The process of assigning students to 2021 classes will begin early next term. Read on to learn more about the procedure we use to place students into homebases and to learn how you can have input into this process.

Parents are now invited to have input into student placements for 2021. Please contact your child's Team Leader in writing before Friday 16th October.

Rationale:

1. To ensure there is a fair, open and transparent process of student placement.

2. To allocate children to a homebase and power team which best meets their academic, social, developmental and behavioural needs.

3. To ensure there is a consistent approach to student placements across the school and over time.

Introduction:

The process of assigning students to classes is a complex one that begins with the Principal allocating teaching staff based upon projections of student numbers for the start of the following year.

It then becomes the task of the school, with the advice and recommendations of the teaching staff, to organise students into that number of homebases and power teams. In doing this, we must work at balancing student and programme needs throughout the school within the limits of our school’s staffing allocation.

Guidelines:

The process of making up homebases for each school year begins in Term 3, based on the best information available at that time. Our goal is to come up with a placement for each child which will offer that child the greatest chance of success. The staff has input into this process, considering but not limited to the following factors. The following list is not in priority order:

· The child’s intellectual, social, emotional, and behavioural developmental levels & needs

· The preferred learning style(s) of the student

· The child’s physical and social maturity

· The child’s interactions with other students

· The age of the child

· The number of teachers in each power team

· The social combinations within the powerteam

· The best use of resource teachers & Teacher Aides

· The male/female balance in each homebase

· The balance of leaders in each homebase

· The number of years the child has been with the teacher

· Student friendships

· Parental input – please see FAQ #4

FAQ’s for Student Homebase and Power Team Placements

1. What is the overall goal of the homebase placement process?

At Clearview Primary, we believe that it is in the best interest of all children to have balanced homebases throughout each Team. To further that goal, the overall homebase makeup is considered, including the primary factors of gender, ethnicity, academic achievement levels, maturity and behavioural levels, and special learning needs.

2. Who is involved in the decision-making process?

The team of decision-makers involved in this important process includes all of the team teachers and Team Leader. The Senior Leadership Team (Principal, and APs) also review the class groupings and may make additional recommendations for homebase placement. Parents are also given the opportunity to participate in the process.

3. Can parents request a specific teacher for their child?

No. There are far too many, and interrelated factors to be considered when constructing a homebase and powerteam as a whole to be able to accommodate specific teacher requests.

4. Can parents have any input?

Yes, each year parents are invited to participate in the process by offering information about the type of academic and social environments in which your child thrives. Parents will be asked to make contact in writing. Parent input must be written to your child’s current Team Leader - before Friday 16th October.

5. How is the decision to use combined-level classrooms made?

This decision is made by the Senior Management Team, based upon the number of students projected for the following year. Teachers will attempt to match students for each combined-level classroom, considering academic abilities and the students’ independence level, in addition to all of the usual placement factors.

6. When will families be notified of student placements for the following year?

Notice of homebase and power team placements for the following year are emailed out to parents during the final week of school in December.

7. Can I request a change of homebase for my child?

No. Please note that homebase and power team placements will not be changed. Except for extraordinary circumstances, initial placements will remain in place.

Final note: Parents/Caregivers, please be aware that our teaching staff spend countless hours placing students into a homebase and powerteam which will provide them with the greatest chance of success. We ask that you respect the professional judgements of our teaching staff and support this important and highly complex process.