Hamline Family Newsletter

Greetings Hamline Community,

Hard to believe we are at the end of March. Just a reminder that spring break begins next week and there is no school April 5-9.

With April comes MCA(Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) testing. This test is given yearly and is designed to provide the state, districts, and schools with a snapshot of student progress towards meeting the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards. This test is one assessment, among many, that schools and teachers use to understand the strengths and areas for growth for students.

You as a caregiver have the right to opt out of this test if you choose. Though this test is used by the Minnesota Department of Education as a measure of success of a school, and provides a snapshot of individual student success, it is important to understand that it does not tell us the full story of a child. It does not show that a student may speak two languages, plays an instrument, is a dancer or artist. It does not show that your child's smile brightens our days each morning. It does not show that your child may take care of younger siblings, excel at sports, or writes poetry. It does not show the perseverance of a child and that a child may work their very hardest every day to be their best selves.

Every child brings with them innate talents, strengths and gifts, that can't be measured by any standardized test. I say this upfront as too often we use standardized tests to place students in boxes that tell us very little about who they really are.

We will be giving this test from the end of April through May. If you would like to opt your child out and not take the MCA, please fill out the form below. If your child is in VLS(Distance Learning) and would like your child to take the MCA, we will be setting up a date to bus your child to school to take this test. More information will be sent to you about when that will be. Again you also have the choice to opt out of the test.

Have a wonderful and safe spring break. If you have any questions, feedback or ideas to share with us, we welcome your input as partners in your child's education.

In Partnership,

Principal Kristin Reilly

Hamline Husky Families:

Here are a few highlights from the last few weeks:

-Students celebrating their school spirit by wearing hats

-Seeing students working with their Reading Partners tutor on Google Meets

-Students wearing their masks and socially distancing

-Students working on area and perimeter on Seesaw

As always, please call, text or email me with any questions or concerns.

Email: jennifer.ewald@spps.org

Office: 651-744-6055

Google Voice: ‪(612) 315-0791‬

Families of students in grades 3-5:

• Parents/guardians have a right to not have their student participate in state-required standardized assessments.
• For more information, please see the following website

If you would like to opt your child(ren) out of, please fill out the form at the end of our newsletter and return it to school.

We do not have school on Friday April 2 due to a professional development day for staff.

We do not have school April 5-9. Have a wonderful week off!

Hello Hamline Huskies!

Next Tuesday, on March 30th from 4-6pm, Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative (RCCMHC) will be hosting a Virtual Family Well-being Resource Fair. At this Fair you will be able to:

• Meet with community agencies
• Learn about rental and basic needs assistance, parenting support, music therapy, family wellbeing support
• Attend a yoga class
• Meet with nutritionists
• Connect with MN Legal Aid
• Learn about summer camps and activities and so much more!
  

Additionally, if you are a parent/caregiver in Ramsey County, you will receive a $20 gift card for attending and be entered into a raffle for prizes!

Questions? Please contact Holly Brabeck, holly@rccmhc.org (800) 565-2575

Registration link: www.rccmhc.org/resource-events

The counseling lessons in the last quarter of school focuses on careers and in transition for our 5th grade students. I am excited and looking forward to explore those lessons with students. Students will focus on identifying their personal strengths, interests and skills. They will learn about different jobs and careers and what post-secondary options they can pursue those careers. They will also be introduced to Xello to create a portfolio of their interests and learn about different careers. Goal setting is also a tool we will use in Xello to introduce the idea of planning for the future. Here are some at-home ideas to increase your child's career awareness.

1. Talking about their strengths and interests and what careers are those really useful in.
2. Showing curiosity about the details of a job. What does the salesperson do so well?
3. Talk about what it takes to become skilled at a specific job and how they can set goals to get better at something.

"Our job is not to prepare students for something; Our job is to help students prepare themselves for anything."

As we build our culturally responsive teaching practices through an inquiry-based learning model, the five competencies that we believe every student must possess as we move into the 21st century are: Collaborators, Communicators, Problem Solvers, Creators, and Self and Community Aware.

Each month we will be going deeper around each competency. This month we are focusing on being a Communicator. We define this as "sharing and expressing thoughts and ideas in multiple ways. Listening and hearing other perspectives." Each grade level is teaching students what it means to be a communicator, providing many opportunities to communicate and working on skills that communicators need.

Travel Guidance for Students & Families

Spring break is April 5-9. Unnecessary travel is highly discouraged. If you must travel, do what you can to protect yourself and your family.

Before you decide to travel, think about:

• How much COVID-19 is spreading where you are going and how much it is spreading in your local community.
• Whether you or someone you are traveling with could get very sick from COVID-19.
• How easy or difficult it will be to keep 6 feet between people.
• Whether you would be able to miss work, school or other activities if you get sick.

For international travel, follow federal guidelines. Visit U.S. Department of State: Travel and CDC: COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination for more information.

Please click on the following link for more information: SPPS Advisory on Travel

DISCOVERY CLUB

Are you looking for after school childcare provided by St. Paul Public Schools? Discovery Club has openings! Click here for more information.

Students who become sick during the school day will be isolated (under supervision) until they can be picked up. It is important that sick students are picked up as soon as possible to limit the risk to other students and staff. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Campus.

Doneta Johnston is our nurse and Joyce Boston is our assistant. Please watch the video to hear a message from Ms. Doneta and Ms. Joyce.

Families should conduct a health screening every morning before sending their student to school or the bus stop. School staff will also monitor for symptoms throughout the school day. If your child is exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, do not send them to school. Report the absence to your child’s school and submit a report to the COVID-19 Reporting System the same day for next steps.

Please click on the following link for the Health Screening form

Families returning to school should familiarize themselves with these guidelines, which are updated regularly and cover prevention strategies, health screening and monitoring, exclusion guidance, and the SPPS COVID-19 Reporting System.

Please click on the following link for COVID-19 Student and Family Guidelines

Meals for Students Learning In-Person

Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to all students during in-person learning. Menus are available at schoolcafe.com/spps.

Free Meal Kits to go- starting February 16

Families can pick up free meal kits from school on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30. Drive around through the parking lot, on Hubbard side of building, and a Nutrition Services staff member will be ready to hand you a meal kit. Families are asked to pre-register to pick up these kits. Please click here

For more information about how meals will be served and eaten when students return to school, visit spps.org/reopen.

Midway Project

The Midway Project provides food and other care supplies on Wednesdays from 11:00-1:00 out of our attached Hancock Recreation Center. Tables are set up so that you are able to drive thru the parking lot on Hubbard side of our building to pick up supplies. All are welcome!

Monday-Friday Meal Pick Up Sites 8:00am-3:00pm

• Battle Creek Middle

• Central High School

• Como Park Senior High

• Open World Learning

• Harding High School

• Highland Complex

• Johnson High School

• Washington Tech Magnet School

• Students will bring iPads to school and back home everyday.
• Please charge the iPad every night.

Parent Drop Off: 7:15-7:30

If you are planning on dropping off your child in the morning, our Parent Drop Off is through the parking lot on the Hubbard side of our building. (Front parking lot will be blocked by buses dropping off). A car line will form and as you pull up to the back doors off the parking lot, adults will be waiting to help your children out of the car and into school. Please do not get out of your cars, or leave your car in the car line as it creates a back up. If you are walking your children to school feel free to drop off on either side of the building outside of the doors. Ms. Kaltun and Mr. Eli will be waiting on the Englewood side of the building to greet students as well.

Parent Pick Up: 1:55-2:15

We will begin dismissal at 1:50. Students who will be picked up will be brought to the cafeteria to wait for their parent or guardian. This allows us to maintain cohorts, as well as safe distancing. We will have two staff members outside and as you pull up they will walkie staff inside letting them know who to send out. We know this may take a bit more time, but we have to be sure to maintain safe distancing. Please remember to wait outside for your children if you are walking home with your children. Let a staff member know you are there and they will walkie inside.

If you need to drop off your child late:

• Drop your child off in the front of the school in the parking lot on Englewood.
• Your child will walk to the front door and press the buzzer to be let in.

• SPPS must reduce the number of adults visiting our buildings to help ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.
• Students must be dropped off outside school building entrances. Students cannot be escorted by family members to their classrooms or anywhere else inside the building. In addition, families will not be allowed to have lunch, observe a class, volunteer or engage in any other activities in school buildings.
• We understand this is disappointing for many of our students and families. We are implementing these changes to minimize risk and help ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

We want to make sure that everyone feels protected while learning, working in or visiting Saint Paul Public Schools. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has directed that masks or face coverings must be worn throughout Minnesota in all indoor public spaces - including school buildings. This executive order applies to all visitors, staff and students (kindergarten and older). Pre-K students are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings if they can do so in accordance with CDC guidelines.

Watch this short video from members of the Hamline staff on wearing a mask.

Please click on the following icons for more information.

Should you consider Mental Health Therapy for your child?

Life has been turned upside down for everyone. The current life events that are happening should not be processed alone. Therapy can help children begin to process and make sense of their worlds with a Mental Health Professional.

Paying attention to the mental health of children can help reduce problems at home, school, and in social interactions with others.

If you would like more information about starting therapy services for your child please reach out to our School Social Worker, Lynnette Medcalf at Lynnette.medcalf@spps.org or School Counselor, Kaltun Abdikarani at Kaltunabdikarani@spps.org. You can also fill out the help form for families on the Hamline website, spps.org/hamline.

Thank you,

Sharice Zaccardi

Community School Mental Health Practitioner

The Midway Food & Empowerment Project aims to collect and distribute resources to our community on an ongoing basis.The speed at which multiple community partners came together to make this happen is nothing short of amazing. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that our community members receive the items they need to thrive

https://www.hamlinemidway.org/TheMidwayProject

Reminder to fill out the annual iUpdate student form at Campus Parent. It is important we have updated contact information so you will receive updates from the school. If you need any help with your login or password, email karen.azen@spps.org or leave a message at 651-744-4287.

Bridging Snelling Avenue, Hamline Elementary and Hamline University are one integrated campus. Each member of our community is both a teacher and a student, engaged in a journey of lifelong learning that provides a rich variety of resources to support this diverse education. Our partnership with Hamline University, the first of its kind in the nation, places more than 100 tutors and mentors in classrooms and provides students with access to the university campus on a continual basis. Hamline students see themselves in college students. As the saying goes, "College begins in kindergarten". We are two campuses, but one community in the heart of the Hamline Midway neighborhood.

Website: hamline.spps.org
Location: 1599 Englewood Ave, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-293-8715
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hamlineelementaryschool
Twitter: @HamlineElem