Dear Parents,

Crème Brulee or Chocolate Mousse? Hot Dog or Hamburger? Ford or Chevy? Hard decisions. We all have our preferences but either choice is a good one. The same is true about the teachers at Hatfield Elementary. How can we choose? Both teachers at every grade level are excellent! Of course, each teacher has strengths and different teaching styles that we take into account when assigning students to their room. However, so much more goes into the process of making class lists: gender, service delivery, personalities, work ethics, reading levels, behaviors, and learning styles. In some grades we don’t even know who the teachers will be due to transfers and retirements.   We cannot make class lists based on friendships, who siblings had or what you have heard about a teacher. The teachers, Mrs. Crisafulli and I spend a great deal of time considering the very best placement for every child. If you have pertinent information about your child that you feel would help us make an informed decision, please feel free to let us know by June 1^st so that it can be considered. It would be great if we had a Crystal Ball or better yet the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, but we are confident that we make the best possible choice for your child. I am writing to you to ask that you place your confidence in our decision. In the past two weeks, I have received many parent requests for next year’s teachers. While I understand that it is your job to advocate for your child, it is my job to do what is right for every child. Please believe that I would love to honor every request, but it is quite impossible to do in a school this small. Once class lists have been published it is very difficult to make changes. Keep in mind, we all have our preferences but either choice is a good one. Thank you in advance for your understanding and trust that we will make the best choice for every student at Hatfield Elementary.

Sincerely,

Jen Chapin