Halifax Grammar School

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Halifax Grammar School

Established	1958
Type	Private co-educational
Headmaster	Dr. Paul Bennett
Students	500
Grades	P–12
Location	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Yearbook	'The Grammarian'
Website	www.hgs.ns.ca

The Halifax Grammar School is a private, coeducational day school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in south-end Halifax, near Saint Mary's University. It has a student population of approximately 500, and at the high school level follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. The school's current headmaster is Dr. Paul Bennett, formerly of Lower Canada College, who began his position at the start of the 2005-2006 academic year.

Contents 1 Schools 1.1 Campuses 2 Academics 3 Arts 3.1 Past musicals 4 Notable Alumni 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Schools

The school is divided into the Prep School (grades pre-primary through 4), the Middle School (grades 5 through 9), and the Senior School (grades 10 to 12). Each school has its own head of school and teachers.

[edit] Campuses

The Halifax Grammar School occupies two campuses, one located on Atlantic Street, and the other on Tower Road. A building at 420 Tower Road was the original location of the school before they purchased the building on Atlantic Street, which they soon decided to expand. For two years, the School rented the "Bethany" building on the corner of Tower Road and Inglis Street from Saint Mary's University (it is now used as an ESL building by the university), before purchasing the closed Tower Road School building from the City of Halifax. The Tower Road Campus (TRC) houses the Middle School, the school's administrative offices, the Silver Art Studio, and the Meinertzhagen Auditorium, a multi-purpose converted gymnasium which is used for everything from school assemblies to dances to musical performances. The Atlantic Street campus houses the Prep School (downstairs) and the Senior School (upstairs), as well as a large gymnasium. The school also uses the "Tower" gym facilities at Saint Mary's University for some of its gym classes.

[edit] Academics

Since being founded, HGS has consistently maintained a high level of academic achievement. The Senior School recently converted to mandatory International Baccalaureate studies for all students during the 2002-2003 school year. Course choices become progressively more flexible, allowing students to specialize, while certain compulsory courses (at various levels) provide a basis of knowledge that is essential to all students. Both IB and non-IB classes are available both as part of the main curriculum and as extra credit.

All prospective Senior School students from other schools are required to undergo entrance testing before being admitted. This system is used to identify candidates for the school's merit-based scholarships, in fields from pure academics to community service to athletics, and numerous combinations thereof.

[edit] Arts

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The school has a comprehensive arts program, most notably at the high school level, allowing students the option of taking IB Standard Level Art. Students regularly have their art exhibited throughout both school campuses, and are encouraged to reach the highest levels of creative potential.

Musically, the school began an expansion in 2003 with the implementation of a band program for students in the Middle School. The school also puts on an annual Broadway musical production, which is directed by Mr. Andrew Aven-Gillis

[edit] Past musicals

• 2009: The Boyfriend
• 2008: Into the Woods
• 2007: Bye Bye Birdie
• 2006: Guys and Dolls
• 2005: Fiddler on the Roof
• 2004: The Pajama Game
• 2003: Grease
• 2002: Kiss Me, Kate
• 2001: Anything Goes
• 2000: Flapper, the Musical
• 1999: Lucky Dollar, Private Eye

[edit] Notable Alumni

• Russell Smith - Author, journalist.^[1]
• Jay Ferguson - Musician, member of Sloan.^[2]
• Jared Paul Stern - Former New York Post gossip columnist
• Craig Silverman - Author, journalist.^[3]
• Ellen Page - Actress X-Men: The Last Stand, Hard Candy & Juno.^[4]

• Brendan Croskerry - Musician

• Howard Epstein-MLA Halifax Chebucto

• Bill Black-Former President of Maratime Life and Contender for Leadership of Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

• http://www.hgs.ns.ca - official site

Coordinates: 44°37′57.2″N 63°34′39.6″W / 44.632556°N 63.577667°W / 44.632556; -63.577667