Halifax Grammar School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Halifax Grammar School

motto =
established = 1958
type = Private co-educational
grades = P–12
city = Halifax
province = Nova Scotia
country = Canada
students = 500
head_label = Headmaster
head = Dr. Paul Bennett
yearbook = "The Grammarian"
website = [http://www.hgs.ns.ca 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.

chools

The school is divided into the Prep School (grades 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.

Campuses

The Halifax Grammar School occupies two campuses, one located on Atlantic Street, and the other on Tower Road. The building on Atlantic Street was the original location of the school before decisions were made to expand it. 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.

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.

HGS also offers a number of continuing education programs available to the wider community, such as Spanish and Bridge lessons.

Arts

The school has a comprehensive arts program, most notably at the high school level, allowing students the option of taking IB Higher 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 is well-known in the Halifax area for its annual production of Broadway musicals.

Past musicals

*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"

Notable alumni

*Russell Smith - Author, journalist. [cite web
url=http://www.russellsmith.ca/biography.htm
title=Russell Smith: Biography
publisher=www.russellsmith.ca
accessdate=2008-07-14]
*Jay Ferguson - Musician, member of Sloan. [cite web
url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/questionaire.aspx?csid1=23
title=Jay Ferguson - Sloan
publisher=www.exclaim.ca
accessdate=2008-07-14]
*Jared Paul Stern - Former New York Post gossip columnist
*Craig Silverman - Author, journalist. [cite web
url=http://www.netdirectories.com/~hgs/viewer.cgi?newcast2_iss5short
title=Halifax Grammar School - Grammar Newscast
publisher=www.netdirectories.com
accessdate=2008-07-14]
*Ellen Page - Actress , Hard Candy & Juno. [cite web
url=http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7262669
title=Profile: Ellen Page
work=MSN Entertainment
publisher=entertainment.uk.msn.com
accessdate=2008-07-14]

References

External links

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