How we see Sacred Heart School of Halifax
The school describes its campus as iconic, and to be sure, it really is. The school was founded in 1849, and the campus shows its age in all the best ways. The location is iconic as well, in the heart of Halifax and across from the historic public gardens. As those things signal, Sacred Heart is a part of the historical culture of the city, and arriving here each day delivers its own frisson of excitement. As with any school of this vintage, much has changed, and today the program is iconic in other ways. The provision of single gender education through Grades 7 to 12 is one of them, offering the best of both worlds. As a member of a global network of schools, the gaze is international, with emphasis on social justice and social action. While there are many longstanding traditions and events, the school also distinguishes itself as cutting edge, both in the curriculum it offers—the broad Advanced Placement offering, for one—but also through its delivery, with lots of hands-on, project oriented, collaborative learning. That said, the biggest draw for many is simply the spirit of the school. There is a keen desire to get students involved in a wide range of activity, including a robust program of service learning, while also engaged within the daily life of the school. Sacred Heart has a proven ability to deliver all of it.
Compare with:
How Sacred Heart School of Halifax sees itself
"Founded in 1849, Sacred Heart School of Halifax teaches the whole child — mind, body, spirit. Our iconic campus in the heart of Halifax offers co-ed education for JP-Grade 6 and single-gender education for Grades 7-12. Sacred Heart has earned a stellar reputation for the quality of our academics and university preparedness, and through leadership and community action, our students are well prepared to conquer the world. As part of a global network, we educate to a strong moral code prescribed by our Five Goals."
"Sacred Heart School of Halifax is different and we’re proud of it. We believe in Faith, Hope, and Love as guiding principles and as a result, we’re more like a family than a school. In addition to our tailored education, we are the only school in the region that offers single-gender education on a co-ed campus and the Advanced Placement (AP) Program in high school. And, our unique heritage and traditions give us a special character that can’t be duplicated anywhere in this region."
"Strong academics combined with a tailored approach in a nurturing and supportive environment is Sacred Heart’s calling card. Our academic excellence is thanks to an outstanding faculty who are passionately committed to their students’ success. And as a Catholic school that welcomes all faiths, families also appreciate our spiritual grounding and emphasis on love."
"It may surprise some families to discover how seriously we live our Five Goals. Yes, we provide an academically excellent education, but also a deeply meaningful one based on our founder St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s vision that education transforms society. We are dedicated to faith, intellectual values, social justice, building community, and personal growth and these can be seen throughout school life day in and day out."
"Sacred Heart is the only high school in Atlantic Canada that offers the AP Program instead of the IB Program. Families, and especially students, prefer AP because it allows students to pick and choose ONLY those subjects they excel in and want to concentrate on, they don’t have to take a year-long program of all advanced courses. Widely accepted around the globe, students in AP can earn first-year university credit(s) before they even enter university — an excellent head start."
"Founded in 1849, SHSH was an all-girls school until 2005 when the Fountain Academy of the Sacred Heart for boys was founded.
Today, there are over 150 Sacred Heart schools in 33 countries across six continents.
SHSH is one of only three CAIS-accredited schools in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
100% of our senior students engage in community service.
Unique traditions like Congé, Primes, and Links of Love give us a very special character that unites our Sacred Heart students and community."
How people from the school’s community see Sacred Heart School of Halifax
Most big schools provide your extroverted child with plenty of social opportunities and the ability to interact with different peer groups with a wide range of personalities, interests, values, etc. A larger student population and more extracurriculars—including activities like team sports, arts programs, and debate—will give them a broader scope of opportunities to participate in events that scratch their interpersonal itch. “This may also give them the opportunity to hone certain skills,” say Ann and Karen Wolff of Wolff Educational Services. “For instance, they might run for student council to develop leadership and public speaking skills and learn to be a voice for other students.”
Make sure any prospective school, no matter what size, provides the right social environment to help your child feel at home, make friends, and develop confidence. This is especially important at big schools, which are sometimes more socially overwhelming and challenging for an introvert to find their bearings in. Of course, “Because larger schools usually have a more diverse student population, introverted kids are more likely to find a small group of people like them, a peer group they can relate to and find acceptance from,” says Dona Matthews, Toronto-based education consultant and co-author (with Joanne Foster) of Beyond Intelligence.
Bigger schools often have a broader scope of extracurricular activities, which is another way to help your child meet the right group of friends. “This may also give them the opportunity to develop certain skills,” say Ann and Karen Wolff of Wolff Educational Services. “For instance, they might run for student council to develop leadership and public speaking skills and learn to be a voice for other students. Remember, though, each child is different—so what works for one may not work for another.”
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Sacred Heart School of Halifax
Next steps to continue your research:
Continue researching Sacred Heart School of Halifax with OurKids.net, or visit school website.