Fall 2006

Volume 10, Issue 1 Fall 2006

In This Issue:Kids Voting 1

Letter from the Editor 2Carter Award Mini-Grants

Calendar 3

From the Desk of... 4

Traffic Calming 5Speak Out!

Advice Column 6Meet the Editors

Snelling ConnectionNewsletter of the Hancock/Hamline University Collaboration

College Begins in Kindergarten (CBiK)Editor’s Note: The Collaboration is commit-ted to the idea that “College Begins in Kinder-garten” and is working to make the dream of a college education a reality for every Hancock student. Each issue of the Snelling Con-nection will have different tips about what students and parents of students can do to start planning for college in elementary school.

3 Rules for College Savings from the Partnership for Learning

1. Start early. When your child is 5, start saving $100/month for 13 years. With 8% annual return, that’s $27,000. 2. Invest often. Commit now to set aside $5, $50 or $250/month. Or have it withdrawn from your paycheck. Send refunds, rebates, loose change to the fund. Ask relatives to contribute to the college fund instead of buying toys.3. Don’t wait. Earmarking even $25 makes a difference. Telling your kids will inspire them. Ask them to help and drop a dime in their college jar for every dollar they get. It will teach them to work towards a goal.

Hancock Gets Election Head Start

Hancock students joined hundreds of their peers at the Capitol to learn about Kids Voting. The students that gathered listened to speeches, shared their wishes for America, and made a giant chain of American flag bracelets that stood for their promise to vote. By Jason Allen and Phoua ThaoHancock Student Editors

Which would you rather have---spinach or a wristband? On Friday,

October 13th Hamline University Professors David Hudson and Da-vid Schultz presented this question during a kickoff for Kids Voting at Hancock School. During this mock election students were not able to vote because they weren’t registered, so the teachers chose spinach! The students were then allowed to register to vote, and in the re-vote, the wristbands were victorious. After the kickoff stu-dents received a wristband to wear to help remind them to vote on November 7th.

Kids Voting Saint Paul is an orga-nization seeking to increase voter participation by encouraging K-12 students to bring their parents to the polls and vote with them. Kids Voting gives students a head start with the process of what it’s like to vote. It also instills the importance of voting and how each vote can make a difference. The results from the Kids Voting ballots are posted in the newspaper and online.Campaign banners, pencil flags,

and bookmarks have been visible since the kickoff. These symbols are all reminders of the upcoming election, where Hancock students will have an opportunity to practice voting on issues that affect Han-cock. On November 6th a polling station will be set up in the lobby

of Hancock, complete with a mar-shal, inspector, judges, and clerks. Students will vote on the follow-

ing issues: “Shall Hancock School increase the amount of physical activity by 10 minutes for every school day?” and “Shall Hancock School have Academic Perfor-mance Assemblies?” The “Refer-endum for Continued Excellence in Schools” is also on the ballot. The referendum is an issue up for

vote in the election on November 7. If passed, it will increase monies for education by $593 per pupil for the next six years. We asked Marjo-rie Abrams, Principal at Hancock, what the referendum will do for our school. She said, “The referen-dum would help us keep $214,000

“Kids Voting” continued on page 6

Whitney K

lein

Page 2 Fall 2006

Letter from the Editor

Snelling Connection Gets MakeoverI’d like to start by introducing

myself. My name is Whitney Klein, and I am the assistant

to the Hancock/Hamline Univer-sity Collaboration and the editor of the Snelling Connection. I am in my second year at Hamline Uni-versity and have worked at Han-cock since I’ve been a student at Hamline. I began my job as the assistant to the Collaboration in February 2006, half way through my first year. This is the third edition of the Snelling Connection that I have edited, and I am very proud of how far this newsletter has come.This year is a year of transition

for the Hancock/Hamline Uni-versity Collaboration. Rita John-son, the Hamline liaison to the Collaboration, retired at the end of last spring, and David Hudson joins Hancock Liaison Shannon McParland in the collaboration

leadership this year. The Advisory Committee, volunteer programs, and the Snelling Connection are un-dergoing many personnel and structural changes. The Snelling Connection has been

published since 1997, when it grew from the vision of Hamline student Jenna Thompson, who wanted to “get out the word” about the Collaboration between Hamline University and Han-cock/Hamline University Col-laborative Magnet School. Fellow management student Scott Ben-ning joined the effort after both students had worked on a strate-gic analysis of the Collaboration in an academic course of the fall semester in 1996.Since its first issue, the Snelling

Connection has had many different looks. This year, since the Col-laboration purchased new soft-ware for the newsletter, it made

sense that the Snelling Connection receive a makeover. The idea be-hind this redesign is centered on the idea of a bridge. The Col-laboration between Hancock and Hamline bridges the two schools, bridges Snelling Avenue, bridges age differences, and bridges the roles of teacher and student. The bridge, which is standing behind the words “Snelling Connection” on the front page, stands for ev-erything that the Collaboration aspires to do and to be.Hopefully the new look accom-

plishes what I was striving for. I’d love to hear your feedback. Please call or e-mail with any comments or questions you may have.

Whitney Klein Hamline University

Phone: 651-523-4082 E-mail: [email protected]

The Hancock/Hamline Univer-sity Collaboration is very excited to be one of five finalists for the 2006 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for Campus-Community Collaboration. The Carter Part-nership Award is presented ev-ery two years to one exceptional partnership involving a Minne-sota Campus Compact member college or university and a com-munity group or groups, with a $10,000 prize divided equally between campus and community partners. Former Senator John Glenn

will give the keynote address at the award dinner, October 30. Twelve-hundred business, educa-tion and other community leaders are expected to attend. We’ll let you know how we do—

keep your fingers crossed!

The Hancock/Hamline Univer-sity Collaborative Advisory Com-mittee is offering grants of $50 to $500 for collaborative proposals for programming and/or events that enrich the collaboration be-tween Hancock/Hamline Collab-orative Magnet School and Ham-line University. The grant process is open to everyone in the Han-cock/Hamline community. This opportunity is available because of a contribution from the Wolfe family to the Hancock/Hamline Collaboration. Applications are due November 3, 2006. Want an application? Check out

the Collaboration’s website (listed below)Need more information or have

questions? Contact David Hudson at Hamline University or Shannon McParland at Hancock. (Contact information is listed in the red box on page 6 of this newsletter.)

Mini-Grant Applications AreNow Available!

H/H Collaboration is Carter Partnership Award Finalist!

Snelling Connection Through the Years

1997 20022005 2006

The Snelling Connection has had many looks over the years. The first few issues were only one page, back to back. The newsletter went to six pages in 1999 and added color in 2004. The theme this year centers on the bridge. (top of page)

Visit http://www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/centers/hancock/hancockhamline_home.html

Page 3 Snelling Connection

Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Events CalendarNovember December2 In the Mix diversity training for Hamline student workers3 Mini-grant applications due6 Hancock Kids Voting7 Election Day8 In the Mix diversity training for Hamline student workers9 Hancock early release day10 Hancock no school13-17 National Hunger and Homelessness Week14 Hancock/Hamline Collaboration Advisory Committee Mtg.23-24 Hamline Thanksgiving Break

11-21 Hancock Holiday Food Drive12 Hancock/Hamline Collaboration Advisory Committee Mtg. 11:15am to 12:30pm @ Hancock Elementary library Open to all!15 Hancock Teddy Bear/Pajama Day18-21 Hamline Finals Week23 Beginning of Winter Break for Hancock students

By Melissa HruzaHamline University student

After nearly a decade of “Helping One Student to Succeed,” the HOSTS

reading program at Hancock has reached its final page, but a new program is in the works to replace it.Hancock principal Marjorie

Abrams announced the end of HOSTS earlier this year. She said that a new program would be developed that would place vol-unteers directly in classrooms to

Farewell to HOSTS and Hello to New Volunteer Programhelp students with reading, writ-ing, vocabulary and math.HOSTS was a highly successful

program, at one time employing over 400 volunteers who ranged from college students to business professionals to retirees. They worked one-on-one with kids on literacy, according to Hancock Curriculum Coordinator Shannon McParland. But the departure of coordinator Amy Kortuem this year forced school officials to consider some new possibilities. Librarian Lynn Blumthal was

asked to develop a new program,

taking the best parts of the old program and making changes to fit everyone’s needs. One thing that many teachers wanted was to have children working with vol-unteers in the classrooms rather than being pulled out to work elsewhere. Blumthal said that the new program will provide just such opportunities for volunteers from the community.Getting the new program run-

ning is a major challenge for Blumthal, and she has another. Although the program officially begins on Oct. 24, it still needs

a name. If you have an idea for a name, or would like to volun-teer, you can e-mail her at [email protected] or call 651-293-8715, ext. 2110.

Adult helping student in HOSTS.

Hancock w

ebsite

Samantha H

enningson

Whitney K

lein

Samantha H

enningsonW

hitney Klein

Page 4 Fall 2006

My name is Phoua Thao and I am in sixth grade at Hancock. My favorite classes are SEM, Geo-Bee (Geography Bee) and Gym. My favorite hobby is swimming. I really enjoy school. School is fun for me.

Phoua Thao

David Hudson

This is my first chance to greet you as liaison from Hamline University to the Collaborative, but many of you know me from the Collaborative Committee, Kids Voting, and HOSTS. When Rita Johnson announced her retirement last year and suggested that I take her place, I must confess I was a little overwhelmed. Just being on the committee and helping

with the Snelling Connection had shown me the enormous range of activities and connections that the Collaboration embraces. I wasn’t sure how any one person could keep track of all that. Of course I realize now that one person doesn’t have to keep track of all that. The Collaboration is a living, breathing organism made up of all the people—Han-cock and Hamline students, faculty, and staff; parents and neighborhood volun-teers—who work to enrich us all through the strength of our partnership. My Hancock counterpart Shannon McParland, the Collaboration Coordinator Saman-tha Henningson, and many many others too numerous to name make and remake the Collaboration every day. I am so grateful to be part of this community, and to help plan and publicize the exciting activities that enliven our lives together. We have a terrific year ahead, with a new volunteer program, new and returning grade-level pairings, new mini-grant opportunities, and many other activities as well. There’s lots of work to do, and fun to be had, so let’s get started!

My name is Issam Himmi and I

am in 5th grade at Hancock. My

favorite subjects are math and

gym. I came from Morocco. It is

in Africa. I am ten years old. My

birthday is February 15th. I speak

Arabic and French. I like SEM

because it is fun.

Issam HimmiFr

om t

he D

esk

of..

.


Speak Out! Mai See Moua asks:What does College Begins in Kindergarten mean to you?“Where the learning all begins-in kinder-garten!” Darlene Ross, Hancock Teaching Assistant.

“It goes in order and you learn and go to college.” Eddie, Grade 5

“Boys and girls start learning skills they have to know in kindergarten and even later when they are in college.” Ms. Porter, Hancock 3rd Grade Teacher

“Kindergarteners at Hancock are very lucky to be able to work with Hamline students, and to visit Hamline Univer-sity.” Sara Cowen, Hancock Educational Assistant

“Kids and students should tell truths and learn skills to be successful learners.” Doua Chee, 1st grader

“You are new to every-thing.” Ka Lia, 6th grader

“You work hard from kindergarten to college.” Getenet, 6th grader

“Every kid that goes to kindergarten is prepar-ing to go to college.” Kim Proefrock, Rainbow Readers

“You learn more when you grow up to be in college.” Pang, 6th grader

“Education begins when you are very young. You need to set high goals.” Mary Verdeja, Hancock Secretary

“You work your way up to college.” Kong Shia, 6th grader

“It means that each student develops the skills and habits to be a successful lifelong learner.” Rhonda Simonson,Kindergarten Teacher

“You learn in each grade then you go to college.” Jesse, Grade 5

“When you get bigger your gonna go to college.” Wagari, 5th grader

“It means you grow and you go grade to grade until you get to college.”Kao, Grade 6.

“It means that the opportunity of college is an option that any and every child can have. College is made more real for kindergarten through sixth graders by physically being on a campus and a part of that environment.” Shannon McParland, Hancock Curriculum Coordinator and H/H Liaison.

Ka Lia Kong Shia

Traffic Calming Still an Issue on SnellingBy Eddie Henderson and Dominique ThompsonHancock Student Editors

Try to cross Snelling Ave-nue and you will probably ask yourself these ques-

tions. “How can we calm down traffic?” “How can we make Snel-ling Avenue safe?” “Why aren’t there more stoplights?”Some people think a bridge be-

tween Hancock School and Ham-line University would be nice but it costs too much money. Stop signs may help but some drivers don’t pay attention to them. Stop lights give you a chance to walk across the street, but it seems we need more to make it safer.As a result of neighborhood

meetings last year, Saint Paul Pub-

lic Works added timers on the Pedestrian Crossing lights at Snel-ling and Hewitt. They also moved the Pedestrian Crosswalk signs in so they are now closer to Hub-bard and Snelling. The crosswalk at Hubbard is the safest for single pedestrian crossing because there are fewer cars turning in from dif-ferent roads than there are at a stoplight. The mural at Hubbard (made by

Hancock students) also serves as traffic calming because it signals to drivers that this is a neighbor-hood where people study, live, and work-not just drive! The plan is that the mural will change each year to keep drivers interested.The Arts Alive celebration in

May, which included the unveil-ing of the mural, took place

along Snelling Avenue. Thanks to a speed study done by Public Works, we know that while there were people out along Snelling, car speeds dropped slightly.The Public Works has been very

helpful in traffic calming along Snelling Avenue; especially be-tween Hancock and Hamline! Both sides of campus hope to continue to find ways to make Snelling safer.

Hancock students walk in parade along Snelling during last spring’s Arts Alive.

Mrs.. Simonson’s kindergarten class learning life lessons.

Rita Johnson

Whitney K

lein


Snelling Connection Contacts:

Editor: Whitney Klein, Collaboration Assistant, Hamline University [email protected] 651-523-4082

Hamline Liaison: David Hudson, Hamline University English [email protected] 651-523-2893

Hancock Liaison: Shannon McParland, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet [email protected] 651-292-3499

Hancock Student Advisor: Glynis Grostephan, Hancock/Hamline University Collaborative Magnet [email protected] 651-293-8715

Hancock/Hamline Collaboration

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

Meet the Hancock Student Editors

Dominique Thompson

Issam Himmi Mai See Moua William Kieser

(we would lose it without the ref-erendum passing). We would keep all-day kindergarten. We would keep our specialists: the nurse, so-cial worker, assistant principal, and others. And, if the referendum passes, it may help Hancock lower class sizes.”The referendum is a very impor-

tant issue to Hancock, Hamline,

“Kids Voting” continued from front

Adrianne Adams Phoua Thao Eddie Henderson

Jason Allen

By William KieserHancock Student Editor

Dear William,I have way too much extra time. How can I volunteer at Hancock?Signed, Hamline Student

Dear Hamline Student:We’d love to have you volunteer at Hancock! Hamline students can help kids succeed at a bunch of things just by volunteering.Lynn Blumthal, Media Specialist at Hancock, is organizing the new volunteer program. See “HOSTS” article on page 3 for more details and contact information. Hand in Hand is also looking for volunteers. Hand in Hand is a Hamline student organization that pairs a Hamline student with a Hancock student for 45 minutes per week to build their social skills by playing games and doing art projects. Contact Shannon McParland. (Contact info on p. 6)Hancock’s Parent Liaison, Nancy Gammel, says “you can chaperone field trips (contact the teacher), become a member of Site Council (contact the Principal, Marjorie Abrams), or do a fund-raiser for Hancock (contact Site Council)”. Or, you could work at Hancock and GET PAID! Become an America Reads/America Counts tutor, and you can earn money tutoring Hancock students in reading or math if you are eligible for Federal Work Study. Contact Shannon McParland. (Contact info on p. 6)Again, call 651-293-8715 to volunteer!

Dear Hancock Huskyand the surrounding community. Kids Voting at Hancock highlights the importance of voting, for each and every person.

Hamline University professors David Shultz (left) and David Hudson listen for an-swers about elections and voting from Hancock students at the Kids Voting kickoff.

Whitney K

lein

Remember....You have a right and

responsibility to vote.Your vote makes a

difference.You need to register to vote.

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Documents

Fall 2006