Grade 8 Takes Educational Trip to Yale University

The project was spearheaded by Middle School teachers David Sokoloff, Bud Kohler, Paulomi Aldo, and Olivia Hamaoui and merges the subjects of climate science, speech writing and diction, Global citizenship and international relations with a Mock U.N. Climate Conference as the culimating presentation.

 

Mr. Sokoloff, Mr. Kohler, Mrs. Aldo, Mrs. Hamaoui along with English teacher Caroline Ford and Middle School Director Brian Christman chaperoned the students as they began the day with a tour of Kroon Hall at the Yale School of the Environment. Kroon Hall was completed in 2009 and noted to be Yale's first sustabinable/LEED Platinum building. Current Hamden Hall parents Dr. Sara Smiley Smith and Mr. Denny Kalenzaga helped coordinate the visit and served as tour guides.

 

Next on the itinerary was a panel discussion in Sage Hall on sustainability and climate science with a series of experts where the students were able to ask questions. The groups headed over to Pierson College for lunch in the dining hall, which was coordinated by current parent Dr. Daniel Botsman. The day ended with a panel discussion focused on global relations with guest speakers including current parent David Engerman.

 

The Mock U.N. Climate Conference will take place on Friday, April 24. The students have been working in delegate teams, representing different countries, to deliberate on implenting the International Energy Agency's Electric Vehicle Initiative.