3331 Connaught Avenue
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3L 3B4
tel: 902-423-9777
fax: 902-423-9555
Established 1972
Formerly the
Dalhousie University School
- | Hours |
- News & Events |
- Gallery |
- Google Login |
- Contact
After being inspired to have fun and enjoy school by one particularly wonderful teacher, Cate has spent the last few decades working to make that experience happen for others. Originally from the UK and at HIS since 1991, she is now the school's Head Teacher. Both of her daughters attended the school and since graduation, have worked as school monitors. Cate delights in the emphasis on relationship-building at HIS and the respect for children as people, first. She enjoys watching children have the opportunity to relax into who they are and witnessing, daily, the incredible enthusiasm for learning that both teachers and students display.
A stint as an ESL teacher in Korea convinced Lee Baker that he'd like to return home and become a teacher in Canada. He taught for six years, at a rural school, in northern Manitoba, before landing back home in Nova Scotia. Since 2010, Lee has shared his teaching and athletic skills with HIS students, running the school Ski Club, and coaching track & field and badminton. Impressed by a high school teacher who always made a point of getting to know his students outside the classroom, Lee makes a daily effort to talk to his students about what is happening in their lives. On the weekends and in his off-time, you'll find Lee travelling or hiking with his wife and their young daughter.
Rebecca Baker is originally from New Zealand but has also lived in Australia, South Korea, and Flin Flon, Manitoba. A mere six years old when she announced she would be a teacher, Rebecca enjoys getting kids excited about topics that interest them. She's a firm believer that field trips, coaching, and other activities make teacher-student relationships stronger and is heartily involved in the extra-curricular world of HIS. Rebecca loves the family atmosphere at HIS and the emphasis on intrinsic motivation when it comes to teaching children. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Lee (above) and their daughter, Erin.
Heather always knew she wanted to work with children and has spent time on both the east and west coasts of Canada and in Colorado doing just that! She taught preschool, ran a day care from her home, and worked at a treatment centre for emotionally challenged children before arriving at HIS in 1990. For Heather, who loves Nordic walking, cross-country skiing, and yoga, it's the caring and empowering environment of HIS that she believes is most unique. Her own kids, now grown, benefitted from the multi-age activities, the connections to the broader community, and the integration of subject areas into theme that are some of Heather's favourite aspects of the school.
Leigh Ann was born into a family of teachers, and as such, knew what she wanted to be from a young age. She loves the maturity and respectfulness of the HIS Middle School students, and their daily "aha" moments, as they learn. Originally from Truro, Nova Scotia, Leigh Ann has a deep appreciation for learning and understands the importance of a teacher engaging with students and showing genuine interest and enthusiasm. As someone who is physically active herself, she enjoys running the school's Hiking, Ski & Snowboard Clubs. Leigh Ann recently received her certification to coach tennis, loves travelling and photography, and is a "mean" cake decorator!
Tania comes by her profession naturally, as most of her family members are teachers! She has taught French in both Halifax and Fredericton, and English in Lithuania. Since 2004, she has been enjoying the sense of community and collaboration at HIS and is grateful for the way her own teaching philosophy melds with the school's. Tania loves the opportunities for creativity that permeate the classrooms of HIS. She feels most rewarded when she witnesses students pushing themselves to express thoughts in French, even when they are not confident. In her own life, she continually sets new goals and reaches for more growth, recently adding a half-marathon to her list of accomplishments, which also include playing the French Horn and portraiture.
Laura's favourite moment at HIS happened on a field trip to the new Halifax Farmers’ Market. After time spent talking to farmers and tasting delicious food, the class of 6 and 7-year-olds happened upon an accordion player and began dancing their hearts out. It's this sense of joy that Laura finds most inspiring in children. This native Nova Scotian brings some diverse experiences to the school including time as a deckhand on the Schooner Bluenose II, many art and design courses, ukulele playing, and Flamenco dancing! When she teaches, Laura encourages laughter, kindness and the children's natural inquisitiveness. Her goal is to foster a caring community and instill a lifelong love of learning within her students.
Maggie wanted to teach music to children for as long as she can remember and has managed to achieve this dream for most of her adult life. Originally from Sudbury, Maggie and her family chose Halifax as home in 1998, the same year she joined HIS. As a mother of four children, now grown, she truly enjoys the hope and daring of young people; how they approach new challenges and their displays of delight and wonder. Teaching at HIS has also enabled Maggie to learn much about herself, life, and others, and she considers it an honour to work in such a caring and respectful environment.
HIS is such a second home to Christy that she often pulls out her house key to get in the front door of the school! Originally from Dartmouth, Christy also spent some time in Connecticut, working at a therapeutic boarding school for children with special needs. It was there that she realized that teaching was her calling and, since 2008, has been teaching elementary school and Phys. Ed. at HIS. Christy also heads up the school's Running Clubs and in her off-time, volunteers with the Girl Guides of Canada.
Molly's younger brothers will attest to her love of "teaching" based on the number of times she made them play "school" when they were young! Quebec, Nigeria, and Nova Scotia are just some of the places that Molly has travelled to as a teacher, but the place that won her heart was the tiny Dalhousie University School in the early 90's, which grew to become HIS. As Head Teacher from 1994-2009 and now back, full-time in the classroom, Molly has helped to keep the family atmosphere alive and well at HIS. She brings a passion for international development and a love of cycling, hiking, and community activities to her work.
Heather worked as a Natural Heritage Educator for the Ontario Parks System, and as a teacher/naturalist at the Museum of Natural History before coming to Halifax Independent in 2002. She is an active member of the Nova Scotia Children’s Literature Round Table and the Atlantic Geoscience Society Education Committee.
Sandy flew all the way from Calgary for her HIS interview, and, promptly, fell in love with the school. Luckily for all, she was offered a teaching position! Sandy brings her love of children’s energy, honesty, imaginations, and creativity to her work and is grateful for the value HIS places on collaboration supported by a strong sense of community. She loves that teachers, students, and parents all work together to make the education of the students engaging and meaningful. Working with children on a daily basis continually reminds her of what is important in life: friendships, family, learning about ourselves, and learning about the world around us. On Thursday nights, you'll find Sandy spending time with her own family - bowling, with three generations!
Inspired by the kindness and steadfastness of his Grade Three teacher who faithfully delivered assignments and get-well cards to his house when he was out, ill, for half the school-year, Liam decided he wanted to be that kind of teacher. After training in New Brunswick, he taught Kindergarten for two years before coming to HIS in 2011, where he was touched to receive such a warm welcome from teachers and parents alike. Liam is constantly astonished and rewarded by watching children push themselves to their limits in order to accomplish goals. He looks forward to more of these wonderful moments and more teaching, and learning, at HIS.
Nissa was a dedicated parent volunteer at HIS when an administrative support position came up. She jumped at the chance to spend more time at the school where her three boys attend. In Nissa's words, the school has brought more "joy and peace" into their lives, knowing that, every day, the boys are spending time in a nurturing and caring environment where they are free to express their ideas. Witnessing their explosion of confidence as each year passes has been immeasurably gratifying. With the best seat in the house - right at the front doors - Nissa is privy to the sound of music and children's laughter all day long and it makes each day a happy one.
As a child growing up in Newfoundland, it wasn't unusual for Tina to come home and find other children, students of her parents, hanging out at her house. For her mother, a Grade Three teacher, and her father, a guidance counsellor, teaching was definitely not a 9-5 job. It was no surprise to anyone when Tina decided to become a teacher, specializing in the area of Resource. Her first stint as a Resource teacher, in 2007, convinced her that helping and supporting children in literacy was her passion. At HIS, she loves that students are encouraged to learn at their own pace and in the ways that best fit them. And she deeply values the commitment of fellow teachers and HIS parents who continually give, helping the school thrive.
The Primary teacher who told her she was drawing grass the "wrong" way is the one Mandai inwardly thanks for her desire to become an art teacher. This experience inspired her to create a positive classroom atmosphere that encourages children to try new things, be proud of their unique ideas, and think “outside of the box”. Some of her favourite HIS moments involve witnessing a child's joy sketching in Nature; watching her students stand up in front of hundreds at a community consultation session to speak, persuasively, about why we should protect wilderness areas; and helping an HIS student enter an innovative bike rack contest and win, beating out several professional designers. Best of all, though, is the excitement that she hears in the children's voices when they declare "I love art!"
When the position of Middles Classroom Assistant came open, Erin was keen to join the HIS team. Fresh from her Child and Youth Studies degree at Mount Saint Vincent University, and hungry for experience, Erin also signed on as an Afterschool Assistant. She is originally from Ontario and has spent time in a day care setting and teaching pre-school ballet and jazz dance. Through her positions at HIS, Erin gets to experience first hand the many things that she loves about children: their willingness to learn, their imaginations, their unique personalities, and their enthusiasm.
When the kids see Judy in the hallways of HIS they often break into a big grin and strike random yoga poses. That's because before joining the HIS staff team, she was the Littles yoga instructor. This work filled her with such joy that she longed to be more a part of the school where her daughter was also thriving as a student. The opportunity to have daily contact with children has heightened her appreciation for their honesty and their near-constant state of joy and delight. Originally from Cape Breton, Judy is currently enrolled in the Child and Youth Studies Program at MSVU. She has personally raised thousands of dollars for cancer research, in memory of her brother, recently participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Run across the Confederation Bridge.
Neyah comes to HIS from Vienna, Austria, where she managed a restaurant for six years. Originally from Colorado, Neyah is grateful for the opportunity to bring both of her true joys together—the art of cooking and also working with children. As well, as making some of her favourite meals for the children, she is enjoying the opportunity to teach some cooking classes to HIS students. Neyah has found the strong sense of community and the holistic approach to education at HIS to be inspiring and uplifting. She enjoys witnessing children's natural inquisitiveness, their creativity, and their ease with being in the moment.
Jill co-ordinated the Childcare programme at Halifax Independent in 2004-05 before joining the teaching staff as the Olds Teacher.
"A person's a person no matter how small." This Dr. Suess quote is one of Dawn's favourites and entirely fitting, considering she teaches our smallest children—the "Littles" or pre-schoolers. As a child, growing up in Jeddore, Nova Scotia, being a teacher was always on her 'to be when I grow up' list. Teaching allows Dawn to naturally incorporate many things that she holds dear: her creativity, her love of children, and interest in learning from the experience of others. Before coming to HIS in 2002, Dawn ran the child care program at the Dartmouth Family Resource Centre. She has studied many elements of art and design, enjoys making jewellery, children's accessories, wall murals, and costumes. She also organizes an annual arts and craft fair at HIS.
For many, Valerie is the "face" of HIS, working at the front desk, and, daily, welcoming adults and children to the school with her warm smile and big heart. She home-schooled her three boys before enrolling her eldest child at HIS and quickly fell in love with the school. A job opened up at just the right time and soon, all three boys were enrolled. Each one flourished at Halifax Independent and the last has just graduated! She loves witnessing a child tackle a personal challenge and feels joyful with them, when they celebrate a triumph. Valerie has two second “homes”: her All Nations Church family and Halifax Independent School, both, treasured sources of care and encouragement. In her off-time, Valerie enjoys knitting, writing, cooking and spending time with family and friends.