A newspaper written by elementary students, mentored by university students
THE
SNELLING CONNECTION Newsletter for the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration Spring Issue 2016 Volume 19, Issue 2
Just a Memory for one Buddy Hamline Elementary visits Sundin Hall By Zubeyda Kedir Student Journalist Working with a buddy has been fun, however soon it will be a memory for one buddy pair. Hamline University Senior, Melissa Thompson and her 5th grade buddy, Alicia Brolin will both be moving on with their lives. Before they left, I wanted to ask them about their experiences of having a buddy. Hand-in-Hand buddies are Hamline University students and Hamline Elementary students who hang out and have fun together. They play games, talk about how their day went, and talk about personal things. Thompson and Brolin meet every Wednesday for at least forty-five minutes. Even if their Wednesdays aren’t going so well, they meet their buddy, and this helps their day flip the
Brolin and Thompson pose for a photo
[Photo by Zubeyda Kedir]
Who Runs the World? Girls!
Girls on the Run gets Girls Moving forward with Confidence By Nevaeh Witherspoon Student Journalist
Who runs the world? Girls! It’s called Girls on the Run and it takes place at Hamline Elementary on the field or on the Hamline University track. Girls on the Run is a place where girls can make themselves stronger and to stay positive about themselves. Jodie Wilson, the computer teacher at Hamline Elementary, is the leader for the run. The teachers of the group are Coach Jodie, Coach Sarah, and Coach Mary. Twenty students are participating in the run. The girls practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Runners meet in the cafeteria for a healthy snack and then start their practice. Sometimes they go over to Hamline University to run on the track and use the field. Then they
other way around. Some benefits of having a buddy are making friendships with other people easily as well as getting to see an older role model. There are so many more benefits that come with having a buddy. Thompson and Brolin are a buddy pair who have gone through this whole program and are about to graduate. Brolin is new to Hamline elementary and at first she didn’t know anything about Hand-in-Hand, but now she knows everything about Hand-in-Hand buddies. Their favorite games are Twister and hand games. They make up new games all the time. They build their friendship through talking about daily life. Hand-in-Hand Buddies have fun and talk about what middle school will be like. If you are a Hamline University student I recommend that you be a buddy, and if you are a Hamline Elementary student I also recommend that you keep hoping for a buddy!
together to participate in physical activity while creating healthy relationships with friends and themselves. You can learn more about Girls on the Run by visiting girlsontherun.org or by contacting Jodie Wilson at jodie.wilson@spps.org
do some warm-ups like high knees, butt kickers, arm turns, and running games. During their practice they get in a circle and talk about the hard work they have done. The run is meant to train their bodies to do a 5k run. Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization that is present all over the world. The purpose of the event is to help young girls stay confident and grow in a healthy way. Girls on the Girls on the Run Participants Run brings girls
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[Photo by Jodie Wilson]
The Snelling Connection
The Snelling Connection
NEWS
Jost and Chandler explain the importance of saving
[Photo by Jodie Wilson]
2nd Grade gets Rich Money Revolution shares saving tips with students By Adonis Lane Student Journalist Hamline second graders are going be rich some day after they learn about personal finances through a program taught by Hamline University. Money Revolution is a program that takes place at Hamline University. The Money Revolution program is pairing with the Hamline Elementary second grade
students. Kelly Chandler and Natalie Jost are Hamline University students that are on the Money Revolution staff. The Money Revolution is an organization that teaches students about different scholarship opportunities and personal finances. The Money Revolution mostly refers University students to the Hamline financial aid office for specific questions, but they talk about different
5th Grade goes to Court Students learn the details of a trial By Justice Joyce Student Journalist Have you ever seen a court case or trial on T.V. or in a movie? Have you ever wished you could be a lawyer or apart of trial action? Then let me tell you about mock trial. Students at Hamline Elementary School have the potential now and in the future to play key roles in a courtroom trial. Students could become a lawyer, be a plaintiff, or member of a jury. To help educate the elementary students about these roles, the law and courtroom procedures Hamline University has teamed up with the students Hamline Elementary to create a mock trial. This year Mock Trial Day was Tuesday, March 29. The event took place at Hamline University Law School. The mock trial was organized by Hamline University students and Hamline Elementary students. The University students provided the judge, and the elementary students provided the
plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses and jury. The Elementary students came to mock trial organized and prepared. Just like real lawyers they came to court ready and prepared to discuss the case. Mock trial is educational because it helps students learn about the law and how a court room is ran. Mock trial is ran as if you were in a real trial. H a m l i n e Elementary students that participated in this event enjoyed the overall experience. Many students comment that it is fun, because they are all organized and no one is Preparing for Trial. confused or mad
Support the Collaboration!
Give your gift @www.hamline.edu/collaboration
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NEWS
loan options students can receive or where they can look for scholarships. Money Revolution started with Thrivent Financial as an internship program that gave funding to teach Hamline University students about making good financial decisions. So when they could not continue the program anymore, Hamline thought this was an great resource for students still and wanted to keep it going. Hamline University students are the money revolution’s main focus but they also give advice to anyone. That is why they thought it would be fun to try teaching students at Hamline Elementary. Some of the tips they give usually include topics like spending, saving, budgeting, student loans, and credit and debit cards. Jost and Chandler will teach the second graders how to spend and save their money the right way. The biggest advice the money revolution gives to students is to start saving now even if it is a small amount. This is the first year that the Money Revolution is working with the second graders. The Money Revolution aims to teach people how to handle their money and all the other money related tips. The Money Revolution also is a good program to be involved in if you want to learn about different things you can do with your money. If you would like to learn more about The Money Revolution you can contact them at moneyrevolution@hamline.edu on Mock Trial Day. Other students said that it’s not scary, you just get a little nervous, especially if it’s their first time. The Elementary students enjoyed learning about how a courtroom is ran and how a trial works. Mock trial isn’t as scary as it sounds, so give it your best shot! Mock trial is a good learning experience for anybody who has never experienced a trial. So I hope you get to experience mock trial!
[Photo by Jodie Wilson]
Get to Know Nancy Vang
New Coordinator of the Collaboration Finishes First Year By Khadija Abdullahi Student Journalist Have you ever attended a collaboration event? They’re organized by Nancy Vang. Nancy is the new coordinator of the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration. She works with Hamline elementary and Hamline University. She loves helping other people and has a passion for education. She is also learning new things about teaching. She began her job in July 2015. Nancy works on Mondays and Fridays at the elementary school and the rest of the week at the university. She likes interacting with the students and staff at the elementary and university and binding two different generations together through projects,activities,and events. Vang also works with the Snelling Connection editors. She also wants her students to start thinking about their future. Something you might not know about Vang is that she is a part time
fashion designer.She was so passionate about her position as coordinator that she applied twice. Vang wanted the job to gain more experience. Vang also works with Mrs. Wilson,Kayla Markgraff,and the lead tutor, Maggie Knorr. Vang loves spending her time helping students and making events
Coordinator of the Collaboration Nancy Vang
happen for the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration. She also loves her job and enjoys it that she never misses a day of work. You can find Nancy in the Wesley Center at Hamline University as well as around the Hamline Elementary campus.
[Photo provided by Hamline University]
Hamline Huskies take a Hike
Fifth Graders choose final verdict at Hamline Law
By Travis Whitt Snelling Connection Co-Editor The Hamline Elementary Huskies got the opportunity to play in a healthy way at the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration’s Hike for the Health. On Tuesday May 3, Hamline Elementary students took a hike to the Hamline University campus. With bright red water bottles in hand, hundreds of young feet crossed Snelling Avenue to Klas field to get moving. Students rushed to the field to learn different skills and to play games with Hamline University’s Athletic department. Huskies had the chance to do gymnastics, shoot a goal on a lacrosse net, and practice their tackling skills all with college level athletes. In between activities, students were running, racing, and laughing on the Hamline University track. Jumping from station to station wore the Huskies out as they gave it their all to do their best. Students balanced on beams, weaved in and out of cones, and scored touchdowns all while learning the importance of healthy habits. From the University side of the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration, student athletes came together to organize activities for elementary students to do. University students played and sweat with their younger counterparts as the shared the passion
that they have for their sport. The Hamline to Hamline Collaboration’s Hike for the Health is a great way to bring the community together. Hamline Elementary students were able to see the importance of their school’s motto, “College starts in Kindergarten”, by seeing the many ways that learning happens on a college campus. Not only does the Hike for the Health get students moving, it also shows Elementary
Huskies Play at Hamline
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students how accessible and fun a university campus can be. This years Hike for the Health was organized by first year Coordinator to the Collaboration, Nancy Vang. If you would like to learn more about the Hike for the Health visit the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration online at https://sites.google.com/site/ hancockhamlinecollaboration/home
[Photo by Jodie Wilson]
The Snelling Connection Past Husky now Piper
Hamline Elementary alumus becomes tutor By Elliot McNally Student Journalist Mandy Vang is a Hamline University senior who was a Hamline Elementary school student in 2006. Vang is also a hamline tutor to a fifth
NEWS
grader this year. Her job as a tutor is to make sure her student is ready for middle school. Vang likes to be around young children because she wants to be a role model for them. At home she helps her younger siblings and this helps her tutoring. Vang’s favorite memory about hamline Elementary was the collaboration between the two schools. As an alumnus, Vang gives her time to give back to her alma mater. Vang wishes to help the Hamline to Hamline Collaboration continue to make an impact on students lives as it once impacted her own.
Mrs. Grostephan says Goodbye Longtime Advisor Celebrates 19 years By Glynis Grostephan Snelling Connection Advisor After nineteen wonderful years at Hamline Elementary School, I must say goodbye as Student Advisor to the Snelling Connection. I am confident the next Advisor will bring many ideas to this newsletter highlighting our amazing collaboration with Hamline University. The Snelling Connection was started by two HU students, Jenna Dwyer and Scott Benning in 1997. The idea of a newsletter grew out of a project they were doing for Rita Johnson’s Strategic Management class. The class studied how HE and HU work together and they wanted to tell everyone about the ways students from these schools were making learning more fun for each other. Its mission was to build and strengthen the collaborative community through shared learning, relationships, and cultural diversity. The HU and HE students began to work together to produce the Snelling Connection. Over the years we have taught students to interview, write articles, take photos and work together on an editing team. One of our issues even made it all the way to the White House! It was the Winter 2009 issue
focusing on the Daw family who lived in refugee camps in Thailand prior to coming to Minnesota and our school. A Snelling Connection editor gave the newsletter to her boss who happened to be having lunch with Michelle Obama. I’ve had the pleasure to work with many Hamline University students and staff on a variety of collaborative pairings, most highlighted in the Snelling Connection. Some of these pairings continue today, and some have come and gone. We used to have HU music education students lead two HE choirs; HE students used the internet at the HU Computer Lab to enter a virtual reality called, “Moose Crossing”. I was most involved with collaborating with Hamline U to deliver thirteen Earth Day Festivals to teach about the 5 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, React, Reject, and Recycle. Students at HE (after our collaboration with HU to present Kids Voting) voted to examine the issue of homelessness so for three years HU and HE worked together to learn about homelessness, which included education, civic skills and service. Our collaboration keeps growing and changing for the betterment of our students. We still have HU and HE working together in many subjects and creative experiences. My hope is for many more years of collaboration.
The Hamline to Hamline Collaboration would like to thank Glynis Grostephan for her years of service to the Snelling Connection
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Tutor Mandy Vang
[Photo by Nancy Vang]
Other Pairings That Happened This Spring January Soccer Pairing with 3rd Grade Children’s Theater Group Creative Writing-Kindergarten February
LEGO Presentation to the Physics Department
April
University Library Visit-Kindergarten Third Grade Mathematics Pairing
May
4th Grade with Football Team University Campus TourKindergarten Theater Tour-1st Grade Biology Pairing-2nd Grade
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 Darrian Smith | University Student Travis Whitt | University Student Kiana Verdugo | University Student (Incoming Co-Editor) snellingconnection17@gmail.com For more information about the Collaboration hhcollaboration@gmail.com