Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision. We want to help you ensure that you find the “right fit”. Before applying, please feel free to contact us to obtain further information, book a tour of the school, or to schedule a meeting. Simply take a moment to fill in our Admissions Inquiry Form and our Admissions Team will get back to you.
2024/2025 Enrollment
We are currently accepting inquiries for new enrolments for the 2024/2025 academic year. Family tours are ongoing, we are currently experiencing a high amount of interest and are booking 7-10 days out for booking in an individual family tour.
Applications for 2024/2025 will be accepted from February 2024 up until mid May 2024, such that we can review the application and related materials and have time to schedule a student visit day prior to the end of our school year in early June 2024.
During June and early July we will be finalizing our review of applicants and related acceptances and associated enrolment details. Our Admissions office will be closed in August.
Some grade levels are currently projected to be at or near capacity for next year. We encourage prospective families to initiate the application process as soon as possible. This will ensure adequate time for us to answer your questions, review the application forms and schedule a student visit day prior to the end of May 2024.
If you are interested in joining us immediately we are open to mid-year inquiries dependent on classroom capacity.
Admissions Process
1. Make an initial inquiry to ask your questions and to arrange a meeting or tour
Please contact us with your initial questions and to obtain information about our programs through our Admissions Inquiry Form.
A member of our Admissions Team will be in contact with you
- If you are interested in our Pre-Primary program, you will be contacted by Maggie McNevin, Head Teacher of our Pre-Primary program.
- If you are interested in Primary or Elementary or Middle School or High School, you will be contacted by Margo Bulpitt, a member of our Leadership Team.
During Admissions season, we will endeavour to respond to your inquiry within two to three days to answer your initial questions and let you know a little more about our school.
2. Family Tour
We offer families the option of a private tour of our school prior to moving to the application stage. Our regularly available tour times are during a school day so parent and student can get a feel for the school. This may also help a student feel more comfortable about coming for a student visit day.
3. Initiate application process
Once you have decided that Shambhala School is a good fit for your family and are ready to initiate the application process let us know. We will begin accepting applications for the 2024/2025 Academic year in February 2024. We will have our Head of Administration, Ms, Susan Marsh, set up a profile in the Shambhala School parent portal so you can login and complete and submit the applicable application form and other required supporting documents.
Applicants for enrollment should submit:
- Student application form
- Student Recommendation Form (completed by their teacher) or in lieu permission for us to talk to the students current school
- Report cards for the current year
- Reports cards for at least one previous year as applicable – teacher recommendation
- Documentation of existing classroom adaptations or accommodations
- Psychoeducational assessment reports or other reports (if applicable)
4. Pay application fee
Applications will not be considered complete until payment of the $125 application fee has been received. This payment can be made by:
– eTransfer: please send to [email protected] . In the notes section please note the student name and the words “application fee”. The security answer should be “shambhala” (all lower case).
– cheque: please make the cheque out to “the Shambhala School” and make arrangements with our office at 902-454-6100 x1 to drop it off or send it to us at The Shambhala School, 5450 Russell Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3K 1W9
5. Student Visit
Once all of the submissions are received along with the application fee, the completed submissions will be reviewed and we will move towards setting up a student visit in which the student spends time in the classroom for all or a portion of the day (the varies by grade).
5. Notification of Acceptance
Within two weeks of the classroom visit (or alternative arrangement), we will notify you of the classroom teacher’s recommendation for acceptance.
6. Finalize your admission
To finalize your admission and hold your child’s place in class we required the following within 14 days of acceptance:
- A non-refundable deposit
- Signed financial contract
- Payment in full or monthly payment arrangements
7. Register for our Before and After School Program
If you are registering a student in Pre-Primary to Grade 5 and are interested in our Before or After School Program, please refer to the separate fee schedule.
We recommend for you to complete your enrollment for our Before and After School Program within 14 days of acceptance, but we do understand that your plans and arrangements may change and will accept enrollment in our Before and After School Program as space allows up until August 1, 2024.
International Students
Click here for admission details applicable to International Students.