Hanstein Elementary School
The mission of Frederick A. Hanstein Elementary & Annex, is to ensure that all students flourish and be prepared for further education through collaboration with parents and community, in data driven learning environments. Hanstein often described as a uniquely small, family oriented learning environment, is a 2007 “Good School Making the Grade,” recipient, and was awarded $50,000 by the Skillman foundation as an “Improving School.”
The goal at Hanstein is to enable students to become positive and productive citizens who are able to take full advantage of all the opportunities available in our global, multicultural society. The staff at Hanstein is committed to instilling the joy of life-long learning in a clean, safe and healthy environment through a customer centered Professional Learning Community.
Hanstein’s small student population along with a fairly stable, loyal community and dedicated staff and parents, enables the staff to create an orderly school environment with high academic and social expectations that promote student achievement and character development. Hanstein’s Campus consists of three buildings covering more than three acres. These building house Specialized Programs (ECDD and Autistic Impaired), preschool, kindergarten, first graders and grades two through 5. The separate environments ensure more care and safety for students. Students frequently “come together” to celebrate accomplishments and achievements, or special programs. During those events, the respect students’ show for one another is evident.
Last school year, Hanstein’s third and fourth grade students, in collaboration with the InsideOut Literary Arts Project and the Detroit Opera House, wrote and performed an opera at the Detroit Opera House. Additionally, they also found time to write and publish a book of poetry, reported to be an all time best seller.
This year, Hanstein continues to do big things as they host the Writers in Residence in partnership with InsideOut. The entire school will participate, and each class will benefit from the interaction by partnering with a professional writer. The younger students will integrate storytelling, puppets, art and music to find their voices in print. The older students will produce two volumes of poetry, so be sure to mark your calendars for the book signing parties this spring!
