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Academics: Curriculum Guide  
 

Curriculum Guide

Hamden Hall Country Day School undertakes to offer all required courses and enough electives so that students may fulfill distributional requirements for completion of each grade and for graduation. Not all the elective courses can be offered every year. Course enrollment and faculty schedules as well as unforeseen circumstances will affect which electives are scheduled.



LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM
The Lower School curriculum offers a balanced program of academics, the arts, computer, and physical education. Sixth graders emerge confident in themselves, equipped with the skills, attitudes, and independence which prepare them for the challenges of Middle School.

The Lower School student’s schedule varies depending upon the grade level. Each grade level has its own system of team teaching allowing the teachers to present curricular material in the most effective manner.

Courses outside the core curriculum are an important part of the learning experience at Hamden Hall. These teachers prepare a quality experience in the following areas:

Art
Pre-K (3 classes/30 minutes/week)
Kindergarten (2 classes/40 minutes/week)
Grades 1-4 (2 classes/40 minutes/week)
Grades 5-6 (2 classes/45 minutes/week)

Computer
Pre-K-6 (1 class/30 minutes/week)

Latin
Grade 5 (2 classes/30 minutes/week)
Grade 6 (3 classes/30 minutes/week)

Library
Pre-K-5 (1 class/40 minutes/week)

Music
Pre-K/Kindergarten (3 classes/30 minutes/week)
Grades 1-6 (2 classes/30 minutes/week)

Physical Education
Pre-K/Kindergarten (5 classes/40 minutes/week)
Grades 1-3 (4 classes/40 minutes/week)
Grades 4-6 (3 classes/60 minutes/week)

Science
Grades 1-2 (2 classes/40 minutes/week)
Grades 3-5 (3 classes/40 minutes/week)
Grade 6 (1 class / 70 minutes, 2 classes /45 minutes/week)



MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Seventh grade: Each student takes a full year of English, history, mathematics, foreign language, a half year of science, and a half year of music and art.
Eighth grade: Each student takes a full year of English, mathematics, physical science, foreign language, and a half year each of history, art, and theater.



UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Students take the equivalent of five full courses each semester. Any additional course requires approval from the Director of Studies.

Ninth grade: Each student takes a full year of English, history, biology, mathematics, and foreign language. Some students receive permission to take an additional half-credit of art. Tenth grade: Each student takes a full year of English, mathematics, and foreign language. In addition, two credits must be taken among electives in history, science, fine arts, and computer. Note that electives may carry full- or half-credit. Eleventh and Twelfth grades: Each student takes an English course each semester and four other credits from the rest of the curriculum during each of these years. A graduating senior must complete five courses each semester of the senior year. Students carrying three A.P. courses, however, may take a 4 ˝ course schedule each semester.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (Grades 9-12)
Total Credits: 19
English: 4 years (including at least one course per semester)
History: 2 ˝ years (including U.S. History)
Foreign Language: 3rd year level completed
Mathematics: Through junior year (including Geometry & Algebra II)
Science: 2 years of science (including Biology and a physical science)
Computer: Proficiency
Fine Arts: 1 year
Sports: 4 years (including participation in fall sports and either winter or spring sports)

GRADING SYSTEM
The academic year is divided into two semesters of two marking periods each. Grades are numerical. The passing and college recommending grade is 60; the failing grade is 55 or below. No grade for a marking period or semester will be given in the range of 56-59.
  • 94-100 Excellent achievement
  • 85-93 Very good achievement
  • 80-84 Good achievement: Honors eligibility
  • 75-79 Satisfactory work
  • 70-74 Satisfactory work but needs supervision
  • 60-69 Below desired level of achievement; extra help should be sought
  • Failing; no credit 50-55
HONOR ROLL
Any student whose academic average is 83 or above, with no grade below 80, is placed on Honor Roll status. The Honor Roll is posted twice each year, in January and June. At the end of the first semester, semester grades are used to determine academic standing. At the end of each year, yearly grades are used, except where there are only semester grades available. In this case, the second semester grade will be used for those courses only. Students who have achieved Honor Roll status for the previous year are normally invited as guests of the Cum Laude Society to attend its fall banquet.

EXAMINATIONS
Most Upper School courses include an examination at the end of each semester. Semester examinations count 20-33% of the semester grade; examinations covering a full year count 15-25% of the year grade. An examination grade of less than 40 results in automatic failure in that course. Less weight is placed on examination results in the Middle School.

ACADEMIC CREDIT: UPPER SCHOOL
A student will be granted academic credit in all subjects at Hamden Hall in which a final grade of 60 or higher has been earned. A student who enters Hamden Hall after completing a portion of the secondary school program in another school will be granted credit toward a Hamden Hall diploma for college preparatory courses in the previous school in which a grade of college recommending quality has been earned. Normally this means five credits for each full high school year outside Harnden Hall.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Hamden Hall offers Advanced Placement courses in all departments. Students who wish to take an A.P. examination must enroll in the appropriate course; once enrolled, a student is expected to take the A.P. examination. Students who wish to take A.P. examinations in subjects which Hamden Hall does not offer may do so by special arrangement with the College Office and the Director of Studies.

HOMEWORK
The expectation is that Middle School students will work a minimum of two hours each night. This includes written assignments, reading, and studying. The expectation is that Upper School students will do, on the average, 45 minutes of homework for each course each night. This includes written assignments, reading, and studying.

STUDY HALL
Middle School students have a study period just before lunch each day. This time may also be used for activities, extra help, or advisor meetings. All ninth-graders are placed in study hall the first semester and need to be on the Honor Roll to earn exemption after that. New students in grades 10-11 are placed in study hall during the first marking period, along with returning students who have not earned an exemption. To earn an exemption, a student must maintain a 78 average with no grade below 75. Seniors are normally exempt from study hall, unless they are on academic probation.

ACADEMIC COMMENTS AND ADVISOR MEETINGS
At the conclusion of each semester, the Middle and Upper School faculty meet to discuss each student's academic and social progress. Teacher comments are sent home four times each year (November, January, April, and June). A four-week Interim Report is sent home early each semester in courses in which students are achieving below 70. Parents are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the student's faculty advisor shortly after the first marking period in November. Advisors will contact parents in February to review the first semester and -- where necessary-- to suggest strategies for second semester.

COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM AND WEIGHING
To make student's transcripts as clear as possible, each Upper School course carries a three-digit number. The first digit stands for the level at which the course is offered: for example, "100" courses are offered at the fIrst or ninth grade level, and "400" numbers refer to senior or fourth-year courses. "500" courses are fifthyear courses. The second digit stands for the pace of a given course or section. Thus, 6-7 means a fast pace, 3-5 an average pace, and 1-2 a slower-than average pace; 8-9 denotes an Advanced Placement course. The third digit serves only to number different courses. The fraction “1/2” denotes a half-credit course. Half-credit courses run for one semester meeting every day or two days a week for the full year. College transcripts include a weighing factor: 2% for average or "B" level courses; 5% for fast or "Honors" courses; 10% for A.P. courses.



EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
All Middle and Upper School students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the activities listed below. Most activities are run for the entire academic year and allow students the opportunity to explore an area of interest and to further enrich the school community.

Middle School
  • Class Government
  • Green & White
  • Human Issues
  • Instrumental Ensemble
  • Jazz RockBand
  • Literary Magazine
  • MathCounts
Middle School Clubs
  • MusicaI/Play
  • Select Chorus
  • Volunteer Program
  • Jewish Home for the Aged
  • Tutoring for Inner City Children
  • 7th Grade Class Trip
  • 8th Grade Class Trip
Upper School
  • Academic Decathlon
  • Chess Club
  • Chorus
  • Curriculum Committee
  • Debate
  • Disciplinary Committee
  • Drama Club (Thespians)
  • Environmental Club
  • Green & White Club
  • Instrumental Ensemble
  • Key Club
  • Literary Magazine
  • Math Team
  • Middle School Advocates
  • Newspaper
  • Peer Tutoring
  • Prom Committee
  • Student Government
  • Tour Guides
  • Yearbook



ATHLETIC REQUIREMENTS
Hamden Hall subscribes to the philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body for each student. We believe that athletics is an integral part of the educational process, combining with classroom instruction, student government, the arts, and various extra-curricular activities to provide students with the best possible opportunity for success. We strive to develop the unique potential of each student/athlete—the physical, mental, social, and ethical qualities to perform as an individual and/or part of a team dedicated to a common goal and purpose. We are dedicated to helping student/athletes develop a positive self-image and sense of confidence, independence, and leadership within our athletic program. To achieve these goals and receive proper credit necessary for graduation, all seventh-through twelfth-grade students are required to participate in our athletic program. A variety of competitive interscholastic sports and non-competitive activities are offered each year. School-sponsored community service may be substituted for part of the athletic requirement. Students may apply for an independent athletic elective as part of a year's athletic credit.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS
All Middle School students must participate during each of the three athletic seasons. Practice is held at the end of the Middle School day on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Most games are scheduled for Thursdays, with some Wednesday games. When a number of students playing a particular sport mandates, there will be "A" and "B" squads, schedules, and games. Some sports make cuts based on the number of students trying out.

AUTUMN
  • Football
  • Boys' Soccer
  • Girls' Soccer
  • Field Hockey
  • Alternative Life Sports
WINTER
  • Boys' Basketball
  • Girls' Basketball
  • Wrestling
  • Swimming (co-ed)
  • Alternative Life Sports
  • Community Service
SPRING
  • Baseball
  • Boys' Lacrosse
  • Girls' Lacrosse
  • Softball
  • Tennis (co-ed)
  • Alternative Life Sports
UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETICS
Participation is required two seasons each year. All students in grades 9-12 participate in the autumn and must select either a winter or spring sport. All students new to the Upper School must participate in a team sport in their first year of Upper School. Interscholastic Competition Interscholastic teams have mandatory pre-season practices for autumn, winter, and spong sports. During the season, practice is held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday for two hours per day. A coach may at times also call for a Thursday practice. Most games are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but some must be scheduled on other days to meet the schedules of other schools. Athletics is not extracurricular, and attendance at all announced practices and games, unless otherwise noted, is a required school commitment.

AUTUMN
  • V/ JV Field Hockey
  • V/JV Football
  • V/JV Boys' Soccer
  • V/JV Girls' Soccer
  • Cross Country (co-ed)
  • Girls Volleyball
  • Golf(co-ed)
WINTER
  • Wrestling
  • V/JV Boys' Basketball
  • V/JV Girls' Basketball
SPRING
  • V/JV Baseball
  • V/JV Boys' Lacrosse
  • V/JV Girls' Lacrosse
  • Girls', Boys' Tennis
  • Golf (co-ed)
  • V/JV Softball
Non-Competitive Athletics
Non-competitive sports meet three or four days per week for one to two hours each day. Attendance is mandatory and absences must be made up to receive credit.

AUTUMN
  • Community Service
  • General Exercise
  • Outdoors Program
WINTER
  • Community Service
  • Ski Club
  • Weight Lifting
SPRING
  • Community Service
  • General Exercise
  • Outdoors Program
  • Running Club