List of 11 items.

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  Upcoming Events

  Impact-a-thon:

  
  

  Mark your calendars: this April, the Hopkins Impact-a-thon is back! We'll come together for two weeks to work on a different social issue, combining education, advocacy, and action to create meaningful change. 

  
  

  Last year's focus, disability advocacy, highlighted the power of inclusion and community engagement, leaving a lasting impact on participants and beyond. Highlights included meal prep with Chapel Haven for Sunrise Cafe in New Haven, autism awareness training with Luv Micheal, and a Special Olympics luau-themed dance. This year, we're raising the bar with an exciting new focus—stay tuned for the big reveal! 

  
  

  Whether you're a returning advocate or new to the Impact-a-thon, there's a place for everyone to contribute and make a difference. Together, we’ll celebrate the power of student-driven solutions and build momentum for change.

  
  

  More details coming soon—get ready to make your mark!
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  Polar Plunge Recap

  On January 16, the Hopkins community came together for the Maroon Key-led Penguin Plunge Fundraiser, supporting the Special Olympics of Connecticut. The Special Olympics is an incredible organization that provides athletic events and essential medical care for athletes with intellectual disabilities, making a positive impact in communities across the state.

  
  

  Held on the last day of exams, students and faculty alike had the opportunity to take a chilly plunge while raising awareness for the vital work of the Special Olympics! We played lots of fun pool games and ate yummy treats from the bake sale. It was a great festive way to end exams. 

  
  

  By the end of the event, we had raised 1,200 DOLLARS for Special Olympics! This is truly an incredible feat, and we want to thank everyone who donated and plunged. Our community’s ability to come together in support of a cause is truly inspiring, and we can’t thank you enough! 

  
  

  The Penguin Plunge Fundraiser was a perfect blend of fun and philanthropy, showcasing the Hopkins community's dedication to giving back while fostering a sense of togetherness. It was truly a splash for a great cause.

  
  

  If you’d like to volunteer with Special Olympics, information about their Winter Olympics is below. 
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  Polar Plunge!

  Maroon Key is leading a Penguin Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics of CT, an organization that provides athletic events and medical care for athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

   

  On the last day of exams, January 16, the Hopkins community will get the chance to plunge into the Hopkins pool for a pool party. We will have music, food, and a fun time! It is a chance to celebrate the end of the term while raising awareness for the Special Olympics and their work in our community. 

   

  We are hoping to raise $1000, so please donate at whatever level you can to join the plunge:

  • $10 - Penguin
  • $15 - Puffin
  • $20 - Narwhal
  • $25 - Polar Bear
  • +$25 - Beluga

  Click here to make your donation. Students can also bring in cash and donate at our table during lunch.
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  Debate Showcase Recap

  A week before the Holiday Fair, Maroon Key partnered with the Debate Club and StuCo for the CFBF debate showcase to raise awareness around international food insecurity. After learning about CFBF, students had the opportunity to debate the officers on topics of their choice (should Santa be arrested for breaking and entering?).
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  Annual Toy Drive Recap

  The Toy drive is an annual event where Maroon Key works with the St. Luke’s Church to bring gifts to families in the greater New Haven area. This year, with our holiday themed table and many volunteers, the Toy drive was able to donate more than 150 gifts in less than two weeks! Thank you to everyone who supported us along the way!
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  Holiday Fair Recap

  On Wednesday, December 18th, the Holiday Fair brought warmth and cheer to Upper Heath as students, faculty, and families came together to celebrate the season and support meaningful causes.  From baked goods to handmade crafts, student-run booths offered a variety of holiday treats and gifts. Proceeds from sales went to support the clubs and charitable initiatives like Project Access New Haven and NXTHVN. Student performers such as Jazz Combo, Peaches, Triple Trio, Harmonaires, and many others added to the magic of the event. Thank you to everyone who participated, performed, and supported the Holiday Fair. Together, we made this season a little brighter!

• STUCO AND MKB PARTNERSHIP

  
  

  Most recently the board has partnered with the Student Council for the school-wide fundraising effort for the Connecticut Foodshare. Already students have volunteered at the Connecticut Foodshare in Wallingford to sort and pack turnips and understand more about the organization itself. Maroon Key also created opportunities for students to learn more about food insecurity; Chef Duff from Sunrise Cafe came one Wednesday during activities period for a Q&A, and advisor groups took part in a lesson plan and poster making activity. 

• RECAP!

  The Maroon KeyBoard has been working hard this year! 
  
  DRESS TO IMPRESS X CLOTHING DRIVE

  

  
  The annual St. Luke’s Clothing Drive led by Lily Dumas, Veena Scholand, and Ellie Luo was a huge success. The J-School, Middle School, and Senior School competed in a new Dress to Impress Competition with a goal of getting more support from the student body; highlights include Maroon Key’s fashion runway skit at Back to School Bash and a spirit week themed finale in assembly. The donation turnout was truly impressive, and we are very grateful to all who donated! 
  
  

  Pictured above are Board members Liliana Dumas and Veena Scholand standing in front of all the donations at St. Luke's.
  
  

  HARTFORD & FOOD INSECURITY 
  
  
  The weekend before Thanksgiving Break, Maroon Key hosted a community service retreat in Hartford, CT. The retreat focused on food insecurity, providing many opportunities for a group of Hopkins middle and senior schoolers to volunteer and bond. We started our journey at the CT Foodshare in Wallingford, where we sorted tomatoes for donation the next day. Then we headed up North and learned more about combating food insecurity systematically at the restaurant and small store Fire by Forge. The next morning, we volunteered at Union Baptist Church to help hand out boxes of food and turkeys for Thanksgiving. Our last stop was Levo International, where we helped build hydroponic farming structures and learned a lot about sustainable farming and food deserts. We ended our day baking pies to donate, playing Just Dance, and preparing for a student-run breakfast the next morning! We had a lot of great discussions and a ton of fun. 
  
  

• POLAR PLUNGE

  This year, Maroon Key is partnering with the Special Olympics to host a polar plunge event the THURSDAY AFTER EXAMS. The plunge will be hosted in the AC pool. There will be snacks, drinks, music, and overall a fun time! 
  
  

  Here’s how you can participate:

  First, create a team with your friends. Once your team hits a donation goal, you will earn the opportunity to jump into the pool at the polar plunge party! Teams are encouraged to dress in a theme/costume of their choosing. There will be more information available at the Holiday Fair— look for Jesse and Ethan wearing penguin onesies! 

  
  

• HOLIDAY FAIR

  
  

  
  Our 2nd annual Holiday Fair will be held on Wednesday, December 18th in Upper Heath. Your favorite community service clubs, such as Act to Aid or Feminism Coalition, will be hosting cookie decorating, holiday games, or selling handmade items. Activities range from $1 – $5, so be sure to bring money! We hope to see you all there. 

  
  

• ST. LUKE'S TOY DRIVE

  
  

  
  We are thrilled to announce that sign-ups for our annual Toy Drive are now open!!!  Every year, the Maroon Key works with St. Luke’s Church to provide gifts for children in the Greater New Haven area. With a small ounce of generosity, you can provide families with gifts of their choice, and spread some holiday cheer. Our goal is to provide 150 kids with gifts for the holidays. 

  
  

  If you’re interested in donating, sign up here! If a gift is expensive, we recommend splitting the cost with your advisor group, team, or friends and buying a group gift. The Toy Drive will run from December 2-13, so mark the dates on your calendar! 

  
  

  Please wrap and clearly label your gift (with the child’s name and number) and place it on the designated table in Upper Heath. If you forget to wrap it, don’t worry, you can also wrap your gift at the wrapping station we set up.