Halifax Grammar School

The school is on a single campus at 945 Tower Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2Y2, in the South End of Halifax, within walking distance of Dalhousie University and across the street from Saint Mary's University.

Junior Primary (Age 4) through Senior School (Grade 12), all on one campus.

Independent, co-educational day school.

Learning Support and Well-being is provided in the Prep School, including a Learning Strategist who supports students with individualized strategies, small-group interventions and curriculum adaptations; literacy development and mathematics support are prioritized, and social-emotional well-being is addressed through differentiated instruction and programs such as Zones of Regulation.

Canada.

Emergent Curriculum is used in Junior Primary, where student inquiry drives learning. Emergent curriculum originated in Reggio Emilia and emphasizes children choosing subjects to investigate through questions, ideas, and theories. Projects in Junior Primary include chocolate making (from cocoa bean to chocolate bar), a study of the African Savannah, learning about owls and their habitats, and working with art media as another language. The goal is for students to learn how to learn. The school serves students from Junior Primary through Grade 12.

The school has a Director of Academics and University Counselling who leads university preparation and counselling. Laura Brock holds this role on the Academic Leadership Team.

The School has a multidisciplinary Student Success Team (SST) that provides coordinated support in social, emotional, personal and academic integration. The SST identifies students of concern, determines the best supports, and develops and implements a plan, with follow up to assess progress. The Grade 10 Academic Advisor supports students during transitions to the Senior School and provides social and emotional guidance, while the University Counsellor assists with university planning and wellbeing. The Health & Wellness Coordinator fosters a healthy and supportive school environment and chairs the Grammar Student Success Team, and the Learning Strategist and English as an Additional Language (EAL) Coordinator provide learning and language supports for students.

Halifax Grammar offers a continuum of support for all learners. The Learning Strategist helps develop individualized learning plans and accommodations in collaboration with families and outside service providers as needed.

The EAL Coordinator supports additional language students with English language training, academic content help, and personalized programming to develop confidence and independence. The EAL Coordinator collaborates with teachers and support staff to plan and deliver programming and works with EAL families to integrate students into the Grammar experience.

The Health & Wellness Coordinator fosters a healthy and supportive school environment, ensuring student wellbeing is considered in all aspects of school life. The Health & Wellness Coordinator chairs the Grammar Student Success Team, a multidisciplinary group that supports students' social and emotional wellbeing as well as supporting teachers in their roles.

1. Complete and submit the application form. A complete application consists of the online application form, a non-refundable CAD 125 application fee, copies of the current and previous year's school reports, a Teacher Reference Form, and any other pertinent information, awards, or assessments that will assist in the admission decision. The school uses the information to determine the best educational fit for the child. Applications are accepted year-round when spaces are available. 2. Schedule an entrance assessment. Entrance assessments are required for each student entering Grammar from Junior Primary to Grade Twelve and will be arranged after an application has been submitted. Assessments are conducted in person, but may be done virtually if an in-person assessment is not possible. Junior Primary students must be four years old by December 31 in the enrolment year; Senior Primary students must be five by December 31. Students whose first language is not English may be required to undertake an English language assessment; if a student has completed three years of English-language study and demonstrates proficiency on the entrance assessment, a separate language assessment may not be required. If the language assessment is required, options include IELTS or an interactive EAL assessment with Grammar's EAL instructor ($275). 3. Arrange a follow-up meeting. Following the assessment, the school will call to arrange a meeting with the prospective student and parents with the Director of Admissions and appropriate faculty once the entrance assessments and submitted information have been fully evaluated. 4. Respond to an offer of acceptance. After all steps are complete, the school will send a letter confirming whether a placement is offered. If a space is offered, the family is asked to respond within two weeks to the Admissions Office accepting the space, with the enrolment deposit.

New students applying to Grammar in Grade 9 and up may apply for an entrance scholarship. Scholarships are financial awards with a minimum value of $1,000 per academic year and are awarded to students based on merit. For a list of available entrance scholarships, click here. The Grammar Scholarship Committee will begin reviewing applications annually on March 31. To request a scholarship application package, email our Admissions office.

Spaces are filled when available. Classes can be full from year to year, though, so students may have to apply for positions in the wait pool at certain grade levels.