The Valentine Cookie Sale has been a heartfelt tradition at Hamden Hall since 1942 when the kindergarten and connecting classes held a candy and bake sale to benefit the Junior Red Cross. According to the Feb. 18, 1942, HHCDS Register News: “The children sold candy and valentines, which they had made, to pupils in the upper grades and high school. All purchases were made with pennies so that the young boys and girls could manage the sales.” In 1969, the tradition was touted in Scholastic Teacher magazine because of its educational experience for the school's youngest students in areas of home economics, business, human relations, teamwork, and consumer education. They also learn self-discipline as they are not allowed to sample the cookies,” the magazine noted. 

In 1982, the Valentine's Day tradition was broadened by then-PreKindergarten teacher Katharine Harris (who later became Director of Lower School Admissions). The ever-creative Kathie came up with a marketing idea for the bake sale that spawned a new tradition for the school: the shirting ceremony. “I was talking to the students about what a commercial is, and I told them we were going to go to the Upper School and do a commercial to get them to buy cookies,” she explained. To sweeten the pot a bit,  Kathie also suggested acknowledging those students who had spent their entire careers at Hamden Hall and gifting them with T-shirts that were virtually walking advertisements for the bake sale! Thus the shirting of the “lifers” was born. "The children drew cookies with their names on them and we had them printed on the shirts. It was a fun way to celebrate love and family in addition to being a learning experience.” 

We are proud to have continued these two wonderful traditions, both of which have milestone anniversaries this year: our Valentine Bake Sale has taken place for 80 years and our Lifers' Shirting Ceremony celebrates 40 years. On Feb. 14, 2022, our youngest students will host their annual cookie and baked goods sale, and on Feb. 4, we will celebrate our 2022 Lifers.