ADVANCEMENT NEWS
 We did it! We reached our goal for our Giving Tuesday Challenge, and we couldn’t have done it without your help and generosity! Thank you to our Trustees, families, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff! Your gifts help enhance the Hamden Hall Experience for our students today and tomorrow!
As 2021 comes to a close, please remember that it’s important to make charitable gifts by December 31 to maximize tax deductions for the current calendar year. We hope you will consider Hamden Hall in your year-end philanthropic giving. Click here to give. Auction Pick-Up Reminder: Please pick up all auction items by Friday, December 17, in the Advancement Office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Email Carissa Civitello with any questions at ccivitello@hamdenhall.org.
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ALUMNI BUZZ
Alumnus Returns to Lead Wrestling and Lacrosse Programs
 Kiernan Griffin, Class of 2000, has returned home to Hamden Hall to lead both the Wrestling and Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse teams. Click here to read more.
It’s a Marathoner’s Pace for 2013 Alumnae
 Class of 2013 alumnae Avery Giorgio and Claire Brigham can add New York Marathon finishers to their resumes. The former classmates completed the race and raised funds for their individual causes. Click here to read more.
1994 Alumnus Named Realtor of the Year
 Douglas Blackwood, Class of 1994 and a current parent at Hamden Hall, has been named Realtor of the Year by New Haven Middlesex Realtors. He joined Calcagni Real Estate in 2017. Click here to read more. |
SAVE THE DATE!
- Now-Dec.15: All School Holiday Book and Toy Drive.
- Dec. 10-Dec. 17: Lower School Book Fair.
- Dec.10-Dec 11: Middle School Musical, Game Changers Cabaret, 7 p.m., Taylor Performing Arts Center.
- Dec 13: Middle School Ensemble and Upper School Orchestral Concert, 7 p.m., Taylor Gymnasium.
- Dec. 14: Choral Winter Concert, 7 p.m., Taylor Performing Arts Center.
- Dec 15: All School Holiday Theme Day- Hat and Sock Day.
- Dec 17: All School Holiday Theme Day - Festive Sweater Day.
- Dec. 20-Dec. 31: School closed, Winter Break.
- Jan. 3: Classes Resume.
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HALLERS OF FAME
 Junior Julian Lord was selected to attend the virtual NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference. The four-day conference brings together student leaders from across the U.S and abroad to learn and discuss social and cultural topics. According to Julian, the conference was one of the most positive places and the discussions changed Julian's views and opinions on different topics. "I plan to take the things I've learned at the conference to improve the surrounding community," Julian noted. |
SPORTING HORNETS
 Senior Ben James signed a National Letter of Intent to play golf at the University of Virginia. He is currently ranked as the No. 2 junior golfer by the American Junior Golf Association.Senior Cameron Maldonado signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I baseball at Northeastern University.
 Senior Christian Scanlon signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I baseball at Merrimack College.
 The Winter Sports Season is officially under way. Stay tuned for updates happening on the court, the rink, in the gym, and in the pool. Two new coaches join our team: Jen Lyman as Director of Aquatics and Head Coach of Swimming and Diving; and Kiernan Griffin, Class of 2000, as Head Coach of Wrestling and Boys' Lacrosse.
The Boys' Varsity Basketball team started the new season off strong with a 52-24 win over The Masters School in their home opener last week. Click here to read more. The Girls' Varsity Basketball team welcomes six new players to the roster as the team eagerly opened its season against Greenwich Day School with an impressive 82-54 win. Click here to read more. The Girls' Varsity Soccer team earned the #2 seed position in the New England Class D Tournament last month and faced Lexington Christian. Click here to read more. Congratulations to the Varsity Volleyball team, which won the NEPSAC Sportsmanship Award according to Athletics Director David Doyle. |
SCHOOL STORE
 With the weather cooling down, be sure to stay warm by purchasing our classic winter jacket and beanie to match. Reminder: the holiday season is in full swing and our online school store makes gift giving a breeze. Click here to check out all clothing and merchandise. |
| | Volume: XII Issue: 6
December 9, 2021
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Honoring the Passing of Three Former Hamden Hall Leaders
 Former Head of School James R. Maggart, Trustee Ann Marie G. Drabkin, and President Emeritus Alan I. Mossberg.
Three former leaders of our school community who were stalwart supporters of Hamden Hall’s mission of excellence died within weeks of one another in November.
Hamden Hall’s eighth head of school, James R. Maggart, 81, passed away November 19; while former Trustees Ann Marie Greenfield Drabkin, 86, and Alan I. Mossberg, 89, died November 13 and November 7 respectively.
While all three served during different decades for the most part, they nonetheless remained engaged following their tenures. Both Mrs. Drabkin and Mr. Mossberg continued their family’s legacy under the pines through their grandchildren, and Mr. Maggart was a familiar face over the years at football and basketball games as well as other school events.
Mr. Maggart presided at the helm for 13 years before retiring in May 2004. During his tenure, Jim was credited for helping Hamden Hall achieve a superb academic standing within the greater community and establishing a strong fiscal direction for the school. As a tennis aficionado and the coach of Hamden Hall’s Varsity Tennis team for 12 years, the school’s tennis courts are named in his honor. The James R. Maggart Scholarship Fund was also established upon his retirement in honor of his lifelong commitment to education. Click here to read his complete obituary.
For more than a decade, Mrs. Drabkin served on the Hamden Hall Board of Trustees, completing her tenure in 1993. She served as Board Secretary for eight years.
She and her husband, the late Leonard Drabkin, enrolled their four daughters, all of whom graduated from Hamden Hall: Susan Drabkin, Class of 1979, Cynthia Drabkin du Bell, Class of 1981, Lois Drabkin, Class of 1987, and Karen Drabkin, Class of 1991. Ann’s granddaughter, Skyler du Bell, graduated from Hamden Hall in 2014. Grandson Beckett du Bell is currently a senior at Hamden Hall. Click here to read her complete obituary.
Having served as President of the Hamden Hall Board of Trustees for 17 of his 24 years on the board, Mr. Mossberg was the school’s inaugural President Emeritus. He was instrumental in obtaining the original lease to the land that is now home to the Skiff Street Athletic Complex.
Mr. Mossberg joined the board in the mid-1960s at the invitation of the late F. Morgan “Buzz” Taylor Jr. who was stepping down as a trustee. He left the board in 1988 after having devoted his time, treasure, and talent to our school community.
Alan was pre-deceased by his wife Jayne and is survived by his four children: Linnea, who formerly worked at Hamden Hall as an assistant PreKindergarten teacher; Gretchen Mossberg Highsmith, Class of 1975; Alan “Iver” Mossberg, Class of 1978; and Jonathan Mossberg, Class of 1983. Two of Alan’s grandchildren also graduated from Hamden Hall: Karly, Class of 2005; and Tara, Class of 2004. Click here to read his complete obituary.
Middle School Musical Returns to Stage
 The video production component of the Middle School's production of Game Changers Cabaret.Live musical theatre returns to the stage and director/faculty member Karl Gasteyer could not be more ecstatic. The production titled Game Changers Cabaret will run December 10-11 at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Performing Arts Center.
“It is an incredible feeling to put live theater back on stage, even with precautions in place,” said Karl. “The students have been graciously stepping up, making sure all the work is done efficiently from stage design to camera work to props. It was really missed, and now we can bring the spirit of live theatre back to campus.”
The musical will be presented in a hybrid format with groups of students performing live on stage while video recordings of other performers are displayed in the background. To achieve this format, students spent time in the Taylor trailers learning choreography and dialogue. Rehearsals ran from September through December with time blocked off after school for all cast members involved. Green screens were placed in front of walls as students were recorded. The edited recordings will be playing throughout the live production.
Additionally, the Theatre Department will be holding auditions for the Upper School musical, Beauty and the Beast, on Wednesday, December 15, from 3-6 p.m. and Thursday, December 16, from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. All auditions are by appointment only.
Instrumental and Choral Students Awarded Regional Competition Spots
 Sixteen instrumental and choral students have been selected to attend Regionals.The success of Hamden Hall’s music program continues as both instrumental and choral students have earned spots to attend the Southern Region High School Music Festival sponsored by the Connecticut Music Educators’ Association.
The three instrumental representatives include: Senior Bailey Smoko who was selected on trumpet for Jazz Ensemble as well as classical trumpet; sophomore Levi Johnson on tenor saxophone for Jazz Ensemble; and freshman Sissi Zhang on violin for Orchestra.
The 13 choral student representatives include: Seniors Helen Chen, Chloé Curtiss, Ashley Hu, Gabriela Rosen, Sophie Schonberger, and Georgia Yu; juniors Vaani Chopra, Cooper DeGirolomo, Justinian Ding, Analiese Driscoll, and Candice Yang, and sophomore Monte Meng and freshman Jacob Schonberger.
Other Happenings:
Grade 5 Students Learn Trade Skills with Blacksmithing Workshop
 Grade 5 students and blacksmith Chip strike the hot steel with a hammer to create an "S" hook.
The rhythmic tapping of a hammer against heated steel echoed in the courtyard recently as fifth-grade students learned the art of blacksmithing. The workshop program is part
of the school’s partnership with Mystic Seaport for students in Grades 4 and 5.
On a chilly, yet sunny morning, groups of students along with Grade 5 teachers Lisa Collins and Monica Emanuelson gathered around a caged forge that reached 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. From there, they first received a history lesson in blacksmithing.
Chip, Mystic Seaport Museum’s expert blacksmith, has been visiting and
teaching lessons at Hamden Hall for several years. He proceeded to demonstrate
the process step-by-step including how to tend to the fire, pump the bellows,
hold a hammer correctly, the motion at which to strike the metal, and how
to rotate the object to achieve the desired shape.
Ring in the Holiday Season Early with Student Winter Concert
Hamden Hall's Music Department will perform its instrumental and choral winter concerts on December 13 and 14, respectively, at 7 p.m. The instrumental concert will take place in Taylor Gymnasium while the choral concert will be staged in the Taylor Performing Arts Center.
The instrumental program will feature two songs played by the Middle School Ensemble, directed by Ms. Gretchen Frazier. Following the ensemble will be the Upper School Orchestra with their choice of select songs, student solos, chamber groups, and an original composition performance. The orchestra is directed by instrumental music teacher Melissa Hudson.
The students are excited to appear together in person and look forward to sharing their love of music, according to Ms. Hudson.
The Choral Concert will feature works spanning almost 400 years of music history. Students will be singing Italian arts songs, a full contemporary mass setting, and a Mendelssohn set of pieces excerpted from his oratorios. Songs will be sung in English, Mandarin, German, Italian, and Ukrainian, noted Middle and Upper School music teacher Matt Harrison.
"Our collaborative pianist is the director of opera studies at The University of Connecticut, Jill Brunelle," said Mr. Harrison.
 Give a Book or Toy and Enjoy! Holiday Drive in Full Swing
Please join the Hamden Hall community as all three school divisions are participating in a Holiday Book and Toy Drive.
Families wishing to participate may donate new, unwrapped toys, games, or books that will be donated to the town of Hamden Community Services Department at the Keefe Community Center.
Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, December 15.
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