Harry Balfour School offers a full range of educational programs to students from ECS through grade 9. In addition to provincially prescribed core programs we offer French as a Second Language in grades 4-9, Instrumental Music in grades 5-9, and a range of complementary courses in grades 7-9 focusing on the one and practical arts. Formal technology related courses are mandatory for all students in grades 4-8, and all grades have access to computer technology that can be integrated into the core program. Special needs students are accommodated in a variety of integrated and pullout programs depending on individual and group needs. Our Junior High Learning Strategies Program provides unique opportunities to address the needs of students with learning disabilities and/or academic deficits.

Harry Balfour School was one of three pilot sites for an innovative integrated services to children project involving Child Welfare, Social Services, Alberta Mental Health, Mistahia Health Unit, AADAC, FCSS, RCMP, Probation Services, the school and the business community. The success of this project has led to its continuation at Harry Balfour School and its expansion to other schools in Peace Wapiti Regional Division. In addition Harry Balfour students have access to increased services through the Student Health Partnership

 Achievement

Grade 3 students met or exceeded expected levels of achievement in Language Arts and Mathematics with the school exceeding the provincial participation rate by over 5%. Language Arts results represented a new 5 year high, while mathematics results were the highest since 1997, the year before the implementation of the new curriculum.

Grade 6 students met or exceeded expected levels of achievement in all subjects with the school exceeding the provincial participation rate by over 5% in 3 of 4 subjects and by over 2% in the 41 subject. Results in all four subjects represented a new 5 year high.

Grade 9 students net or exceeded expected levels of achievement in all subjects with the school exceeding the provincial participation rate by over 7% in all subjects. 91.2% of students passed the Mathematics 9 test as compared to 73.6 across the province and in Science 93.1% passed as compared to 79.1% across the province.

The Instrumental Music program continues to excel with each of the 4 bands entered in the Grande Prairie Music Festival winning their class. The grade 8/9 band was recommend for participation in MusicFest Canada and MusicFest USA and was invited to participate in the Heritage Festival in Anaheim.

Students also participated in a variety of contests excelling in the Scholastic and Geographic Challenges as well as experiencing success in the Legion Remembrance Day contests and other artistic and literary endevours.

 Issues

Classroom space is at a premium with current enrollment being accommodated by converting one science lab, a storage room and the art room into regular classrooms; the stage has been walled off and is used as a classroom; two rooms at Avondale School are currently being rented from the Grande Prairie School District; and two additional storage rooms have been converted for use as a counseling office and speech pathology room. There is insufficient space to allow the development of enough computer lab space to properly implement the Information and Communication curriculum. Additionally there is no dedicated art facility making the maintenance/establishment of art programs in upper elementary/junior high problematic.

Providing appropriate programming to special needs students within the context of a static Central Office staffing formula heavily influenced by the number of small schools in the jurisdiction and declining real 'after inflation; dollars allocated by the province for instruction.

The transfer of money from the Instructional Block to Transportation and Maintenance necessitated by severe provincial under-funding of these areas in rural jurisdictions.