My kids' school has decided that this year, instead of putting up whole class lists on the noticeboards on the last day of school to put a note containing the name of their teacher and room in their report cards (no names of other children in the class were disclosed). These were handed out to the kids on Thursday. New parents of Prep children receive theirs in the mail. Fair enough.

I have an older child at the school and DD2 is starting her FYOS next year. On Thursday last week we were informed that we can ring the school office to find out the Prep classes as they have been finalised and were posted out the same day. I was curious and rang and was told my daughter was in Mrs G's class. I was over the moon and so was DD2 as she was DD1's previous Prep teacher (the other teacher is new at the school so we have no experience of her). The next day I saw Mrs G and told her I was very pleased DD2 was in her class next year. So was she and told my daughter she was looking forward to teaching her next year. I also shared the good news with other parents who asked me about DD2's class.

Fast forward to today when I checked the post and found the letter from the school. To my surprise, it says DD2 is in the other teacher's class . Of course it's too late in the day to ring so have to wait until tomorrow to ring the office. I'm so confused and the more I think about it the angrier I get about the mix up. I haven't told DD2 yet in case it will upset her. I know it's not the end of the world if she's in the other class but do you think I have grounds to request DD2 stay with Mrs G if she is indeed with the other teacher? WDYT?

I'd phone the school and ask to speak to someone who is organising this to clarify.

But, no, I don't think you can/should demand a change of teacher because someone made a mistake in passing.

Sounds like the office lady made a mistake over the phone. I'd be inclined to think what you in your letter is the correct class. Can't hurt for you to call the school though but I doubt they will do anything other than apologise.

I really think it's one of those things that can wait until first day of school next year. But it sounds like you could give yourself an aneurysm over the holidays. Is it really this important?

BMAP have you had a child start prep? I certainly wouldn't wait until the first day of school next year. For a child starting prep it's important that they know what to expect so they are confident and comfortable on their first day! I think it's crucial that the issue be resolved tomorrow so that the OP's DD knows exactly who her teacher will be and knows what to expect when she arrives at school for her first day.

OP contact the school first thing tomorrow and ask for an explanation. Depending on the answer and what has transpired if indeed there has been a mix up will dictate what you should do after that.

hi op

i have asked very strongly that hannah be placed with a certain teacher... i don't know if because we are in a private school this was done to keep me happy

i would definitely ring the school to clarify and then ask to be changed back if she is to go with the new teacher.

tanya

wow, at our school the classes aren't allocated until about the fourth day of school - even for Kindergarten classes.

for the first few days all the kids in one year are put together, while they wait to see how many enrolments they have.

I thought that was the norm - guess not...

My kids have all gone to public school and I have had four kids start and none of them knew who their teacher would be until they got there.

UPDATE: Mystery solved! I texted a friend/parent who happens to work part time in the office and told her what happened. She just called me back and told me that DD2 is definitely with Mrs G as she has the paperwork with her. She has heard from another of our friends who received the same letter after being told on the phone they're with the other teacher. Looks like her co-worker stuffed up the mail merge last week and sent the wrong teacher's names to all the parents . They have only one day to sort it all out as the office closes for the holidays on Wednesday.

So relieved!

I've never had a child know which class they were in until first day of school. Private schools only here. But if it's so vital that the preppies know beforehand, why aren't they in their teacher's orientation group?

Agree with this. I don't believe that you have a 'right' to demand your DD gets Mrs G. At our school the principal takes requests for teaching styles for your child but not actual teachers.

It's a busy time of the year for schools and sometimes mistakes are made.

We know who the teacher is for our kids at the end of the year.

I'm glad it was just a stuff up OP.

Our class lists were posted on the school website today, including kinder classes!

BMAP we had 4 days of orientation in November where the kids visit the classrooms to get to know the teachers and how they mix/socialise with the other children. They were meant to have the class allocations by the last day of orientation but because by that stage they hadn't found another teacher, they thought it would be best to put this off until they had done so.

I even had my flouncing dress ready and all ....

We don't find out until the first day of the year, it is posted on the classroom door

Glad you got it sorted it out OP

Our school doesn't give out classes until first week back at school. We have a large RAAF population in our area, so numbers of kids in ALL years can change a lot over the Christmas break when all the RAAFies are posted, some not knowing where they will be living or what school they will be attending.

So rather than hand out class assignments, and then have to upset the kids by changing them, the school prefers to wait until the kids are all back in school.
First day back, the kids go to their previous classrooms, for the first couple of days. They do start work immediately .

The new kinders all stay in the one double classroom for the first few days before the teachers break them into classes. They have met all 3 kinder teachers during the orientation process. This gives the teachers both the orientation, and the first few days to actually observe the kids, work out who fits best where.
We also have have around 50 kinders enrolled at the moment. That will mean a k/1 class and 2 straight kinders. If we get a few extras, it will be 3 straight kinders. The kids are chosen carefully for a k/1, so there could be a lot of difference in class assignments if we need a k/1. They also start from the bottom up, so any changes filter through the whole school.