1912 is Hamden Hall’s student newspaper that is printed six times per year. While it reports regularly on in-school events and issues, it prides itself on expressing diverse and provocative opinions about the issues of the day, both within the school and in the larger world.
Amnesty International is a worldwide organization whose mission is to defend liberty and human rights, while fighting to end human rights abuses. Through a variety of advocacy activities, Amnesty International works to end injustices such as torture, censorship of the press, mistreatment of prisoners, and the death penalty. Hamden Hall's chapter of Amnesty International, founded in the spring of 2008 by Samuel Genecin and Tobenna Nwangwu, is committed to increasing awareness of human rights issues, to raising funds for Amnesty and other organizations that support its core mission, and to engaging in activism to support prisoners of conscience and other victims of oppression around the world. We have run campaigns on human rights abuses in Tibet, Sudan, and Lybia. This year we plan to turn our attention to the issue of 'human trafficking' in the developing world and to the death penalty. Amnesty's faculty advisors are Mr. Gustafson and Mr.duPont. The group meets every other Monday at 10:40 a.m. in Whitson 39. All are welcome.
Student members do not have to be artists or be part of any art class at Hamden Hall, but must have an interest in art. The Art Club will not only be observational but also hands-on as we will work on group projects with other members.
As the premiere biology competition for high school students in the United States, the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) enriches the life sciences education of nearly 10,000 talented students annually. It provides the motivation, curricular resources, and skills training to take them beyond their classroom experience to the level of international competitiveness.
The BO exam is administered once a year (usually in February or March), and consists of 50 college-level biology questions. Students prepare independently or in small groups, reading up on various bio topics using a biology textbook. Students are encouraged to try their hand at the Open Exam every year (students are eligible up until they accept college admission). If a student meets the score cutoff on the open exam, they would progress to the semifinal exam given about six weeks later. If they meet the score cutoff on the semifinal, they would progress to the finals.
Regardless of the outcome on the exam, participation in Biology Olympiad is a great way for students to explore their interest in the life sciences.
The Chess Club meets on Thursdays following school. Students and faculty play pick-up games and also compete on a ladder ranking scale. Twice a year the Club holds a student tournament open to the entire school.
Students learn about and participate in conservation and recycling efforts at school, in the local community, and in the world. The Conservation Club is responsible for all recycling on campus, while also educating the rest of the student body about this effort.
The Debate Club gives students a sense of how to properly organize and present arguments in a lucid, structured fashion. Each week teams of students work on plans to map out optimal lines of defense and attack on the other side’s anticipated views. Debate has many ramifications in regard to gaining the skills needed to form structured, timely, relevant arguments in many areas of the humanities.
FACES is the literary magazine for grades 9 – 12 and membership is open to all interested students. Meetings are held weekly where the jobs of previewing submitted work and devising ways to promote the magazine among the student body are discussed. Coming out on Prize Day every year, the publication of FACES is an event anticipated by the whole school population.
(Gay, Straight, Alliance) An important goal of the Hamden Hall GSA is to make our community a safer place for those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT), as well as for those who are questioning who they are sexually. GSA also seeks to promote an environment on campus in which different viewpoints can be aired freely and constructively.
The Interact Club is the main branch of community service at Hamden Hall and is recognized worldwide. We are very fortunate to be sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Hamden and Branford. The Interact Club oversees all service projects, making sure that they are organized in a professional manner and completed well. Each month throughout the school year, the entire school community will do its best to support one of our local organizations. In addition to helping out the local community for the majority of the year, the Interact Club also participates in one international community service project.
Hamden Hall's Investment Club researches, learns, and discusses an array of investment opportunities as well as relevant current events relating to the field. We run stock market simulations and bring in many guest speakers to further enrich our learning. We look forward to meeting interested students and showing them the dynamic investing world.
The North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad is a contest in which high-school students solve linguistic puzzles. In solving these puzzles, students learn about the diversity and consistency of language, while exercising logic skills. No prior knowledge of linguistics or second languages is necessary. Professionals in linguistics, computational linguistics, and language technologies use dozens of languages to create engaging problems that represent cutting edge issues in their fields. The competition has attracted top students to study and work in those same fields. It is truly an opportunity for young people to experience a taste of natural-language processing in the 21st century.
Varsity: This Upper School team usually has six competitions (meets) per year at various high schools. Following the six math meets, the top schools are invited to the State Competition, usually held in March. The top four schools in the state are invited to the New England Competition, which Hamden Hall has qualified for in the past.
Junior Varsity: This team competes three times per year as a practice for the varsity level. Subjects for these competitions span from 7th grade math to Pre-Calculus. Participation enhances a student’s ability to be a better problem-solver, while also reinforcing the memory of previous material, thus boosting confidence and encouraging further growth in mathematical ability.
Middle School Advocates are seniors who serve as role models for seventh- and eighth-grade students via various programming and activities. Advocates mentor students in different capacities and historically have been involved in proctoring Middle School study hall, tutoring in the student center, participating in assemblies and other special events, and more. There is an application and selection process involved in this endeavor.
Model United Nations provides students the opportunity to learn about and discuss today's most relevant world issues through participation in an authentic simulation of the United Nations and other international organizations. In both pre-conference preparation and in-conference debate, Model UN seeks diplomatic and creative solutions to complex problems. The HH Model UN has received awards from events such as BosMUN at Boston University and NYUMUNC at NYU, with plans to diversify further events. Those interested in internationalism, foreign affairs, or simply want to learn more about the complex issues in the world would find themselves at home.
Multicultural Student Interests was created to develop and implement a program to reduce prejudices and discrimination on campus, increase cultural, religious, racial and ethnic awareness, and to provide students a safe environment to be able to discuss difficult issues. The committee implements programs to educate faculty, students, and parents. All campus events have included National Mix It Up Day, Cinco de Mayo celebration, Multicultural Monday newsletters, topical speakers, Black History Month, and more. Outside resources are consulted for programs on leadership including participation in a statewide conference.
The Production Crew is a club run by the Theater Technical Director. This club meets twice a week and on some weekends to build and paint sets, hang stage lights, and set up sound for all Hamden Hall productions and special events in the Taylor Performing Arts Center. Basic carpentry, safe tool practices, faux painting techniques, and basic stage rigging are just a few of the projects that students are introduced to. Crew members get first hand experience in understanding how the backstage of a theater works, from basic design concepts to special effects.
Hamden Hall Robotics Club participates in the FIRST Tech Challenge. If you are interested in science, engineering, programming, or are just curious about robotics, please join us! No background in these areas needed, just a willingness to participate and learn! We will be participating in a regional competition in addition to building our own robots according to the interests of members.
The Science Club originally formed in 2004 evolved into the Science Inquiry Group, which was an umbrella organization under which students carry out many different activities. In 2012 it became the Signature Program called Science, Innovation & Design. The program has two main goals: 1) to encourage students to engage in independent projects and 2) to focus on the development of a culture of inquiry at Hamden Hall.
The Student Government is responsible for the organization of student activities including dances, community service projects, and fundraisers. The main board of members is elected by their peers to oversee all student activities in the Hamden Hall community. In addition, each class in grades 9 – 12 will have class officers/representatives who are also members of the Student Government. Each position has particular duties, and the entire Student Government must be responsible, reliable, and able to lead by example.
The Students Musicians Union is dedicated to furthering the growth of music and musical talent here at Hamden Hall and is run solely by the students. They incorporate all genres of music and strive to create an active musical environment for the school community.
"You've been swarmed!" Swarm was started to help build school spirit among students, faculty, and community members at various school events throughout the year. The main goal of Swarm is to not only raise awareness of the many events, but to increase spectator participation and support of those events. Over the years students have "Swarmed" sports games, concerts, theater productions, and art shows. In addition to attending events, members of Swarm help spread the word on campus by hanging posters, making announcements at assembly, and organizing "Green-outs."
The Thespians are made up of students who have participated in at least three Hamden Hall productions. Members are inducted at the end of every year. The thespians raise money for field trips, dinners, and theater improvements.
This is composed of students dedicated to creating a yearbook full of lasting memories. Throughout the year, members take pictures of everyday happenings at Hamden Hall that will provide a foundation for the yearbook. This will include everyday life at HH, sports events, theatre productions, class trips, community service projects, and much, much more. Through the creation of the yearbook, the club is able to represent the community and show the unique qualities of this school.
Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.