Snelling Connection Newsletter of the Hancock/Hamline University Collaboration
Snelling Connection Reaches the White House
“Jaamacadu waxaay kabilaamantaa Kindergarten”
Something incredible happened. Not many people know that it happened either. Last year, a past issue of the Snelling Connection reached the White House. Can you guess what important person from the White House read it? By Sebastian Alfonzo and Joe Kieser Hancock Student Editors
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“¡El Colegio Empieza en el Kindergarten!” “College Begins in Kindergarten!” “Kev Kawm Ntawv Qib Siab Pib Hauv Qib Ib!” In This Issue: SC Reaches White House
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Two Teachers, 17 Cultures 2 Two Teachers cont. 3 Dean Wright Visit City Serve Donation 5th Grade Biodiversity
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2nd Grade Music 5 On the Issues: Left-Overs Snelling Connection Update 6
Volume 14, Issue 1
iving in refugee camps in Thailand, the Daw family had had enough. They were going to come to America. They knew what awaited them: a three-year process for them to get to Minnesota. “After the Daws had landed in Minnesota, everyone who was at the airport to greet them went to their new home to eat with them and help them settle in,” stated Angela Froemming, the previous editor of the Snelling Connection. Froemming had met the Daws through another Karen family. Froemming had been tutoring several Karen students. One day when Froemming was leaving a students’ home, the student told her that her cousins were arriving from Thailand. She asked Froemming if she wanted to go to the airport with them to greet the family. Froemming replied “yes” and later that night she met the Daws at the airport. “Having the opportunity to greet a new family at the airport and go with them to their new home and share with them their first meal was a very powerful and humbling experience,” said
Froemming. Froemming knew she had experienced something special and wanted to tell others about it. She decided to write an article about the Daw family for the 2009 winter issue of the Snelling Connection. Fifteen months later, Froemming’s boss, Peg Kennedy, told her that she was going to have lunch with Michelle Obama. Immediately Froemming thought of the article she had written about the Daw family for the Snelling Connection. Froemming asked her boss if she would take the article with her during her lunch at the White House. Kennedy replied “yes” and took the 2009 Snelling Connection issue with her. Froemming now works as an ESL teacher at a school in Burnsville, and still works with Karen refugees. “Peg Kennedy and I both work hard to educate others about refugees, particularly the Karen as many are resettling in St. Paul and Roseville,” said Froemming.
While Froemming no longer works for the Snelling Connection, she still cares about news writing. “The school I work at now doesn’t have anything like the Snelling Connection, but I think it is important for young people to be able to talk to each other, find stories, and tell their own stories, so I am trying to start a newspaper there,” Froemming said. As Hancock students, we are lucky to have a newsletter like the Snelling Connection and are very pleased that one of our articles made it to the White House. Maybe another article will reach the White House someday! Fall 2010
Two Teachers, 17 Cultures, and One Collaboration By Txee Yang, Jah Vang, and Rayan Dhamuke Hancock Student Editors
McNamara’s classroom, and and I get along very well. She told me in Basford’s classroom there that she could make very good pie! are 11 different cultures that Another thing I learned is that Sarah and are represented by students. I both like to sing and we both like to This means that there are 17 read.” different and new exciting Sarah VanDusseldorp, one of Basford’s cultures for each person to students, was partnered with Cia learn more about. Each student Shia and her peer partner during the in Basford’s class was paired collaboration. with one or more students in “My favorite part was getting to McNamara’s class to participate know both of them. I want to be a 6th in a variety of projects that grade teacher so working with two 6th encouraged them to learn about graders was awesome. You guys [the two each other’s culture. Hancock students she worked with] both When speaking to two taught me a lot about my future as a students who go to Hancock, teacher so I’m very thankful I got to work Cia Shia and her peer partner, with you,” VanDusseldorp stated. they had many positive things Since this is the first collaboration of Cia Shia and Sarah Vondusseldorp discuss their to say. its kind, it is very new and exciting. The experiences from the collaboration together. When asked, “What was collaboration made sure that students the most unique thing you learned about one another’s culture in a n November 11, 2010, at learned?” Cia Shia said, “that Sarah and very hands-on, educational manner. 2:30pm., 83 students and nine I both like watching romance movies “I learned a lot about both Hmong adults packed together in a 6th and Somali culture from their ‘Day in grade classroom. In this room were three but I’m more like a Korean and Japanese the Life of Me’ essays. They wrote a lot tables covered with different ethnic foods person. I think they are adorable.” In response to the same question, her about their home life and their family…I that smelled amazing. peer partner said, “I learned that Sarah learned that family is really important to Everyone in this room was celebrating both their cultures,” VanDusseldorp said. the collaboration between two very cool educational classes. The students and teachers ate food, had fun, and spoke excitedly about their projects and what they all had learned. This collaboration was between Susan McNamara’s sixth grade class at Hancock Elementary School and Professor Letitia Basford’s Cultural Diversity and Education class at Hamline University across the street. Both teachers have had some experience working with each school. McNamara has worked on three homelessness projects with Hamline University, and Basford has taken one of her education classes to Hancock to observe McNamara’s teaching for educational benefits. This is the first time these two wonderful teachers have collaborated in this way before: students coming together to learn more about one another’s culture. Cowboy (right) presents his “Day in the Life of Me” poster at the celebration event. There are six different cultures in
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to understand more about the cultures of students they may be teaching in the future.” Both Hamline and Hancock students learned about each other by making many projects, for example, “A Day in the Life of Me” poster. “Hamline students are going to be future teachers and this experience was one of the first experiences they had planning lessons and trying them out on students. Hancock students could learn more about the college students and get important individual attention. Together, they learned a lot about one another and created a beautiful poster project that I think all students are very proud of,” McNamara and Basford at the celebration event. Basford said, “It is so important that teachers get to know their students and When speaking to McNamara about that students feel connected to their the purpose of Basford’s class, she said, teachers. I think this experience helped “The purpose of the Hamline class is
Two Teachers, 17 Cultures... cont. from page 2
both groups of students accomplish these goals.” One of the authors of this article, Txee Yang, wanted to share a few things about her experience: “Hey! I’m Txee Yang, a student in Susan’s class and I am an editor for the SC. My partners [in the collaboration] were Ellis Richardson, a guy who wants to become a professional singer, and one of my cousins. Working with Ellis was really fun because he was funny and working with my cousin is always awesome. One mini project that everyone did was called ‘A Day in the Life of Me’ which is explaining what you do in a regular day. Another mini project that I did with my partners was an ‘I Am’ poem.” Txee Yang
Dean Wright Makes a Meaningful Visit to Hancock By Maryse Abrahams Hamline Student
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n Thursday December 2, 2010, regardless of the learner’s background or both schools produces an innovative Shelia Wright, Dean of the personal circumstances,” Wright stated. interdisciplinary. School of Education, made a She went on to discuss that both Dean Wright said, “Let us all be visit to Hancock Elementary School for schools have a desire for creating quality reformers, collaborators, transformers, a tour led by Marjorie Abrams, Hancock teaching and learning environments, learners, initiators, researchers, and Principal. therefore creating an openness between creators of excellence.” “College begins in Kindergarten,” is the slogan for the collaboration between the two schools. “This program helps students grow into an environment where college is seamless and always an option. Hamline looks forward to many years of partnership, where tradition, community, commitment, and the integration and excellence of this education begins,” said Wright. Wright also met with the Hancock-Hamline advisory board and was presented with the various types of work being done through the collaboration. “Many of the students and faculty are immersed in the setting. We enjoy investing in initiatives that matter, and what can be more important than the commitment to Principal Abrams shows Dean Wright the “Day in the Life of Me” posters from the Cultural Diversity collaboration. high quality learning experiences, Page
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City Serve Council Donates to Hancock Elementary By Amelea Gray Hamline Student
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amline University’s First Year City Serve Council recently donated winter coats and financially supported a field trip for Hancock students. The council is made up of Hamline first year students who, according to Sharon Jaffe, the City Serve advisor and Coordinator of Service Learning at Hamline, are brought together to not only discern how to donate the $500 from the Lily Foundation but also to Justice, a kindergartener at Hancock, received a coat through the donations connect first year students from the City Serve Council. with Hamline alum who
share their passion for service-learning. The council donated 35 winter jackets and provided a Discovery Tour field trip to the Bell Museum, located on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota. After hearing that the City Serve Council wanted to help Hancock, Hana Tesfaye, coordinator of the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration and Volunteer Services, spoke with Marjorie Abrams, Hancock’s principal, who provided a list of ways to help students at Hancock. “My hope is that all students at Hancock stay warm during the winter season, and that the school can afford to send one more class on a field trip this year,” Tesfaye said.
Explorers Search for Biodiversity in the Schoolyard By Jessie LeClaire, Abdul, Najma Ali, and Maryse Abrahams Hancock Student Editors and Hamline Student
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Hello 5th graders!” Dr. Jean Strait pictures of squirrels and cats,” the 5th from the School of Education at grade teachers stated collectively in a Hamline, exclaimed. Hancock newsletter, “We also found a few Strait and her students from the tufts of hair, so we know there are some Hamline Educational Psychology course larger mammals in the area, but we’re not were participating in a collaboration set up sure what they are.” by Strait, the 5th grade teachers and Kelly Students also walked around both Gibson, the Science Specialist at Hancock. “This [collaboration] is part of the MN state standard to learn about environments, specifically, biospheres,” said Strait, “Students work primarily with each other at Hancock but we also go to Hamline.” Trail cameras were set up to help students look for biodiversity in the area. “We used topographical maps to Bunny in the school yard captured by trail camera. determine where the two animal cameras should go,” said Strait. campuses to look for traces of animals. One camera was set up at Hamline next “We looked for trails left by animals and to the “Blue Garden” and the other is in a after we found them, we defined them. tree outside the front doors of Hancock. We shared our findings and analyzed They use bait to “draw” animals near the them together,” stated Guelord Mpagzihe, cameras to capture a picture. a student from Strait’s Educational “The trail cameras are important Psychology course. because they can trace animals that come The Hamline students and 5th graders to the area at night. So far, we have discovered that there is not much Page
biodiversity near Hancock or the Hamline campus. The lack of biodiversity in the area could indeed inspire a new project for Hancock. “Hopefully in the spring, we can think about ways to increase biodiversity in the area by planting more protective areas and continuing to feed the animals,” said Washburne. Along with this one big project, came many smaller projects. One of the many projects was to create drawings of biodiversity in Ms. Washburne’s class. “Washburne once showed us a map of the school campus. The students used the map to write about how the environment affected biodiversity in the area,” Mpagzihe said. Mpagzihe stated that his favorite part was learning from the kids, “I realized, even being so young, they had so much knowledge of mammals and how their surroundings affected biodiversity.” This project ended on December 1st. Because the project is brand new, there will be plenty more 5th graders next year to come explore biodiversity! Snelling Connection
From Hamline to Hancock: Musicians Are Made By Maya Winter, Taw Bee, and Kate Xiong Hancock Student Editors
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id you ever think a 2nd grader In a recent visit to the music class, You could tell she was pleased. However, could be a musician? Kathy Thomsen practiced the song “Starlight” it’s not just Thomsen that is excited about Thomsen, Associate Professor with the 2nd graders. Thomsen showed this collaboration. from the Hamline music department, them where the notes went up high and “We need music in second is helping that come true by grade,” Ann Bloom, Hancock teaching the 2nd graders how 2nd grade teacher, said “I beto sing, play instruments, move, lieve that children learn better and read music. having music.” “I think music is an important It’s true: music does benefit part of every child’s education,” a child’s education. In fact, a Thomsen said, “We are begingroup of psychologists from the ning to build music literacy. I Chinese University of Hong keep the K-3 arts standards in Kong conducted a study which mind when planning lessons.” found that, “Children who are Once a week Thomsen meets given musical training have beteach 2nd grade class in the Recter verbal memories than those reation Center lobby at Hanwho have not had lessons.” cock. The collaboration began The collaboration continues last year out of a request for to move ahead to promote music lessons in the 2nd grade. music learning at Hancock. Blake student teaches 2nd grader how to play the xylophone. In a typical music class for the Recently, 8th grade students, 2nd graders, they walk in, sit down in a where the notes went low. from Blake Middle School in Hopkins, circle and immediately get started with After Thomsen thought they were ready, came to Hancock to put on a performance some simple rhythms. The lobby echoes she counted them in and they began. using wooden xylophones that they had with the sound of clapping hands and tap- Thomsen led them through with her fin- made. After their performance, they doping laps. Clap, clap, tap, tap, clap, clap. ger, and pointed out every note and word, nated their xylophones to the second gradThomsen says, “stop” and “go” to exercise one after the other. ers at Hancock. their listening skills and abilities. The stu- “Wow. That was great you guys! Nice Next spring, the sounds of music will dents keep up pretty well and get a few Job!” she said once they finished. continue to echo in the Hancock recregiggles in. ation center.
Source: Music ‘Makes the Brain Learn Better’ – BBC, 2003
On the Issues: Leftover Cafeteria Food By Emma Walsh, Felicity Xiong, Rhiannon Magee, and Amelea Gray Hancock Student Editors, Hamline Student
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Oink! Oink! Feed me! Feed me!” says the swine that Hancock Elementary School gives their leftover food to. For four years, Hancock has been cooperating with local farmers to donate the school’s extra food. According to Donna Weltinger, a member of Hancock’s food service staff, a truck comes three out of five days of the school week and picks up the food. “It goes to a little town called St. Francis, MN, where the leftovers are heated up to 220 degrees Fahrenheit and given to the pigs and hogs to eat. Everything goes in, even chicken bones,” Weltinger said. Page
Hancock’s Principal, Marjorie Abrams, revealed that there are substantial benefits from the leftover food system. “I think this is a great program because the cost for disposing of food waste using the pig farmer is significantly cheaper than disposing of it through the trash service,” Abrams said. “The food is recycled instead of ending up in a landfill and ground water. The pigs and hogs also eat healthier.” In addition to donating the food to the Barthold Roll-Off service, through which it is given to the swine, the untouched food goes to Twelve Baskets, where it is donated to people in need.
Hamline University also participates in sustainable dining efforts. According to Hamline University’s dining service website, Sorin Dining Hall, Hamline’s sole cafeteria on campus practices green efforts, similar to Hancock, through donating their leftover food to the swine of local farmers. Overall, Hancock students and faculty are proud of the school’s decision to be more conscience of what is done with excess food. A 6th grade student, Essence Blackmore, stated, “I like the system because it makes me feel like I go to a generous school.” Snelling Connection
Hancock Student Editor, Asialia Vang, Snelling Connection Update: New highlights the changes made this year. By Asialia Vang Hancock Student Editor
Above: Asialia working on her news article.
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meeting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday…What would that be, you ask? The Snelling Connection it is! What is different from last year? What is the same? You’re about to find out. The Snelling Connection is a newsletter that highlights the collaboration between Hancock Elementary School and Hamline University. Hancock students write the articles and Hamline students work as leaders to guide them through this process.
Since last year, there have been new stu- line student and co-editor of the Snelling dents who have joined the team and many Connection. “Last year, students weren’t as changes in how the Snelling Connection prepared for writing news articles.” works. The new co-editor of the Snelling Con “We have two Hamline editors, fourth nection is Amanda Skeivik. She is in her graders are in it, and there are new editors third year at Hamline, working towards in it this year,” said Sebastian Alfonso, a getting her ESL license in the undergradu6th grade Hancock student who is now in ate teacher education program. She was his second year as a student editor for the extremely excited to get involved with the Snelling Connection. Snelling Connection in the fall. This year, the co-editors held an essay- “All of the things that we [Tessa and I] writing contest for students who wanted do, from lesson planning to teaching, and to be in the Snelling Connection. Last trying to make it all as fun as possible for year, eight students were just chosen to the students, have been a wonderful way work for the newsletter. This year, seven- to get experience in the classroom,” said teen students were chosen from the essay Amanda Skeivik, the new co-editor. contest. The Snelling Connection is very fun to “We used to do Snelling Connection in be in. Researching, writing, and interviewMrs. Grostephan’s room and now it’s a ing. That’s what Snelling Connection is all bigger group,” said Jessie LeClaire, anoth- about! er 6th grade editor of the Snelling Connection. Because we have so many more students, we had to find somewhere else to meet. The co-editors decided to meet in the open rooms found in the Hancock Recreational center. “One big change is that I decided this year to ask my friend Amanda to teach Snelling Connection with me. Together, we planned a year-long curriculum in order to provide the most beneficial learning experience for the students in the group. Our goal was to prepare the students as Co-Editor, Tessa, helps Najma with editing in the much as we could to write articles on new classroom. Look out for a Snelling Connection their own,” said Tessa Mortenson, Hamgroup picture in the next issue!
Snelling Connection Contacts:
Co-Editors: Tessa Mortenson and Amanda Skeivik Hamline University students tmortenson01@hamlineuniversity.edu, askeivik01@hamlineuniversity.edu Hamline Liaison: Pres Martin, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry pmartin@hamline.edu 651-523-2290 Hancock Liaison: Deborah Shipp, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet School deborah.shipp@spps.org 651-293-8715 Hancock Student Advisor: Glynis Grostephan, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet School glynis.grostephan@spps.org 651-293-8715
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