HALIFAX REGIONAL CENTRE FOR EDUCATION
New St. Joseph's-Alexander McKay Elementary School Opening February 18

The following was shared with SJAM families on February 2, 2026.

We are pleased to share the following announcement, which will be made public at 1 p.m., on behalf of the Departments of Education and Early Childhood Development and Public Works. 

More information will be shared by the school in the coming days to ensure a safe and smooth transition.   

Please note the following important dates:   

• SJAM students, who have been attending École Beaufort on Walnut Street, will not have school on Friday, February 13, and Tuesday, February 17 (February 16 is the Heritage Day holiday), to allow school staff to pack up current classrooms. 

• Pre-Primary children in the SJAM catchment area who have been attending the program at St. Stephen's will not have the program on Tuesday, February 17 to allow school staff to pack up current Pre-Primary rooms. 

• The first day of school for SJAM students, including Pre-Primary children, will be on Wednesday, February 18.  

PUBLIC WORKS/EDUCATION EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT - New North-End Halifax School to Welcome Students in February 
 
The new St. Joseph's-Alexander McKay Elementary School (SJAM) in north-end Halifax will open to students on Wednesday, February 18. 

The bright, modern learning space, on the site of the previous SJAM building on Russell Street, has capacity for 515 pre-primary to Grade 6 students. Over the next two weeks, staff from the school and Halifax Regional Centre for Education will test and train on the new school's systems and move into the new building. 
 
"SJAM is a cornerstone of the north-end community. Our commitment to families, students and school staff has always been to get them into a 100 per cent complete, safe and welcoming school and we are now ready to do that," said Public Works Minister Fred Tilley. "When the bell rings on Day 1, everyone will walk into an exceptional learning space that will support young Nova Scotians for generations to come." 
 
SJAM students, who have been attending École Beaufort on Walnut Street, will not have school on Friday, February 13, and Tuesday, February 17 (February 16 is the Heritage Day holiday), to allow school staff to pack up current classrooms, set up new classrooms and familiarize themselves with the new school.  

Major construction of the school was completed today, February 2, and the contractor officially handed the new building over to the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. SJAM staff and a school steering committee had significant input into design - advising on gym, cafeteria and library layouts and furnishing, as well as on specialized pre-primary and learning centre areas. The school also has a dedicated area for a 58-space childcare centre. The centre, which will be operated by a third-party, will open in the coming months. 

Members of the school advisory council, and steering committee and media will have the opportunity to tour the school prior to opening.