We are delighted to share some exciting news about the future of our school. As part of our growth and evolution, we are transitioning to a new name: Hydrostone Academy. This rebrand reflects our gratitude for the strong foundation built by the Shambhala Community and our vision for the years to come. This change has been a long time in the making. We have spent significant time and effort on community consultations and market research, ensuring that this transition reflects our evolving identity while staying true to the core values that have always defined us.
Our new logo has been designed to preserve the look and feel of the first Shambhala School symbol. We intend to retain a symbol that continues to hold deep meaning for our community while embracing a fresh appeal for a broader audience. This balance allows us to honour our history while positioning Hydrostone Academy to attract a new generation of students and families. If you have any questions about the rebranding process, please feel free to reach out.
The Elementary Winter Festival
We are delighted to invite you to our Elementary Winter Festival on Friday, January 17th! Students from Grade Primary through Grade 5 have been working hard with our Music Director, Mr. MacKelvie, and their classroom teachers to prepare a special evening of performances.
The performance will begin at 5:30 pm in the school gym. Doors will open at 5:00 pm, and we ask that all students be in their homeroom classrooms by 5:15 pm to meet their teacher and prepare for the curtain call.
- Please note some classroom teachers may have special instructions of the time and place to meet, please defer to those instructions should they be different from what we have written here.
In the spirit of our Community Helpers project, we invite you to bring a donation of non-perishable food to support our local food bank. Your contributions will help us give back to the wider community during this season.
TCG (Trading Card Game) Club
We are excited to announce a new club opportunity for students in Grades 5 and up taking place upstairs every Friday from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. Diving into the world of strategy, competition, and trade, this club is the perfect space to explore popular trading card games and build new friendships.
Learn the rules, build your deck, show off your collection, and master the art of tactical game play as you face off against fellow members in friendly matches and tournaments. Offering weekly discussions, card-trading sessions, and opportunities to sharpen your competitive skills, the club will foster a welcoming environment for players of all levels. Pokémon TCG will be the main focus of the club, but trading card enthusiasts of all types (Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, etc.) are also welcome. Join us to expand your collection, create new peer bonds, and unleash your inner strategist! TCG Club will be hosted by Mr. Fletcher, our resident Pokémon professor!
Check out our other after school clubs
We currently have afters chool clubs running for Robotics, Drama, D&D, Gaga ball, and Basketball. There are also some lunchtime clubs like the AV Club, Art Club, and Mr. LeDuc’s Vinyl Lounge!
Check the school’s Google Calendar to see what’s happening, or check in with your child’s homeroom teacher.
It’s not too soon to be thinking about March Break Camps!
Pre Primary and Primary March Break Camps
Our camps for Pre Primary and Primary students will follow the rhythm of the regular school day with outside time, circle time, and rest periods. Camps will run both weeks of March Break: March 3-7 and March 10-14, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. For Primary registration, CLICK HERE. For Pre Primary registration, CLICK HERE.
Grades 1-5 March Break Camps
For Grades 1-5, we are offering two exciting “Bigs Camps” that can be attended one week or both:
Week 1: Musical Theatre Camp
March 3-7: Campers will step into the exciting world of musical theatre, where they’ll learn songs, dances, and scenes from a fun, kid-friendly musical.
Week 2: Theatre Camp
March 10-14: This week focuses on the magic of drama! Campers will dive into the world of acting and storytelling. For grades 1-5 registration, CLICK HERE.
Introducing ShambhalaCon-Themed Camp for Students in grades 5-9!
Led by the talented Amanda Shuffles, previously of the de Knox, this five-day camp is perfect for students who love creativity, games, and adventure!
To register for week 1 (Mar 3-7) CLICK HERE. To register for week 2 (Mar 10-14) CLICK HERE.
This week in French class
The grade 7, 9, and 10 students filmed videos presenting the Hydrostone neighborhood and the school as part of an exchange with their pen pals. Each group introduced their local environment in French, using directions and describing notable places. This activity was a great opportunity to practice vocabulary related to directions while learning how to present locations clearly and accurately. Furthermore, it allowed the students to explore the cultural and geographical aspects of their own neighborhood and school in a fun way, while connecting with their peers from another location.
This week in Pre Primary
The children in the Sky Room started woodworking projects this week! They have been learning safe practices and have mastered sawing, hammering, and block sanding. We look forward to seeing the end results!
Calendar Dates
- Jan 17: First meeting of TCG Club 3:00 pm
- Jan 17: Elementary Winter Festival 5:30 pm
- Jan 22: Upper School Winter Drama Showcase 3:30 pm
- Jan 27: Ski Martock Day for grades 4-12
- Jan 28: Spirit Day- wear your Shambhala swag!
- Jan 31: Regular school day for Elementary
- Feb 1: African Heritage Month begins
- Feb 17: Heritage Day- NO SCHOOL
- Feb 18: PD Day- NO SCHOOL (child care available)
- Feb 27: End of Term II
- Feb 28: Report Writing Day- NO SCHOOL (child care available)
Have photos or videos of school events to share?
Email them to the school office!
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