Leaders of Vision Finlandia University Department of Elementary Education Alumni Newsletter, Fall 2008

A Salute to the Graduating Class of 2008 !

Inside this issue: Congratulations

1

A Success Story

2

Athletics Update

3

Settling Down

4

Employment

5

Going Digital

6

Education Club

7

Back row from left to right: Hollie Lloyd, Kari Noll, Dorothy Junkin, Julie Anttilla, Melissa Parker, Lori Summers, Janet Bohn, Jennifer Mattila Front row from left to right: Ryan Koski, Christian Kurtti

Congratulations to Gladys Dupuis Congratulations to Gladys Dupuis, 2004 Elementary Education graduate who received her masters of art in teaching degree from Marygrove College in May 2008. Gladys is the second elementary education graduate from Finlandia University to complete a masters degree.

LEADERS OF VISION

Leaders of Vision, Fall 2008














Page 2 




































Alumni Newsletter by TODD HEINONEN Fall 2008 News from the Finlandia University Department of Elementary Education Dr. Laurene Ziegler, Chair

Preparing leaders of vision in a learning community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth and service.

The Leaders of Vision Program Logo The logo for the Elementary Education Program of Finlandia University is based on the mission of the program, the original six components of the Finlandia Plan, and the mission statement of the university. The open hexagon at the heart of the design represents the central focus and desired outcome for the graduates of the program: “Leaders of Vision for the 21st Century.” The six interlocking pieces that border the hexagon correspond to the original six components of the Finlandia Plan: “ C o mmu n i ca t io n , Co mp u ta t i on , Citizenship, Critical and Creative Thinking, Cultural Heritage and Literacy, and Concentration.” The circle encompassing the hexagon captures the essence of the learning community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual grown, and service referred to in the mission statement of the university. The triangle breaking out of the circle symbolizes the “Leaders of Vision” who leave our learning community to participate in and create new learning communities of the 21st century.

Is there life after Finlandia? As an education student at Finlandia University, I often asked myself this question. I was pursuing a degree in the field I wanted, but the job market was frightening. I felt prepared to teach because I had participated in an abundance of field experience settings while at Finlandia University, but I knew that finding a job would be difficult. Finlandia helped me mature and become more confident as an educator, but now I was faced with the reality of finding a job. Upon graduation in May 2005, finding a job was even more difficult than I had ima gined. I searched hard that summer, but finding a job in Michigan, or anywhere in the Midwest, was nearly impossible! Eventually, I was lucky enough to get a position as an AmeriCorps member and I was placed at Barkell Elementary School in Hancock, MI. I served as an AmeriCorps member there for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years. This opportunity gave me valuable experience working as an aide and helping with afterschool programs. It also helped me become more familiar with the “flow” of a school year. I continued looking, but I was still unable to secure a teaching position.

Finally, late in the summer of 2007, I decided I needed to get a job somewhere! I began looking and a few weeks later, with help from a friend, I was offered a teaching position at Burk Elementary School in Gilbert, AZ. I was excited to have a job, but nervous to begin a new life so far from my “comfort zone.” I taught 3rd grade at Burk Elementary School for the 2007-08 school year and had a wonderful experience. I truly enjoyed my time in Arizona, but applied for a 4th grade position in Cokato, MN, this summer. I have family and friends in the immediate area so I was excited when I was offered the position in July. I am currently teaching 4th grade at Cokato Elementary School, and am fortunate to be a part of another excellent school district in my short career. The experience I gained as an AmeriCorps member and teacher have allowed me to become a more desirable candidate for any teaching position. I am thankful that I took the opportunity to teach in another state because I am now in a great location near family and friends.

“ I felt prepared to teach because I had participated in an abundance of field experience settings while at Finlandia University…”

Leaders of Vision, Fall 2008

Page 3

FINLANDIA ATHLETICS UPDATE, by Curtis Wittenberg Mount Mary College. Without any seniors on the roster, As November approaches, the fall sports sea- the Lions can only improve for next season. son comes to an end, and the start of the winter sports season begins. The winter sports teams have been practicing for at least two weeks now and are looking forward to competiOur fall sports teams recently wrapped up their tion with other teams. The men’s and women’s hockey seasons, with some new faces making an impact. Al- teams will start competition in late October. The men’s though the men’s soccer team finished with a 0-14-0 hockey team will rely on many new faces to step in and record, the future is optimistic as over 50% of their ros- make a difference right away. The roster of 25 has 13 new ter were freshmen. Leading the way for the Lions this players this year; they’ll be looking for leadership from season and into next season will be freshman Tim Car- seniors Tiger Marcotte (L’Anse, Mich.) and Corey Blake ron (St. Claire Shores, Mich.) as he led the team this (Marquette, Mich.). The women’s hockey team will be year with 6 goals. These freshmen will be called on to led by first-year Head Coach Heather Reinke, who comes replace the senior leadership of Nic Polzin (Duluth, to us from Brown University where she was an assistant Minn.), Chase Gillespie (Crystal Falls, Mich.), and women’s ice hockey coach. Reinke will be looking to upLance Hunter (Stevenson, Calif.). The women’s soccer per classmen Chaslyn Duffek (Pelkie, Mich.) and Emily team finished with a 2-17-0 record lead by a group of Conrad (Marquette, Mich.) to lead her underclassmenupper classmen: juniors Molly Raab (Antigo, Wis.) and heavy roster. Both hockey teams are eager to get started Jessica Jones (Winnipeg, Manitoba), and seniors Robin and to show what they can do. Murphy (Howell, Mich.), Misi Skarda (Pound, Wis.), and Adele Horrigan (Gaylord, Mich.). The women’s On the hardwood, the men’s basketball team also has soccer team does have some younger talent looking to a lot of new faces. Coach Charlie Kemppainen predicts fill these seniors’ shoes next year, including Mollie that while the team may be lacking some size, they should Schultz (Munising, Mich.) and goaltender Shannon make up for it with athleticism. Leading the way for the Feldpausch (Portland, Mich.). men’s team will be returning players Tyler Gordon and Erik Bresette both from Red Cliff, Wisconsin. Adding collegiate experience to the young roster will be J.J. Aspinwall (Bessemer, Mich.) and Nick Patrick (Ironwood, Mich.) both of whom played at Gogebic Community College last season. On the women’s side, Coach Curtis Wittenberg has eight players returning from last season’s roster. Leading the way will be juniors Ally Tincknell (Negaunee, Mich.) and Jodi Riutta (Houghton, Mich.), and seniors Lindsey Antilla (Republic, Mich.), Jennette Katona (Negaunee, Mich.), and Casey Luke (Iron Mountain, Mich.). Both the men’s and women’s teams get started on November 18 at Northland College. Coach Kemppainen The volleyball team had a Calumet feel to it this and Coach Wittenberg are anxious to see what their playyear, as led by Head Coach Mary Kaminski in her first ers can do with the tough schedules they will face season at Finlandia. Prior to coming to Finlandia, Coach Kaminski was the JV volleyball coach at CaluSoon, January will be here and our baseball and softmet High School and had many of her previous players ball teams will be starting practice and getting ready for help her in her first season at Finlandia. While strug- their trips to Florida. Best of luck to all of the Finlandia gling with injuries and a short bench, the Lions finished teams, and if you would like to keep up to date with how their regular season with a 12-17 record and are cur- the teams are doing, just follow them on the schools webrently waiting for an invitation to the post-season site. games. Leading the way for the Lions was freshman Kara Rastello (Calumet, Mich.), who is on or near the top of many career statistical categories for the Lions. Rastello also made the Top 10 in the NCAA D-III with 35 kills in a four-game match on September 13 versus The Finlandia cross country team took to the trails under first-year coach Jane DeMartini. The team was led by four athletes from the women’s hockey team, seniors Chaslyn Duffek (Pelkie, Mich.) and Amy Danielson (Centerville, Minn.), and juniors Emily Conrad (Marquette, Mich.) and Annika Danielson (Cokato, Minn.). Along with those from the hockey team were freshmen Gloria Pittman (Fairview, Texas) and Jennika Nevala (L’Anse, Mich.), who will be called on to lead the cross country team next season.

Leaders of Vision

Page 4

Settling Down in The Copper Country ment. Instead, I had to learn the that we transfer to Finlandia. We usually sleep on big decihard way. Luckily, I had a great loved living in Finland, but decided sions, but when I was offered a teaching mentor, now a superintenit would be good to broaden our tenure-track position in Finlandent, who helped me through the collective horizons. dia University’s Elementary first year. I really enjoy living in foreign Education Department, I acPrior to accepting countries: it gives you an opportucepted without any hesitation. the position at nity to reinvent yourself. In addition During my initial Finlandia Univerto living in Finland for five years, I campus visit, I sity, I was a realso lived in Poland where I was a was impressed by searcher of techteacher in a small private school for many things--the nology-enriched several years. There I got my MEd friendliness of playgrounds at the and a realization that all of us are a faculty, staff, and University of lot more alike than we are different. students; the deLapland, located I developed many life-long friendvotion to student on the Arctic Cirships there. learning; the low cle of Finland. Although moving around from teacher-student Before that I was culture to culture is exciting, it can ratios; the Finan administrator be exhausting too. Kaisa and I are nish heritage; and and instructor in a looking forward to putting down the natural beauty PhD program in some roots for awhile. In the future, of the Copper educational techI hope to improve as a teacherCountry. Hownology at the educator, write lots of books and ever, what imDr. Justus Randolph University of articles, mature as an educational pressed me most Joensuu (Yo-enleader, and, above all, retain my was Dr. Ziegler’s vision for the sue) in eastern Finland. rugged good looks and humor. Elementary Education program. I originally went to Finland in In the distant future, I would Having worked in many 2003 as a doctoral student on a Fullike to be a principal in a small eleeducation programs around the bright grant. I liked it so much that I mentary school. Besides my current world, I can say that for a small ended up staying for five years. I job, the principalship has been my education program in a location finished my dissertafavorite job so far. that I’ve heard referred to as tion in education reIt was very stress‘the end of the world,’ the prosearch and evaluation ful work, but also gram is nonetheless world-class from Utah State Univery rewarding. in the quality of training it proversity while working Right now, though, vides. Even in most teacher in Finland. (I am origiI really feel like I training programs in Finland, nally from Ogden, am at the right the nation whose students reguUtah.) place at the right larly outperform all others, Joensuu is where I time. My students there are not as many opportumet my wife, Kaisa, are great, my colnities to do student teaching in who is also a teacher. leagues are great, actual classrooms as we have She teaches Finnish and the program is here. for the Finnish Studies well-designed. I To be honest, my first year program at Finlandia am confident that of teaching many years ago was and also teaches sev- Technology-enriched playground our students will terrible. I wish that I had been er a l co mmu nit y go on to be master in a teacher-training program courses at the Finnish American teachers and help effect much posisimilar to the one we offer here Heritage Center. She is the one who tive social change. so that I could have made my actually hinted at the possibility mistakes in a sheltered environ-

I

Leaders of Vision

Page 5

Elementary Education Alumni Employment*

* One alumna is employed in Alaska. Map by Brad Beaudette.

Congratulations to Recently Employed Graduates — Fall 2008 Graduate

Graduation Year

Where Employed

Grade

Janet Bohn

2008

BHK Headstart, Ryan Center

Preschool

Tina Dupuis

2007

Lake Linden-Hubbell

1st

Dana Grunow

2007

Buckeye Elem., AZ

3rd

Todd Heinonen

2005

Cokato, MN

4th

Bridget Jarvi

2007

LakeLinden-Hubbell

Title 1 Program

Jack Johnson

2007

Elcho School District, WI

6th

Julie Juntilla

2007

CCISD

Paraprofessional

Sarah Juntilla (Stevens)

2007

C-L-K Elementary

1st

Ryan Koski

2008

Stephen R. Jasinskin Elem., AZ

6th

Hollie Lloyd

2008

South Range Elem.

1st

Jennifer Mattila

2008

Houghton Elem.

Childcare teacher

Lori Summers

2008

Arvon Township

3rd-6th

Lloyd Tucker Westcoat

2004

MTU Civil/Envir. Eng. Dept.

Program Asst. (K-12)

Leaders of Vision, Fall 2008

Page 6

The Department of Elementary Education Goes Digital Lab Equipment and Software • • • • • • • Elementary Education Freshman at Work in the El Ed Lab • To help prepare coming generations for an increas- • ingly technologically-oriented future, the Department •

of Elementary Education at Finlandia University has made technology a teaching and learning priority. To that end, the Elementary Education Technology Lab in Nikander 25 was opened this fall. The lab houses six Dell workstations and six of the latest generation of IMacs, in addition to the instructor’s workstation that runs both Mac and Windows software in parallel. These workstations are loaded with state-of-the-art educational and media software. Several digital video cameras, still cameras, and voice recorders are also available to Elementary Education students. Thus far, the lab has been used to create reading-reflection blogs (e.g., http://edu101.blogspot.com), digital portfolios (e.g., htt p://sit es.go o gle.co m/sit e/ misshardensclassroom), classroom websites, newsletters, interactive resumes, and short multimedia documentaries on the history of education. The Elementary Education program even has its own blog at http:// leadersofvision.blogspot.com/. The lab is open to all Education students weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except for the times when Education classes are in session. —By Dr. Justus Randolph




• • • • • • • • • •

Dell 1409x multimedia projector with remote control Hewlett Packard LaserJet 3600dn color laser printer Hewlett Packard LaserJet 1505n monochrome laser printer Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital Cameras and utility software Canon ZR930 Digital Video Camcorders with tripods Microsoft Office Professional 2007 for Windows and 2008 for Macintosh software Adobe Photoshop Elements for Windows and Macintosh Adobe Premiere Elements for Windows MindJet Manager for Windows and Macintosh SPSS Statistics Base Package, Advanced Models, Regression Models and Amos for Windows Final Cut Express for Macintosh Adobe Acrobat Reader PDFCreator Software Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Safari web browser programs CDBurnerXP for Windows Roxio Toast CD/DVD burning software for Macintosh RCA Digital Voice Manager software for Windows Nvu web design tool for Windows Quicktime Player FileZilla FTP software for Windows

The Dow Jones might be down, but the Education Index is up

Leaders of Vision, Fall 2008

Page 7

Finlandia Education Club: Expanding Our Commitment

We are fortunate to have tions and provided sporting events, and an amazing group of fu- funding for the Guatemake crafts. Upcoming Events ture teachers in Finlandia mala and India proAs the holiday season approaches, the ∗ The Education Club’s University’s Education jects. The Education Club. This year, the club Club also organized a Education Club also annual Fun Day will be will continue to support bake sale at Hancock’s plans to contribute to on Saturday, Decemlocal education programs Fall Festival to raise Little Brothers Friends ber 6th, 2008. and will expand its sup- additional funds. of the Elderly, and the S a lv a t io n ∗ This holiday season we port of education programs Army. The will bake and distribaround the club also ute baked goods to world. plans to elderly community In conbake and junction with d ist r ibut e members. the Copper cookies to C o u n t r y elderly R e a d i n g community Council and members in the Hancock the upcomRotary Club, ing holiwe have been days. busy raising Members take a break from bagging groceries at Econo Foods for a picture The Educafunds to suption Club’s port the Froncommitment to educatezio School in GuateAs the semester tion and children are mala. The Education closes, members are commendable. The Club is also expanding its gearing up for our anclub strives to provide fundraising efforts to help nual Fun Day. On Satan environment where support an orphanage in urday, December 6, India and to help pur- 2008, the Education its members can colFall Festival bake sale chase playground equip- Club will host Fun Day laborate and support ment for the Hancock at Finlandia Univereach other on their Beach Recreational Area. sity’s Paavo Nurmi journeys to become The Education Club Athletic Facility. The teachers. started its fundraising this Fun Day event is the fall by bagging groceries at our local Econo Foods grocery store in Houghton. Earnings from this event exceeded expecta-

Education Club’s largest fundraiser. It will provide local children with the opportunity to swim, participate in

By Lisa Harden, President of the Education Club

Page 8

Leaders of Vision, Fall 2008

Elementary Teaching Time, time is what we need At least enough to plant a seed, A seed that will blossom with youth, A sense of innocence which may be uncouth. Young-in yearning for freedom from these walls, Children wishing to run the halls. Ring, ring, the bells chime, Watch out, it’s recess time. “Recess, recess!” The students chant, What a ruckus and rant. “Numbers, letters, place value. This will all really help you.” The students roll their eyes, It’s not the teacher, but math they despise. Study, study, time to test! This could be a big mess. Some heads are in the clouds, But at the end, no matter what, I am proud.

— Bryan Solander