Balbo Elementary School - A Brief History

In 1943 a three room school was built in Shoal Harbour to replace two "one-room" schools which were located on the sites where Gosse's Iron Works and Mac Burt Limited are now located. The principal was a Mr. Robins.

Ten years later, in 1953, the school still consisted of 3 classrooms, a small auditorium, a small kitchen and two washrooms. The staff consisted of three teachers (K-3), (4-7), and (8-11). The total enrolment was 81 pupils and the principal was Mr. Harris Thistle.

With the opening of the High School in Clarenville (September 1957) Shoal Harbour became an elementary school (Grades K - 8) with three teachers (K-3) (4-6), (7-8).
 

In the early 1960s the School Board, anticipating an influx of students from Milton, George's Brook, and Smith's Sound, saw the need to enlarge the school building at Shoal Harbour. As a result four large classrooms, a library, a small office and several washrooms were added to the old building in 1968. This extension to Shoal Harbour School resulted in an increase in the enrolment from just over 100 pupils in 1968 to over 300 in 1981. A corresponding increase in the number of teachers also took place and by 1981 there were fourteen teachers on the staff. In addition it should be noted that the school, shortly after integration in 1969, changed its name from Shoal Harbour School to Balbo Elementary (after General Italo Balbo and the Italian Armada who landed in Shoal Harbour (July 28, 1933) on their historic expedition).
 

In the anticipation of increases in enrolment a new school was built on Thomas Place in Shoal Harbour in 1984. This building housed students from K-8 from the same areas previously noted. The staff increased to 18 teachers including a Principal (Mr. William Day) and a Vice-Principal (Mr. David Deering). The official opening and dedication of this present day school was held on Dec. 4, 1985. A ribbon cutting ceremony was also held at a special assembly with Kindergarten students - Mitchell Stacey, Joanne Green and Michelle Smith- cutting the ribbon. Students were moved into the school at the beginning of February of the following year.
 

In 1992 we had an influx of approximately 25 Norwegian students due to the Hibernia project taking place at Bull Arm. Accompanying these students were two Norwegian teachers. The Norwegian presence in Shoal Harbour reached its peak in 1994 with 59 Norwegian students and three Norwegian teachers. Also, at about this time, the administration changed. Mr. Day retired as principal and Dr. Terry Andrews was hired to replace him. The regular staff consisted of 26 teachers and the total number of students enroled was 445.
 

In 1997, with the completion of the Hibernia project, the Norwegian presence was eliminated and the enrolment dropped accordingly. This decline was offset slightly by the closure of Burgoynes Cove Elementary causing the 12 children enroled in that school to transfer to Balbo Elementary. Today Balbo has an enrolment of 350 students with 25 teachers on staff