The Courier February 2016 | Volume 23, Issue 5 FREE
www.the-courier.org | news@isd15.org
East Bethel Community School project teaches students about culture and diversity Heidi Anderson
Staff Writer
East Bethel Community School (EBCS) fourth-grade students have a project that fully represents one of Independent School District 15’s core values on culture and diversity. Fourthgraders partake in a project each year that teaches them about their cultural background and family tree. EBCS fourth-grade teachers Nancy Zak, Alexa Gustafson and Laurel Schurke’s have their classes complete a family tree project as a part of the social studies unit on Coming to America. Each student asks their family members questions about their past, including what kind of nationalities are represented in their family, when their
family immigrated to the United States, how their cultural background is still represented, what life was like when their family members were young and more. Students then create a board with pictures and information showing their findings. They present the board to their classmates and explain their family tree. A map is also hung in the classroom where students can place pins in countries of their ancestors, showing the amount of diversity in their classroom. Zak says the project is a great way for students to learn about their past while also getting practice writing and presenting to a large group. In Gustafson’s class, student Anna Gehring learned about her family’s
Crossroads School & Vocational Center has a new Victory Garden in addition to the greenhouses onsite. The Victory Garden was created through the help of many local businesses and volunteers for students and staff to enjoy. Read more on page 6. Photo by Dave Berger, CSVC Teacher
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Russian roots. “My mom is from Russia and on New Year’s Eve we have a tradition where you put your shoes under the tree when you go to bed,” Gehring said. “When you wake up, there is candy in them." Students also East Bethel Community School students Aiden Rehling and Jake learn that the Waggoner show off their family tree posters. lifestyle they Photo by Alexa Gustafson, EBCS Teacher are used to now “It is a great bonding experience for differs greatly from when their family the kids and families,” Scardigli said. members were their age. “The grandparents usually spend a “In Mexico, there were no phones and people would walk to places unless lot of time in the hallway reading the posters.” you owned a horse,” said student One of the core values adopted as Brittany Calero. part of ISD 15’s Strategic Plan is, “we EBCS Principal Angela Scardigli believe that everyone benefits when said collecting pictures for the project culture and diversity are understood allows students to investigate how and respected.” According to Scardigli, people captured memories of their past the project is an example of how in a different way than students are students at EBCS are learning to used to now. understand this value. “Now we take pictures so easily and “It encourages the kids to ask it’s great for them to see the value in questions of their family that they older pictures from their grandparents might not ask outside this project,” and other family members,” Scardigli Scardigli said. “The younger generation said. can listen and learn about generations After their presentation, students before them and encourage the invite their grandparents to attend conversation.” grandparents’ day at school. Family Zak says this project also allows tree posters are hung throughout the students not originally from Minnesota hallway so grandparents can see their to teach their classmates about the student’s work, along with the posters culture and language from their home of others. country. “It really is a family event,” Schurke “It builds pride with a lot of those said. “The grandparents say that it is really fun for them to look back on their students,” Zak said. Scardigli said that one of her favorite family history with their students.” Scardigli says having students’ family parts is seeing the project continue over the years within families. members come visit the school is a “I love seeing the connection of great experience for both generations. sibling to sibling throughout the years.”
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What’s Inside Schools in Action.................................................. 2 School Board Highlights................................13 Community & Business...................................15 Community Education....................................25 Sports & Outdoors.............................................28 Meetings, Events & Benefits.........................30 Life...............................................................................31