HMS Student Placement

STUDENT PLACEMENT is one of our most important objectives every spring. Matching your child to the best possible classroom situation and creating many functional communities is a job that involves the entire Harold Martin staff as well as parents.

While our teachers know your children well, it is very important to receive comments from parents in order to make the best choice we can for classroom placement. If you would like to give us some input, please follow these guidelines:

Compose a letter to Principal Bill Carozza with the following information:

* What are your child’s strengths and interests?

* What are particular areas of concern you have for your child?

* How would you describe your child’s learning style?

* In what type of environment does your son or daughter learn best?

* What other information might be useful for us?

* Please do not include references to specific teachers in your letter, whether you are referring to a teacher you want your child to have next year or one that you do not want your child to have.

Email the letter to Bill at bcarozza@hopkintonschools.org

We also have a School Board policy regarding placement:

EXCERPT FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY:

STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICY

It is the goal of the Hopkinton School District to provide the best educational setting for all students.  To accomplish this task, Hopkinton School District administrators and staff will access areas including, but not limited to, the student’s academic performance; the appropriate balance and composition of each class in each grade; the placement of students with special learning needs within classes; and knowledge of student-to-student interactions.  The school administration will consider relevant written input submitted by parents  which shall not include requests for specific teachers.

The process in more detail:

1. Teachers meet in grade level teams to discuss individual students and begin developing lists for the following year. Kindergarten teachers meet with pre-schools to gain as much information as possible.

2. Parents submit letters with information on their children to the Principal.

3. Kindergarten lists are completed early and orientation occurs in the spring.

4. Our Child Study Team meets to look at the first draft of lists in a “big picture” way.

5. The Principal makes final decisions.

6. Placement letters are mailed out in early June.

7. Move-up day occurs at both Harold Martin School and Maple St. School toward the end of the year.

Some factors considered when placing a child and creating classroom communities:

* Looking for the right mix of students to aid the developing of solid communities in each classroom.

* Attention made to gender equity, sibling divisions, special needs, and academic balance.

* A match between student and teacher’s strengths and personality.