Dearest Families,
Can you believe it? This will be our final week together in K2! It has been an absolute pleasure and honor getting to know and love your beautiful child this year. Our classroom community is our school family and we have enjoyed our time together. We are also very excited for the new adventures and possibilities for your child as they transition to G1.
If you are wondering about a few ways you can support your child as they transition to G1. We encourage you to Talk it Out- ask your child questions such as 'what are you most excited for in G1, what are you most worried about, who would you like to get to know better, what are some special things about you that you want to share with your new friends?' The way you talk about their transition to G1 will shape how you child views it. You can also Play School-try role playing with your child. They can be the teacher and you can be the student. This helps them make meaning and problem solve from different perspectives- they get to play with the concept of school and see it as a fun scenario! Share the Story- Mrs. Wright will be sending out a social story google deck entitled Same, Same, Different this week. Go through it a few times with your child during the holiday break and celebrate their new adventure!
Why do we mix-up the classes, and create new classes for G1?
As a UWCSEA community, it is important for us that the children form connections with many children across the grade level. This builds a sense of community and belonging that extends beyond the classroom, and becomes increasingly important as the children get older. It is also important that students new to the school have the opportunity to join a class filled with children who are open and prepared to meet new friends. We would like to reassure you that, despite changes to classes, our experience shows us that our children are skilled at making new connections and will be supported through these changes.
What if my child is sad that they are not placed with specific friends from the
current class?
We want to thank you, in advance, for trusting the process. We have ensured that each child is placed with a child that they play with in the classroom, and collaborates well with. We may have also intentionally placed your child with a child from another class, a child where we can see a potential friendship blossoming. It is important to not only look at the class groupings in terms of which current friends will be in your child’s class. It is also important to view children from our other K2 classes as potential new and wonderful friends (of all genders) for your child. Your child has had the opportunity to play across the grade level this year during our outdoor playtimes as well as our shared discovery time, and will recognize most of the children in their new classes.
Why can’t I request a specific teacher for my child?
When creating new classes, the starting point for all teachers is to look at each individual child, their positive relationships, their strengths and challenges, and what makes them unique. Our aim is always to create balanced learning classes, rather than placing children with specific teachers, which is why we do not take specific teacher requests. We want to assure you that all G1 teachers meet weekly to plan the environment and learning collaboratively. Just like K2 they are a dedicated group of educators who work as a team to support all children and love what they do!
So far, your child has taken part in a few experiences to help them feel more confident with the idea of moving to G1, and we will continue the transition this upcoming week. On Monday. June 20th G1 class assignments will be released. In class, we will be sharing their new class friends and letting them know who their teacher is. Students will have the opportunity to visit their new G1 classroom in the morning. After school finishes, you will receive an email with a letter from your child’s new teacher.
Have a wonderful school break,
The K2 Team
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