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All About Junior School

What is the Junior School?

The 7th and 8th grades comprise our middle school at Hopkins, which we call the Junior School or "J-School."

J-School is a small, comfortable neighborhood within the Hopkins campus community where our youngest students learn from teachers who are both experienced educators and compassionate people who understand how to help students reach for more.

There are no boundaries between 7th and 8th graders. They know each other by name and are part of the same close-knit, independent school environment. Shared spaces and experiences create a culture of support and acceptance that allows academic, athletic, social and emotional challenges to be met and overcome. J-School sets in motion everything a middle school child needs to succeed at Hopkins.

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  • All About 7th Grade

    Grade 7 at Hopkins School is a year filled with a great deal of personal growth, development of important new skills, and the establishment of a love of learning.
    Grade 7 Head Adviser: Jocelyn Garrity


    Seventh-graders go through a period of change from their former schools as they adjust to more homework and learn to study effectively, manage time, and organize their new lives. Created by supportive teachers and advisers, the generally nurturing environment of the School is conducive to the inevitable adjustment required of students given new responsibilities. In addition, faculty and advisers communicate frequently with new parents, helping to ease the student's entry into the Junior School.

    The primary components of 7th grade at Hopkins are the promotion of excellent study skills, introduction to and development of analytical writing proficiency, encouragement of experimentation and exploration, and fostering a sense of belonging in the Junior School and larger Hopkins community. This sense of unity starts with a class outing to the Durham Fair in September, a memorable social event for the 7th-graders to get to know one another outside the classroom.

    As a group, the Junior School faculty aspires to guide these young people to become confident, caring, and intelligent human beings who love the adventure of learning.

    Curriculum in Grade 7
    Students in Grade 7 take History, English, Latin (required), Math (course determined after diagnostic testing in the spring and students previous math experience) and Science.

    Arts in Grade 7
    During Grade 7, a different aspect of art—Studio Art, Drama, and either Instrumental Ensemble or Vocal Arts—is introduced during each of the first three quarters. The emphasis is on learning the basic crafts of each art form and having fun. Students choose to continue in one of these disciplines for the final quarter.

    Athletics in Grade 7
    Junior School Athletics meet for one hour Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during the school day, with interscholastic contests usually on Wednesdays.

    Students in Grade 7 are required to participate in a team sport for the Fall term, to encourage socialization and physical fitness. For Winter and Spring, students can choose an informal, an interscholastic, or an independent activity.
     

  • All About 8th Grade

    Teachers and advisers strive to achieve three primary goals by the end of a student’s 8th grade year. First, the Junior School faculty works to strengthen the students’ academic skills and prepare them for their high school careers.
    Grade 8 Head Adviser: Ian Guthrie
    Specifically, we work on further developing organizational skills, time management, and strategies for studying. We also work closely with the students to encourage their personal development; respect, honesty, and appropriate behaviors are emphasized at all times.

    Second, we encourage our students to be independent thinkers. The Junior School is a safe, nurturing environment and is the ideal place for young minds to stretch and develop.

    Finally, we aim to create interdependence within the class as a whole. By 8th grade the students feel more comfortable with each other, allowing them to start them thinking about who they are (and who they would like to be) as a class. We begin this process by taking the entire 8th grade onto the Adam Kreiger Adventure Course for a day in September. While Hopkins’ demanding curriculum is rigorous and challenging, the environment we strive to maintain in the Junior School is a non-competitive one.

    Curriculum in Grade 8
    Students in Grade 8 take History, English, Math and Science, and may choose a Modern Language: Chinese, French, Italian or Spanish, or Latin.
    *Math placement will be determined for new students based on spring diagnostic testing and a student’s previous math experience.

    Arts in Grade 8
    During Grade 8, students select one of the following offerings each term: Drama, Instrumental Ensemble, Studio Art, Vocal Arts or Wood Art.

    Athletics in Grade 8
    Junior School Athletics meet for one hour Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during the school day, with interscholastic contests usually on Wednesdays.

    Students in Grade 8 are required to do something athletic in nature every term: interscholastic, informal, or independent options are available.
     

Home on the Hill: Ian Guthrie Talking About the Junior School Experience

J School Interscholastic Sport Offerings

Sports schedule at Hopkins school

Junior School Activities

Junior School activities meet on Fridays during activity period. There are three 8-week sessions during the academic year.  Students will take Healthy Body, Healthy Mind for one of those 8-week sessions and will rank their choices for what activities they do for the other two sessions.  They attend the same activity for 8 consecutive weeks. Additionally, students may participate in Science Quiz Bowl or Math Counts, which are both after school activities and begin in the Fall. Below are some examples of Junior School activities offered.

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  • Adventurers Guild

    The Junior School Adventurers Guild is an activity where students new to the game can come together to play Dungeons & Dragons.  Players will go on adventures, fight monsters, discover treasure, and explore a mystical world.  D&D promotes teamwork, creativity, memory building, and math skills!  (Fall, Winter - limited spaces)

  • Asian Cooking and Culture

    Love food? Love fun? In this activity, students will cook tasty Asian snacks and meals, learn cool cooking tricks, and try out flavors from dumplings to noodles. Students will also explore the awesome traditions, games, and stories behind the food. Bring your appetite and your curiosity  (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Bowling Buddies

    Join an exciting and inclusive activity where Hopkins students form one-on-one friendships with peers from The Foundation School who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Together, we’ll build an inclusive bowling team, enjoy fun games and activities, and make meaningful connections. You’ll also learn about organizations and nonprofits that empower people of all abilities and gain a deeper understanding of accessibility and advocacy. Be part of a team where everyone wins! (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Bugs and Botany

    Love the outdoors and tiny creatures? Each week we’ll explore campus, search for insects and plants, then head inside for hands-on labs—observing specimens like real scientists under microscopes. From pollinators to the hidden life of leaves, there’s something new every week. No homework—just curiosity, fresh air, and a chance to explore, collect, and be amazed. (Fall, Spring)

  • Chess Club

    Do you like to play chess? Do you want to learn? Then the chess club is for you! Whether you are advanced, play occasionally, or have never played at all, you will develop skills and refine your strategic thinking.  Join the club and see what it’s all about! (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Coding Club

    Coding Club teaches students some basic coding concepts. Students will work with an online platform to learn Python code. All levels, from absolute beginners to experts, are welcome. Students will be allowed to work at their own pace, but can collaborate with their peers if desired. (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Crafting

    Are you a crafty person? Do you want to be a crafty person? Do you like clay, string, yarn, paper, markers, crayons, beads, and glue? This activity is for you! Each week, we will make a new craft using different media and have fun being creative. Ideas from participants will be welcome. Come and have fun! (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Debate

    Junior School Debate introduces students to the parliamentary debate format - the most popular and fastest-growing form of debating in the world.  As you learn to debate, you will join a global community of thinkers and competitors with whom you may engage in argument and public speaking. (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Healthy Body, Healthy Mind (required)

    This program aims to share information about health and well-being and address questions students may have about topics that may be important in their lives. The program is not just about physical health but mental and emotional health as well. (Required)
    • Grade 7  personal relationships and boundary setting, stress reduction and mindfulness, sleep and its effect on learning and memory, and nutrition. 
    • Grade 8 addresses stress and how it affects one’s health, body image, alcohol and drug use/effects, and the impacts of social media use on mental/emotional health. 

  • Hilltopper (J School student newspaper)

    Do you want to write for the Junior School newspaper? Hilltopper offers students the opportunity to report on school events and experience different aspects of journalistic articles, from straight news to features. Students also design and write their own pieces.  (Fall, Winter, Spring)

  • Improvisation / Public Speaking (8th grade only)

    This activity helps students become comfortable speaking in front of a large group by discussing good public speaking habits, rehearsing fun improvisational games incorporating those habits, and performing them at JS lunch. (8th Grade only, Fall, Winter) 

  • Jazz Lab

    The Jazz Lab is a club for any Junior School student interested in learning more about jazz and improvisation. The group will rehearse a variety of songs and styles and learn tools to improvise over blues and other basic chord progressions. All instrumentalists are welcome, though students should have a basic understanding of how to read music. (Winter, Spring)
     

  • Junior School Chorus (Fall only)

    Do you have a voice? Of course you do! Join the Junior School Chorus and experience the fun of raising your voice with others in song! We'll make new friends, learn some really amazing music, and perform at the Winter Concert in December at Yale University along with the high school choirs and orchestra. No experience necessary - come and give it a try! (Fall only)

  • Junior School Play (Spring only)

    Join the fun as the Junior School rehearses, runs the technical theater aspects, and performs the first JS musical Matilda! in the newly renovated Academic and Performing Arts Center! (Spring only)

  • Model United Nations

    Step into the shoes of a UN delegate! Junior School Model UN is your chance to dive into global diplomacy, learning about different countries and tackling real-world issues. You'll sharpen your public speaking, research, and teamwork skills while preparing for a real conference simulation at the end of the session. This is a great way to get ready for our Hopkins Model UN conference in the Spring, which Junior School students are invited to attend. (Fall, Winter, Spring - can only do once)

  • Robotics

    In this activity, students will develop engineering skills by designing, building, and coding a robot capable of completing specific tasks. Working collaboratively in teams, they will assemble the hardware and program their robot using the Java programming language. Students will also have the opportunity to design a custom add-on for their robot, which they will showcase during an in-class challenge. (Winter, Spring)

Set Your Curiosity Free

Hopkins School seeks highly self-motivated applicants who are academically prepared and whose talents and intellectual curiosity will enable them to take advantage of the challenging curriculum and rich resources offered by the School. Find out more below!
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986 Forest Road
New Haven, Connecticut 06515
(203) 397-1001
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Ranked #1 Private Day School
in Connecticut
Hopkins is a private middle school and high school for grades 7-12. Located on a campus overlooking New Haven, CT, the School takes pride in its intellectually curious students as well as its dedicated faculty and staff.
Hopkins School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.