Historical November 1995 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The students and teachers at Hamilton Community Education Center have been venturing into the community and beyond.
In the past few weeks, several classes have had the opportunity to attend performances at Bob Kramer’s Marionette Theater at 4143 Laclede.
It was a great way to experience literature in a medium outside of the classroom.
A few classes used this event to introduce puppet making into the literature used in their curriculum.
The preschool visited Thies Farm, where they went on a Halloween hayride and picked pumpkins. Beyond the St. Louis area, Hamilton students have gone apple picking at Eckert’s Orchard in Grafton, Illinois, explored the burial sites at Cahokia Mounds, and visited Rombach’s Pumpkin Patch in Grover MO. ‘This is kind of like science, isn’t it?” asked second grader Deborah Hill on the return trip from Eckert’s Orchard. Back at school, efforts are being made to bring the community into Hamilton.
On October 11, Hamilton E.C.E.C. hosted the “Careers on Wheels” program. Students had the opportunity to speak to professionals from a number of careers “on wheels” and got a close up view of the vehicles and responsibilities that these jobs require.
There was a fire truck, a vehicle from the St. Louis Department of Forestry, an emergency medical service van, a Channel 4 television mobile unit, a postal service truck, a mobile refueling unit, a police car, and a building wrecker.
In addition to giving hands-on demonstrations, the professionals emphasized that in order for students to achieve their career goals, they must stay in school, respect their teachers, and make learning a priority. Later, in the classrooms, the intermediate students wrote about and primary students depicted their favorite career on wheels, as well as the career that they might like to pursue someday. Hamilton’s English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, Melanie Clampett, and her assistant, Robin Notice, were interviewed on the Channel 4 Ten O’Clock News segment, “Focus on Learning” on Oct. 19.
Also interview were third graders Ethiopian Fasil Gesir and Vuong Luong, from Viet Nam.
There are 65 ESL students at Hamilton. Fourth grade teacher Cathy Ehlers participated in the 24th Annual St. Louis Marathon on Oct. 15.
She was one of 180 women who took part in this 26- mile run.
She prepared for this event by running 40-45 miles a week in the preceding 3 months.
On October 25, Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. attended Hamilton’s “Be There” program, which honors students with perfect attendance.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1995.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1995_11.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
