Numbers

I am sure you all have received and read the letter from the principal yesterday.  It is with such a heavy heart that I had to send this home.  It is a difficult time in all of our lives as a classroom community.  Unfortunately, I have absolutely no say over who stays and who goes on to the new class.
I do want to ask of you a few things. 
First, please make this a positive experience for your child...no matter how upset you may be over this.  Children are resilent and adapt extremely well.  This is especially true if they know their parents are behind them 100%.
Second, please give the "new" teacher a chance.  I was her back in 1993.  I started after school had begun.  I received 33 kindergarten students. (Yes, class sizes were huge then!!!)  It was a great experience for me and the students.  As a matter of fact, I just attended a graduation of a young lady who I taught that very first year.  I have watched her grow and bloom over all of these years.  She still says I was her best teacher EVER!!!!  You may just have the same kind of experience.
Lastly, I am the team leader and school wide mentor for all new teachers.  She will carry out a very similar plan and structure of her classroom as I do in my own.  Perhaps, she will bring even more amazing things to the classroom that I am able to learn from her as well!
We had high numbers in 1st, 4th, and in 5th grade.  The 1st grade teacher has not been hired yet.   I imagine the process will be a couple of weeks. 
Again, it breaks my heart to even think of losing one student to a new teacher.  However, the positive side is that lower class sizes makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!!!  Please believe me on that.  It will be best for all students involved.  The level of attention and focus your child will receive is impacted even with two extra children in the class.
Til then, I will let you know as soon as I know anything.  Most days though, I am last to know.