News, Program Profiles

Program Profile: King’s-Edgehill School

Founded in 1788, King’s-Edgehill School is Canada’s first Independent School. Located in Windsor, NS, about 45 minutes from Halifax, King’s-Edgehill will join the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) Eastern U18 division in 2024/25, having appeared as a guest team in the CSSHL Eastern Division this past season. 

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION STATEMENT

Founded in 1788, Kings College School (KCS) was the first independent school in both Canada and the British Commonwealth outside of Great Britain. In 1976, KCS amalgamated with Edgehill School for Girls, forming what is now known as King’s-Edgehill School – a co-educational day and boarding school. Today, we honour the remarkable traditions of excellence, achievement, and leadership that have long defined our schools.

KES inspires academic, athletic, and artistic excellence with a commitment to the traditional community ideals of gentleness and learning, dignity and respect, so that students may discover and cultivate their unique potential, prepare for post-secondary education and develop a life-long enthusiasm for the spiritual and intellectual growth necessary to flourish in the contemporary world.

At King’s-Edgehill we help students be more than they thought was possible by creating a world-class environment that supports our students to see more, do more, create more, compete more, and achieve more.

We strive to build a well-rounded person through a balanced approach to student development that makes sure all aspects of life are nurtured, from academics and athletics to service and spirituality.

Our Highlanders Hockey program aligns directly with the school’s mission and objectives. We strive to build high character people in addition to high-quality hockey players. The development of teamwork, discipline, accountability, and self-confidence are objectives of our hockey program. On-ice objectives follow Hockey Canada’s development model. We strive to develop individual skills, instill competitiveness, and teach team tactics.

LIST OF CSSHL Teams

  • King’s-Edgehill Highlanders U18 Boys Hockey Team

LOCATION AND YEAR PROGRAM ENTERED CSSHL

Located in Windsor, Nova Scotia, King’s-Edgehill School combines a scenic, small-town locale with world-class academic, athletic, and extracurricular facilities. Ninety-two acres in the heart of one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces, we are located 45 minutes from Nova Scotia’s capital city Halifax and the Halifax International Airport. This will be our first season in the CSSHL.

EDUCATION

King’s-Edgehill is a Canadian Accredited Independent School (CAIS). What that means in Canada is, education is provincially mandated, and most CAIS Schools are required to meet ministry guidelines.

However, CAIS schools provide more. Our national standards and process are congruent with the internationally accepted criteria and core standards adopted by the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA) and updated annually based on current research and exceptional practices. The Standards Council of the CAIS Board reviews and approves all changes to the accreditation guidelines.

  • What are some of the things your program does to provide educational support?
    • Our teachers are the biggest supporters of our students here at KES. With small class sizes, teachers work one-on-one with students. Each student is also paired with an academic advisor who meets with each student twice a week. Study hall is always provided on the road for our students, which is monitored by a coach.
  • How are grades monitored and how often?
    • Grades are monitored constantly by teachers and academic advisors. Teachers, advisors, and coaches are in constant communication about students and their grades.
  • How are courses and the graduation path for student athletes chosen?
    • In the Senior School (Grades 10-12) students can opt for honours courses by subject domains, a system known as ‘setting’ rather than ‘streaming’. Each incoming student works with our academic coordinator to set them up with the right course selection.
  • Do you have an academic probation policy?
    • We do have an academic probation period. If our students receive multiple poor effort grades on a report card, they are not able to travel for sports for two weeks. Until they are in good standing with their academics this will continue.

RESIDENTIAL LIFE

  • Do you offer a billeting program or a dormitory for non-local student athletes?
    • KES is a true boarding school. Boarding schools are a home away from home for many children whose parents are looking to give their children the tools they need to do and be more. Enrolling your child in a boarding school means giving them the freedom to form lifelong friendships and experience an educational experience unlike any other. Parents send their children to KES because they know they are providing them with the best opportunities to be more.

STUDENT-ATHLETE HEALTH

  • We are fortunate to have a nurse on campus for students to access day-to-day. We also work with an athletic therapist on campus. Students are able to book appointments to have treatment done with our athletic therapist. Our athletic therapist also travels on the road with us for game coverage.

SCHEDULE

  • What does the daily schedule look like for a student athlete in your program?
    • 7:00-7:45 – Breakfast
    • 8:10 – Chapel/Assembly/Advisor meetings
    • 8:35-12:45 – Classes
    • 12:45-1:30 – Lunch
    • 1:30-2:30 – Classes
    • 2:30-3:00 – Tutorial period for Senior School
    • 3:00-5:00 – Highlanders Hockey Practice (Off-ice strength and conditioning – 2-3x per/week)
    • 5:30-6:15 – Supper
    • 6:15-7:15 – Free time and clubs (Workouts)
    • 7:30-9:30 – Evening prep
    • 9:30-10:00 – Free time and evening snack
    • 10:30 – Lights out
  • How many games can your teams expect to play?
    • Our teams play 40-50 games a season, including CSSHL regular season and championships, exhibition games, and tournaments.
  • What does the on and off ice training look like?
    • Our athletes take part in daily purposeful on-ice training. We strive to develop individual skills, instill competitiveness, and teach team tactics. Our athletes are also fortunate to work with a full-time strength and conditioning coach. We also boast state-of-the-art athletics facilities both on and off campus.
  • On-Ice Highlights
    • 4-5 practices per week
    • 40-50 games per season
    • Digital video analysis of all areas of the game using ‘The Prospects Exchange’
    • Professional coaching staff
  • How long does your program run?
    • Our Program runs from the start of school until the end of March.

KEY STAFF

  • Zack MacQueen, Head Coach Boys Hockey & Program Coordinator
  • Cam Scott, Head Coach Girls Hockey
  • Shauna Forsyth, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Jennie Sawlyer, Athletic Therapist
  • Kim Walsh, Athletic Director
  • Joe Seagram, Head of School
  • Daniel Kimbley, Manager, Communications and Marketing

CONTACT