Scott Hazeu
Sep 8, 2018 · 1 min read

FWIW, here’s my family’s experience. The elementary school we are a part of recently changed their practice from sharing class lists on the last day of school in June to sharing class lists about a week before school starts in fall.

The June release gave families the entire summer to sit with their response, positive or negative, to the list. If the list created anxiety, then that anxiety hung around all summer. Some families responded by lobbying for change all summer. Once, my family was called in the middle of the summer to see if we would be willing for our daughter to switch classes to facilitate a change in enrollment. We were willing to accommodate the change, but it still required change for my daughter as she communicated the switch with her friends.

Releasing the list a little bit before the first allowed some time for adjustment, taking some of the surprise/anticipation/anxiety out of the first day of school. It is also close enough to the first day, so any nerves only need to be managed for a handful of days before they can be faced and hopefully calmed by going to school and getting started. The later release also allowed for summer enrollment changes and avoided any lobbying for changes during the summer before students have an opportunity to face their concerns with support.

Thanks for being generous and reflective, Mark.

    Scott Hazeu

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