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History

In 2002, Halifax Independent School celebrated 30 years of excellence in education - 30 years of fostering a lifelong love of learning!

HIS started in the early 70s as a tiny laboratory school housed in Dalhousie University's Department of Education. Called the Dalhousie Experimental School, many future teachers received part of their training there. During the 1980s the school was expanded, the word "Experimental" was dropped, and the theme approach to teaching was developed. The school's team of teachers pioneered theme studies and established four of the five themes we still use. Many of the activities fundamental to our life today originated then: Mini-Society, the Plays, Fair, and the whole school Meeting. The book "Learning and Loving It: Theme Studies in the Classroom" was written by these same teachers, (Gamberg et al), and it is widely read in the education field. The school was also designated a Centre for Excellence by the National Council of Teachers of English (USA).

By 1990, there were about 35 students from Youngs (Primary) to Olds (grade 4). It was still operating under Dalhousie's School of Education with one full-time teacher and two part-time teachers. Around this time, the School of Education moved out of elementary teaching and concentrated on training secondary teachers. This, combined with the "rationalization" of universities at the provincial level, meant that the writing was on the wall for Dalhousie University School. When Dalhousie decided to not only close its School of Education, but also tear down its 50-year-old "temporary" building, teachers and parents began to look for ways to preserve the school and its unique philosophy.

The school was incorporated as a cooperative in 1992 (Dalhousie Co-operative School) and soon moved to rented accommodation on South Street where it expanded to include a Littles class (pre-primary) and an Elders class (grades 5 and 6). During the next decade, it grew to over 100 students, prompting plans for a Middle School. As the school continued to expand, a portable classroom was added, the name was changed again, and staff and parents came together to plan a permanent home. After several years of intense fundraising and planning, Halifax Independent School obtained land on Connaught Avenue for its present purpose-built structure. Since its September 2004 opening, the school has reached its planned enrolment of 150 students and proudly graduated its first grade nine class in June 2006.