My school day memories continue -- heading to 'Junior High School' years now…read more Part 2 -- John Norquay Elementary School, Vancouver, BC -- grade 7, plus, first semester of grade 8 - while waiting for Gladstone Secondary School to be ready to accommodate more 'Junior High School' level students. I arrived at 'John Norquay School' at age 11, to start grade 7, a touch after classes had already started in September that year (1951), and found myself getting the -- "heh class, we have a new student with us now" -- introduction treatment for the first couple of days! For a shy guy, being singled out like this was a little "yikes", a touch disturbing, but soon forgotten, and I was able to make friends, and settle in rather quickly. Wow! it was grade 7 - and with the classes being held in an elementary school, we were truly 'the' seniors there!! I recall having some fine, much-liked, and respected teachers while there, and some wonderful classmates, several of whom became long-lasting, close friends over many years ahead. Some personal memories: - location - on Slocan, just a couple of short blocks away from Kingsway - at the time, a vibrant shopping district of many small, retail stores, restaurants, goods & services -- a very short walk, almost directly 'up' from where I lived on Clarendon Street. - I was on 'half-shift' for the first part of grade 8 - playing 'yards' (a football-like game) in the playground before classes started in the afternoon was a fun activity. - "jawbreakers" (and other kinds of 'penny' candy), and bubble gum packets of baseball & hockey cards, purchased at the confection store across the street - and the trading of cards with friends, and classmates. - burgers & hot dogs at 'Harry's' (on Kingsway, a few shops up from Slocan) - well-known for his wonderful sauce, and tasty 'combo' (wiener + meat patty) burger. - found a grade 7 class photo (1952). I was at 'John Norquay' for an especially short time - relative to my total school years - but the school made for such big, and long-lasting memories! And although I changed schools, the district remained my home for the second semester of grade 8, and through grades 9 - 12. My only 'close' to visits to 'John Norquay School' since then, have been frequent drives by the school, either on the way to YVR, or restaurants on Kingsway, and other nearby areas. It has always looked as I recall, and has triggered many fond memories with each of these passing glances!

My experience here set me up for failure in life because of a teacher and being berated and being…read moremade an example of in class repeatedly. If I could get a refund because of what I experienced, I would. I give them a F.

Have fond memories of this place from way back when I attended there. The grounds have been nicely…read moreupgraded over the years

While considered one of Vancouver's schools of "hard knocks", this racially diverse high school is…read moreactually quite safe, provided that you aren't in of one the gangs. With nerds, jocks, and everything in between, students tend to dress differently and are less likely to conform to any one standard of behavior. Gone is the "who's cool" rule of thumb, with geeks taking pride in their good grades and thugs content to only harass other thugs. Not that popularity isn't an issue, it's just that the school is so large and things are so diverse that nobody really cares about the people they don't know personally. With a great selection of electives like metal works, electronics, band class, hairdressing etc..., it definitely delivers on the technical trades, and has everything from French Immersion for stuck-ups to the Nova program for last chance drop-outs. I recommend CPTV (Video) with Mr. Grenier, Electronics with Mr. Fruing, and the railway tracks behind the field for smoking lunch time doobies.