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Class Sizes

Class sizes are small at Halifax Independent to allow maximum individual attention while optimizing social interaction among the children. Most of these classes are multi-age, a structure which allows children to work and learn with other age groups and to find social and work groupings based on characteristics other than age.

Halifax Independent has its own way of describing each class. These names stem from a long tradition and were suggested and voted on at a Meeting by the children. They are a way of avoiding traditional boundaries between age groups and reflect the understanding our children have that each of them is working to the best of their ability irrespective of their grade level.

The classes are as follows: Smidgens (3 year olds), Littles (4 year olds), Youngs (5 years), Middles (Grades 1 and 2), Olds (Grades 3 and 4), Elders (Grade 5 and 6), Middle School 1 (Grade 7), Middle School 2 (Grades 8 and 9).

The Smidgens and Littles classes are kept at a ratio of 8 children to one teacher. The Youngs class has 15 children with one teacher, elementary classes have a maximum of 18 children per class and the Middle School classes have a maximum of 20 children.