News release

SchoolsPlus Expands Into 48 More Schools

Education (July 1999 - March 2013)

NOTE: A list of schools supported by the expansion of SchoolsPlus follows this release.


More students and families will have access to parenting sessions, employment supports, physical activities, and homework clubs thanks to the province's expansion of SchoolsPlus.

New services, reaching into 33 schools, will be located in Chignecto-Central, Halifax, South Shore, and Strait Regional school boards in 2012-13. SchoolsPlus will expand into 15 more schools in Annapolis Valley and Tri-County in 2013-2014.

"Kids and Learning First, the province's plan for education, helps build connections between schools, parents, students and communities," said Education Minister Ramona Jennex. "SchoolsPlus is a valuable program that supports those linkages and also provides specific supports that students, families and communities need."

The province is investing $2.5-million in SchoolsPlus, bringing together teachers, students, families and community volunteers to design and deliver programs that meet the specific needs of the community.

"SchoolsPlus enables schools to address students' needs beyond the classroom," said Julie Gillard, a teacher at Rockingstone Heights School in Halifax Regional Municipality. "It focuses on students' physical and emotional needs, and helps them build a connection to the community."

While every school will be different, schools now participating in SchoolsPlus co-ordinate and deliver about 100 services and activities such as:

  • mentoring
  • anger management
  • adult literacy
  • employment support
  • parenting support
  • art and sport programs
  • entertainment and hobby clubs
  • summer camps

"It's an amazing opportunity for the Rockingstone Heights School," said parent Crystal Jennings. "The New SchoolsPlus site will be a real morale boost for the community."

The successful school boards will establish a hub site to be the centre of a network for SchoolsPlus to serve a family of schools. The school boards will receive $125,000 to provide leadership and community outreach.

Criteria for the selection process included: demonstrated commitment to the use of school facilities outside of regular school hours; potential for collaborative partnerships with community partners and government departments; gaps in services for children, youth, and families that could be addressed through SchoolsPlus; adequate facility space for community use and the ability to reach as many schools as possible.

The province expects to select two more SchoolsPlus sites for the 2013-14 school year. Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial will be encouraged to re-submit applications to increase services in more of their schools.

The province's goal is to have SchoolsPlus schools in every county, with 28 hub sites, by 2017-18. Presently, eight SchoolsPlus sites are in place, reaching into 46 schools.

For more information about SchoolsPlus, visit: schoolsplus.ednet.ns.ca


Schools supported by the expansion of SchoolsPlus in 2012-13:

Chignecto Central Regional School Board

  • Truro Junior High School (anticipated hub site)
  • Truro Elementary School
  • Harmony Heights Elementary School
  • Cobequid Education Centre

Halifax Regional School Board

  • J.L. Ilsley High School
  • Rockingstone Heights School (anticipated hub site)
  • Central Spryfield School
  • Cunard Jr. High School
  • Chebucto Heights Elementary School
  • John W. MacLeod - Fleming Tower School
  • Elizabeth Sutherland School
  • Herring Cove Junior High School
  • Harrietsfield Elementary School
  • Sambro Elementary School
  • William King Elementary School

South Shore Regional School Board

  • North Queens Community School
  • Greenfield Elementary School
  • Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy
  • South Queens Jr High School
  • Liverpool Regional high school (anticipated hub site)
  • Milton Centennial School
  • Mill Village Consolidated School
  • New Germany Rural High School
  • New Germany Elementary School
  • West Northfield Elementary School
  • Bridgewater Elementary School
  • Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School

Strait Regional School Board

  • Richmond Academy (anticipated hub site)
  • Strait Area Education - Recreation Centre
  • East Richmond Education Centre
  • Felix Marchand Education Centre
  • Tamarac Education Centre
  • West Richmond Education Centre

Schools supported by the next expansion of SchoolsPlus:

Annapolis Valley Regional School Board

  • Avon View High School
  • West Hants Education Centre
  • West Hants Middle School
  • Brooklyn District Elementary School
  • Dr. Arthur Hines Elementary School
  • Falmouth District School
  • Newport Station District School
  • Three Mile Plains Elementary School
  • Windsor Elementary School (anticipated hub site)
  • Windsor Forks District School

Tri-County Regional School Board

  • Barrington Municipal High School (anticipated hub site)
  • Forest Ridge Academy
  • Evelyn Richardson Memorial Elementary School
  • Cape Sable Island Elementary School
  • Clarks Harbour Elementary School