Mary Lin Elementary Holds Friday Meeting To Discuss Reorganization of 4th and 5th grades

CANDLER PARK — Parents of rising 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Mary Lin Elementary School will want to attend this important meeting called by Principal Mitchell to better understand the upcoming reorganization of the 4th and 5th grades at the school.

According to an announcement made in the Inman Park Yahoo Group, "on Friday morning, April 5, 2013 at the Principal's coffee at 8:05 a.m., just before Spring Break, Dr. Mitchell will be discussing a topic that requires parents urgent understanding and attention."

Mary Lin, which is in the Grady cluster, serves children in Inman Park, Candler Park and Lake Claire.

The topic of discussion is planned to take place just before the start of Spring Break for APS students, and gives parents the opportunity to ask direct questions about the new proposals and expansions at Mary Lin. Below is an excerpt from the announcement.

There is talk about the 4th and 5th grade classes being contained; that means 1 teacher all day teaching all subjects (in the coming school year) instead of departmentalization where students have a team of teachers. Dr. Brian Mitchell will be available to answer questions about the pros and cons, timing and purpose of this recently announced reorganization proposal.

Parents, Please attend to understand how this Mary Lin change initiative and the timing of this change will work with the upcoming expansion project, projected classroom sizes, proposed classroom planning/scheduling and the current portable classroom situation. For our ML parents with children in lower grades, you will hear information on how this change could very well impact your future ML 3rd, 4th and/or 5th grader!

Questions to be answered include:

• How might this potential change impact your children's learning environment -- and in the case of the 5th graders – how might it prepare them for the transition to middle school?
• How are other schools in our cluster organized in 4th and 5th grades?

At the end of the Inman Park neighborhood announcement, it was stressed that parents should, "make every effort to attend this important meeting," as well reminding parents that Friday is the Fall early-registration deadline.

If you have a child attending Mary Lin in the Fall the registration deadline is Friday, April 5th. You will not have an opportunity to register your child until July. Early registration is very helpful with planning classes for the Fall. Please visit the school website to see what residency forms are required, etc. www.marylinelementary.com