Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating Students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Educating Students in PreSchool through Grade 12
News Archive
Black History Month Under the Pines
The Hamden Hall community participated in assemblies, class projects, readings, discussions, and other educational activities to celebrate Black History Month with an emphasis on the stories, people, and events that shaped our nation.
The Lower School community enjoyed their assembly time in buddy pairs. PreSchool/PreKindergarten and Grade 6 students read the book We March and learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” speech. In pairs, the students made dream clouds that visually represented what they either wanted to become or things to make the world a better place. Kindergarten and their Grade 5 buddies worked together on an activity called The Rainbow Colors of Me. Kindergartners also spent time creating paintings inspired by artist and changemaker Clementine Hunter and explored the work of artist Alma Thomas.
Other grade-level class activities included first-grade students learning about leaders, inventors, artists, and helpers of the past and present and how their ideas and actions helped others and why it is important to honor them. The stories showcased how direct action, kindness, courage, and fairness helped others and served as a reminder how differences make our classroom, community, and world stronger and more beautiful.
Second-grade students learned about prominent figures including Louis Armstrong, determination and talent of athlete Jesse Owens, the life and impressive achievements of Garrett Morgan, Bessie Coleman, and Jackie Robinson, the impressive contributions of Frederick Douglass and George Washington Carver.
“Students learned about the importance of this month through the stories of people who showed perseverance, creativity, and courage in the face of challenges,” said Grade 2 teacher Erin Correa.
The Middle and Upper School students, faculty, and staff joined together in Taylor Gymnasium for an assembly with guest speaker Dr. Todd Craig. The assembly was organized by members of the Black Student Union and Director of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity and History Department Chair Dr. Lisa Hill. Dr. Craig is a writer, educator and DJ who currently serves as the Marks Family Senior Director for the Marks Family Center for Excellence in Writing at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of “K for the Way”: DJ Rhetoric and Literacy for 21st Century Writing Studies, which examines the Hip Hop DJ as 21st century new media reader and writer and investigates the modes and practices of the DJ as creating the discursive elements of DJ rhetoric and literacy.
Dr. Craig spoke with the students about how his love of music, literature, and his personal experiences shaped both his educational journey and professional career, but most importantly his world view. He emphasized the value of education and the empowerment of courage to dream bigger and explore one's imagination to find their passion. His closing message resonated powerfully: “Continue to put in the hard work.” Following the assembly, Dr. Craig stayed on campus to enjoy lunch with students and host a series of breakout sessions and facilitate open discussion on a myriad of topics in the Swain Library Conference Room.
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
