Volume 12, Issue 3 Spring 2009

In This Issue:

Collaboration’s Impact 1

Restructuring 2 Earth Day 3

From the Desk of... 4

On the Issues 5

Springtime Artwork 6

Snelling ConnectionNewsletter of the Hancock/Hamline University Collaboration

For many Hancock children, the oppor-tunity to work with

a Hamline tutor or buddy is the highlight of their day. Over 80 Hamline students spend some time at Hancock each week, making Hancock Elementary Hamline’s largest work-s tudy employer and volunteer site. Students of all academic pursuits and career am-bitions work in Hancock’s classrooms. And just as the Hamline tutors play a signifi-cant role in the educational

experience of the Hancock students, the Hancock stu-dents have an equally impor-tant role in the lives of the Hamline students.The Snelling Connection de-

signed a survey and adminis-tered it to Hamline students involved with the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration ei-ther through tutoring or the

H a n d - i n -Hand pro-gram. Of those who responded, 71 percent worked ex-

clusively as tutors while at Hancock; 29 percent did both tutoring and Hand-in-Hand. Students with career goals ranging from elementary

education to pediatrics com-mented that working with the Collaboration has been an influential experience that they anticipate will impact their future. Approximately 79 percent of the survey’s respondents were able to de-scribe how working with the Collaboration has specifically influenced their lives.Heather Albrecht, a fourth-

year Hamline student and also president of Hand-in-Hand, said that working with the Collaboration has been “extremely influential” in shaping her post-graduation plans and goals. When Albre-cht first began college, she intended to pursue a degree in library science. However,

Hamline students get as much as they give

By Angela FroemmingEditor

In a survey designed and administered by the Snelling Connection, Hamline students from a wide range of academic pursuits reported that working with the Collaboration has made an impact on their futures.

Phot

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First-year Hamline student Amrit Misra plays a game with his 5th-grade buddy. Misra, like many other Hamline students involved in the Collaboration, reports that working at Hancock has influenced his future goals.

IMPACT continued on page 2

Approximately 79 percent of the survey’s respondents were able to describe how working with the Collaboration has

specifically influenced their lives.

I would like to thank all those involved in this year’s Snelling Connection. Further, I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who are part of the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration. The experiences I have had working as a tutor for the past four years have been invaluable to my college education. I feel privileged to have been a part of such a wonderful collaboration; I am confident it will continue to grow and do great work for many years to come.—Angela Froemming, editor

Page 2 Spring 2009

They say that nothing stays the same, and nowhere is that more true than in the Han-

cock-Hamline Collaboration. We are always looking for better ways to fulfill our mission. And over time our mem-bers and leadership changes too.One big change for the next school

year is the movement of the Hamline part of the Collaboration into the Wes-ley Center for Spirituality, Service, and Community Learning. This is the uni-versity-wide Hamline office charged with promoting civic involvement and the development of meaningful vocations for students. We think our connection to the Wesley Center will enhance our presence on the Hamline campus and give us sustainable re-

sources to maintain and improve our programs.We are also rethinking the way our

different constituencies are represent-ed on the Advisory Board. Starting this year, undergraduate students are split among three schools: the School of Education, the School of Business and the College of Liberal Arts. We need

representatives from all three schools, as well as the other graduate programs at the university if we are to fully serve the entire Hamline community.Finally, we are going to make some

changes to the way the Collaboration is governed. Starting next year, Ham-line will send two liaisons to the Ex-ecutive Committee of the Advisory Board: a faculty liaison as in the past, and a staff liaison. We hope that this will make for a more efficient distribu-tion of the workload.For most of you in the community,

these changes will not be noticeable. We will continue to provide grade-level pairings, tutoring, volunteers, mini-grants and all the things we usually do. Further, we will continue to seek new and innovative ways to improve the learning experiences of students on both sides of Snelling Avenue.

By David HudsonHamline Liaison

Collaboration to join Wesley Center

Starting next year, Hamline’s part of the Collaboration will be housed in the Wesley Center.

after working with the Collaboration’s Hand-in-Hand program for a year, Al-brecht’s plans began to change. Now, Albrecht aspires to work with the Min-nesota Reading Corps, which is part of the Ameri-Corps pro-gram. Before working with the Collabora-tion, working on developing children’s liter-acy skills in in-ner-city school districts was something that Albrecht had not even considered. “You don’t need to be a teacher to be influential,”

she said.First-year Hamline student Amrit

Misra has worked as a tutor since the beginning of the school year and re-cently joined Hand-in-Hand. Misra, like Albrecht, believes working with the Collaboration has been a very

rewarding experience. Misra’s dream job consists of becoming a teacher and working his way up to principal. He considers Hancock’s staff to be excellent mentors for him, particularly vice principal Craig Anderson and fourth-grade teacher Joel Engstrom. In addition to preparing him

for his future career, Misra also said his job as a tutor has improved his ability to communicate with others. “I love

working with the kids and stepping in to help out,” he said.Paula Cortez, a graduating senior pre-

paring to student teach next semester, also appreciates the classroom experi-ence Hancock has offered. “[Working with the Collaboration] has boosted my confidence and taught me to be more patient with myself, and of course the kids,” she said. Despite tutors’ majors, minors or fu-

ture plans, the Collaboration continues to influence not only the Hancock stu-dents, but also the Hamline students and surrounding community. Albrecht said, “I love Hancock, I love the Col-laboration. All the work the Collabo-ration does around the community … it’s just great.”

“All the work the Collaboration does

around the community … it’s just great.”

—Heather Albrecht, Hand-in-Hand

IMPACT continued from front

Page 3 Snelling Connection

Hancock prepares for Earth Day Festival

The eleventh annual Earth Day Festival will be held on Old Main Lawn from 10:00 a.m. to

3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1.During the school year, Hancock

students (Earth Savers) study environ-mental issues and create the hands-on activities for the Festival. Hancock stu-dents and staff visit the Festival with their classrooms during the day. There are interesting facts at every booth and every game teaches you something about the 5 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, React, Reject, and Recycle.“The Earth

Day Festi-val is very important to the students. They learn about recycling and things that many kids might not know. Also, there are a lot of students who help get the Fes-tival running. That is very important

to everyone: the stu-dents who come to the Festival, and the students who make up the games and ac-tivities,” a Hancock parent said.Some of the ac-

tivities this year will be Energy House, Earth in Jeopardy, Stop Global Warming Walk, 5 R’s Mystery Maze, recycled cray-

ons and more.As one Hancock

teacher said last year, “Students love the Earth Day Festival because it is a fun way to learn about the 5 Rs. The activities teach students how their choices affect others, and it em-

powers them to help their community by doing simple, everyday things.” The collaboration welcomes your in-

volvement, whether it is to provide an activity or display, work side-by-side

with Hancock Earth Savers and Han-cock Student Council members at the Festival, come to learn about the 5 Rs or enjoy a free Sno Kone.If you have questions or would like

to get involved in this year’s Earth Day Festival, please contact Glynis Grostephan at 651-293-8715 or via e-mail at glynis.grostephan@spps.org, or you may contact Megan Anderson at 651-532-2483.

By Glynis GrostephanHancock Student Advisor

“The activities teach students how their choices affect others, and it empowers them to help

their community by doing simple, everyday things.”

—Hancock teacher

Scholarship fund continues to growOn Feb. 12 the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration hosted

a benefit concert and silent auction at O’Gara’s Garage to raise money for the Hancock-Hamline Collaboration Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund is designed to help Hancock graduates be able to attend Hamline Uni-versity. The fund was started four years ago when former Hancock-Hamline liaison Rita Johnson made a personal donation of $5,000. According to Megan Anderson, who organized the

event, between 100 to 150 people attended the event, and about $3,300 was raised. Vice principal Craig Anderson attended the event. He said, “Everyone was having fun.” —Caitlin Hare

Hamline pool hosts swimming lessonsThis year all 4th and 5th graders are receiving swimming les-

sons at Hamline’s swimming pool. This is possible through a mini-grant approved by the Hancock-Hamline Collabora-tion. The swimming lessons at Hamline are great. Students get

to learn different kinds of swimming moves and also how to float. Students can learn a lot if they listen carefully and don’t goof around. Swimming lessons last for about 45 min-utes. After that, students get dressed and go back to Han-cock. All of the 4th and 5th graders have learned a lot about water safety and how to swim as a result of these swimming lessons. —Hue Houa Yang

Sabrina Yang educates younger students about a house’s energy use at last year’s Earth Day Festival. This year’s Earth Day Festival is on May 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Old Main’s lawn at Hamline.

Page 4 Spring 2009

Hi! My name is Quinn Nelson. I have

gone to Hancock since kindergarten,

and now I am a 6th grader. I play

volleyball in the Rec Center. I

also love to dance, sing and have

sleepovers. Reading is my favorite

subject. Next year I will be going to

Ramsey Junior High School.

Quinn Nelson

Hi! My name is Kelsey Donnelly. I am a 6th grader at Hancock. My favorite sport is volleyball. Next year I am going to Ramsey Junior High. I have gone to Hancock since I was in kindergarten. My favorite memory from Hancock has been Beach Day back in kindergarten. I also really liked going to Camp St. Croix in 6th grade.

Kelsey Donnelly

Hello, I am the secretary at Hancock Elementary. I have been here since the fall of 1999; Hancock is the fifth St. Paul public school I have worked in. There are so many wonderful things about Hancock, it is hard to pin-point any one thing, but certainly both the Hancock and Hamline students are major factors in making it a great school. The cultural, language,

neighborhood and life experience mix of Hancock students enriches and adds to the education for all of at Hancock. The Hamline students I have interacted with are polite, capable and willing to do anything. Watching them work with the Hancock students makes me hopeful for a better world as their generation makes its mark.From

the

Des

k of

...

Mary Verdeja

Hi, my name is Madison Hare and I am in 5th grade. My favorite subjects at school are writing, gym and science. I am also in band at school. I play the flute. When I am not in school

I do Irish dance and play outside. When I grow up I want to be a dance

teacher. I hope to learn more about

the Snelling Connection by working on

it next year, too.

MadisonHare

Page 5 Snelling Connection

On the Issues: The Midway Library

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Does your class visit the Midway Library? Maybe your family goes there to check out books or use the Internet. Unfortunately, finances are tight right now and the city of St. Paul is deciding whether or not to close the Midway Library. I have collected 200 signatures that agree it would be best to keep our Midway Library open. As of right now though, the fate of the library remains unknown. A decision as to whether or not the library will close will be reached by the end of 2009. —Alexis Lynch

What resources do you use at the public library?

“I borrow books to read quite often. Lately, I’ve been borrowing CDs. I love to listen to music and it’s a cheap way to listen to my favorite songs.” —Linda Woessner, 2nd grade Language Academy teacher

“I check out books and sometimes get on the Internet.” —Jason Jett, 4th-grade student

“Books with tapes, travel books and maps, videos, picture books for children.” —Gwen Larson, 1st-grade teacher

“The resources I usually use at the public library are computer access, checking out books, and looking at new technology they may have. Most of the time it’s a time for my children to enjoy reading and join in programs the library may have to offer.” —Kay Lee, Hancock nurse

“Checking out books and books on tape or CD. Fortunately, when I was very little my parents routinely (every week) took me to the library. I have always loved the fact that Hancock kids get introduced to their public library. Otherwise, many kids would not ever know the ‘treasures’ that are available to them for free.” —Connie Thompson, Hancock speech clinician

“Most of my leisure reading books are from the public library. My daughters also check out research material for their school papers.” —Cynthia Herrick, 4th-grade teacher

Gwen Larson

Jason Jett

ConnieThompson

Page 6 Snelling Connection

Snelling Connection Contacts:

Editor: Angela Froemming, Collaboration Assistant, Hamline University studentafroemming02@hamline.edu

Hamline Liaison: David Hudson, Hamline University English Dept.dhudson@hamline.edu 651-523-2893

Hancock Liaison: Craig Anderson, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet Schoolcraig.anderson@spps.org 651-292-3499

Hancock Student Advisor: Glynis Grostephan, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet Schoolglynis.grostephan@spps.org 651-293-8715

Springtime Artwork

MonarchsEmerging from its chrysalis With its glitter and its blissWaiting for its wings to dryFlying from flower to flowerWith its elegant wing powerFinding a mate And then to Mexico to migrate—Poem by Maya Winter, 4th grade

Megan Lindstrom, LEAD tutor

Eh Hser, 4th grade

Houa Thao, 4th grade

This year marks my third and final year as Hamline Liaison to the Collaboration, and my tenth working with student editors on the Snelling Connection. When I first saw the newsletter, it was a promising two-page publication printed on a sheet of colored legal paper. With the help of Hamline student editors Bethany Malley, Lindsey Anderson, Whitney Klein, Angela Froemming and others, it has become a smartly written and designed record of the milestones and successes of the Collaboration. Several “generations” of Hancock student editors have also added their own bright perspectives, making it a truly collaborative effort.The Collaboration has been a major part of

my work and life for the past three years, and I want to thank all those with whom I have worked on the Advisory and Executive com-mittees and all those at Hancock and Hamline and in the larger community who have made the Collaboration a nationally recognized part-nership. I have many fond memories to enjoy, but I will enjoy even more watching the Col-laboration prosper and grow into the future.

A fond farewell ...

All the best, my friends,David Hudson