Roundtable Q&A Discussion About Balmoral Hall School (2021)
Balmoral Hall School alumni, current students, and parents shared their insights on the school’s culture, values, strengths, and weaknesses. Hear what Laura, Nancy, Isha had to say about the school.
Video Contents
- 2:23 - What did you appreciate most about the school during your time here? And how has your perspective on that changed now that you have some distance from the school?
- 6:43 - What to the best of your knowledge most differentiates Balmoral Hall School from other schools?
- 11:24 - If the school were to be represented as a single person, what would its personality be in only three words and why?
- Show Full Video Contents
Highlights from the Q&A discussion
Laura — alum and current parent
- School alumni
Yes
Laura, an alumna and current parent of two students at Balmoral Hall, praises the school’s diverse opportunities, early career preparation, innovative learning, and emphasis on developing well-rounded, confident, and empathetic students, highlighting the school's positive impact on her children's growth and community engagement.
- “I think when you're going through [Balmoral Hall School], you appreciate different things than 10, 20, 30 years in the future. ... I recognized the opportunities right away after I graduated, ... There are various opportunities that the school gives you to see where your passions are and see where your interests are. [Students are] able to explore so many different things.”
- “I was able to explore a lot of different languages at [Balmoral Hall School]. It might be different now with technology and all the things that the school offers in that field, and our new Center for Arts and Design. I think that the various opportunities that [Balmoral Hall School] gives [students] are so amazing for the girls. It also gave me the chance to see what I liked before I even experienced university. One of the things that I still appreciate to this day is the preparation for real-world career opportunities and career situations.”
- “Being able to get exposure to interviews, the panel interviews, things like that, my peers at University had never gone through anything like that. Things like that really still stand out to this day. I talk about the fact that I never had to feel uncomfortable wearing a suit in my business experiences in university and early career.”
- “I would say what stands out to me the most at [Balmoral Hall School] is the university preparation, or even just career preparation, at such an early age. I'm just amazed to be going through now as a parent of a child in childcare, and my other daughter is going into kindergarten at [Balmoral Hall School]. The things that they do with them at three or four years old, it's absolutely incredible. They're giving presentations to their class at age four. That is something that will benefit them, whether they end up being very confident public speakers naturally or not, it'll benefit them so greatly.”
- “[Balmoral Hall School] is teaching [students] so much about mental health, and being well-rounded. That's the type of thing that prepares you for University, but prepares you for the rest of your career in your life, and the fact that they are doing that at such a young age is amazing. I know that every year that they grow up in school, I'm going to see that more and more, so that's the thing that really differentiates [Balmoral Hall School], the forward thinking, the exposure to different experiential learning opportunities.”
- “The three words [I would use to describe Balmoral Hall School] are well-rounded, confident, and empathetic. Just if I think about a person, I think if they're well-rounded, it means that they've had experience in very many things, and they're not just focused on academics. They're not just focused on a sport. I think [Balmoral Hall School] is really good at exposing the girls to a lot, and recognizing that it's important to do a lot of things, even though you might not be the best at a particular subject. If you have something outside of school that really is passionate to you and it's your hobby, then that's great.”
- “The Junior Kindergarten presentations at [Balmoral Hall School] give opportunities to the girls to really be confident. They don't have to be the best public speaker in the entire world, but they should be able to get up in front of a room and be able to say something without being too nervous or too scared. ... They need to get exposure to it. The school is so amazing at giving the girls the confidence that they need for life skills.”
- “Empathy is really important nowadays, and I know just in society we've seen a lot more focus on empathy, and it's a really big topic in childcare and Junior Kindergarten. I'm sure that the school will be fostering those kinds of conversations with the older kids as well. ... The teachers at [Balmoral Hall School]are empathetic at the school to the students, and to each other. They teach the girls to be empathetic to each other, and I think that's just so lovely to see.”
- “My kids are younger, they're two and five. The younger one just started childcare in the two-year-old program in January, and my older daughter has been at this school for three years and she's going into Kindergarten. Honestly, I can't even say enough things about how they have both flourished at [Balmoral Hall School]. It's absolutely incredible to see.”
- “The teachers just interact with [my daughter] in such a more mature way than I ever really gave her credit for at home. Apparently she asks them all questions, and she asks all the other girls questions. She's just so much more inquisitive than I ever thought she was. She is able to express her feelings more than I ever gave her credit for.”
- “I can't even say enough good things about Junior Kindergarten at [Balmoral Hall School]. My older [daughter], she's not even in kindergarten, and she reads fluently. She's been reading books to me over the summer. I knew she was pretty good. … She likes to practice and she likes to do things at home. So, I will say she's motivated, but I'm just blown away. She reads full books at age five, and she's not even in Kindergarten.”
- “The impact of the friendships [my daughters] have made at [Balmoral Hall School] over the last year, and the families that I've been able to connect through, has had an impact on [the whole family]. ... They just have completely flourished as very young kids.”
- “[My daughter] talks about specialty classes. She talks about all the lessons that they do, and the things that they talk about at [Balmoral Hall School]. Going back to empathy, they talk a lot about listening to your body when you need a break. There's a space that you can go to when you are maybe a bit overstimulated, because it can get very exciting in the classroom. [They also] talk about resting and being caring for your friends. She speaks so highly of all of those lessons. She just loves it. She absolutely loves it. I think it was telling when she cried when she finished Junior Kindergarten.”
- “[My daughter] just absolutely loves [Balmoral Hall School]. My younger one, she's two. ... I think what's really telling is that she just walks in. She doesn't even look back to say bye to me. She just walks in and we try to say ‘bye, have a good day.’ And she's just off. She's like, ‘no, I'm on a mission to go to my locker.’ I wouldn't have it any other way, because I know how much fun she's going to have there.”
- “[My daughters] are always talking about the teachers at [Balmoral Hall School], and every teacher does something different with them. So it's clear to me that they are in there with the girls. They obviously give them the space to do things together, especially for the two year olds, where it's a very independent place. Still, they are there saying, ‘oh, do you want me to help you draw’ or they're observing what they're drawing, or kind of just telling stories with them. I know if the [students are] exploring something, then the teacher might come and show them how it can be used for something else. So [my daughter] speaks about them all the time. ... She just walks right in [to the school]. And that tells me all I need to know about how much she loves it.”
- “I feel as though the families that we have at [Balmoral Hall School], and the community, the teachers and staff, take it seriously. … But we're all really there to do the best thing for the girls. I see that the families that I have gotten to know are really of that same mindset, and just value community.”
- “The teachers, staff, families, parents, girls at [Balmoral Hall School]. … I think we all want to get to know each other well. The teachers so openly communicate with the parents, the teachers communicate with each other, and then the parents just get to know each other, and the teachers as well. It's the value of community.”
Nancy — alum and current parent
- School alumni
Yes
Nancy, an alumna and current parent of two students, shared her perspective on Balmoral Hall's nurturing environment, forward-thinking approach, and commitment to all-girls education, emphasizing the school's supportive staff and the unique opportunities it offers for both academic and athletic development.
- “[What I appreciated most about Balmoral Hall School] is just the sense of comfort and family. It’s very nurturing, such a family. I was away for many years from school. When my first daughter started nursery school, when she was three, I walked through the front doors with her, and it just felt like I was putting on an old pair of slippers, like I was walking into my house. Off with my shoes, into my comfy slippers.”
- “[Balmoral Hall School] has that homey comfort feeling, very nurturing, but also really prepared me for University for the real world.”
- “I think it was far easier for [Balmoral Hall School] to facilitate [online learning during the pandemic]. We literally flipped the switch. I know behind the scenes the teachers were working like crazy, but it wasn't something that we hadn't thought of already. They think about the school beyond the brick and mortar, there's a lot more to school than that. I think Balmoral Hall School doing the forward thinking and just being able to work through those two strategic plans, first of all allowed us to really get going forward, and second, allowed us to say ‘the sky's the limit, and we should just go for it, and give our girls the best all-girls education possible.’”
- “Something I learned this summer was that Balmoral Hall School was rated the number one independent school in Winnipeg.”
- “The first thing that I can guarantee is that [Balmoral Hall School students] are receiving the best all-girls education out there. I would tell [prospective students], ‘hey, get involved.’ There's a lot of stuff to get involved in, they should just enjoy all that the school has to offer. We have so much to offer in so many areas, such great teaching staff and support staff.”
- “I think [having an all-girls setting] eliminates some of the anxiety girls have in terms of not wanting to put their hand up in class to answer because boys are there. ... I think science has proven that boys mature at a different rate than girls. Boys may learn a little differently than girls do. This allows us to just sort of drill down on how girls learn, how mature they are at certain ages, what we can give them, and what they can handle, and that's just [Balmoral Hall School’s] specialty. That's what we do. We want to find out their passion and help them succeed. Whatever that is, we're not focusing on one specific area. We're trying to help those girls find their passion, and succeed.”
- “The girls are confident, and it's very comfortable [at Balmoral Hall School]. It was like putting on my comfy slippers. … Just an amazing education.”
- “Both my girls love [Balmoral Hall School]. They really do, and for different reasons, because [my daughters] are very different. I have one who's very scholastic, and one who's very athletic. And the school, I love the fact that the school supports both … . [My daughter] in previous years had a very big commitment to volleyball and a variety of different sports. She's always said to me, ‘Mom, I love that the teachers are always very supportive of me to achieve those things, but help me keep up with this scholastic piece as well.’”
- “[My daughter] tells me that she loves the challenge that the [Balmoral Hall School] teachers give her. She's one of those kids that just loves that challenge all the time. ... She appreciates that the teachers give her that opportunity to do that, and maybe get her to do more, above and beyond what they're doing in class. They say they're both very happy there. I've heard other people ask them, ‘if you were going to go to a different school. Where would you go?’ They say, ‘no way. We're going to stay right here. We're happy here. We love the teachers. We love the environment. We love our friends.’”
Isha — alum and current parent
- School alumni
Yes
Isha, alumna and current parent of three students at Balmoral Hall, shared her views on the school's visionary approach, supportive environment, community engagement, and the unique benefits of an all-girls education, emphasizing the balance between tradition and innovation.
Throughout the history of the school, it's been ahead of the game in terms of what's next, whether it was STEM or STEAM programming. The school's tradition and its approach is to position itself for the future.
The character traits of the school are: balance, stability, and a forward-looking vision. There's a stability in the school, and you feel that. There is a history, a foundation. There's something solid there which feels stable. That feeling is still there. I would also describe the school as supportive. There's a feeling of family. There's a feeling of support, knowing that there are people who are looking out for them.
The school does a lot of amazing things to connect, whether from a service perspective or bringing together people, showing interesting innovation so that students are prepared to succeed. But I think we can always do more about reaching into community and relationships, because relationships within the school are so strong. So I think the school's reach in terms of community connection could still improve.
When you visit the school, it feels like a grounded, down-to-earth place, which is surprising until you've spent some time there. Sometimes people on the outside see all the success and the wonderful things we're able to offer in the programs. But it's a pretty normal place within its walls.
We originally chose the school because I wanted my girls to have an all-girls education environment to see how they would thrive. They are growing up to be confident young women. That was a big part of my tie to the school, and I'm pleased that that's what it was.
I have three very different children, so they all have different personalities, and they feel comfortable exploring who they are at the school. That could involve their professional or academic pursuits or just exposure to other activities. There is a comfort that it's okay to explore all of those things.
As my older daughter is looking ahead at university, and the younger one is just starting middle school, they feel like they have a good education. They've got complaints just like other kids, about everything around them, about their friendships. But when asked, ‘Do you want to go somewhere else?’ They all want to stay at Balmoral Hall.
There's a community feeling that provokes pride. There's pride in that family, the school itself, and in the kids. There's also empathy. We're fortunate to be in this environment, to have the support and the educational opportunities.
To new students, I’d say: Don’t worry. There really is a place for everyone and every personality. The environment for learning is really unique.
Something that I still appreciate to this day is just the preparation for real-world career opportunities. There are various opportunities that the school gives you to see where your passions are, where your interests are, being able to explore so many different things. I was able to explore a lot of different languages. Might be different now with technology and the new Center for Arts and Design.
University and career preparation begins at an early age, even with things like wearing a uniform. As soon as I entered university and had to wear a suit, I appreciated it so much that I had worn the uniform for my last 14 years. Being able to get exposure to the panel interviews and things like that. My peers at university had never gone through anything like that.
At Grade 10, my daughter had been exposed to VR headsets and had seen how they work and how they’re designed and coded. Those types of experiences, I think, really make the school stand out.
Three words I’d use to describe the school are: well-rounded, confident, and empathetic. My kids had experiences in very many things, and they're not just focused on academics. The school is really good at exposing the girls to a lot of things, but also recognizing that it's important to do a lot of things.
The opportunities for the girls to really become confident, starting with junior kindergarten presentations, are really important. They don't have to be the best public speaker in the world, but you should be able to get up in front of a room and be able to say something without being too nervous or too scared.
The teachers are empathetic toward the students and toward each other. They also teach the girls to be empathetic toward each other. And I think it's so lovely to see.
My mom and I both were recipients of this wonderful education at Balmoral Hall. So, when we did have girls, we booked a meeting and came to Balmoral Hall, and we had a Grade 5 student talk to us about the school. As we were walking back to the car, my husband said, ‘I get it. I totally get it now.’
There is a sense of comfort and family in the school, which is very nurturing. When my first daughter started nursery school, I walked through the front doors with her, and it felt like I was putting on an old pair of slippers. That homey comfort feeling, very nurturing, but also reminded me how the school had really prepared me for university and for the real world.
Both my girls love the school for different reasons. I have one who's very academically inclined and one who's very athletic. And the school supports them both. They're both very happy there. I've asked them if you were going to go to a different school, where would you go? And they say, ‘Nowhere. We're going to stay right here.’
The most important character trait of the school is that it’s forward-thinking. They’ve been through a couple of different strategic plans over the last seven or eight years. This allowed the school to be forward-thinking. For instance, when the pandemic occurred and we went to online learning, we had already been discussing online learning for three years. So, it was far easier for us to make the switch. The plans allow us to think, ‘Sky's the limit!’, and just go for it and give our girls the best all-girls education possible.
I learned this summer that Balmoral Hall was rated the number one independent school in Winnipeg. I think oftentimes the school shies away from telling its story, because that's who we've been. But that's one way to reach out to people, by sharing our stories and our successes.
For new students, the first thing that I can guarantee is that they are receiving the best all-girls education out there, period. I would also tell them to get involved. There's a lot to get involved in. Just enjoy all that the school has to offer. Great teaching staff, support staff. You're getting the best of the best, and you should enjoy that.
