REVIEW OF Hydrostone Academy BY parent, Susan Joudrey

(5) Student Experience

My child's experience has been excellent and rewarding. He appreciates how welcoming the school is, and that teachers and staff are genuinely interested in encouraging learning through his interests and at his own pace. He has never felt reluctant about attending school or participating in school activities because he knows that Hydrostone Academy provides a safe learning environment that emphasizes and celebrates his strengths while providing him with tools and strategies to overcome challenges. Even when a new concept or subject can be frustrating, he trusts the teachers to support his success. The curriculum is integrated, so he's benefited from the ability to combine his love of language and science into specific projects. There have been occasions when teachers have even adapted projects in ways that still meet academic achievement goals but include special interests and encourage deep learning. The teachers provide opportunities for him to feel successful in his learning.

Why Hydrostone Academy?

We considered other schools, but we knew Hydrostone Academy would be the best fit for our child because of the small classes, dedicated teachers, and the combined focus on emotional and academic empowerment. As we talked to the teachers, we knew that they shared our commitment to a team-support approach to learning – that educators and parents work as a cohesive team to ensure learners are meeting their potential. This has been instrumental to our child’s academic and emotional growth. We were also looking for a school that would prioritize community engagement within and outside of the building walls. Hydrostone Academy nurtures a community within the school by providing many opportunities for students to support each other across grades and age groups. Engagement with the wider community occurs through opportunities to support other local organizations and by bringing people into the school as special speakers, facilitators, and supports.

Expectations vs. Reality

The school has aligned very well with, and even surpassed, our expectations. By focusing on students’ strengths, teachers empower them to attempt learning that might, at first, seem daunting. They truly create an atmosphere that fosters resilience and curiosity. We’ve had the opportunity to develop relationships with many of the teachers, and they each genuinely want to work as a team to ensure the students and the families are receiving the best education possible. The emphasis on emotional well-being has been especially important for our child. Schools with larger classes or a single focus on academic attainment miss a crucial element of success, which is the ability to be self-reflective, understand other perspectives, and communicate a clarity of social awareness. Hydrostone Academy manages to integrate emotional well-being into the academic curriculum, emphasizing its importance to future community members.

Your Advice

Children spend a lot of their lives in school. I’d recommend that parents consider how a child’s school experience is foundational to the way they understand themselves and the wider world. If you hope that your child becomes an active community member who values others and is confident in their abilities, you probably wish for a school that truly shares those values. I’d encourage you to talk to teachers and parents in a school community to get a sense of the strategies educators employ to center learning for each student and create an environment that fosters academic learning as well as social awareness.

(5) School Leadership

Communication from school leadership is very important to our family, and the communication from Hydrostone Academy has been timely and appropriate. Leadership follows up on any questions or concerns and makes time for any necessary additional meetings. They also create an atmosphere that’s welcoming and approachable, which encourages parent volunteer participation and community building. I’ve never hesitated to reach out if I had an idea or suggestion because school leadership has been very open to adapting or trying new approaches at the school.

(5) Teaching

The teachers at Hydrostone Academy are first-rate educators committed to student learning and their own professional development to apply new education strategies. My child happens to be academically strong in specific areas, and the teachers have worked with us to ensure he’s appropriately challenged and engaged. This has been amazing because it allows him to remain curious and excited to learn. The teachers are also flexible and adapt to the learners in their classroom. The ability to respond to learners’ needs is critical for education to be effective, and this is something Hydrostone Academy teachers excel at. I suspect this is one of the reasons students have sustained success at science fair competitions – students can pursue a project they’re passionate about with the support of knowledgeable and encouraging teachers. I’ve been impressed at how well the teachers communicate with parents and with each other. This creates a positive, collaborative environment that fosters more holistic learning and provides an important example for students to aspire to.

(5) Academics

Hydrostone Academy provides a strong academic foundation that encourages students to explore ideas, ask questions, and tackle problems through multiple facets of understanding. A robust education should prepare students to navigate future challenges and work with others to provide solutions. At Hydrostone Academy, this is accomplished through an integrated curriculum and a learning environment that values collaboration over competition. Students leave the school as very well-rounded community members who receive a strong, creative arts-based education in addition to subject matter like science, language arts, math, social sciences and humanities. They also participate in outdoor education opportunities that emphasize the connection to and reliance on our environment. This helps students to think creatively and broadly, which is a fundamental skill for future problem-solving and communication. As I mentioned previously, the school emphasizes emotional well-being as part of the academic framework. This is a crucial element of success. Hydrostone Academy manages to integrate emotional well-being into the academic curriculum, emphasizing its importance to future community members.

(4.5) Extracurriculars

For a small school, Hydrostone Academy provides a range of extracurricular activities, often motivated by student interest and leadership. Additional opportunities in music or athletics exist, although they are organized differently than in larger schools, focus on team contributions and collaborations, and may include a larger range of ages. Students also suggest and lead school clubs that reflect the interests of the population and have included book clubs, gardening clubs, and clubs based on student identities.

(5) Students

Hydrostone Academy is a small school that guarantees smaller class sizes and better teacher-to-student ratios. This results in a beautiful learning community where parents, students, teachers, and staff all know one another and can foster an appreciation for differences and commonalities. School spirit is encouraged and sustained through a number of school events, ceremonies, and traditions that include collaboration from various grade levels. I especially appreciate the school buddy programs where students from different grades partner to complete community-focused projects. The example set by school leadership and teachers emphasizes support and collaboration. This is apparent in the school body as well. Students will advocate on each other’s behalf and support each other with academic and personal projects. Students and families definitely take pride in the school, which is evident in the ways they pull together to ensure school events are successful.

(5) School Life

My child loves being a Hydrostone Academy student and community member. He loves the welcoming environment, the small class sizes, and the ability to explore ideas and interests. We’ve never struggled with a reluctance to attend school because he looks forward to spending time with his classmates and the teachers. He also greatly values the outdoor education opportunities and field trips, which contribute to his sense of wellbeing. At Hydrostone Academy the students recognize their opinions and ideas matter. School practices like displaying student projects in the hallways help learners to feel a sense of accomplishment because the school community can celebrate their hard work and creativity. They’re valued as contributing community members regardless of age or abilities, which increases their confidence, willingness to participate, and, ultimately, their opportunities to learn.

(5) Community

We truly value the community fostered by Hydrostone Academy. Creating a strong school community doesn’t happen by accident. To be successful, community-building must be intentional. At Hydrostone Academy, parents and guardians make a commitment to contribute to school life by participating in volunteer opportunities. There are a number of different potential ways to contribute, so every family member can get involved regardless of ability or experience. While this supports school events, initiatives, and curriculum, it also helps families develop a sense of belonging and provides a good example for students. It demonstrates that we all have strengths that contribute to a community, whether we’re outgoing and like to socialize or we’re quiet and happy to work behind the scenes. This is one of our favourite aspects of the school and definitely sets it apart from others.

(5) School Location

The school is located in a lovely part of the city, not far from a large local park that includes a playground and plenty of green space. The school often takes advantage of its location by taking students on field trips to one of many local museums or performance spaces that are also located on Halifax’s peninsula. The school has also put work into creating a pollinator garden on school property, as well as adding other local plants that aid in student learning!

(5) Admissions

Admission to Hydrostone Academy is a straightforward process, and school leadership is willing to answer questions at each stage of the decision-making process. I would certainly suggest talking to teachers and school leadership, as well as taking advantage of a school tour or classroom experience. The school staff genuinely wants to support you as you make your decision and apply for admission, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. The school families come from a variety of experiences and contexts, so requesting to speak with school parents is also a good idea.