Hamden, CT — June 29, 2026 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) has been awarded a $1,500 grant from the Hamden Rotary Club to support its Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools partnership with Church Street School in Hamden during the 2026-2027 school year.
The grant will help expand arts-integrated learning opportunities for students through AFLCT’s flagship HOT Schools initiative, a comprehensive school transformation model that embeds the arts throughout teaching and learning. The funding will support collaborations between professional Teaching Artists and classroom educators, providing students with engaging arts experiences that strengthen creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Church Street School has been a valued HOT Schools partner, working alongside AFLCT to integrate the arts into everyday instruction while fostering a school culture that celebrates creativity, student voice, and meaningful learning. Through classroom residencies, professional development, collaborative planning, and schoolwide arts experiences, the partnership helps educators use the arts as a powerful tool to deepen student engagement and academic achievement.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Hamden Rotary Club for investing in the students and educators at Church Street School,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “Community partnerships like this make it possible for us to bring high-quality arts learning into classrooms where it has a lasting impact on both students and teachers. Hamden Rotary’s support reflects a shared commitment to helping every child reach their full potential.”
The HOT Schools model is designed to create lasting change by integrating arts learning across the entire school community rather than through isolated programs. Professional Teaching Artists work side-by-side with classroom teachers to develop arts-integrated lessons that enrich academic content, encourage creative expression, and build stronger connections between students, educators, and families.
“We’re proud to partner with organizations like the Hamden Rotary Club that believe in the transformative power of education and the arts,” said Jed Kornbluh, Director of Business Development at Arts for Learning Connecticut. “This investment helps ensure that Church Street School students continue to benefit from innovative, arts-rich learning experiences that prepare them for success both inside and outside the classroom.”
The Hamden Rotary Club has a longstanding tradition of supporting educational initiatives and community organizations that improve the quality of life throughout Hamden. This grant reflects the club’s ongoing commitment to investing in opportunities that strengthen local schools and create brighter futures for young people.
About Higher Order Thinking Schools
The Higher Order Thinking Schools program is a comprehensive initiative integrating arts learning into the core curriculum to improve school and student outcomes. Its goals are to improve student engagement, enrich school culture, and expand teacher practice. It is built on the belief that arts learning promotes higher-order thinking and develops skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. HOT Schools partner schools are characterized by their focus on Social and Emotional Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching practice, and school culture, fostering an environment where every student is encouraged to engage actively in their learning. The program has been recognized nationally for its innovative approach to education and its success in enhancing student achievement.