Historical February 1996 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The spotlight this month is on partnerships. One of our goals as a Community Education Center is to give our students more exposure both to the Skinker DeBaliviere Community and to the extended St. Louis Community. Several of our classes have participated in partnership experiences with classes from other schools both within the district and from different districts. Mr. Ray Roques’ fifth grade class teamed up with fifth graders from Parkwood School in the Pattonville School District.
First, the Parkwood students came to Hamilton for an orientation and presentation by LaSeandra Owens, a representative from Cahokia Mounds. Next, the classes took a field trip together to Cahokia Mounds in Cahokia, Illinois.
Finally, the Hamilton students went to Parkwood and participated in a simulation of an archaeological dig.
The students worked in pairs, with one partner from each school, to identify, describe, measure, and record their findings. Mr. Roques said this was a wonderful cross-curricular experience. Mrs. Cathy Ehlers’ fourth grade class participated in the same program with a class from North Glendale School in the Kirkwood School District. Mrs. Paula Knight’s third grade class and Mrs. Verline Jackson’s fifth grade class participated in a different type of partnership – field trip to Cahokia Mounds with Banneker School, another St. Louis Public School.
These students had the opportunity to watch a film about how Cahokia Mounds became a historical site. Then, with students from Banneker, the children actually helped to rebuild one of the largest burial sites at Cahokia Mounds.
They followed up by participating in a mapping activity in which they measured and graphed the location of artifacts at a simulated burial site.
Finally, Mrs. Sharon Ware’s fifth grade class and a fifth grade from Delmar-Harvard School in the University City School District took a field trip together to the Old Courthouse.
They participated in a bartering exercise and learned about the trade between explorers Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau, the cofounders of St. Louis, and the Osage Indians.
These classes have followed up the experience by becoming pen pals. Congratulations to fourth grade teacher Cathy Ehlers and her student Sean Smith, a neighborhood resident! Mrs. Ehlers, Sean, and their families have won a fiveday, all expenses paid trip to the NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, on February 4, 1996, as well as a $2500 cash prize for Hamilton School.. Since October 1995, Hamilton fourth graders have been participating in the NFL FACT Program: Football and Academics: A Championship Team.
All of the participants received an NFL binder, and each student receives a set of NFL Football Fact Cards monthly. Also, every month, there is a poster contest with a different theme. Twelve schools in the district participate in this program, and one poster is selected per school to be entered into the monthly contest.
For each theme, the citywide winner receives a prize from the St. Louis Rams.
In October, the kickoff month of the program, the winning poster was forwarded to the NFL, and one winner was selected from each NFL division.
The theme for October was “Stay in School,” and the posters were judged for originality and creativity. Sean’s poster said “It’s a Fact, You Will Gain Knowledge if You Stay in School,” and it depicted the Rams playing the 49ers, Sean’s favorite NFL team.
His poster was selected as the winner for the NFL West Division, and was one of four winners from all of the participants nationwide. Mrs. Ehlers, Sean, and their families will stay at the Hawaiian Hilton in Honolulu from February1- 5.
They will have the opportunity to attend a practice and to meet some of the Pro Bowl participants.
We hope they have a great time!
There will be an assembly on Wednesday, January 31, honoring Sean and Mrs. Ehlers.
A Rams player will speak about the importance of staying in school, and members of the Rams’ cheerleading squad will attend as well. Sean will be presented with a Rams jacket and jersey and a framed copy of his winning poster.
There will also be a copy of the poster hanging in the office at school, so feel free to stop by and take a look.
The originals of all of the winning posters will hang in one of the NFL’s corporate offices.
In addition to Sean’s achievement, we congratulate Nick Onkle from Ms. Barbara Brueggeman’s class, who won the citywide contest for November with the theme, “Staying Fit.” He will receive a special gift from the St. Louis Rams.
In December, Hamilton participated in Kids Caring 4 Kids, a joint project of KMOV-TV Channel 4, WIL-FM 92, the Cooperating School Districts, and the Homeless Resource Bank. Kids Caring 4 Kids was created as a part of Channel 4’s Vision of St. Louis to give children the opportunity to capture the spirit of giving in the holiday season. Second grade teacher Peggy Meyer spearheaded the effort by organizing a canned food drive and a competition between classrooms to collect the most cans.
After a week of donations, we were able to contribute close to 800 cans.
Also in December, Hamilton established an exciting new program called the Celebrity Readers Club in which St. Louis Celebrities come to Hamilton and read to the students. So far we have had the Reverend Earl Nance, Jr. read How the Grinch Stole Christmas to the first grade, and Jamie Rivers, ex-football Cardinal, read Peanut Butter and Jam to the fifth grade. (in February Hamilton is hosting Channel 5’s Mike Owens).
If you have any celebrity connections and you could arrange for them to visit Hamilton, we would appreciate it.
Please contact third grade teacher Paula Knight at 3674552. Hamilton was represented at a program commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Grace and Peace Fellowship, 5574 Delmar, on Sunday, January 14, 1996.
The focus of the commemoration was “A Need for Love, Compassion, and Understanding in a World Full of Hate.” The Hamilton Choir, directed by Mr. Robert Henderson, sang “Martin Luther King,” and “Reach Out and Touch.” Between the songs, twelve fourth- and fifth-grade students performed a choral reading of “Dear Dr. King,” a letter composed by Hamilton fourth and fifth graders overseen by Mrs. Sharon Ware.
We continue to have a number of volunteers performing community service at Hamilton this year.
The Westminster Christian Academy students are still with us and doing a great job, and the DeSmet students will be leading the Jr. Achievement program in the first through fourth grades this spring.
In addition, we have two students from St. Louis University High School working in the fifth grade in order to fulfill their community service requirements. At the January 22 In-Service meeting, the Hamilton Community Education Center Council sponsored a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast. Our most hearty thanks to Mrs. Ruth Johnson and her committee for the thoughtful effort.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1996.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1996_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3, 7; PDF page(s) 3, 7.
