Volume Eight Issue Four
Summer 2005
Snelling Connection A newsletter highlighting the Hancock/Hamline Collaboration
Hancock Students Get a Taste of College Life Summer 2005
In This Issue: 1
College Tours
2
Citizenship
3
Earth Day
4
Mock Trials
5
Melissa Machovsky
6
Pen Pals
In this issue of the Snelling Connection you will see many different ways that members of the Hancock/Hamline University Community demonstrate citizenship. Snelling Connection
By Lauren Vikander and Lindsey Anderson ‘College begins in Kindergarten,’ one of the Hancock/Hamline University Collaboration themes, is more than just a saying; it’s reality. Last month each of the kindergarten classes had ‘a day in college.’ The students toured Hamline’s campus and got to see the inside of a dorm, the Walker Fieldhouse and pool, sat in on a class, and ate cookies and lemonade in the Sorin cafeteria. At the end of the day, each of the students was presented with a
Kindergarten students check out Hamline’s pool certificate congratulating them on completing their first day in college. “The kids loved the tour; they thought the dorms were really neat, and were really excited about the pool. Most didn’t know that in 5th grade swimming lessons are offered [for Hancock students] there,” said Kindergarten Teacher Rhonda Simonson. Simonson was convinced that the experience heightened students’ desires to attend college. “Now college is a given, not a question,” she said. “The foundation has been laid.” All 85 children in each of the three kindergarten classes participated in this opportunity. “Everyone at Hamline made the experience a delightful and easy one for us, and the kids,” said Simonson. Kindergarten students weren’t the only ones involved in campus tours. Hancock sixth graders learned what it takes to “Tours” continued on page 4 Summer 2005
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Hancock Students ...On Citizenship What does it mean to be a citizen? “To be a citizen means that you honor and cherish your nation. I am an American citizen.” -Ayla Morris “It means you are a person who by birth or choice is a member of a nation. A citizen owes loyalty to that nation and is given certain rights by it.” -Pa Nah Vang “To me, citizenship means to have the right to do things. If you are not a citizen yet, you have to take a test. If you pass, you will become a citizen. Citizens have a lot of responsibilities. You have to work together with others in the community and take responsibility for your actions.” -Chong Yang “Being a citizen is being a part of a big group: an organization, community, or an entire country. It means you have the right to be in that place, and you have to adhere to its laws and rules because you are a citizen of that land.” -Tang Vang “Being a citizen means that you can vote. It also means that your voice is heard and you have freedom of speech.” -Luke Henderson “Being a citizen means you take part in education and community. Citizens help each other and take care of other people.” -Dara Lee Snelling Connection
Citizen By Javon Jackson I am a citizen at school I am a citizen at home Everyone should be a citizen in a good community I am a citizen wherever I go I give a helping hand to my community every hour of the day and every day of the week
Together By Carol Hammerlindl A community is better than one individual person. A community is stronger than one individual person. A community is one. Together we are better. Together we are stronger. Together we are one.
What Citizens Do By Phillip Vang Citizens in the community work together help each other clean the environment and care for each other Citizens vote for president
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Saving the Earth One Booth at a Time By Glynis Grostephan The weather was perfect for the 8th Earth Day The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Festival held on Hamline’s Old Main Lawn on Metropolitan Council, Recyclaholics, and Friday, May 6th. Students and staff from Hancock and Hamline Hamline’s Center for Global and Environmental Education also provided exhibits and activities. worked together to provide this annual service“I like the Earth Day Festival,” explained learning event to educate our community about Hancock student Mai Nhia Vang, protecting the environment. “because every booth is a learning Over 600 students, faculty “I learned that booth.” and parents participated in the recycling is fun Smokey the Bear and the Energy Earth Day Festival to learn and good for the Hog greeted students and Rachel about the 5 R’s: Reduce, Kroog (Kid Power) from Eco EducaReuse, React, Reject, and environment.” tion got the elementary students rockin’ Recycle. with her environmentally friendly songs. “I learned that recycling is Jesse Sanchez In addition to grant monies from fun and good for the environHancock student Saint Paul Schools (Community Educament,” said Hancock student tion Service-Learning mini-grant) and Jesse Sanchez. the Hamline University Collaborative Advisory This year’s activities included games like Committee, Hancock Student Council members “Empty the Landfill”, “Earth in Jeopardy”, “Planet Trek”, “Audubon Birds”, “Animal Walk”, sold candy, recycled computer printer cartridges, and collected milk caps to help with Earth Day “Power House”, “Race to Save the Earth”, and Festival costs. many more.
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Hancock 5th Graders go on Trial By Lindsey Anderson Hancock fifth graders felt the heat of the courtroom when they participated in the annual mock trial at Hamline University on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. About 90 Hancock students played the roles of plaintiff, defendant, judge, or juror in Hamline’s Moot Courtroom. Before making their courtroom debuts, participants began with two preparatory sessions where they met Shelley Harker, Hamline Law Assistant Dean of Programs; Deb Lange, Hamline Law Program Administrator; and Hamline Law students. These law school representatives introduced the students to the case and taught them what they needed to know for their mock trial roles. “Deb and Shelley did a great job working with the diverse group of students we have, including six or more who are new to this country,” said 5th Grade Teacher Diane Bigger. This year’s case was called State V. Tony and involved a juvenile who is on trial for throwing a rock and breaking the window of an elderly man’s home. The case was tried four times over the course of the three days in the courtroom. Two juries found Tony not guilty, and the other two trials had hung juries. The students really enjoyed themselves and
learned a lot,” said Hancock ELL Teacher Amy Seastrand. “One student even said he wanted to become an attorney!” “I never knew there were so many important people in a trial” said one fifth grade student. “I had never been in a courtroomb efore, so it was really awesome.” After the trial, students were invited to Sorin Hall for lunch. According to Bigger, this was the highlight of the day for some students. “The food was soooo good and the trial was really exciting,” said another fifth grader. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Hamline!” The mock trials were part of the Hancock/ Hamline Grade-Level Pairings, a collaborative program that pairs each grade at Hancock with a Hamline department to create a fun, unique learning experience.
A cartoon by Nick DiZio
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An Outstanding Volunteer By Lauren Vikander “Its been a growing and learning experience for me just as much as the kids,” said Melissa Machovsky, upon receiving her award as the Hancock Volunteer of the Year. Machovsky is a Hamline senior, graduating this year with a Political Science major, and Psychology and Education minors. She volunteered in the HOST program at Hancock throughout all four years at Hamline. “It was just so easy to be involved; the mentoring program is so flexible,” said Machovsky. Her usual contribution to the program was to mentor two students twice a week. Often times, Machovsky went above and beyond, subbing for other mentors and helping out with extracurricular programs. “Watching the kids excel in the program encouraged me to continue and increase my involvement,” said Machovsky. She mentioned that she’d been volunteering since she was in middle school, but the experience she had working with the students at Hancock stood above the rest. “It was more of a two-sided learning experience and they always kept me on my toes,” she said. But it’s the individuals that created the memories and made the experience worth the time. There’s one
“Tours” continued from page 1 be a Hamline student when the Admissions Office invited them to take an official campus tour. “The students had an opportunity to visit the admission office, discuss college preparedness, attend classes, eat lunch in Sorin, and see a residence hall room,” said Steve Bjork, Associate Vice President of Hamline Admission and Career Services. The highlight of many students’ day was attending a real college class where they were able to participate in discussions. One of the five classes open to sixth grade students that day was Thomas Atchison’s philosophy class. Professor Atchison was discussing the philosophy of John Locke and asked
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story about a girl that she’d tutored in her second year at Hamline that stood out in her mind in particular. “I was in the hallway outside Hancock’s library where I ran into her carrying a stack of books up to her head, all of which were at a much harder level than most other students in her grade were reading. But the best part about it was the fact that she’d picked them all out on her own, and how she was eager to read them,” said Machovsky. Machovsky explained that seeing the students do so well after they’ve outgrown the HOST rogram is the most rewarding part. “Although I miss ‘em, I’m so happy I got a chance to be a part of their success.” Machovsky’s right on, because that’s what the program is all about: to get students from the university and elementary schools together to facilitate learning.
the Hamline students to respond to a question regarding the material. After waiting quite some time he called on the only hand raised, one belonging to a sixth grader. The student gave a complete and accurate answer, leaving his classmates in awe and the surrounding Hamline students in utter embarrassment! “His participation was very impressive and a great demonstration of good listening skills,” said Steve Bjork. Students returned to Hancock with a better feel for what goes on across Snelling Avenue and the motivation to do what it takes to attend college. “Hancock students have a clearer sense of not only what college is like,” explained Bjork, “but also what they need to do to get here: curiosity hard work and challenging oneself.”
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Collaborative Pen Pals are a Big ‘Hit’ By KaLia Vang, 4th Grade One of the Hancock fourth grade classes has been writing back and forth with pen pals from the Hamline University Women’s Softball Team. They write about what their favorite things are and what they do in school. They write back and forth quite a bit so that they always know how their pen pals are doing. The students in Mrs. Theissen’s class keep track of their letters because they are special to them. Mrs Theissen’s fourth graders are getting very close with the girls from the softball team, and they even got to to meet their pen pals in person on May 12! Kia, one of the Hancock students who has a pen pal, said it feels great to write to and receive letters from a college student. Mrs. Theissen said the pen pal relationship started because the Women’s Softball Team coach suggested it.
Everyone in Mrs. Theissen’s class is very glad that this program started because it is fun to learn about college.
***From the Editor*** What a great year! The Hancock/Hamline University Collaboration has accomplished so much throughout the past nine months. It is clear to me that we are well on our way to becoming one campus. Editing the Snelling Connection and having the opportunity to take part in the documentation of such outstanding and crucial collaborative activities is truly an honor. It allows me to see first hand the unique learning experience this collaboration offers to students and faculty from both institutions. I look forward to coming back to the Hancock/Hamline University community as well as the Snelling Connection in the spring. My classmate and friend, Lauren Vikander, will be taking the editor position in the fall. Have a great, relaxing summer!! -Lindsey Anderson
Coordinator: Rita Johnson, Hamline University Management/Economics Dept. rbjohnson@gw.hamline.edu (651) 523-2431
“Our mission is to build and strengthen the collaborative community through shared learning, relationships, and cultural diversity.” The Snelling Connection is published quarterly and distributed to H/ HUCMS families, the Hamline University community, and to others interested in the collaboration.
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Editorial Advisor: David Hudson, Hamline University English Dept. dhudson@gw.hamline.edu (651) 523-2893 Editor: Lindsey Anderson, Hamline Student landerson06@netmail.hamline.edu (651) 523-4438 Hancock Contact: Shannon McParland, Hancock/ Hamline University Collaborative Magnet School shannon.mcparland@spps.org (651) 292-3499
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