Semiahmoo Secondary School

Semiahmoo Secondary School
Location
Map
1785 148th Street

Surrey
,
British Columbia

Canada
Coordinates49°02′06″N 122°48′49″W / 49.0349°N 122.81364°W / 49.0349; -122.81364
Information
TypePublic school
Motto"Semiahmoo...We are the future"
Established1940
School districtSchool District 36 Surrey
PrincipalAlyssa Malkoske[1]
Faculty119[1]
Enrollment1555[2]
Coloursroyal blue, white, and red
     
Team nameThunderbirds
AffiliationIB World School
Websitewww.surreyschools.ca/semiahmoo

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 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 1981, 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 130 students in Grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the IB Diploma Program at Semiahmoo. There is also the option of enrolling in the IB Certificate Program for up to three courses, which is only available for students who live in the Semiahmoo school catchment. Students apply to the program in the Grade 10 year by sending in the completed application package which can be found on the school's IB website.[6] In 2022, Semiahmoo's IB graduates achieved an average grade of 37 out of 45 points; the global average was 32.[7]

Athletics

Semiahmoo has a track, baseball field, all weather soccer fields and a rugby field.[citation needed] There is also a beach volleyball court.[8] Semiahmoo Secondary is known for its basketball team.[9]

Notable alumni

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

References

  1. ^ a b "Semiahmoo - Staff Directory". Surrey Schools. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Semiahmoo - Our School". Surrey Schools. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Brown, Jack (2018). "The Development of Schools in Surrey: 1940 to 1950". Surrey Historical Society. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  4. ^ a b c Greenizan, Nick (2016-11-23). "Moving experience a Semiahmoo history lesson". Peach Arch News. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  5. ^ "Semiahmoo Secondary School School Plan". Surrey Schools Learning By Design. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  6. ^ "Apply". Semiahmoo International Baccalaureate Program. Semiahmoo Secondary School. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  7. ^ "About". Semiahmoo International Baccalaureate Program. Semiahmoo Secondary School. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Siblings hit the sand in search of gold". Peace Arch News. 2015-08-04. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  9. ^ Tsumura, Howard (2022-01-18). "B.C. boys high school basketball rankings 01.18.22 edition: Top 10's top climbers include Abbotsford, Pacific Academy, Mark Isfeld and Unity Christian!". Varsity Letters. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  10. ^ Glen Schaefer (June 19, 2011). "The Hero who would have been carpenter". The Province. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012. As a [...] White Rock teen who spent his time in the woodworking and auto mechanics shops at Semiahmoo secondary, actor Paul Campbell wasn't marked for stardom.
  11. ^ "Hockey Canada Skills Academy - Semiahmoo" (PDF). Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  12. ^ CV Ardo Hansson Archived 2013-02-18 at archive.today
  13. ^ Kane, Laura (2017-12-02). "Trudeau campaigning for Surrey Liberal candidate ahead of byelection". National Post. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiahmoo_Secondary_School