Hamline Family Newsletter

Hello Hamline Families,

Each week Superintendent Gothard and a district team, review the district readiness checklist to determine if we are ready to return to school in a hybrid model. A hybrid model means that students would return to school in the building two days per week, and continue distance learning three days per week. This past week the announcement was made that we were not ready to move to a hybrid model yet. On October 23rd the team will meet again to check our readiness. November 16th would be the earliest we could return, but again this will be based upon safety for students/families and staff. We will continue to stay in close contact with you to keep you informed.

If you would like to keep your child/children in distance learning, and not have them move to the hybrid model, (when it is safe to do so), please fill out this form. https://commedspps.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3duuSyVmZmnJjWl. This form is available in many languages. This will ensure that we have correct numbers around how many students will remain in virtual (distance) learning, and not return to the building, when or if we move to the hybrid model. Once we move to hybrid, if you are signed up to keep your children in virtual learning, they will be assigned to a "Virtual Learning" classroom and teacher for the remainder of the year. This will be a Hamline teacher, but it will most likely be a different teacher than the current teacher. I understand this is a hard decision to make. If you would like to talk through this with me, I would be happy to do so. You are able to move from Virtual Learning School back to hybrid at different points in the year.

I can't tell you how thrilled I have been to see full classrooms of children showing up and engaging in their class google meets. Thank you for supporting your children in getting up on time, and completing their work. I understand that the balancing act we are all doing, to try to make sure the children are learning and growing, is daunting. With stress levels high, please be kind to yourself and know that if you need support we are here for you. You may reach out to me through email at kristin.reilly@spps.org, or calling my cell phone 612-812-1103. The Hamline Request for Support form is also a great way to get help on any matter. I would not be the technology "fix it" person:)), but I can help guide you in the right direction. Help form is on our website spps.org/hamline and link is also below in this newsletter. Be well and as always, thank you for sharing your children with us.

In Partnership,

Principal Kristin Reilly

Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns by email, text, or phone at:

Email: jennifer.ewald@spps.org

Office: 651-744-6055

Google Voice: ‪(612) 315-0791‬

Please click on the following icons for more information.

Academic Support Center

The purpose of the SPPS Academic Support Center is to provide in-person academic and/or social-emotional learning support for Pre-K-12 grade students and their families during distance learning. The centers will provide academic support, not classroom instruction.

Please talk to your child's teacher if you would like more information.

Center Hours

Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.*
Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
*Closed non-school days

Center Locations*
Washington Technology Magnet
1495 Rice Street
Saint Paul, MN 55117

At Hamline Elementary, we are working hard to teach using a style called "Inquiry Based Learning." The word "Inquiry" means to question, so "Inquiry Based Learning" is a type of teaching and learning that encourages student questioning. When the teacher simply tells the student what to do step by step, the student doesn't need to do much thinking. When the teacher guides the activity forward through questions, and encourages the students to ask questions, the students do a lot more thinking and wondering along the way. We are trying to encourage students to develop their thinking and questioning skills, which is helpful in all areas of life as they grow. In the "Inquiry Corner" we will be sharing ways we are working on Inquiry skills at Hamline, and the great things the students are doing!

Please go to https://www.schoolcafe.com/spps to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Having everyone complete the application is very important due to the fact that it determines how much educational funding our school receives. Even if you do not qualify for free and reduced lunch, we need 100% of families filling this form out.

Also, families must complete an application and qualify for free or reduced price meals to qualify for other assistance programs such as Metro Transit’s $1 Ride program, Comcast’s Internet Essentials, and some scholarships for summer camps

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.

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

Water!! It's free and a great way to keep your body heathy! Did you know that water makes up 50-70% of your body's weight?? EVERY SINGLE cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work.

*Drinking more water is one strategy to decrease obesity

*Drinking water can give you more energy

*Water keeps your temperature normal

*Water helps to cushions your joints

*Water protects the tissues in your body

*Water helps your heart work better

NOT drinking enough water can decrease your energy and make you tired!

So.. try replacing some of those sugary drinks with some cool refreshing free water this week and see how you feel!!

To Be Black in America will meet every Wednesday at 12:00 pm. The group is led by:

• Kaltun Abdikarani, school counselor
• Lynnette Medcalf, social worker
• Kalu Abosi, intervention specialist

The Google Meet code is: blackinamerica

If you have any questions about the group, please contact one of the group leaders.

- Kalu Abosi, Intervention Specialist

The counseling lessons posted to students last week covered areas about self-knowledge and awareness. Specifically, for our students in 3rd to 5th grade, their lessons covered having an understanding of cultural aspects that are important to them, knowing their values and beliefs, and the different aspects of their identity. I’m inviting you to further these discussions with your students and share with them the values, beliefs, identity and cultural aspects of your life that are important to you. How do these things help you live a life that you are proud of? How has knowing your values helped you make important life and career decisions? Being able to do this is important for our students motivation, social/emotional wellbeing and their ability to be empathetic to others and solve conflict.

- Kaltun Abdikarani, School Counselor

Parents: Is your child struggling with completing their homework? Do you find yourself frustrated with trying to help them with assignments? Are you trying to juggle work and other responsibilities and just don't have the capacity to help your child with their homework? If you answered yes to any of those questions, there is help available. Saint Paul Public Schools has opened a new Academic Support Center (ASC) at Washington Technology Magnet School. The purpose of the ASC is to provide in-person academic and/or social-emotional learning support for Pre-K - 12 grade students and their families during distance learning. Beginning Oct. 16th, families will be able to request a referral.

For more information, please visit https://www.spps.org/asc

Lynnette Medcalf, School Social Worker

What your child could benefit from participating in play therapy services:

How to respect themselves and others

Understanding that feelings are normal

How to identify and express their feelings responsibly

How to assume responsibility for their actions

How to be creative and resourceful in problem solving

To have self-control and self-direction

To learn how to accept and love themselves

To make healthy choices and to be responsible for their choices.

To create healthy relationships with others.

Sharice Zaccardi

Mental Health Practitioner from Community School

Please see the following link to access Hamline's Minnesota Report Card. You can find information about academic performance.

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