Hamline Family Newsletter

Dear Hamline Families,

As a community we are committed to strengthening our anti-racism/anti-discrimination practices and policies and seek to build a school community that keeps equity at the center of all that we do. One area we have been focusing on most recently is our process for when hate speech is used.

We believe in the dignity of all and are committed to actively building a learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment or violence on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, marital status, familial status, sex, sexual or affectional orientation, gender identity and expression, status with respect to public assistance, age, disability.

The use of hate speech can show up in different forms at school and we are taking an approach that incorporates quick response, discipline, education, and healing the harm that hate speech brings to our community. We believe that clearly communicating our beliefs, process and practices around the use of hate speech is living what we believe and value.

To ensure the whole community has a clear understanding of how we address situations of hate speech, we are sharing our protocols here:

Response when hate speech is used:

• Act to interrupt and stop the actions causing harm.
• Identify students and community members who are involved
• Take immediate action to investigate incident, discipline, and support students impacted
• Phone call to families of students impacted by hate speech
• Connect community members with opportunities to process, strengthen community relationships, and establish a path to heal harm done.

We seek a world for our children where respect, dignity and justice are found without violence or discrimination. It is our commitment to you, our school community, to create a culture and climate that is safe for all and stands up for justice and equity. Our hope is to build trust through transparency. We ask that you join us in this commitment. Should you have concerns, questions, or feedback we welcome your perspective. Reach out anytime.

In Partnership,

Principal Kristin Reilly

Hamline Husky Families:

A few of the highlights from the last week:

• Seeing the excitement as students read their letters from their pen pals from the Hand in Hand Pen Pal program
• Families coming together on Friday afternoon for our Healing Circle
• Hearing a fourth grader on a Google Meet discuss the metaphor in a poem

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

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.

Last month we focused on the competency of Communicators. We define this as "sharing and expressing thoughts and ideas in multiple ways. Listening and hearing other perspectives." This month we are focusing on being a Collaborator. We define this as working together for a common goal.

During the weeks of April 27-May 7, students in third through fifth grade will take the MCAs in their classrooms in the mornings.

MCA Opt Out Information:

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.

As a community we are committed to providing resources for families that are centered on equity and social justice. That is why we have decided to create this space within our Family Newsletter. We hope you find the information shared helpful and informative. Should you have any questions, concerns, or need further support, please do not hesitate to reach out to your students' teacher or anyone from our student support team.

Article Highlights: How to talk to kids about hate speech

1. Look inward - We all have biases that we may or may not be aware of. Take some time for self-reflection before you begin the process of teaching your child about being empathetic and culturally competent.

2. Teach by example - Behaviors are learned so it’s important to teach them expectations. Ask questions like “What does kind look like? What does it feel like, what does it sound like?” Teach them what you want them to do instead of telling them what not to say.

3. Start a dialogue - Look for teachable moments whether it be something that happened in school, a racially charged news story, a tv show or movie, etc. Be authentic and don’t be afraid to share how you’re feeling also. Talk about how words are powerful, can be hurtful, and explain historical ties to hateful words whenever possible.

4. Remember conversations should be ongoing - It’s ok to misspeak or wish you would have said something differently. The important thing to remember is you have another day to go back, acknowledge what you said, and say it differently.

To read the article in its entirety, click on the link: https://dfwchild.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-hate-speech/

Hello Hamline Huskies!

Greetings Hamline Huskie Families! As some of you may recall, I sent out a survey earlier this year about having a Family Night. In that survey I asked you to choose your top two choices for the topic that interested you most. The topic that was of most interest was "Parenting during a pandemic: stress reducing strategies."

I want to invite you to join me for a relaxing and fun evening to talk about how we can reduce stress in our homes as we continue to navigate this pandemic as well as all the daily stressors that occur in our home and community.

Join me on Wednesday, April 21st from 6 - 7pm for a stress-free, fun, and relaxing hour together.

Google Meet Code: FamilyNight

*As a bonus, there will be a drawing for one family to win a $20 gift card to Dairy Queen

One of the hats a parent wears in their parenting role is an emotion coach. An emotion coach is someone who is guiding and supporting another person, in this case a child, in regulating their emotions and increasing desired emotions. Our role as parents includes being able to identify our own negative emotions and how that translates into our behavior. Once we have this awareness of our experience and actions we take to regulate ourselves, we can support our children in also naming their difficult emotions. We can validate their anger, frustration and sadness while setting limits on behavior expressions. Simply validating the child's emotions, decreases them. When we validate the emotion and also set behavior limits, we are engaging our children's emotion and logic sides of their brain. Continually offering our children emotion coaching gives them the skills they need to succeed in all aspects of their lives. Emotion Coaching is a term coined by John Gottman in the 1990's. For more details check out the article titled: "How to be your child's emotion coach?" on www.limitlessparenting.com

Ramsey County will be hosting a Basic Needs Resource Fair on Monday, April 26th and Monday, May 17th.

Meet with Ramsey County community resource navigators one-on-one and get your questions answered!

-Learn about the Resource Guide and Community Bulletin Boards available to the community.

-Meet with staff from Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative to get signed up

for resilience coaching, monthly trainings/events, and

mental health/wellbeing support.

-Enter a raffle to win prizes! (must be registered)

Registration Link:

https://forms.gle/yggM7XQVnGrjpayY6

Zoom Meeting ID: 881 9834 8684

Passcode: 100832

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) offers Summer Learning Programs for students in grades K-12. Students will have opportunities to learn new things and strengthen current academic skills; prepare for the upcoming school year through active, fun and hands-on activities; and make progress toward graduation. All programs are FREE.

SPPS Summer Learning Programs Include:
Academic Support
Students will be inspired to learn new skills and grow current understanding in reading, math and other subjects.

Breakfast and Lunch
All students receive two free healthy meals daily that include entrees, salads, baked goods, and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Transportation
Transportation is available to most students who live in Saint Paul (within transportation guidelines). Use the School Finder at spps.org/apply to find your Area (A-F1/F2).

To register for summer school, please click on the following link

Should you consider Mental Health Therapy for your child?

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

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

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

• 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.

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