Snelling Connection Spring 2015

A newspaper written by elementary students, mentored by university students

THE

SNELLING CONNECTION Newsletter for the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration Spring Issue 2015 Volume 18, Issue 2

Music From Mexico

Hamline Elementary visits Sundin Hall

By Kierra Leaks Student Journalist

On March 12th, the entire Hamline Elementary school went over to Hamline University to Sundin Music Hall. The Elementary school was invited for a taste of the music from Mexico.

The performance was a mariachi band that the Hamline University’s Music Department had brought to the University. The funding for the performance was provided by the state of Minnesota.

The Music Department usually chooses traditional music for their concerts. The department feels it is hard for people to get exposed to amazing musicians and to different cultures which is why they invited Hamline Elementary to the performance. You can hear hip-hop or jazz any time on the TV or the radio, but not music like mariachi bands.

Hamline Elementary enjoying the Taste of Mexico performance in Sundin Hall.

Miriam Gerberg, an instructor in the Music Department invited Hamline Elementary to attend the performance because she thinks that all ages should be exposed to different musical cultures. This is why the whole school was invited and because of the of the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration.

I am a fifth grader at Hamline Elementary and I enjoy listening to hiphop and jazz. The mariachi performance was different than I had imagined, but

Kindergarteners Explore Hamline University for the First Time School’s motto continues to make an impact

By Jayla Lewis Student Journalist

On May 6th, the kindergarteners went on a great tour of the beautiful college, Hamline University. Two helpful teachers, Mrs Schjei and Mrs. Simonson chaperoned the tour. It was an awesome experience for the kindergarteners to get a feel for college.

Since the first tour started in 1991, kindergarteners have been able to see the University grow over time. That’s 24 years of tours! During the first tour, when Mrs. Srigley was a kindergarten teacher, her class only saw the dorms, but now they get to see more of campus and what it has to offer.

This year’s tour started with a

view of Kayla Markgraf’s dorm room, a tutor at Hamline University. One kindergartener said, “Kayla is lucky she gets to live with her friends”, another said, “they have bunk beds just like I do at my house.” Markgraf told them that since she lives with friends they have to be nice to one another and share their things.

Next the kindergarteners visited various other buildings on campus such as the varsity pool, the field house, statues around campus, and the Anderson Center. The students were amazed at how big the windows were in the building and were excited that they could see their playground across Snelling Avenue. They had ice

Page 1

[Photo by Jodie Wilson]

I enjoyed the amazing opportunity. The nice, calm auditorium was a beautiful setting for the performance. My teacher started blushing when he heard the women sing.

The Taste of Mexico performance was a great opportunity for the Hamline Elementary students and to get out of class. To learn more about the different performances at Sundin Hall visit www. hamline.edu/sundin

cream in the lunch room which put the cherry on top of their exciting day! One student reflected, “I liked the ice cream with sprinkles!”

Some people might wonder why the kindergartener tour is so important at Hamline Elementary, well the school’s motto is “college beings in kindergarten”.

Through the collaboration, students make connections with the University in hope that these students consider college as a possibility. If a student attends Hamline Elementary and decides to go to college at Hamline University, the student qualifies for a scholarship that is given by the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration. That’s another reason why the tour is important. The other reason is to show kindergarteners what to work towards from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

Kindergartener Tour, Page 2 >>

The Snelling Connection NEWS

Coach Salima Seale with Making Waves members explaining an activity.

[Photo by Jennifer Hamilton]

Social Justice Surfs with Fourth Graders

Making Waves makes ripples at Hamline Elementary

By Chineze Okolo Student Journalist

Making Waves is working with the fourth grade classes teaching them about social justice plays. The members of Making Waves came to both Mr. Johnson’s and Mrs. Hvidhyld’s fourth grade classes every Monday for an hour in the months of April and May. The members of Making Waves explained the program and conducted activities

to bring the students out of their shells.

This is their first year working with Hamline Elementary students.

Making Waves is non-profit social justice theater troupe made up of college students from Hamline University. They use the art of performance to provoke dialogue about race, gender, class, and other issues that can threaten the diverse collaboration of learners in the community. Making Waves was cofounded by Carolyn Levy, professor of

A Day of Movement

Hall of Famer organizing third grade pairing

By Zubeyda Kedir Student Journalist

The volleyball team at Hamline University paired with the third graders at Hamline Elementary for a day of movement. The third graders went to Klas Field on Wednesday, April 15th at Hamline University for the pairing. The volleyball players wanted to practice their skills and teach the third graders how to play volleyball. The pairing was made possible with the help from Jodie Wilson, the Technology Integration Specialist at Hamline Elementary and

Preparing for Capture the Flag.

[Photo by Jodie Wilson]

the Hamline Elementary Liaison to Hamline to Hamline Collaboration.

Wilson played volleyball when she attended Hamline University and is in school’s Hall of Fame for volleyball. She played volleyball from 1990 to 1992 and one year at Saint Thomas University.

Wilson reflected on the hardest games she and her teammates played which were against Saint Ben’s College. When Wilson played, a game was won after a team scored 15 points, however the times have changed and it now takes 25 points. Wilson really enjoyed her teammates and playing at Hamline University.

On the day of movement, the third graders started by warming up with some jumping jacks and jogging around the arena. Their main activities were the games Big Base and Capture the Flag. When they played Big Base, Amelia Jensen, one of the volleyball players, split up the class for the activity

Support the Collaboration!

Give your gift @www.hamline.edu/collaboration

Page 2

Theater Arts at Hamline University, and Rachel Summers, an alum from the class of 2012. This year, the troupe has two coaches, Rachel Summers and Salima Seale.

When Making Waves came to my fourth grade classroom, we would push back our desks into a circle to make space for the activities. For the first three Mondays, we started by introducing ourselves by saying our name and doing an action. Next, we split into two groups and played the game Zip Zup Zap and another game that the troupe would brainstorm the Sunday before. The end goal of the pairing was to open our eyes so we could see from a different point of view.

My personal experience was just taking it all in, from the minute they came into the classroom, to the minute they left. We learned not to judge a book by it’s cover as this is a problem in our society. It was important that Making Waves came to our fourth grade classes to help broaden the students perspectives.

The pairing was made possible because of the collaboration Hamline Elementary has with Hamline University. I hope that students after me will get to have the same experience because it’s an original one. I’m glad that all the grades get to do something with Hamline University. For more information about Making Waves visit http://www.hamline.edu/cla/theatrearts/making-waves/ and when they played Capture the Flag the teams were divided into boys versus girls.

The third graders had a good experience with the volleyball pairing, playing the games and running around.

There was lots of laughter showing the students were having a good time. This was the first year this particular pairing happened, hopefully it can happen again next year.

Continued from Page 1

Kindergartener Tour

Kindergarteners had fun seeing the sights and walking around, there was no complaining or cutting each in line.

The tour is good for the kindergartners because it shows them what college is like and gets them excited about college. The day after the tour, Mrs. Schjei reported that a student asked, “can we go back to Hamline University?

I think they have more ice cream.”

The Snelling Connection NEWS

The Departure of Jennifer Hamilton

The assisstant to the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration changing hands

By Leslie Alvardo Student Journalist

Jennifer Hamilton is a senior at Hamline University and has been the assistant to the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration for the past three years.

Hamilton is graduating this spring on May 23rd, 2015. Since she is graduating, she will no longer be able to work as the assistant to the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration. Kayla Markgraf has been hired as the new assistant this spring to phase her into the position before Hamilton leaves.

As the assistant to the Hamline to HamlineCollaboration, Hamilton helped the Coordinator of the Collaboration facilitate the different programs within the collaboration. She does whatever needs to be done regarding publicity and communication for the programs.

She also helps college students who want to tutor at Hamline Elementary become tutors.

The projects happen when someone from either Hamline University or Hamline Elementary approaches the Coordinator of the Collaboration with a project idea and they work together to make the project happen. Some of the projects occur annually like Hand-In-

Hand, tutoring and some of the academic and athletic pairings, others however occur only once.

Hamilton heard about the position when she was a sophomore. She saw a flyer for the job while at a school event advertising student jobs. She had already been a part of the collaboration working as a tutor when she was a first-year. She was interested in having the [Photo by Merry Snyder] job because she liked what the Jennifer Hamilton (Left) and Kayla Markgraf (Right). collaboration does and she loved the tutor program. She applied the collaboration as she is currently a and got the job!

Hamilton has enjoyed the job tutor at Hamline Elementary. Markgraf, because she feels she has learned similar to Hamilton, saw the job opening and grown a lot. She developed her on a flyer, she applied, got an interview leadership skills and became more and then she got the job! She applied creative through helping the tutors and because she likes what the collaboration the other programs. In her free time she does and all the programs it provides.

She has been following Hamilton loves to paint, draw, cook, and walk around the park with her friends. After to learn and become prepared for the job she graduates she wants to teach math once Hamilton leaves. Next year when Markgraf gets the job full time, she will at middle and high schools.

Kayla Markgraf is replacing no longer be a tutor. She hopes that Hamilton as the new assistant to the next year she will be able to hire more Hamline to Hamline Collaboration. tutors and involve more people to join Markgraf has already been a part of the programs in the collaboration.

Elementary Students Go on Trial... A Mock Trial Fifth Graders choose final verdict at Hamline Law

By Monica Johnson Student Journalist

Smith, one of the fifth grade teachers, and Hamline School of Law put together

“All rise, the court of Hamline the money and paperwork for the fifth is in session.” Fifth graders from graders. The mock trial took place on Hamline Elementary race over to March 23rd, 2015 at 10:00 a.m in the Hamline University for their first ever Hamline Law School. mock trial. Students had prepared for So what is a mock trial? A mock weeks until the day finally came when trial is sometimes based on a crime volunteers from Hamline University that has happened but some parts have came to Hamline Elementary to help been made up. The mock trial the fifth and practice with fifth graders. Diana graders participated in was based on a hate crime. In the story, someone had spray-painted on Chris Burke’s locker, a student at Terecell High School, “go back to Africa where you belong.” Burke is the only AfricanAmerican at his school. Considering that Burke was the only AfricanAmerican student, the principal at Terecell High School knew something like this would happen so he kept an eye out. Right away the [Photo by Craig Anderson] Kierra Leaks makes her defense. principal called the

Page 3

police. The police searched waste bins and lockers until one officer named McWade, found a spray can with a fingerprint on it. The fingerprint was identified as Mike Jacobs, a student at Terecell High School. Jacobs was charged with third and fourth degree damages of school property. Therefore the fifth graders had to bring justice to the situation.

In the mock trial there were 6-8 different roles such as prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, defendant, witness, judge, jury, and bailiff. Each student either picked or was assigned a role and received a folder of information about their role. In the fifth grade mock trial not every role was used like in a real court hearing such as police guard or transcriber.

“The mock trial was fun”, said a student in Jon Gjerde’s fifth grade class.

In addition, the mock trial was not the only exciting thing that happened that day, they even got to eat lunch at Hamline University! It was a great time!

The mock trial is a privilege that not every school gets to do. Gjerde says, “it’s important to participate so you could speak out and break from your shell!”

Hopefully they will continue the mock trial next year.

The Snelling Connection Mini-Grant Bring Puppets Kindergarteners get creatitve!

By Student Journalist

This year, Elizabeth Srigley helped the kindergarteners make puppets for the first time. Mrs. Shrigley teaches kindergarten through second grade enrichment and third through fifth grade math intervention at Hamline Elementary. She received a mini-grant to make the puppets from Hamline University through the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration. Mrs. Shrigley thought it would be a fun experience for the kindergarteners and a great way to show their creativity.

The Hamline to Hamline Collaboration provides mini-grants to

NEWS

people who want money for projects within the collaboration which they have to apply in order to get one. The meaning behind the mini-grants is to support student’s education and to give students an opportunity to experience things they might not be able to within their own classrooms.

The kindergarteners used fabric, felt, ribbons, yarn, pom poms, feathers, pipe cleaners, fabric paint, tacky glue and their imagination to make the puppets. Mrs. Shrigley spent about 150 dollars on these supplies for the puppets. Mrs. Shrigley decided to make puppets so the kindergarteners could show their creativity.

The kindergarteners will be putting on shows for their families with their puppets. These shows will be a good time to show their creations and to let their personalities shine through to a room full of parents, kids, and teachers.

Mrs. Shrigley thinks the performance

PTO and Artists Painting a Difference

Artists residencies bring art into the classroom

By Kao Ar Her Student Journalist

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has been bringing in artists to Hamline Elementary to help with art projects like painting and drawing. The PTO is making sure that kindergarten through fifth grade students will get this chance to work with an artist, since there is no full time art or music teacher at Hamline Elementary.

At Hamline Elementary the PTO tries to find ways for families to get along and to get to know each other better and to support the teachers and staff. They also raise money to help the school, like to buy supplies for classrooms such as markers, crayons and supplies for gym too. In the summer, they put on a festival as a fundraiser and for Dr. Suess day, students could read to help raise funding.

Hamline Elementary picked the artists through a non-profit organization in the Twin Cities that pairs artists with residencies. When an artist came into my fifth grade classroom, she showed us a cloth that she made with the help of some other people. The cloth was light and dark blue that looked like a river. She also explained where the cloth came from and about a river parade that incorporated the cloth.

We got to make our own stamp using wood and string. We started with a block of wood about as big as one’s hand. Then we got a long string to cut however we wanted and then glued it to the block of wood to make a design.

Finally we dipped our stamps in paint to print our designs on silk scarfs.

The theme of this pairing revolved around rivers. The third graders have

[Photo by Elizabeth Srigley]

Kindergarteners practice for the puppet show.

will help the kindergarteners with their communication skills by talking in front of an audience.

This was the first year Mrs. Shrigley had made puppets with the kindergarteners with the help from a mini-grant. She hopes to make more puppets in the future and more creative projects with all her students. If you are interested in applying for a mini-grant email hhcollaboration@gmail.com.

Other Pairings That Happened This Spring April

5th Grade Literacy Unit with Claudette Coote-Thompson from School of Education

April 9th & 16th 3rd Grade with Soccer Team

April 30th 1st Grade Tour of Theater Mr. Engstrom’s third grade class making paper mache animal puppets.

[Photo by Amber Todd]

been studying the Nile River and the animals that live around it. Meg Erkle, the artist helped them make pole puppets out of paper mache of these animals. When they dried, the students painted the animal puppets to resemble the Ibis, Nile Perch and the Egyptian cobra, some of the animals they have been studying.

Pete McCauley, a member of the PTO stated, “the PTO believes that arts education will help the students to learn better.” They hope to get an art and music teacher for the school, but if they cannot, they will continue to try to bring artists into the classrooms.

I hope that an art or music teacher could come every year, or we could have a full time teacher because I think that students would enjoy school more if they could play an instrument and sing together. Also if the school could get an art teacher, maybe students will realize how much art and colors are around them. They might discover new ways to enjoy school.

To learn more about the PTO email pto.hamlineelementary@gmail.

Page 4

May 5th

Hike for the Health of the Collaboration - Grades K-5th

May 7th

4th Grade with Football Team

Snelling Connection Staff Hamline Elementary Student Advisor Glynis Grostephan | Gifted Serivices glynis.grostephan@spps.org Hamline University Student Advisor Frank Shaw | Mathematics Department fshaw@hamline.edu Snelling Connection Co-Editors Amber Todd | University Student Darrian Smith | University Student Travis Whitt | University Student (Incoming Co-Editor) snellingconnection17@gmail.com For more information about the Collaboration hhcollaboration@gmail.com