Welcome Saadia Ayube!

Ms. Ayube joins us as our new, extra first grade teacher. That’s right, the Evergreen Team (as Sanislo’s first graders are collectively known) will consist of three first grade classes this year! Be sure to stop by and welcome Saadia, especially if you’re a first grade parent! Here are some answers to the essential questions that you first grade parents may have:

How did this happen? It became apparent to the school district over the summer that there were extra children in our school’s proximity who needed assignment. Based on the size of our building, the Seattle School District felt we were the best option for absorbing the additional students.

How many new first graders do we have? Right now the number is at 16. It could change by an extra student or two.

How are you going to create an extra classroom? Part of the Performing Arts Center already has dividers to make an additional room. Obviously it hurts to lose a big chunk of space from a room that gets used regularly, but our new students need someplace to call home, and that is the best space. Hopefully, being right next door to the other first grade classes will also help them feel more a part of our community. Principal Seevers and the staff will work together to figure out the best solutions for things like school assemblies.

How does this affect scheduling for classes like PE, Art and Library? Another thing that’s not 100% clear. It seems the best solution would be two big classes with teacher aides for each of those periods. (It’s much easier to schedule two classes than it is to schedule three.) This depends on funding for aides, which the PTA leadership is trying to work our with Principal Seevers.

Will these three classes of students continue to move through the school together? It’s not likely. Principal Seevers is pretty confident that the extra numbers will disappear through attrition after this year.

Are all the students being rearranged now? No. If your child received a teacher assignment at the end of kindergarten, he/she is staying with that teacher. Ms. Ayube’s class will start out as a smaller class. If feel that your child would benefit from being in a smaller class and are interested in moving him/her into Ms. Ayube’s group, please talk to Principal Seevers. It would be great to get some current Sanislo students into the mix of new kids to help them feel more at home!

And last but not least, What’s Ms. Ayube like? She’s fabulous. She was unanimously and enthusiastically picked by the hiring committee, and she’s going to be a great addition to our school. Come meet her when school starts!

By Newsletter in Newsletter on September 2, 2009