Balmoral Junior Secondary School

Carson Graham Secondary, Balmoral Campus
formerly Balmoral Junior Secondary School
Address
3365 Mahon Avenue
North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7N 3T7, Canada
Information
School board School District 44 North Vancouver
Superintendent John Lewis
Principal Stephen Garland
Vice principal Ms. K. Barter
School type Public high school
Grades 8-10
Team name Barons
Colours Orange and Black
Founded 1959
Enrollment Around 700 (2010)
Feeder schools Highlands Elementary
North Star Elementary
Carisbrooke Elementary
Braemar Elementary
Larson Elementary
Homepage official website

Balmoral Junior Secondary School was a public high school in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, part of School District 44 North Vancouver. Since the French immersion program left Balmoral Junior Secondary in 2003, that institution saw declining enrollment, to the point where the school itself closed in 2009. The property has since been repurposed to hold the grade 8 and 9 classes of Carson Graham Secondary while that school undergoes a facilities upgrade.[1] The Balmoral building, redesignated as the Carson Graham Secondary Balmoral Campus, will be phased out in 2012 following the completion of the work at Carson Graham.

History

Balmoral Junior Secondary School had opened in about 1959 to serve Grades 8 and 9 students in the northwest area of the District of North Vancouver. It was intended as a feeder to Delbrook Senior Secondary a few blocks away. In 1969 Balmoral split the grade 10 class with Delbrook.

In January 1977 the Delbrook building was destroyed by fire necessitating Balmoral accommodating both schools' students and staff until the end of June.[2] Following this, Balmoral became a feeder school to Carson Graham Secondary School.

In 2009, Balmoral ceased to exist as a separate school and became the second campus to Carson Graham Secondary School.

The Balmoral site is slated to close in 2012.

Honour Roll

Athletics

From its opening, Balmoral is known for its superior rugby program. Under Coach Bob Payne in the 1960s the bantam and juvenile teams often went undefeated in a season, and were unscored upon in a few. The grade 8 and grade 9 rugby were perennial Vancouver and District champions. In 1969 the school fielded a grade 10 boys' team for the first time. The school has produced numerous Canada U-19 and U-21 players and, at last count, three full international senior players; Tony Scott (1973), Ron Johnstone (2001–present), and Kelly McCallum (2003).[3]

In 1997 they became only the third junior high school in the 33 year history of the B.C. High School Wrestling Championships to finish fourth.[4]

In 2007 Balmoral beat Seycove in Boys soccer for their league junior championship. They were the runners' up for the Vancouver and District title.[5]

Closure

In the 2006-2007 school year the North Vancouver School District put Balmoral on a list of schools slated for closure due to declining enrollment.[6] The school parent advisory committee started a campaign to find more funding and keep the school open.

The PAC's presentations presented a strategy to keep the school open, called the International Baccalaureate Program which was approved in 2007.[7]

In 2009, the school district twinned an immediate rebuild of Carson Graham School with the closure of Balmoral in 2012. At issue was either the construction of a seismically sound, single facility at the Carson Graham site for 1,100 students, or the maintenance of two sites both with aging facilities and one with under 300 students.[8]

Drama and musical theatre program

Balmoral's Drama Program[9] rivaled many others on the North Shore. It was headed up by Ms. A Reale with the some assistance from Tim Cadney. The program put on around 5–7 different shows each year including spring and fall festivals.

Productions

Drama
Musical theatre

Most of these musicals were directed by Tim Cadney or Richard Berg. The Musical Direction was done by either Chris King or Courtenay Ennis.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Carson Graham & Balmoral School Consolidation - Update on Project
  2. ↑ British Columbia Archival Union List - Delbrook
  3. ↑ Balmoral Rugby 2005-2006
  4. ↑ British Columbia Archival Union List
  5. ↑ North Vancouver School District superintendent's report
  6. ↑ Balmoral School Community Consultation - NV School District
  7. ↑ International Baccalaureate Approved for North Vancouver
  8. ↑ School board chair Jane Thornthwaite
  9. ↑ North Vancouver School District

Coordinates: 49°20′25″N 123°04′49″W / 49.3403°N 123.0803°W