Hamden Hall Country Day School

Hamden Hall is committed to educating the whole child for the complete duration of their primary and secondary experience. From learning through play all the way to writing research papers, we take careful note of the sequencing of skills and content. In my opinion, the most crucial transition takes place when our students, and students in general, enter Middle School. There is not a more exciting or demanding time in a child's academic career. We appreciate the rapid developmental changes taking place at this age, and we aim to tailor our instruction to reach every student. Moreover, we pride ourselves on balancing real academic rigor with a nurturing approach to each individual child. At Hamden Hall, our Middle School is fueled by the unbridled curiosity of our seventh and eighth graders, and this enthusiasm is carefully managed by experienced educators who know how to demand excellence while also building the strong support network that is the fabric of our close-knit community. Teachers who have a special affinity for middle level students populate the Hamden Hall Middle School faculty. We all love that Middle Schoolers are still kids. At the same time, Middle School students are capable of grappling with sophisticated, adult concepts, and they will often surprise themselves when they complete a difficult assignment or project that initially looked "impossible. Our classrooms are full of rich, robust discussion, as each student tends to come at the same question with a different set of strengths. Although we demand that all of our students acquire the knowledge and skills to achieve success in the Upper School, we are well aware of the importance of teaching each individual child. Middle School also brings a new set of expectations outside of the classroom. Ours is the type of vibrant community where students learn all day long. Athletic teams, theater productions, clubs, dances, discussion groups led by senior Advocates, and assemblies all contribute to the fun and lively tone that defines life in the Middle School. Each day, we all gather together to hear about the previous day's games and any of the special programs or events that are on the horizon. This "we-are-all-in-it-together" mentality helps to facilitate the character education and community service components of our curriculum. We care about honor and integrity, and our students tend to have an awareness of the contribution that they make to the overall climate of the Middle School. We hope that all of our students will leave the Middle School with a heightened sense of personal responsibility to their school community and the community-at-large. The Middle School years can be a great opportunity for students. At Hamden Hall, we want all of our seventh and eighth graders to develop a passion for learning and the skills necessary to succeed as the work and the workload become more demanding. And, we want our Middle School students to see what they can accomplish when they participate fully.