Semiahmoo Secondary School

Semiahmoo Secondary School (/ˌsɛmiˈæmuː/ SEM-ee-AM-moo) is a public high school in South Surrey, British Columbia, and is part of School District 36 Surrey. It was founded in 1940 as the first senior secondary school in South Surrey. The school serves grades eight through twelve.^[2]

Semiahmoo Secondary School
Address
1785 148th Street Surrey , British Columbia Canada
Coordinates	49.0349°N 122.81364°W / 49.0349; -122.81364
Information
Type	Public school
Motto	"Semiahmoo...We are the future"
Established	1940
School district	School District 36 Surrey
Principal	Alyssa Malkoske[1]
Faculty	119[1]
Enrollment	1575[2]
Colour(s)	royal blue, white, and red
Team name	Thunderbirds
Affiliation	IB World School
Website	www.surreyschools.ca/semiahmoo

Semiahmoo is one of four public high schools on the peninsula, along with Earl Marriott Secondary School, Elgin Park Secondary School and Grandview Heights Secondary School.

The school is named after the indigenous Semiahmoo people.^[3]

History

Before 1940, students from White Rock and Surrey were educated at Surrey High School in Cloverdale or Blaine High School in the state of Washington in the United States. Overcrowding at Surrey High School led to petitions for a new school; by the time the new school opened students were spread to the basement of Rock Public School, and the Campbell River Saw Mill Office. A three storey wood frame building was constructed^[3] in White Rock^[4] with 14 classrooms, a library, an Industrial Education shop, and a 50 by 80 feet gym with a large stage at the south end; it opened in November 29, 1940 as Semiahmoo. The building was expanded in the late-1950s and 1960s to alleviate overcrowding; the opening of White Rock Junior High and Douglas College providing additional relief.^[3]

In 1989, Semiahmoo High School absorbed White Rock Junior High to become Semiahmoo Secondary School; it moved into a new building on the latter's site on 148th Street. The old Semiahmoo building was occupied by White Rock Elementary School. The old building was demolished in 2004;^[3][4] the cupola was saved in 2004 and delivered to Semiahmoo for restoration in 2016.^[4]

Academics

Semiahmoo Secondary School has been an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School since June 1980, making it one of the oldest IB programs in British Columbia.^[5] Surrey students are permitted to cross school boundaries to enter the IB program. Approximately 300 students in Grades 11 & 12 are enrolled in the IB Program at Semiahmoo. There is also the option of students enrolling in the Partial IB Program. Students apply to the program in the Grade 10 year by sending in the completed application package which can be found on the school website.^{[citation needed]} In 2022, Semiahmoo's IB graduates achieved an average grade of 37 out of 45 points; the global average was 32.^[6]

Extracurricular activities

Music

Almost all of Semiahmoo's instrumental music ensembles are full courses in the school timetable.^{[citation needed]} The program consists of 3 concert bands: grade 8, grade 9, and Senior Wind Ensemble (grade 10-12); 5 jazz bands: grade 8, grade 9, grade 10, grade 11, and grade 12; and varying amounts of jazz combos per year. The current head of the department is Dagan Lowe along with two other directors Jeff Williams (s. 2019) and Annie Lu (s. 2023).

Theatre

Semiahmoo houses a theatre that can hold approximately 200 people. In addition, the senior grades perform various one-act plays, Shakespearean works, and improvisation sessions throughout the year.^{[citation needed]}

Athletics

Semiahmoo has received multiple Provincial banners in recent years.^{[citation needed]} Semiahmoo has a track, baseball field, all weather soccer fields and a rugby field.^{[citation needed]} There is also a beach volleyball court.^[7] Semiahmoo Secondary is known for their prestigious basketball team.^[8]

Notable alumni

• Paul Campbell, actor, Battlestar Galactica^[9]
• Colton Gillies, left winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets^[10]
• Ardo Hansson, World Bank economist and Governor of the Bank of Estonia^[11]
• Gordie Hogg, politician^[12]
• Robert Langlands, mathematician, founder of the Langlands program
• Grant Lawrence, CBC Radio 3 host
• Gabrielle Miller, actress, Corner Gas and Robson Arms
• Nardwuar the Human Serviette, journalist
• A.C. Newman, songwriter, leader of The New Pornographers
• Hannah Simone, former fashion model, actress, "New Girl", MuchMusic VJ
• Richard Weinberger, Olympic swimmer, bronze medalist
• Sean Whyte, CFL player, Edmonton Eskimos, and Lew Hayman Trophy winner

Gallery

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  Semiahmoo Secondary noticeboard (replaced with an electronic version circa 2009)
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  Another view of Semiahmoo Secondary