Mid May Update
May 2022
Message from Dr. Hoffritz: HOW EXACTLY ARE CHILDREN PLACED WITH NEXT YEAR'S TEACHER
Important discussions and decisions regarding student placement begin to take place at this time of the year. A great deal of time and thought go into this process, as it is one of several critical aspects to children enjoying a successful school year.
Many things are taken into account when completing this important process. To help accomplish the creation of a positive mix of children in each classroom, a placement team (resource teachers, guidance counselor, specials teacher, classroom teachers, and principal) take into account many variables that will help facilitate a positive school experience for children.
Areas of focus include:
- A balanced ratio of boys to girls
- A mix of students with varying academic abilities
- A positive group of peers with regard to social interactions
- Student learning style in relation to teacher instructional style
- Additional parent information received throughout the year
Because so many variables must be taken into account, being able to achieve positive homeroom placements can at times be difficult. We have found that the outcome is more effective when the staff members who work with our students every day are involved in the process. Input comes from many different professionals at KDM, including as many teachers as possible, which helps us gain a better understanding of our students’ needs.
A step-by-step walkthrough of the process includes:
1. Input is gathered from the current homeroom teacher. (Input consists of academic strength/need, peer/social interactions, learning style, and additional parent information.)
2. Our placement team composes initial homeroom drafts.
3. Current grade level teachers and specials teachers review the proposed classroom rosters for the next school year, without seeing the proposed homeroom teacher.
4. The team makes necessary adjustments based on the feedback from homeroom and other teachers.
During the summer, lists are adjusted based on additional information received over the summer such as possible change of teacher assignments and new students who enroll over the summer.
The process is very deliberate and designed to place children in the most effective way possible. It isn’t always perfect, but as a whole works very well when you think about how many kids are placed every year.
Finally, we recognize that many students and families have hopes of being placed with certain friends and/or teachers. We also recognize that this can't always happen. However, we work very hard to help students through this disappointment by providing an inviting learning environment and helping students to nurture new relationships as the school year begins. We ask parents to support their children by reassuring them that they will be fine and that they believe in their ability to build new friendships. Research has shown that students grow from these experiences, gaining resilience and confidence as they navigate the process.
If you have any questions regarding the process, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me at mhoffritz@gvsd,org or (610) 644-1790.
Last Day of School
The last day of school for students is Friday, June 10. Please note that it will be a half-day for students.
5th Grade Celebration
Before- and After-School Care
Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the District looks forward to welcoming the YMCA of Greater Brandywine as its in-house before and after school child care provider. This will be in place of the program previously provided by Warwick. This decision follows a thorough process to review and evaluate proposals for this service. Before care options will begin at 7:00 a.m. and resume when children finish their school day until 6:00 p.m. Families may choose to participate from 1 – 5 days per week, and may choose before school, after school, or both programs. Much more information and a registration link are available at ymcagbw.org/schoolcare. Please contact Claudia Aust at caust@ymcagw.org with questions. This is an independent program housed in our schools.
Wow, our PTO sure knows how to put on a fair! We hope everyone had a blast at the Spring Fair. Thank you to all our vendors and volunteers, you were awesome! We could not have pulled this off without our amazing PTO. Everything was phenomenal, the dunk tank was a big hit, cold but so much fun! We appreciate everyone who came out and supported the Spring Fair.
Again, HUGE THANK YOU to the PTO!
Have you ever heard of a Volume Contest?
Mrs. Chorney-Mannos class had their annual Volume Contest to review for their volume test. What a cool and innovate way to learn!
Thanks Mrs. Chorney-Manno!
Kindergarten Orientation
Thursday, August 25, 2022
We can't wait to meet our incoming kindergarten students!
As we look forward to the 2022-2023 school year, we can't wait to welcome the Class of 2036 to our school! To help with school planning, please mark your calendar for Thursday, August 25, 2022, when we will host an orientation for incoming kindergarten students. Students will meet their teacher, get a preview of their classroom, and learn more about their school.
More information, including the exact time of this event, will be shared in early summer. Please also watch for an email packet of information you might find helpful in preparation for the new school year.
Of course, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you and your child soon!
Marshall Hoffritz Ed. D
Principal
A Small Look at out April KDM Key Winners!
Parent Key Communicators
Our school will have openings for parents to serve as Parent Key Communicators in the 2022-23 school year. These parent volunteers help to facilitate communication between district office, the schools, and the parent community. The group also works to identify areas that need further clarification so that common understanding is possible, and builds bridges between schools by providing parents with a forum where connections can be made. Meetings are held every 6 weeks throughout the school year. For more information, visit the GVSD Website. If you are interested in serving as a PKC, please contact the school principal.
We celebrated teacher appreciation week on 5/2 thru 5/6. Our PTO filled the staff room each day with goodies to celebrate our amazing teachers. Thank you to all our teachers for your dedication, hard work and positivity every day. And a BIG thank you to our PTO for making our teachers feel so special!