Our Mission and History

Mission

Sacred Heart School of Halifax is an Independent Catholic school that educates students intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically in a caring and trusting environment. Our heritage and Sacred Heart spirit inspire commitment to value-based education relevant to a pluralistic student body.

Our goals are to educate students to:
  • faith which is relevant in today's world
  • respect for intellectual values
  • personal growth
  • the building of community as a Christian value
  • a sense of social justice which impels to action
Our dedicated faculty and staff foster a caring atmosphere in which a sense of self-discipline and academic excellence abound. Creativity, discovery and energy are evident as you walk through our school.

History

Sacred Heart School of Halifax is one of more than 150 schools in an international association sharing a common beginning. The first school was started in France in 1800 by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, the foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Saint Madeleine Sophie was a young woman of courage, generosity and intelligence. By the time of her death in 1865, eighty-six convents had been established throughout the world, all dedicated to the education of young women.

In 1849, Mother Mary Peacock came from New York with a small group to found our school which has been in continuous operation ever since. At that time, it was both a boarding school and day school for girls.

In 1985, the Society of the Sacred Heart transferred the governance of the school to a lay board. A corporation was established, and the school continues to operate with the same goals and principles that it has upheld since its inception.