Miss N. J. Yeo, Balmy's first Principal

Balmy Beach Community School was first called Pine Avenue School. It was built on the present site in 1906. The school had four rooms on two floors and opened with three teachers and a principal in 1907. Miss N. J. Yeo, the principal, stayed in the position until her retirement in 1925 (see photograph above). Only the first 5 grades were enrolled at Balmy Beach School.
An addition of 3 rooms to the original building was built in 1910. In 1914, another addition of 2 third floor rooms was built and kindergarten was introduced. Four more rooms were added in 1921 and the building stayed this way until 1928 when an east wing containing four rooms was built. A year later, a similar west wing with four rooms was built creating a total of 21 rooms and room for 827 students.

In the early 1970’s when plans to replace the old structure were approved, the community was encouraged to submit its ideas as to what the new school’s function should be. The building was completed in September 1975 and the cornerstone laid in June 1976. Unlike many of the traditional schools, its function was to service the needs of the community including pre-schoolers, school-age children, adults, and senior citizens. As a result, we have a modern facility that is open from early morning until late at night making Balmy Beach a true community school.