Hamilton Elementary School, 5819 Westminster Place, enjoys a second name—the “United Nations School.” John Bernard, principal of Hamilton, coined the name to describe the mix of children he oversees. Hamilton has the distinction of being the school for English as a Second Language (ESL) for students from throughout the city and parts of the county. The 120 ESL children are from many parts of the world, including Africa, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Mexico. Hamilton was chosen because of its central location. Children are assigned to the Hamilton ESL program by the Recruitment and Counseling Center.
The ESL students work most of the day in their regular grade classroom. They spend about 45 minutes a day with an ESL specialist in a separate classroom for work in English, using picture cards, books, and computers. Even after they become fluent in English, most will stay at Hamilton through 5th grade, while others will go back to their neighborhoods. This exposure to other cultures is a rewarding experience for both students and teachers, and shows in the quiet and friendly environment at Hamilton.
About one third of the students at Hamilton live in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood. Other students are bused from South St. Louis areas near Spring and Wyoming.
The total population is 527 students, which, Mr. Bernard says, “is about as many as we can handle.” The largest classroom has 28 children, while the others have fewer.
Hamilton also teaches special education children in their own, self-contained classrooms. The children have speech, sight, or learning disabilities.
Hamilton welcomes volunteers from the neighborhood. A volunteer can “write his own ticket” on what activities he would like to help with, be it supervising at recess, working with the children on computers, or accompanying them on field trips. Washington University students lend a hand by reading to children, and working with them on an individual basis. Volunteers can call the school office at 367-0552.
The school has been recently plastered and painted inside, and a new roof and guttering work has been completed outside. Mr. Bernard says that new windows will be the priority if more money can be raised for capital improvements. A new lunchroom would also be a welcome addition, because the present cafeteria was once the boy’s gym.
The cultural diversity at Hamilton is helping to raise test scores and improve discipline. Other changes in the neighborhood, such as new construction in Kingsbury Square, and rehab work on nearby Washington Avenue, are also helping to make the school better.
The students, staff, and community can all take pride in Hamilton Elementary School.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1988, page 1.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
