In the World Junior Figure Skating Championships held on Nov. 28 and 29 in Zagreb, Croatia, North Middle School student Sarah Hughes took second place out of 44 contestants from 39 countries. Her family joined her there for Thanksgiving.

This is not the first time in her 13 years that Ms. Hughes has been awarded prizes for her figure skating skill. She has earned many awards. The North Middle School has arranged a special schedule for her, so that she can study at the Parkwood rink after school hours and travel to the various events in which she takes part. She will compete in the nationals in Salt Lake City in February.

Sarah is the fourth child of Amy Hughes, a CPA, and John, a lawyer whose early hockey playing at Cornell University, where he was captain of the undefeated team in the '69-'70 season, is believed by his family to have sparked the interest of the children in skating. ''I guess it's not surprising that a Canadian like my husband would be involved with ice skating,'' said Mrs. Hughes.

Rebecca, the oldest child, is at Harvard University; David plays hockey in Chicago, where he goes to school; Matthew is on not one but two hockey teams at the Portledge school; Emily will be in the junior Olympics in March, and even Taylor, who is the youngest, has already distinguished herself by winning some gold medals for skating. Emily and Taylor are participants in a Christmas show at the Wollman rink. ''Our golden retriever, Sport, is the only member of the family who has no interest in ice skating,'' said Mrs. Hughes. ''He was on the ice once, and had to be slid off.''

On Dec. 19 Sarah Hughes went to Vail, Colorado, to participate in a Christmas show, at the request of the organizers of the show, Turner Broadcasting. And there will no doubt be many more reports of her appearances as a champion figure skater in the future. ''With the help of my wonderful coach, Robin Wagner, and my instructor, Jeff DiGregorio, I hope to be a contender for an Olympic gold medal in the future,'' said Ms. Hughes, ''but I'm not neglecting my studies, either. One never knows.'' On her return from Croatia, she wrote a report on that location for her social studies class.