Table Of Content

2 Openingday, September6,2005, seemslikeonlyyesterday. Mounting the stage at our Opening Assembly, I surveyed the sea of faces oT students andfaculty and feltthe flush ofexcitement,tingedwith ahint of anxiety. Commg new to the Grammar School, I sensed the friendliness and openness so characteristic ofthe Maritimes. Looking around, I saw students and faculty exchanging opening day greetings, completely at ease with one another. Breaking out into the Grammar School "Fight Song" brought us all together and produced smiles all around. After eight years ofliving in a fast-pacedcity like Montreal, HGS and Halifax represented a welcome change for me. Since arriving, I have rediscovered my fascination with lighthouses. The Lighthouse is, of course, one ofthe most enduring symbols of Nova Scotia andthe East Coast. One lighthouse enthusiast Rip Irwin, the author ofLighthouses andLights ofNova Scotia (200il captured wellthe appealandallure ofthelighthouse: "Nothing stirsthe seafarer more than the first glimpse ofa lighthouse after a lengthy voyage at m sea. Since280B.C., whenthefirst lighthousewasbuilt Egypt, tnese beaconsofhopeinstorm-tossedseashavewarnedmarinersofdangers or guided ships into safe havens." When I think ofthe H—alifax Grammar School, the image ofthe Lighthouse comes to mind. Like the Lighthouse, the School is - to me a beacon ofhope in the world ofeducation. With our fiftieth anniversary on the horizon, HGS stands tall as a living example of excellence in education. With public education facing challenges, our school may provide an aiato navigation through those difficult, choppy waters. In embracing the International Baccalaureate, we are already lighting the wayTor other schools here in Nova Scotia. Overthepastyear, the School has keptthe lightburning. We have celebrated the 25*Anniversary oftheTerry Fox Run with a real outpouring ofgenerosity and welcomed Canadian artist Alex Colville back for a truly riveting Remembrance Day commemoration. InJanuary, the School hostedalively TownHall andMockFederal Election that generated considerable buzz and was featured in the Chronicle Herald. The Prep Poetry Festival and the musical Hi, Ho, Lt's Robin Hood showcased the many talents of ouryoungest pupils. Our Senior Girls Varsity Basketball team won international acclaim at the KSA Classic in Orlando, Florida, and challenged cross-town rivals QEH all season, right down to the wire. In debating, we retained the coveted Dr. Moses Cody Tournament Championship and scored an upset to win the Nova Scotia Junior High Debating Championship. Our Senior School musical Guys andZ)o//5literally swept audiences away and HGS skiers scaled new heights, winning the Nova Scotia Provincial Championship. Students came to the top ofthe agendathis year. We convened a StudentForum on FutureDirections andmoved forward with a new Student Leadership and Participation model. Student elections were held inApril 2006 to fill an expanded roster of leadership opportunities. Our Student Council will be greatly expanded to include class representatives from Grades 7 to 12. A new Board of Stewards has been establisned and our House System m rejuvenated through strengthened organization. All ofthis is aimed at engaging and empowering students our Middle and Senior Schools. Student achievements abound at the Grammar School. Flipping through these pages, you will see countless examples ofstudents striving forexcellence as well as riding the ups and downs ofdaily scnool life. Overthepast year, Nicole Roda Nigel Chapman andthe StudentCounciniave stageddances andevents thataddedmuch tothe enjoyment ofstude,nt life. House spirit ran high thanks to the infectious enthusiasm ofJulia Kent. Behindthem all the way was a dedicated faculty team, led by Matthew Moffatt, Gayle Baillie, Laura Brock, and Paul Brinkhurst. Ouryearbookprovidesavividpictureofschoollifefromthestudent'sperspective. Manythanksto TheGrammarian editorial team, ably guided by Ms. Jackie Greenough, for capturing the HGS spirit and preserving the memories. Dr. Paul W. Bennett Headmaster 3 A Message from Mr. Moffatt ... As I write, our Senior School is fast approaching the end ofits voyage. Forthe Senior Three crew Keji is a distant memory, and you have just wrapped up a successfulsleepovertoraisemoneyfortheprom. Nowmostofyouarebecommg frantic as you prepare for your IB exams; but nevertheless still hoping to fit anotherdanceandacoffeehouse intothese lastfewdays. Watchingyounavigate the rough waters ofadolescence in the Middle School and then in the Senior School has been a pleasure. To witness the choices some ofyou make as you try to avoid crashing on the rocks, while wrestling the helm away from your parents hasbeen fascinating to saythe least. I hope thatwe, yourteachers, have succeeded in illuminating not only your minds but the treacherous shoals and rocky coasts that endanger every intrepid sailor. I hope that when you embark on the next leg of your voyage, you will »o forward with the most valuable instrument, a strong moral compass, and with the academic tools to succeed in university. Here's wishing you fair winds and following seas as you sail offto conquer new horizons. 2005/06 Student Council It was an eclectic student council this year, but we were united under one goal: to be remembered, and to make our last year at HGS a blast. We sure had fun, and even ifyou didn't, you can't say we'll be forgotten. No one could forget the infamous dance that hosted over 600 people, the Halloween entrance-way, the Dating Game, or intramurals, to name a few. This was a year of change altogether; Ms. Baillie was our new staff-advisor. Dr. Bennett was our new Headmaster, we combined the House System and the Student Council, and we introduced a new StudentCouncil memberhalfwaythroughtheyear. Hugethanks goes out to Gay Silverman, Mr. Moffat, Ms. Baillie, and Dr. Bennettforalltheirtimeandeffortthisyear,becausewecouldn't have done it without them. We'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate our fellow graduates, and wish them ail the best in the years to come. To all those that still have time left at HGS, good luck and stick with it. Go out into the world and make a difference. Love, Julia Kent, House Major Jamie Giffin, Head or Finance Felix Crux, Head ofOperations Nicole Roda, Head Girl Nigel Chapman, Head Boy Yearfeoofe itaf/ A big thank-you to everyone who contributedto the 2006 Grammarian, and to the following students who worked on the yearbook committee: Talia Orr, Jon Lu, Jiasi Chen, Margaret Perrie, Olyvia Buana, Badriyeh Ghaedi, Lucy Medvedeva, SianLaing, Connie Mclnnis andLaurenO'Connor. ThanksaswelltoGay Silverman,HeatherMacDonald and Melanie Furoy forproviding many ofour yearbook images. This page is sponsored by: 5