What is the difference between a Fine Arts school and a Creative Learning School?
A Fine Arts school tends to emphasize education in the arts in order to develop particular skills in music, dance, drama or art. Often these programs select students on the basis of their specific talents and encourage those students to develop their skills in a particular field of the arts. While fine arts schools serve some students well, we believe that interdisciplinary approaches are more appropriate to our work at Balmoral. In a Creative Learning school, the focus is on learning and teaching using the arts and technology as a means to understand the world. Students are given opportunities to learn and present information and experiences in multiple ways. They are encouraged to find ways of learning that help them understand concepts, analyze experiences and develop attitudes that value the rigour that the arts and technologies require. “Talent” is not the issue in creative learning; rather, the emphasis is on learning processes that encourage inquiry, exploration, experimentation and reflection. The prescribed Alberta Curriculum serves as the starting point for our work, but we believe students here have opportunities to achieve far beyond the basic curricular expectations.

What are the hours of operation?
Classes begin for all grades at 8:30 a.m. and finish at 3:20 p.m.

What are the clothing requirements for physical education?
All Balmoral students wear gym strip for physical education (black t-shirt, dark shorts, runners)

What extra-curricular activities are there in the school?
Normally, students at Balmoral can participate in sports activities such as cross country, volleyball, basketball, badminton and track and field, as well as in special interest clubs such as yearbook and computer clubs. Students also have the opportunity to participate in band, dance and drama outside class time.

How are the lockers assigned to students?
Each student shares a locker with a partner.

Is there a lunchroom at Balmoral?
Yes. Students who wish to do so my purchase their lunches from the school lunchroom, which provides an excellent variety of menu choices at very reasonable prices. Students may also bring their own bagged lunches from home. We try to offer a variety of activities for students to participate in during our short 45 minute lunch break (intramurals, Computer room, library, clubs). There is really no need for students to go off-campus, however we do not have the personnel to monitor who might be leaving our school grounds. If parents do not wish their child to go off-campus, that will have to be an understanding that they come to with their child.

Can my child take the bus to school?
Students who live in other areas of Calgary that are distant from the school must arrange for their own transportation to and from Balmoral. Balmoral’s central location is served well by Calgary City Transit routes and some families have arranged their own car-pooling.

What fees will we incur if we send our child to Balmoral?
Regular school fees are levied and are comparable with those at other CBE schools.

Is there a “dress code” at Balmoral?
We, at Balmoral Junior High School, request students to maintain standards of dress suitable for a school environment that promote us as a place of learning and not a location of less formal activities. We are aware of the many fashion statements on the market today, many of which are more of a casual nature than to be considered appropriate for school. We believe modeling, image, and perception are important to the integrity and functioning of our school environment. Modeling is how we do things within the school, image is what we project outside the school and perception is how others see us. To promote our expectations, we request your support and understanding of appropriate dress norms. To ensure that teachers are not wasting valuable teaching time monitoring, debating, or sending students out of classes for inappropriate dress, we ask that the following list be seen as a guideline for judging inappropriate attire:
• No halter tops
• No tank tops
• No shorty tops that expose midriffs
• No tops that leave undergarments exposed e.g. spaghetti straps
• No outer clothing worn to class (coats, lumber jackets, etc)
• No torn or graphically patched jeans
• No hats or visors worn in the school
• No accessory paraphernalia, such as chains, sunglasses, bandanas
• No jewelry that causes a safety hazard
• No shirts with inappropriate/offensive sayings or pictures
• No unhemmed shorts
• No shorts shorter than mid-thigh

There is no end to the debate, the opinions, or levels of individual preference and choice when discussing different standards of fashion or dress. We, as a school, however, need to define a standard that is representative of our beliefs.

How does a student apply to attend Balmoral School?
Application forms are available at Balmoral. Please remember to include a recent report card including written comments from his or her class teachers. If a student has special learning/behavioral needs, please include a copy of the most recent IPP (Individual Program Plan) so that we can determine how we might best serve these needs.