will be looking at keeping a balance in each of the three grades 4 and 5 classes, based on ability levels, needs, gender etc. We believe that the educational personnel who know the children’s educational needs and have the best handle on classroom dynamics are the best people to do this. Having said that,​ ​if​ ​any​ ​parents​ ​are​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​any​ ​extenuating​ ​factors​ ​that​ ​we​ ​need​ ​to​ ​consider​ ​as​ ​we develop​ ​those​ ​lists,​ ​please​ ​notify​ ​me​ ​in​ ​writing​ ​at​ ​richard.thorne@fmpsd.ab.ca​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​extremely important​ ​that​ ​you​ ​do​ ​this​ ​in​ ​email​ ​or​ ​in​ ​writing​ ​no​ ​later​ ​than​ ​tomorrow,​ ​Friday,​ ​ ​September​ ​8​th.

Once​ ​class​ ​lists​ ​are​ ​developed,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​not​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​make​ ​further​ ​changes.

The other thing we need to consider is finding the best fit of teachers in each of these classes.
● Ms. Drover will remain in the grade 4 class
● Ms. Barrington will be teaching our grade 4/5 class. Because of her extremely positive experience teaching grade 4/5 combined classes in the past, we have decided that she is definitely the best fit for this class.
● We will be hiring a new grade 5 teacher who will work alongside the other strong teachers we
have in division 2.

It is our hope to put this in place as soon as we can hire a new grade 5 teacher, hopefully very early next week. While we realize that this will be a disruption to some of our grades 4 & 5 students, we believe that it is early enough in the school year and the benefits of having smaller class sizes make it positive move.

Regards,
​
Rick Thorne, Principal

Agenda
Language Arts:
- Read 20 minutes

Other: 
- Bring plastic water bottle (due Monday - extras appreciated)