Shambhala School
Encyclopedia
The Shambhala School is a non-denominational private school in Halifax, Nova Scotia
. It employs a creative curriculum, integrating both academics and art. It runs from pre-primary through grade 12.
community were concerned with Nova Scotia's
public school system and set out to create a school which would create a nurturing and delightful environment for learning. With this conceived, the school began as a private entity.
The School started out sharing a facility with another School in the west end of Halifax, Nova Scotia, off Windsor Street. When the School grew, it moved to its present location on the corner of Russell and Gottingen Street in Halifax.
meditation techniques every day to encourage learning and expansion of the mind. For younger students (primary - grade 6) this includes simple breathing techniques, mind exploration and chanting. For the older grades (grade 7 - 12) this includes 5–10 minutes of simple yoga each morning and 10 minutes of Shambhala sitting meditation every morning and before dismissal. Usually on the morning returning from each major break (i.e., winter and March breaks) the entire upper school participates in an approximately hour-long yoga session followed by sitting meditation.
in South Central Nova Scotia. It is usually about a 3 day trip and includes bike trips, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camp fires, swimming, large games of capture the flag/track down/manhunt, tenting, playing of musical instruments, and much more. The group usually consists of between 60-90 people and includes teachers, students and parents. The Group eats communally of 3 meals a day and smaller groups take turns cooking and cleaning. Many Students and Faculty members claim this is an excellent way to bring the school closer and creates a community.
In addition to the "Keji" outing, each class attends a trip each year to Redtail Nature Camp
. The Camp is located in Pictou County, Nova Scotia and has approximately 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of forested land. The Camp activities include much hiking, camp fires, nature/educational games, nature spotting, tracking, guided meditation, Native American rituals such as smudging and sweat lodge, swimming and much more.
Every year, around Canadian Thanksgiving time, the school organizes the "Turkey Trot". This raises money for under-privileged families in the community to receive Turkeys and other foods for Thanksgiving.
Due to the small population on a school based level, Shambhala and other Private schools (e.g. Sacred Heart School of Halifax
) have teamed up to conduct dances. This is usually open to 7-9 grades and sometimes 10-12 respectively. Each student is allowed 1-2 guests from any school (even public).
area of Halifax. The school has three floors and a mezzanine including the basement area.
The bottom floor has a small carpeted room sometimes used for music-now used for drama equipment, a large open space used for concerts, circles and other activities, restrooms, a utility room, a canteen room with a kitchenette
and a large room formerly used for art and aikido
, and now used for large gatherings. The basement also includes a gymnasium with recently new hardwood flooring. The gym also has a stage used for concerts and plays.
The mezzanine includes a number of classrooms (currently used for music and visual art) and a staff room. The music room includes a resident drum kit, keyboards, stereo and PA system. The art room includes, among the many mediums, a number of pottery wheels and a kiln.
The first floor mainly houses the elementary classes as well as a preschool. The floor has many classrooms, washrooms and an administrative office.
The top floor houses the older grades. This includes many more classrooms, a kitchen/lunchroom (which doubles as a classroom in some cases), an administrative office with a photocopier and the director's office. There is also an outdoor classroom made of a sustainable material which was an exercise by architecture
students from Dalhousie University
.
All grades use cubbies for storage which are on the sides of all classrooms.
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
. It employs a creative curriculum, integrating both academics and art. It runs from pre-primary through grade 12.
Beginnings
In 1993, parents of the Halifax ShambhalaShambhala Buddhism
The term Shambhala Buddhism was introduced by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the year 2000 to describe his presentation of the Shambhala teachings, originally conceived by Chögyam Trungpa as secular practices for achieving enlightened society, in concert with the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu and Nyingma...
community were concerned with Nova Scotia's
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
public school system and set out to create a school which would create a nurturing and delightful environment for learning. With this conceived, the school began as a private entity.
The School started out sharing a facility with another School in the west end of Halifax, Nova Scotia, off Windsor Street. When the School grew, it moved to its present location on the corner of Russell and Gottingen Street in Halifax.
Curriculum and learning styles
Although Shambhala School is not a religious school, the school does use eastern/ShambhalaShambhala Buddhism
The term Shambhala Buddhism was introduced by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the year 2000 to describe his presentation of the Shambhala teachings, originally conceived by Chögyam Trungpa as secular practices for achieving enlightened society, in concert with the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu and Nyingma...
meditation techniques every day to encourage learning and expansion of the mind. For younger students (primary - grade 6) this includes simple breathing techniques, mind exploration and chanting. For the older grades (grade 7 - 12) this includes 5–10 minutes of simple yoga each morning and 10 minutes of Shambhala sitting meditation every morning and before dismissal. Usually on the morning returning from each major break (i.e., winter and March breaks) the entire upper school participates in an approximately hour-long yoga session followed by sitting meditation.
Extracurricular activities
Each year, the Upper Grades attend a camping trip in September to Kejimkujik National ParkKejimkujik National Park
Kejimkujik National Park is part of the Canadian National Parks system, located in the province of Nova Scotia...
in South Central Nova Scotia. It is usually about a 3 day trip and includes bike trips, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camp fires, swimming, large games of capture the flag/track down/manhunt, tenting, playing of musical instruments, and much more. The group usually consists of between 60-90 people and includes teachers, students and parents. The Group eats communally of 3 meals a day and smaller groups take turns cooking and cleaning. Many Students and Faculty members claim this is an excellent way to bring the school closer and creates a community.
In addition to the "Keji" outing, each class attends a trip each year to Redtail Nature Camp
Redtail Nature Awareness
Redtail Nature Awareness is a Canadian nature retreat and wilderness education centre located in Scotsburn, Nova Scotia.- History :In 1991, Redtail was founded by a husband and wife team concerned about environmental degradation...
. The Camp is located in Pictou County, Nova Scotia and has approximately 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of forested land. The Camp activities include much hiking, camp fires, nature/educational games, nature spotting, tracking, guided meditation, Native American rituals such as smudging and sweat lodge, swimming and much more.
Every year, around Canadian Thanksgiving time, the school organizes the "Turkey Trot". This raises money for under-privileged families in the community to receive Turkeys and other foods for Thanksgiving.
Due to the small population on a school based level, Shambhala and other Private schools (e.g. Sacred Heart School of Halifax
Sacred Heart School of Halifax
The Sacred Heart School of Halifax is an independent Catholic day school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada established in 1849. It is one of a number of international schools of the Society of the Sacred Heart. The Headmistress is Patricia Donnelly. All of the students wear school uniforms...
) have teamed up to conduct dances. This is usually open to 7-9 grades and sometimes 10-12 respectively. Each student is allowed 1-2 guests from any school (even public).
Facilities
The Shambhala School is currently housed in the former Alexander Mckay School Building in the HydrostoneThe Hydrostone
The Hydrostone is a neighbourhood in the North End of the Halifax Peninsula in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It consists of ten short parallel streets and is bordered by Duffus Street to the north, Young Street to the south, Isleville Street to the west and Novalea Drive...
area of Halifax. The school has three floors and a mezzanine including the basement area.
The bottom floor has a small carpeted room sometimes used for music-now used for drama equipment, a large open space used for concerts, circles and other activities, restrooms, a utility room, a canteen room with a kitchenette
Kitchenette
A kitchenette is a small cooking area.In motel and hotel rooms, small apartments, college dormitories, or office buildings a kitchenette usually consists of a small refrigerator, a microwave oven or hotplate, and, less frequently, a sink...
and a large room formerly used for art and aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, and now used for large gatherings. The basement also includes a gymnasium with recently new hardwood flooring. The gym also has a stage used for concerts and plays.
The mezzanine includes a number of classrooms (currently used for music and visual art) and a staff room. The music room includes a resident drum kit, keyboards, stereo and PA system. The art room includes, among the many mediums, a number of pottery wheels and a kiln.
The first floor mainly houses the elementary classes as well as a preschool. The floor has many classrooms, washrooms and an administrative office.
The top floor houses the older grades. This includes many more classrooms, a kitchen/lunchroom (which doubles as a classroom in some cases), an administrative office with a photocopier and the director's office. There is also an outdoor classroom made of a sustainable material which was an exercise by architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
students from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
.
All grades use cubbies for storage which are on the sides of all classrooms.
See also
- ShambhalaShambhalaIn Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shambhala or Shangri-la is a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere in Inner Asia...
- Shambhala BuddhismShambhala BuddhismThe term Shambhala Buddhism was introduced by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the year 2000 to describe his presentation of the Shambhala teachings, originally conceived by Chögyam Trungpa as secular practices for achieving enlightened society, in concert with the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu and Nyingma...
- Sakyong Mipham RinpocheSakyong Mipham RinpocheSakyong Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, Jampal Trinley Dradul is the head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage and Shambhala International, a worldwide network of urban Buddhist meditation centers, retreat centers, monasteries, a university, and other enterprises, founded by his father, the Buddhist teacher...
- Shambhala School Website