News 

Dear Parents
It is coming to that time of year where we are starting to think about staffing and class placement of students. I am sure many of you have been thinking about that for some time.
Form this year YIS has an agreed protocol in regard to placement of students in the Elementary School. I am placing the protocol in the context of this newsletter, just so you know how we attend to the issues associated with class placement. It may seem a little wordy to you, but I believe it covers most areas you might be interested in. It is as follows:
Procedure for placement of students moving from grade levels
YIS staff  are selected on the basis of training, experience and previous performance. We enjoy the diversity of our faculty and the diversity of their teaching  styles.
Rationale:
YIS recognises the importance of thoughtful placement of students when moving from one grade level to a new grade level. Typically this process begins in a consideration phase as early as  March of an academic year.
We recognise and value  diversity of  style and personalities of the teaching staff and the multi-faceted diversity of our students.
Placement of students into  a new grade level is based on the premise of trying to maximize the learning opportunity for all students.
The following procedure is established to clarify the placement process for parents, students and staff.
What we do:
The following criteria are taken into consideration when the school is establishing new classes for the coming academic year:
•    Gender
•    Academic abilities
•    English as a first language
•    Balance of nationalities
•    Students requiring special considerations eg twins/siblings at same grade level, some issues of special educational needs
•    Friendship patterns
•    Learning/Teaching styles
•    Date of birth

Classroom teachers draw upon detailed information in relation to these criteria to guide this process. Single subject teachers and representatives  from the Student Support Services are consulted in the process. These constituents advise the Principal.

Where practical, students applying for enrolment at YIS will participate in “trial days”. During this period the trialing teachers prepare a brief overview of the student’s performance. These reports are taken into consideration when placing newly enrolled students.

Approved Applicants who have not had trial days are placed based on their previous school records. New students enrolling after the preparation of the class lists, are placed in a manner to maintain “balance” of the above criteria.

When we do it
The process will begin formally directly after the Spring Break and will be completed with the most up-to-date enrolment acceptances by the end of Semester 2. Approved applications for new enrolments, after this date, will be placed in a manner to maintain “balance” of the above criteria.

Notice of class placement will be posted in the school foyer prior to the commencement of  Semester 1.
Teachers will not be engaged in discussion with parents about the process or the final placement.
For teachers
Rationale:
The procedure will be the agreed process for grade level placement. It is designed  and established in part to protect staff against lobbying by parents and being unnecessarily involved in discussions with parents in relation to their preferred teachers.

Process:
Discussion about proposed  placement of students is confidential. School staff  will not discuss placement issues, directly or indirectly, with students and parents/guardians.
 
Parents wishing to engage teachers in discussion should be directed to the agreed procedure.
If you have any questions about this protocol, please come to have a chat with me.
At the end of the day
At the end of the day, those children who are being picked by parents or other  drivers, are requested to stand near the big sliding gates. We have a number of staff on duty to make sure the children get to their cars safely, and to make the process as quick as possible.  The “pick-up children” should be waiting in this area, not going to the cafeteria or playing with their friends. This is a high traffic are in the afternoons. I hope that the many parents and relatives who come to school to meet the children after school(including their prams and umbrellas) could use the single gate. Often parents gather at the sliding gate for a chat, this really creates a human traffic problem with the adults. So..please use the single gate. This request is made in the interest of safety for your children.
I am on the playground most mornings and afternoons, if  you would like to have a brief chat about any school issues at that time, please come and talk with me.
Yours sincerely,

Paul Neary
Elementary School Principal