Summer 2006

Volume 9, Issue 4

Summer 2006

Snelling Connection A newsletter highlighting the Hancock/Hamline Collaboration

Bringing New Orleans to Snelling Avenue

By Katie Young Hamline Student

On March 16th, I joined a group of seven Hamline students to visit the fifth grade classrooms at Hancock School to talk about our upcoming spring break trip to New Orleans to help with the hurricane relief effort.

We began by showing the fifth

When we returned to the classrooms after our week in New Orleans, we brought answers to those questions, along with a Tyvek suit we wore to protect our clothes while working, a respirator mask worn to protect us from breathing black mold, and a slideshow full of pictures.

In the pictures, the fifth graders saw a house being “gutted out” to remove

Summer 2006

In This Issue: 1

2

*New Orleans

3

*Arts Alive

4

*From the Desk of: *Speak Out

5

*Coming Soon

6

*Advice Column

*Outstanding Award Winners Hamline students in New Orleans wearing Tyvek suits and respirator masks. graders the connection between St. Paul and New Orleans: the Mississippi River that starts in Minnesota and ends in Louisiana.

After listening to our descriptions of what we might do on our trip, the curious fifth graders asked question after question: What will the houses look like? Do people still live in New Orleans? Can the kids go to school?

What happened to all of the pets? Why do houses need to be torn down?

all of the walls, cupboards and sinks that had been destroyed by the flooding and the mold. We used a sledgehammer and crowbars to rip out every wall in the house.

On the first visit to Hancock, we gave each fifth grader a wristband that said “Hurricane Katrina: Relief, Recover, Rebuild.” The fifth graders wore the red, white, and blue bands while we “New Orleans” continued on page 6 Summer 2006

Page 1

Collaboration Congratulates Winners Editor’s Note: On May 3rd, the winners of the Outstanding Volunteer and Student Worker Awards were announced.

The articles below, written by the people who nominated the winners, highlight the three Hamline students that showed outstanding leadership and dedication to their work at Hancock School.

MIKE PESKO

Katey Lee

Outstanding Student Volunteer Outstanding Student Volunteer

By Diane Smith, Fifth Grade Teacher

Mike Pesko, a third year student at Hamline University and also a published author, teamed up with our team of fifth grade teachers at Hancock School to developed a book project for a group of advanced Hancock writers. The task began in the fall of 2005 and is probably the most intense and lengthy project the students have ever completed.

“I learned that it takes a lot of steps and patience for a writer to actually make a book,” said Dominique Thompson, a fifth grader who took part in the project.

The students met weekly to discover the elements of a book. They read and “dissected” The Tale of the Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo.

Then they each chose an element of a story to draft. Mike put the pieces together to create their book. The culmination of the project will take place at the end of May with a publishing party.

Mike is to be commended for working as a volunteer on such a long term project. He has been patient, kind and dedicated. We are all looking forward to seeing the final copy of the book!

Snelling Connection

By Samantha Henningson Katey Lee, a senior art student at Hamline University, has brought a whole new level of energy to the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration this year. After an internship in Minneapolis with Juxtaposition Arts working with urban youth, she approached Hancock with an exciting project idea—a piece of public art to be installed along Snelling Avenue.

The project culminated in the May 2nd ARTS ALIVE 2006 Han-

cock-Hamline Community Celebration. Katey talked with Hamline art students and involved them in classroom sessions with Hancock third graders who thought of symbols that represent the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration. Katey and fellow art student Brendan Rhodes designed the murals using the third graders’ drawings and then Hancock students visited Hamline to paint them.

After she graduates in May, Katey Lee will head off to be an art teacher with Teach for America at a reservation in South Dakota. The Collaboration will miss Katey’s energy, optimism, and talent, and is proud to have worked with her.

BRODY ANDERSON

Outstanding Student Worker

By Shannon McParland and Carol Schjei, Kindergarten Teacher Brody Anderson has worked and volunteered at Hancock for the last three years. He has been an America Reads/America Counts tutor and has volunteer for many events, including this year’s Family Art Night.

Brody has worked with the Kindergartners for the past two-plus years.

Last year, when the Kindergarten students were taking their tour of Hamline for their “first day at college,” Brody saw them and joined them on their tour. He walked along and pointed out different things to the students, who were very excited to see Brody at “his school.” They loved having him as part of their day, and it was a great reflection of Brody as a person that he took the time to walk with them on their tour.

Brody has been a true asset to Hancock. He is consistent and dependable, yet flexible to change. He takes initiative and has a genuine interest in the students’ success, both academic and social. He has good rapport and a calm manner when working with our students. We are so happy he is receiving this award!

Summer 2006

Page 2

A Few Scoops of Art on Snelling Avenue

By Samantha Henningson Hancock/Hamline Advisory Committee

enjoyed and created live music with Dan Rumsey, a local musician who works at Hancock, and ate ice cream cones.

Arts activities included making origami flowers with ARTS ALIVE 2006, a Hancock-Hamline Commu- Hamline’s Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC), nity Celebration, marked the installation of the mural the art of chance with the arts organization MamaDada, created by Hancock third graders and Hamline art stu- Hmong sewing with the Hamline Hmong Student Assodents. On the afternoon ciation, magnetic poetof May 2, Hancock and ry, and noodle necklace Hamline students, facmaking. People who ulty, and staff, as well attended the celebraas folks from the neightion were the first folks borhood came together in St. Paul to test run to celebrate.

“Paint the Pavement,” Hancock third grada community-builders unveiled the first ing arts project. Along piece of public art on with painting the sideNorth Snelling in a walk, participants made ceremony at the behats, noisemakers, and ginning of the celebrabanners that were later tion. Students sang a used in a parade up and song and made signs down Snelling Avenue. celebrating the Han Arts Alive was a cock-Hamline Collabgreat event that was Hancock’s Dan Rumsy makes music with students at ARTS. oration. Principal Marsuccessful in celebratjorie Warrington emceed the ceremony, introducing ing arts, community, and the Collaboration between special guest speaker St. Paul City Council Member Hancock Elementary and Hamline University. We were Jay Benanav. Benanav and his legislative aide, Jane happy to host neighborhood residents as well as commuPrince, said, “The mural is such a great addition to the nity leaders for the event. And, of course, everyone is street scene. And we were both really struck by the excited by the presence of the new mural at Snelling and importance of the partnership between Hamline and Hubbard—a signal to community members and drivers Hancock and what it means to all the beautiful [Han- on Snelling Avenue that the Collaboration and the work cock] children.” we do are here to stay. As Kindergarten teacher Carol After the installation ceremony, community mem- Schjei said, “Now when I pull into the parking lot in the bers cut loose. People participated in arts activities, morning, I just can’t help but smile.”

The murals (one panel pictured above, middle) were the reason for the celebration, but the students found many other reasons to celebrate, including making hats, banners, and other fun art projects for a parade.

Snelling Connection

Summer 2006

Page 3

From the Desk of: Hi! My name is

Clover Eckert.

I like to go swimming at Hamline and be an editor for the Snelling Connection. We take pictures, interview people, and write stories on different topics. I like to go to the Earth Day Festival because I like the Sno Kones and all of the games. My hobbies include playing lacrosse and listening to music. I really like to hang out at Griggs Rec. Center, which is one block from my house. I am the President of the Hancock Student Council. I also like to help with service-learning projects.

Phillip Vang

My name is . I’m in 6th grade. I like to draw because I can let my imagination go wild. I don’t like to act. I like being in Snelling Connection because I learn new stuff and learn what people do during their time off school. I like to go swimming at Hamline but it has gotten boring to me. My favorite sports are soccer and basketball. I sometimes like football, too. My favorite activity in gym is “Fish in the Barrel”. It’s a dodgeball game. In science I like to do experiments and do stations when we play games. For computer I like to play free online games or computer games. I am in SEM (Schoolwide Enrichment Model) and it is an awesome experience.

Speak Out!

Dominique Thompson, Xia Yang, Jesse Sanchez and John Phan ask:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A teacher. Kelina Vang, 2nd grader.

A psychologist.

Hamline Senior.

A basketball player. Isaiah Conway, 5th grader.

Logan Thompson,

A swimmer. Irma Zarate, 5th grader.

A police officer. Kao Vang, 5th grader.

A social studies teacher. Ben Dahmes, Hamline Junior.

Tanisha Strong Snelling Connection

A nurse. Phoua Thao, 5th grader.

A teacher. Susan Erickson, Hamline Senior.

Kelina Vang

An anthropologist.

Special InvestigaVanessa Tieman, tor in the United States Hamline student.

Air Force. Jessica Mattson, Hamline Freshman.

A psychologist. Nicole Lenngren, Hamline student.

A singer or a designer. Tanisha Strong, 6th grader.

A basketball player. Josh Joyce, 2nd grader.

Summer 2006

Josh Joyce Page 4

-Coming SoonMulticultural Festival Welcomes All on May Eleventh

By Sovanary Ho and PaNah Vang Hancock student editors The Multicultural Literacy Festival is a very popular event at Hancock School, usually attracting around 300 people from Hancock, Hamline, and the community. This year the Festival will be held on Thursday, May 11th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Festival, organized by a group of Hancock teachers, will feature performances from Irish, Hmong, and Karen dancers. Other activities include various

games, a Japanese calligraphy stand, and a chance to make instruments from reusable materials with Carol Sirine from ArtScraps. Participants can also put their name in a raffle for prizes that will be given out at the end of the night.

The event will have international snacks to munch on, including spring rolls from Mai Village, tiny tacos from a Venezuelan restaurant and Asian crackers from World Market.

We hope you will come to the Festival on May 11th and join in the fun!

Hellos and Goodbyes in the Collaboration

By Marjorie Warrington Hancock Principal

ing opportunities on both campuses including Kids Voting. He is a natural choice for Liaison and will provide a seamless transition to It is with great sadness that Hancock says new leadership. We are grateful for his willgoodbye to Rita Johnson, the Hamline Univeringness to serve! sity Liaison for our collaboration. She is taking We also need to say goodbye to Garvin her well-earned retirement! Ms. Johnson has Davenport, Vice President for Academic AfGarvin Davenport solidified Hancock’s relationship with Hamline fairs, who is also retiring at the end of this University through the enhance- academic year. He recognized and valued the reciprocal ment of the grade level pairings, learning opportunities that Hamline and Hancock could long term strategic planning, vol- provide for students. With his advocacy, our collaboraunteerism, and service on our site tion has strengthened! council. She generously donated And finally, we say farewell to $5,000 to seed the first Hamline Alzada Tipton, Associate Dean of the University scholarship for Han- College of Liberal Arts. She is leaving David Hudson cock graduates. Her dedication to Hamline University to accept a posiHancock students, staff, and tion at anfamilies has cemented the other colbond between our two camlege.

She Alzada Tipton puses. We could never thank has served Hancock students her enough! with dedication and believed It is our pleasure to welthat our collaboration sigcome Dr. David Hudson, nificantly enhanced student Associate Professor, Englearning. lish, as Rita Johnson’s re We wish Rita Johnson, placement. He has also been Garvin Davenport, and Alzainvolved at Hancock for da Tipton peace as they begin several years, serving on the the new phases of their lives, Collaboration Committee, and we joyfully look forward volunteering with HOSTS, to Dr. Hudson’s tenure on the and providing many learn- Rita Johnson and her HOSTS buddy, Lindsey Anderson. Collaboration Committee.

Snelling Connection

Summer 2006

Page 5

Advice Column

by Phoua Thoa and Chong Yang Dear Phoua and Chong, What is all this I hear about Global Warming and Climate Change? Is there something I can do about it?

-Worried Hancock Student Dear Worried Classmate, Ken Keller at the University of Minnesota says, “Wherever we use energy in this world, in most forms today, we use fossil fuels, which is the cause for global warming.”

The little things we do every day can make a difference in solving our environmental problems.

Here are some ways you can help: • Since the root of the issue is our constant burning of carbon-bearing fuel, we should use less energy and gasoline.

• Ride a bike, walk, or take public transportation.

• Turn off lights, appliances, televisions, and radios when not being used.

• Plant trees to help clean air.

• Remember to use the 5 R’s: “Reduce, Reuse, React, Reject, and Recycle.”

“New Orleans” continued from page 5 were in New Orleans so they could think about the work we were doing every time they looked at their wrists.

One fifth grader asked if we would think about St. Paul during our trip. While we knocked out moldy walls, we did think about St. Paul.

We thought about how important it was to share our stories with the fifth graders and ask them to think about what they can do from their end of the Mississippi.

Hancock Students Aim High A preview of the most recent study of the HancockHamline Collaboration, scheduled for release on May 11, reveals that: • 94.4% of Hancock 4th, 5th, and 6th graders say they plan to go to college.

• Students identified four factors that would prevent them from going to college: Money (61%), Bad Grades (21%), Having Kids (4%), and Family (3%).

Other factors were identified by 11% of the students.

• Most Hancock students reported that their parents and teachers talk to them about going to college.

• Each Hancock student averaged 8 different kinds of Hamline-related experiences, ranging from campus tours, to swimming, to tutoring.

• The relationship between the schools is strong and has become an integral part of life on our joined campuses.

Hancock/Hamline Collaboration Mission Statement:

Editor: Whitney Klein, Hamline University student wklein02@hamline.edu

“Our mission is to build and strengthen the collaborative community through shared learning, relationships and cultural diversity.”

Hancock Student Advisor: Glynis Grostephan, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet School glynis.grostephan@spps.org

Snelling Connection Contacts:

Hancock Contact: Shannon McParland, Hancock/Hamline University Collaboratice Magnet School Shannon.mcparland@spps.org (651) 292-3499

Coordinator: Rita Johnson, Hamline University Management/Economics Dept.

The Snelling Connection is published quarterly and distribrbjohnson@gw.hamline.edu uted to H/HUCMS families, the Hamline University community and to others interested in the collaboration.

Snelling Connection

Summer 2006

Page 6