Our Five-Pillar Approach
The Hydrostone Academy embraces five foundational pillars that promote holistic development, interconnectedness, and a sense of purpose, preparing students to navigate an ever-changing world with resilience, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness cultivates a deep awareness of the present moment, enabling students to develop resilience, focus, and the self-reflection skills essential for their personal growth.
Outdoor Education
Outdoor education encourages students to explore and connect with the natural world, fostering a sense of wonder, curiosity, and environmental stewardship, while instilling greater self confidence and resilience.
Community
Community emphasizes the importance of strong relationships and collaborative learning, nurturing a supportive and inclusive school environment.
Arts Education
Arts education fosters creative thinking, builds problem-solving skills, promotes self-expression, connects the head, heart, and hands, calls on the will of the student to see a repetitive project through to completion, allows for an ‘out-breath’ to balance the academic ‘in-breath’, and supports students in the embodiment of their learning.
Culturally Sustaining Academics
Culturally sustaining academics acknowledge and honour diverse cultural backgrounds, histories, and perspectives, fostering an inclusive and equitable educational experience for all students.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recognize the unique strengths and needs of each student. While we have limited resource support, we prioritize student well-being by maintaining smaller class sizes and creating calmer, lower-sensory learning environments. Our school community is dedicated to empowering students and celebrating their individual talents.
We are proud to have a diverse community. Queer and gender explorative students and parents are warmly welcomed at Hydrostone Academy. We approach discussions about gender in a developmentally appropriate manner, starting from Pre-Primary through Grade 12. Our aim is to create an inclusive environment where every individual feels respected and supported in their identity and personal journey.
The Shambhala School opened its doors in 1993, initially enrolling students from Grade 5 through Grade 9. Our first graduating class of Grade 12 students celebrated their achievements in June 1998. In 1994, the Shambhala Elementary School began for Pre-Primary and Primary-aged children as a separate entity. These two schools merged in 1999. The school was renamed Hydrostone Academy in 2025.
Shambhala School was founded in 1993 by a group of parents who were members of the Buddhist community in Halifax. They aimed to provide their children with a unique educational experience. The name “Shambhala” embodies the core values that guided the school’s establishment: a belief in the inherent goodness of humanity, practices that enable us to connect with that goodness, and the vision that this goodness can contribute to the creation of a better society. In essence, these principles can be summarized as embracing basic goodness, incorporating meditation, and striving for a positive society.
Today, Hydrostone Academy is a secular institution and does not have any ties to any single religion or belief. Our focus remains on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all students can thrive.
We typically enroll approximately 150 students from Pre-Primary through Grade 12.
At Hydrostone Academy, we cap our class sizes at 18 students to ensure personalized attention and a supportive learning environment. For our pre-primary program, we adhere to licensing requirements which stipulate that there is one Early Childhood Educator for every 8 students. This ratio allows us to provide the necessary care and attention to our youngest learners. Our commitment to small class sizes is part of our dedication to fostering an engaging and inclusive educational experience for all students.
Hydrostone Academy embraces five foundational pillars that guide our educational journey:
1. Mindfulness: Cultivating a deep awareness of the present moment, mindfulness helps students develop resilience, focus, and self-reflection skills essential for personal growth.
2. Outdoor Education: Encouraging students to explore and connect with the natural world, outdoor education fosters a sense of wonder, curiosity, and environmental stewardship.
3. Community: Emphasizing the importance of strong relationships and collaborative learning, the community nurtures a supportive and inclusive school environment.
4. Arts Education: Arts education fosters creative thinking, builds problem-solving skills, and promotes self-expression. It connects the head, heart, and hands, and calls on the will of the student to see a repetitive project through to completion (handwork). It allows for an ‘out-breath’ to balance the academic ‘in-breath’ and supports students in the embodiment of their learning.
5. Culturally Sustaining Academics: Acknowledging and honouring diverse cultural backgrounds, histories, and perspectives, culturally sustaining academics foster an inclusive and equitable educational experience for all students.
These five pillars provide a solid foundation for holistic development, interconnectedness, and a sense of purpose, preparing students to navigate an ever-changing world with resilience, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning.
Yes, each student undergoes an evaluation as part of the admissions process before admission decisions are made. While we can accommodate some students with learning exceptionalities, we evaluate each student on a case-by-case basis, considering the current class needs and the learning profile of the group as a whole. The primary criterion for acceptance is a student’s commitment to learning excellence, personal growth, and alignment with our vision of creating a compassionate society. This approach ensures that each student can thrive in our supportive and inclusive environment.
Our graduates earn a Nova Scotia High School Leaving Certificate upon completing Grade 12. Additionally, we offer an advanced Hydrostone Academy Certificate, which requires more credits, second language education, leadership activities, outdoor training, and other extracurricular achievements.
Through the elementary years, we provide a play-based primary program and introduce formal academics starting in Grade 1. While our early elementary curriculum may vary from the prescribed provincial outcomes, in most cases, we meet and exceed those outcomes. Students have the opportunity for daily numeracy and literacy instruction, and French language instruction begins in Grade Primary.
This comprehensive approach ensures our students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for success both academically and personally.
Our extracurricular and co-curricular offerings vary from year to year based on the needs and interests of the current student body. However, some of the activities we typically offer include:
Elementary School: Choir, Chess Club, Afterschool Sports, Gaga Ball, Bush Craft, Junior D&D, Battle of the Books.
Middle and High School: Middle School Sports Intramurals, Friday Night Pick-Up Basketball, Debate Club, Reading Rumble, Drama Club, Yearbook Club, AV Club, D&D, Sewing Club, Drumming Club, Pottery Club, LEGO Robotics, among others.
These activities are designed to complement our academic program and provide students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and engage with their peers in a supportive environment. For more info see Sunrise Prodogies
Tuition fees vary by grade level. For details on this year’s fee structure, please see the tuition section on our website. We understand that affordability is a concern for many families, and we offer tuition assistance options to help make our education accessible to a diverse group of students.
Fees can be paid monthly or in a lump sum, and discounts are available for families with multiple children enrolled at the school. For detailed information about tuition and financial aid, please contact our admissions office.
In our elementary school, we emphasize low to no technology in the early years, focusing on traditional skills such as pencil/pen-to-paper writing and cursive writing. Students learn the importance of sourcing information from reliable sources beyond the internet.
Starting in Grades 4 and 5, students are introduced to digital literacy. They begin learning how to gather and evaluate information from the internet for reliability and accuracy.
For students with exceptionalities who use technology as a tool for learning, we welcome Chromebooks or other assistive devices.
From Grade 6 onward, all students are expected to have a Chromebook or laptop. Computer technology is thoughtfully integrated into our curriculum to enhance learning and develop essential digital literacy skills. We use a variety of educational tools and platforms to support research, collaboration, and creativity, ensuring students are well-prepared for the demands of the modern world.
We highly value parent involvement and encourage it through various channels such as volunteer opportunities, parent-teacher committees, school events, and regular communication with teachers and administrators. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school contributes significantly to student success.
Every family is expected to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours annually. This volunteerism helps build community and fosters a sense of pride as everyone works towards common goals. We encourage parents to share their areas of expertise and interests with us. For example, some parents choose to drive for class trips, host weekly Gaga Ball sessions, or come into classrooms to share professional knowledge on topics such as world religions or sustainable ocean protein.
We strive to match parents with volunteer opportunities that align with their skills and interests, ensuring that our community benefits from their contributions.
At Shambhala School, we offer several support services to assist students with their academic and personal development:
1. Counselling Services: We have a standing relationship with Wild Art Therapy, which supervises counselling interns from Yorkville University and Acadia University . These interns support students’ mental health needs throughout the year. They also provide group opportunities for student engagement, enhancing their emotional and social well-being.
2. Resource Support: In our upper school, teachers are equipped to offer one-on-one support to students through resource programs. This individualized attention helps address specific learning needs and supports students in achieving their academic goals.
These services are designed to ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive in a nurturing and effective learning environment.
Our curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for success in post-secondary education and their future careers. We provide guidance counselling, career exploration activities, and opportunities for students to engage in leadership and real-world experiences.
Our graduates are well-regarded in post-secondary settings for their proactive approach to learning. They excel in group work, are inquisitive, and consider alternative solutions to problems. Many of our graduates secure generous scholarships for post-secondary education, and approximately 90% are admitted to their first-choice institution. This preparation ensures that our students are confident and well-prepared as they transition to the next phase of their academic and professional journeys.