Branton Bilingual Junior High School

Branton Junior High School is a junior high school in Calgary, Alberta servicing the Banff Trail community and surrounding area. It offer a solely French Immersion program for grades 7-9 as part of the mandates of the Calgary Board of Education. About The School NameThe school was named after William A. Branton who served the Calgary Board of Education as both architect and building superintendent from 1911 to 1956, when he retired. A native of Spalding, England, Branton came to Calgary in 1905 at the age of 16 where he found employment in the construction industry. From 1908 to 1910 he attended Brandon College in Manitoba, and in 1911 he joined the school board under the late Hugh McClellan, then building superintendent. In 1912, Mr. Branton became his assistant and eight years later rose to the position of building superintendent and architect; positions he held until his retirement. He was responsible for the construction of 60 plus schools during his tenure. About the SchoolThe school was built in 1956 and is situated on 10. 09 acres. In 1986 it was significantly damaged by fire at its south end, and much of it was rebuilt to the original plan. The 31 classroom spaces in the building include 3 portables located west of the main building, 1 computer lab, 4 science labs, 2 home economics facilities (cooking, fashion), a drama room, industrial arts facility and a music room. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, some upgrading of the school occurred to science labs, the computer lab and the library (now referred to as the Alf Boldt Resource Centre in recognition of one of its previous principals). The school has a main gymnasium and stage on the main floor, a well equipped fitness room and a smaller gymnasium below. There is a lunch /kitchen area there as well, and during the lunch hours, the entire lower concourse, gym, and lunchroom provide space for up to 550 students who stay for lunch. The school is famous for its "earthworm, " an indoor track facility built by removing earthfill in the crawl spaces below the main building. The initiative was begun in 1960 with the leadership of R. B. Wilberg, physical education instructor and E. M. Borgal, the principal. The area is no longer used (because of poor air quality), as it once was, to train track teams during the winter months.

Branton Junior High School is a junior high school in Calgary, Alberta servicing the Banff Trail community and surrounding area. It offer a solely French Immersion program for grades 7-9 as part of the mandates of the Calgary Board of Education. About The School NameThe school was named after William A. Branton who served the Calgary Board of Education as both architect and building superintendent from 1911 to 1956, when he retired. A native of Spalding, England, Branton came to Calgary in 1905 at the age of 16 where he found employment in the construction industry. From 1908 to 1910 he attended Brandon College in Manitoba, and in 1911 he joined the school board under the late Hugh McClellan, then building superintendent. In 1912, Mr. Branton became his assistant and eight years later rose to the position of building superintendent and architect; positions he held until his retirement. He was responsible for the construction of 60 plus schools during his tenure. About the SchoolThe school was built in 1956 and is situated on 10. 09 acres. In 1986 it was significantly damaged by fire at its south end, and much of it was rebuilt to the original plan. The 31 classroom spaces in the building include 3 portables located west of the main building, 1 computer lab, 4 science labs, 2 home economics facilities (cooking, fashion), a drama room, industrial arts facility and a music room. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, some upgrading of the school occurred to science labs, the computer lab and the library (now referred to as the Alf Boldt Resource Centre in recognition of one of its previous principals). The school has a main gymnasium and stage on the main floor, a well equipped fitness room and a smaller gymnasium below. There is a lunch /kitchen area there as well, and during the lunch hours, the entire lower concourse, gym, and lunchroom provide space for up to 550 students who stay for lunch. The school is famous for its "earthworm, " an indoor track facility built by removing earthfill in the crawl spaces below the main building. The initiative was begun in 1960 with the leadership of R. B. Wilberg, physical education instructor and E. M. Borgal, the principal. The area is no longer used (because of poor air quality), as it once was, to train track teams during the winter months.