Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Ernie's Sink Finds A New Home
A kitchen sink salvaged from the former home of beloved educator and Hornet fan Ernie Russ has been transformed into a new play-to-learn workspace for our Early Childhood Outdoor Classroom.
The Ernie Russ Lower School Mud Kitchen was officially dedicated May 4 – although our youngest students have been creating imaginative masterpieces throughout the school year. On hand for the ceremony in addition to the entire Lower School were several of Ernie’s former students including Maryann Lincoln Hall, Class of 1954; Bill Polinsky, Class of 1958; and Peter Van Heiningen, Class of 1962.
Ernie passed away in 2016 and had resided in a home on campus. When Facilities Director Jim Hunter saw the kitchen sink, he recalled an earlier conversation with Lower School Director Lorri Carroll, who had mentioned wanting a mud kitchen for the Early Childhood Program.
“Our Early Childhood teachers inquired about the creation of an outdoor mud kitchen – a place where students could really dive in with their senses and be able to reap the benefits of engaging in outdoor dramatic play,” explained Mrs. Carroll.
The two administrators then secured the carpentry expertise of facilities staff member Jose Vega who built the wood structure. The mud kitchen stands adjacent to the Early Childhood Learning Garden along the backside of the Lower School and features plenty of space for pots and pans, utensils, storage, and a work area.
“With every ending is a new beginning,” said Mrs. Carroll. “Jose took Ernie’s sink and transformed it into this beautiful play space where our children have been using mud, sticks, acorns, rocks, water and more to concoct their own recipes and test out different combinations of "ingredients" found from nature. They also investigate, measure, fill, empty, and explore. For those who knew Ernie – nature and science – those were his “things.” How perfect to honor him in this way.”
Mr. Vega also built these two picnic tables for our Early Childhood students to use to serve their “meals,” Mrs. Carroll maintained.
A plaque above the mud kitchen states: Hamden Hall Country Day School honors the memory of Ernie Russ, an educator and coach who spent 70 years at our school, from 1947 to 2016. The Mud Kitchen – a place for our Lower Schoolers to learn and play – reflects Ernie’s love of nature.
The Ernie Russ Lower School Mud Kitchen was officially dedicated May 4 – although our youngest students have been creating imaginative masterpieces throughout the school year. On hand for the ceremony in addition to the entire Lower School were several of Ernie’s former students including Maryann Lincoln Hall, Class of 1954; Bill Polinsky, Class of 1958; and Peter Van Heiningen, Class of 1962.
Ernie passed away in 2016 and had resided in a home on campus. When Facilities Director Jim Hunter saw the kitchen sink, he recalled an earlier conversation with Lower School Director Lorri Carroll, who had mentioned wanting a mud kitchen for the Early Childhood Program.
“Our Early Childhood teachers inquired about the creation of an outdoor mud kitchen – a place where students could really dive in with their senses and be able to reap the benefits of engaging in outdoor dramatic play,” explained Mrs. Carroll.
The two administrators then secured the carpentry expertise of facilities staff member Jose Vega who built the wood structure. The mud kitchen stands adjacent to the Early Childhood Learning Garden along the backside of the Lower School and features plenty of space for pots and pans, utensils, storage, and a work area.
“With every ending is a new beginning,” said Mrs. Carroll. “Jose took Ernie’s sink and transformed it into this beautiful play space where our children have been using mud, sticks, acorns, rocks, water and more to concoct their own recipes and test out different combinations of "ingredients" found from nature. They also investigate, measure, fill, empty, and explore. For those who knew Ernie – nature and science – those were his “things.” How perfect to honor him in this way.”
Mr. Vega also built these two picnic tables for our Early Childhood students to use to serve their “meals,” Mrs. Carroll maintained.
A plaque above the mud kitchen states: Hamden Hall Country Day School honors the memory of Ernie Russ, an educator and coach who spent 70 years at our school, from 1947 to 2016. The Mud Kitchen – a place for our Lower Schoolers to learn and play – reflects Ernie’s love of nature.
Hamden Hall Country Day School
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
About Us
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.
