Contact 203-752-2610

Hamden Hall Country Day School

Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12

Lower School Courses

Summer Academy dates for 2020 will run from June 29 - Aug. 7.
Registration will open at the end of January.

The Lower School at Hamden Hall is committed to educating the whole child, through classes taught by specialists in art, music, physical education, science, technology, and world languages. Informed by Hamden Hall's core values of excellence, support, participation, accountability, and respect, each course provides a safe, nurturing environment in which children can explore and create. 

Summer Academy offers a variety of one week courses for students in grades K-6.  This allows each student the opportunity to schedule a variety of activities during the summer months and still have time to spend with their family on vacation. Each course runs from 9 AM -12 PM daily. Please choose only one course per week.  Students should bring snacks/drinks for break time.  Please register your child for the grade level they will be entering in September. 

Summer Academy Discount:  If you register two siblings or more for six weeks of classes, the first camper pays full price and the others receive a 10% discount.

Add an Afternoon of Adventures!
For students entering grades K-6 we offer our Adventures and Academics program. Students enrolled in Adventure and Academics participate in a full day of activities. Register your child for one of the academic classes in the morning and add the adventures program for the afternoon activities. Students engage in swimming at the Beckerman Athletic Center, craft projects, outdoor activities, and team building games during the afternoons. Other activities include exploring local museums and taking nature hikes at state parks. Those staying for a full day and attending the afternoon Adventures should pack a lunch and water bottle.

Tuition for the afternoon Adventures program: $145* per week or $390* per session (Session 1: June 29-July 17, Session 2: July 20-Aug. 7)

We are closed Friday, July 3rd.

*Please note that this is in addition to individual course fees for morning academics.

Click on the Summer Academy Application to register.

Have a question? Contact Allison Ehrenreich at summeracademy@hamdenhall.org

Register Online Today!

1 Announcements displayed.

  • Summer Programs Open House

    In accordance with the directives regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, the Open House scheduled for Sunday, April 26th has been canceled.

    In this time of uncertainty, we are still accepting registrations for the upcoming summer season. If you have already registered and we are forced to cancel any of our scheduled weeks, full refunds will be given. Please continue to check our website for updated information and potential changes or additions to our schedule.

    Best wishes to each family - stay safe - stay healthy!
    Read More
Archive

Week 1 June 29 - July 2 $310

List of 6 items.

  • Creative Journaling

    What are you waiting for?! Join the craze of journaling, calligraphy and hand lettering. Perfect your own style of writing while creating a one of a kind journal and writing utensils. Our camp will spark your creative writing juice and ignite your inner artist!

    Grades  2-3

  • Investigating through Coding

    Join us for a week of solving problems and thinking outside the box. Ever wonder how your favorite video game is made? Want to see math a different way? Join us for a week of coding and investigative math. Spend time trying out different programming languages and solving crazy math problems. Bring your thinking cap and curiosity!

  • Sounds, Letters, and More

    This program has been designed to foster literacy development through the use of fun and engaging resources, activities, and instructional routines that are based on scientifically-based reading research. Principles of the Haskins Literacy Initiative, which are an integral part of Hamden Hall’s reading program, will be included in this summer course. Explicit instruction in the word attack components of literacy such as phoneme awareness, code instruction, and fluency will be tailored to meet the specific needs of students who sign up for this course. Listening comprehension, vocabulary and oral language development will also be addressed. Time for snacks and outdoor play will be provided, so please send your child with a nut-free snack. Enrollment is limited to 15 children. This course fills quickly so sign up early!  It is highly recommended that students sign up for all three weeks in order to receive the most benefit from this course. The class material runs for 3 consecutive weeks. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Barbara DeNatale.
    Grade K-1

  • Investigating Informational Text and Uncovering Their Mysteries Using Interactive Reading Strategies

    Students will focus on writing formal expository compositions and a mini research paper. Planning strategies, note-taking, library skills, and organizing factual information into well written sequential paragraphs will be stressed. Great preparation for writing in content subject areas such as social studies and science, and for responding to guided reading questions in language arts and reading classes! Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Emily Schimelman
    Grades 3-6

  • Math Facts and Skills Review

    From understanding number concepts to problem solving, students will be actively involved in their math learning. Stress will be placed on concept and skill development, using a variety of manipulatives, games, and computers. Time will be spent learning basic facts. Student's area of difficulty will be addressed.
    Grades 1-4

  • Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategies

    One goal of this course is to improve reading comprehension, enhance the reading experience through discussion and critical thinking, and motivate students to read more. Comprehension is conquered through a variety of techniques including response centered instruction, direct modeling of reading strategies, literature circles, and invested student discussions.
    Another goal is for students to preview various writing styles, and write, revise, edit, and publish their own book.  The writing process will be studied to improve sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Emily Schimelman.
    Grades 3-6

Week 3 July 13-17 $335

List of 7 items.

  • Builders

    Calling all inventors, creators, builders and designers! Come build some awesome creations with us! We will create our own designs and make structures using recyclable materials, building block and many other interesting items. Skills necessary... none! Skills gained: communication, problem solving, reasoning, developing creativity, and team work. 
     

    Grades 1-2

  • From Cave Art to Soup Cans

    This fun filled one week class will combine an art historical approach to learning with a "hands on" element making every unit exciting and relevant. Students will explore individual Masters, as well as study significant historical art movements in a unique way. Each academic topic will " come alive" with various complimentary hands on art activities.Enjoy the vigorous splattering of paint by becoming an Action Painter like Jackson Pollock, or paint outside "en plein air" style imitating Claude Monet and the Impressionists.Create a cubist self portrait in the style of Picasso or an abstract geometric shaped composition with black lines and primary colors in the non representational style created by Mondrian called Neoplasticism. Soup can paintings inspired by Andy Warhol might even Pop up too!! This studio art class will incorporate art historical figures and enlighten children to the world of art spans beyond the classroom. One visit to the Yale art Gallery will be incorporated into the class.  
     
    Grades 1-6

  • Sounds, Letter, and More

    This program has been designed to foster literacy development through the use of fun and engaging resources, activities, and instructional routines that are based on scientifically-based reading research. Principles of the Haskins Literacy Initiative, which are an integral part of Hamden Hall’s reading program, will be included in this summer course. Explicit instruction in the word attack components of literacy such as phoneme awareness, code instruction, and fluency will be tailored to meet the specific needs of students who sign up for this course. Listening comprehension, vocabulary and oral language development will also be addressed. Time for snacks and outdoor play will be provided, so please send your child with a nut-free snack. Enrollment is limited to 15 children. This course fills quickly so sign up early!  It is highly recommended that students sign up for all three weeks in order to receive the most benefit from this course. The class material runs for 3 consecutive weeks. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Barbara DeNatale.
    Grade K-1

  • The Literacy Workshop

    This Literacy Workshop will engage students in the joys of reading, writing and phonics/word study. It is designed to recognize and build upon individual students’ strengths as well as areas for improvement in literacy. Through the implementation of the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop model students will engage in direct instruction during whole group mini lessons, differentiated small group work and one-on-one conferences which will be tailored to meet the needs of each student. During small group and one-on- one conferring, the remainder of students will work independently on authentic reading andwriting activities to apply and strengthen strategies taught. Reading comprehension, accuracy, fluency and vocabulary as well as the writing process and an understanding of the skills and conventions of
    writing will be taught. Students will receive instruction on high frequency word recognition, phonics and strategies for analyzing and reading multisyllabic words during word study. The Literacy Workshop will meet the needs of each student in a respectful and nurturing environment.
    Enrollment is limited to 15 children. This course fills quickly so sign up early!  It is highly recommended that students sign up for all three weeks in order to receive the most benefit from this course. The class material runs for 3 consecutive weeks.
    Taught by Rosalie Carr
    Grades 2-3

  • Fantastical Fiction Writers Club

    As students preview various writing styles, and write, revise, edit, and publish their own book, they will study the writing process to improve sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. The use of graphic organizers, including Inspiration software on the computer, will be featured as part of the course. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English.

    Grades 3-6

  • Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategies

    One goal of this course is to improve reading comprehension, enhance the reading experience through discussion and critical thinking, and motivate students to read more. Comprehension is conquered through a variety of techniques including response centered instruction, direct modeling of reading strategies, literature circles, and invested student discussions.
    Another goal is for students to preview various writing styles, and write, revise, edit, and publish their own book.  The writing process will be studied to improve sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 

    Grades 3-6

  • Motivating Math Learning Through the Use of Games

    Playing games is a wonderful way to improve student's number sense. Concept and skill development will be stressed using a variety of manipulative materials, games, and computers. A natural improvement in fact knowledge will occur while being immersed in math during the beneficial class. Student's areas of difficulty will be addressed. 
    Grades 3-6

Week 5 July 27 - 31 $335

List of 6 items.

  • Fun with French!

    Embark on a one-week journey into French language and culture! Learning a language is much easier for young children, and the sooner they start to learn, the easier it is. Summer is a great time to let your child try out a new language. A total immersion into the language will result in the immediate production of basic “sentences” through images projected on the SMARTBoard. Fun activities such as songs, games, and outdoors adventures make a fast-start of Spanish language learning in our school. Children will develop their skills, broaden their horizons, make new friends, and be exposed to French!
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Margarita Kuhn-D'Elia
    Grades 1-4

  • Gooey Galaxy - A Far Out Art Experience

    Week 5
    $335

    Get your hands gooey with an art class dedicated to making slime, play dough, moon sand, and more! Learn to create kooky and sometimes spooky art this summer with Gooey Galaxy!

  • Investigating Informational Text and Uncovering Their Mysteries Using Interactive Reading Strategies

    Students will focus on writing formal expository compositions and a mini research paper. Planning strategies, note-taking, library skills, and organizing factual information into well written sequential paragraphs will be stressed. Great preparation for writing in content subject areas such as social studies and science, and for responding to guided reading questions in language arts and reading classes! Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English.

    Grades 3-6

  • Science Palooza!

    Come discover, experiment, and create as we learn about the colliding worlds of art and science in this STEAM-based camp. We will create biomes from around the world, star gaze at constellations, master meteorology, investigate how things work and dabble in chemistry and physics. Put on your learning cap and grab the art supplies because this STEAM camp will rock your world. 
     
    Grades 1-2

  • Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategies

    One goal of this course is to improve reading comprehension, enhance the reading experience through discussion and critical thinking, and motivate students to read more. Comprehension is conquered through a variety of techniques including response centered instruction, direct modeling of reading strategies, literature circles, and invested student discussions.
    Another goal is for students to preview various writing styles, and write, revise, edit, and publish their own book.  The writing process will be studied to improve sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 

    Grades 3-6

  • Math Facts and Skills Review

    From understanding number concepts to problem solving, students will be actively involved in their math learning. Stress will be placed on concept and skill development, using a variety of manipulatives, games, and computers. Time will be spent learning basic facts. Student's area of difficulty will be addressed.
    Grades 3-6

Week 2 July 6-10 $335

List of 6 items.

  • Sounds, Letters, and More

    This program has been designed to foster literacy development through the use of fun and engaging resources, activities, and instructional routines that are based on scientifically-based reading research. Principles of the Haskins Literacy Initiative, which are an integral part of Hamden Hall’s reading program, will be included in this summer course. Explicit instruction in the word attack components of literacy such as phoneme awareness, code instruction, and fluency will be tailored to meet the specific needs of students who sign up for this course. Listening comprehension, vocabulary and oral language development will also be addressed. Time for snacks and outdoor play will be provided, so please send your child with a nut-free snack. Enrollment is limited to 15 children. This course fills quickly so sign up early!  It is highly recommended that students sign up for all three weeks in order to receive the most benefit from this course. The class material runs for 3 consecutive weeks. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Barbara DeNatale.
    Grade K-1

  • The Pay it Forward Workshop

    Pay It Forward is a unique opportunity for students to learn how to impact the world around them. Our leaders will learn about public speaking, civic involvement and community outreach opportunities with an engaging curriculum to channel their desire to have a positive impact on the world around them.

    Grades 2-6

  • The Literacy Workshop

    This Literacy Workshop will engage students in the joys of reading, writing and phonics/word study. It is designed to recognize and build upon individual students’ strengths as well as areas for improvement in literacy. Through the implementation of the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop model students will engage in direct instruction during whole group mini lessons, differentiated small group work and one-on-one conferences which will be tailored to meet the needs of each student. During small group and one-on- one conferring, the remainder of students will work independently on authentic reading andwriting activities to apply and strengthen strategies taught. Reading comprehension, accuracy, fluency and vocabulary as well as the writing process and an understanding of the skills and conventions of
    writing will be taught. Students will receive instruction on high frequency word recognition, phonics and strategies for analyzing and reading multisyllabic words during word study. The Literacy Workshop will meet the needs of each student in a respectful and nurturing environment.
    Enrollment is limited to 15 children. This course fills quickly so sign up early!  It is highly recommended that students sign up for all three weeks in order to receive the most benefit from this course. The class material runs for 3 consecutive weeks.
    Taught by Rosalie Carr
    Grades 2-3

  • Stupendous Story Elements: Understanding Children’s Literature Using Interactive Reading Strategies

    The goals of this course are to improve reading comprehension, enhance the reading experience through discussion and critical thinking, and motivate students to read more. Comprehension is conquered through a variety of techniques including response centered instruction, direct modeling of reading strategies, literature circles, and invested student discussions. IN addition, students will be taught the macrostructure of literature, an appropriate leveled nobel will be assigned and each student will complete activities to practice and demonstrate their skills. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Emily Schimelman
    Grades 3-6

  • Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategies

    One goal of this course is to improve reading comprehension, enhance the reading experience through discussion and critical thinking, and motivate students to read more. Comprehension is conquered through a variety of techniques including response centered instruction, direct modeling of reading strategies, literature circles, and invested student discussions.
    Another goal is for students to preview various writing styles, and write, revise, edit, and publish their own book.  The writing process will be studied to improve sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Emily Schimelman
    Grades 3-6

  • Motivating Math Learning Through the Use of Games

    Playing games is a wonderful way to improve student's number sense. Concept and skill development will be stressed using a variety of manipulative materials, games, and computers. A natural improvement in fact knowledge will occur while being immersed in math during the beneficial class. Student's areas of difficulty will be addressed. 
    Grades 1-4

Week 4 July 20 -24 $335

List of 5 items.

  • Chess Wizards

    Join us this Summer for tons of challenging chess lessons, exciting games, and cool prizes. You'II improve your chess skills, meet new friends, and work out your most powerful muscle - your brain!

    Unleash your brain power and spend some of your break time with Chess Wizards!

    Grades 1-6

  • Promising Poets Writers Club

    This course is designed to introduce young students to the elements of creative writing. Poetry and story writing will be areas of emphasis. Children will learn the tools creative writers utilize to create interesting and imaginative pieces.

    Grades 3-6

  • Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategies

    One goal of this course is to improve reading comprehension, enhance the reading experience through discussion and critical thinking, and motivate students to read more. Comprehension is conquered through a variety of techniques including response centered instruction, direct modeling of reading strategies, literature circles, and invested student discussions.
    Another goal is for students to preview various writing styles, and write, revise, edit, and publish their own book.  The writing process will be studied to improve sentence structure, grammar, paragraph skills, and vocabulary. Suitable for English language learners who have a basic understanding of English. 

    Grades 3-6

  • Math Facts and Skills Review

    From understanding number concepts to problem solving, students will be actively involved in their math learning. Stress will be placed on concept and skill development, using a variety of manipulatives, games, and computers. Time will be spent learning basic facts. Student's area of difficulty will be addressed.
    Grades 1-4

  • Art Around the Globe

    Pack your bag for a one week adventure traveling through different countries and cultures through the eyes of an artist!! Crawl inside a cave in France and Spain, explore their cave art and then learn to imitate primitive animal images that resemble those from years ago. Continue your travels to the colorful countries in Africa, where you will then paint a canvas of an African animal or design a personal hamsa reminiscent of those on houses in The Middle East. Discover an Aborigine form of art, or weave a Mexican Gods Eye with brightly colored yarn and sticks. Cultures come alive and the students will appreciate many different lands in a new "hands on" way. Join the trip, it is a once in a lifetime artistic adventure.
     
    Grades 1-6

Week 6 Aug 3 - Aug 7 $335

List of 5 items.

  • Beads, Bracelets, and More!

    Come learn new friendship bracelet making techniques.

    Create a beautiful beaded bracelet for yourself or a loved one.

    Have fun while making wearable art!

    Grades 1-6
    $335

  • Creative Journaling

    What are you waiting for?! Join the craze of journaling, calligraphy and hand lettering. Perfect your own style of writing while creating a one of a kind journal and writing utensils. Our camp will spark your creative writing juice and ignite your inner artist!


    Grades 3-6

  • Out of this World

    5, 4, 3, 2, 1 blast off to a galaxy far, far 
    away to learn about Earth and the amazing solar system. Discover all things galactic such as comets, planets, shooting stars, rockets and more. Learn about flight, the adventures of space travel, and participate in a rocket launch! 
     

    Grades 1-2

  • Whiz Kids

    Grades 3-6
    $335

    Join us on a science discovery mission! We will explore the world of science through everyday objects, experiments and encounters. This camp will enhance the STEM education philosophies with a big punch of fun. Physics, biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy and zoology will all be covered in the camp.

  • Having Fun While Learning Spanish

    Embark on a one-week journey into Spanish language and culture! Learning a language is much easier for young children, and the sooner they start to learn, the easier it is. Summer is a great time to let your child try out a new language. A total immersion into the language will result in the immediate production of basic “sentences” through images projected on the SMARTBoard. Fun activities such as songs, games, and outdoors adventures make a fast-start of Spanish language learning in our school. Children will develop their skills, broaden their horizons, make new friends, and be exposed to Spanish!
    Taught by Hamden Hall's Margarita Kuhn-D'Elia
    Grades 1-4

Hamden Hall Country Day School

1108 Whitney Avenue
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.

Social