School Situation

Our son is in 1st grade.  Last year he had an amazing Kindergarten teacher, "the best" in his school.  At the beginning of this year we were apprehensive about who his 1st grade teacher might be.  He had been struggling with reading and confidence (even with an amazing teacher), so we were very relieved when we met his new teacher and learned of her experience and very calm and kind spirit.  About a week or two ago, she told me that he had asked to read in front of his class (albeit a very simple book but still...) and we have noticed a change in his confidence level and he doesn't get nearly as frustrated as he used to.  We have been THRILLED with his teacher and how she has helped him and also, how she has dealt with some bullying situations that have occurred.  Well, he is one month into school and all that might change now.  This Fall the district re-opened Fairmont, another elementary school nearby and what I see to be poor planning is now affecting our students at Gatewood.  We have four 1st grade classes with enrollment in the "teens" (which is as it should be in my opinion) and Fairmont has three 1st grade classes and are in need of another due to enrollment.  Due to this the district has notified us that our son's teacher will be moved to a 4th grade class and that teacher of the 4th grade class will be moved to Fairmont.  As a result, the students in Kieren's class will be distributed to the other 3 classes, thereby raising the class size and putting them with a new teacher and new kids.  We understand that the running of a district and school is not simple or easy and there are most likely things happening behind the scenes that we're unaware of...HOWEVER, to uproot these children from a class and teacher they have become comfortable with and thrived with is preposterous!

Several meetings of parents and PTA members have taken place and in a nutshell we have found that our only option in keeping our kids where they are is to raise $90,000 (to hire another teacher) by next Tuesday, October 7th.  I have heard that many teachers have committed to giving $500 each!  Tomorrow morning we're having a HUGE bake sale to try and raise money as well.

The outpouring of support from this community has amazed me.  Admittedly I do not know many parents yet, I am not a PTA member and I'm not overly outgoing; but the love and concern that has been shown by everyone makes me cry.  Even though this whole situation sucks and is completely unfair, it has been something that has brought us all together and I am getting to know other moms at the school which has been cool.

Our experience with Gatewood up til now has been fantastic.  We're pretty unhappy with the district right now and poor choices/planning...but we're hoping and praying that something comes of all this and our kids will not be uprooted in such an important time of their education.

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