Founder’s Day Celebrates Legacy of Louise Balmer
On Founder’s Day, Torreys celebrated the LJCDS centennial and honored Louise Balmer’s birthday.
On February 27, the LJCDS community came together to celebrate Founder’s Day and honor the birthday of Louise Balmer, the courageous educator who opened the Balmer School in 1926 with just four students and three faculty members in a one-room cottage in La Jolla. What began as a small, progressive school rooted in hands-on learning and care for the whole child has grown into La Jolla Country Day School, now serving more than 1,100 students on a 24-acre campus.
Throughout the day, students marked the centennial with joyful moments across campus. Torreys received a special-edition centennial newspaper, stopped by the Torrey Sweet Shop for a treat, enjoyed a 1920s-themed lunch, wrote letters to Louise, and gathered to watch a video reflecting on her life and legacy. It was a celebration filled with gratitude, school spirit, and a shared sense of connection to the story that continues to shape LJCDS today.
As the video reminded us, Louise Balmer was more than a founder. She was a visionary who believed children learn best through discovery, creativity, and meaningful relationships. That spirit still lives at Country Day. As former educator Terri Zimmerman shared, “What she believed in, we believe in. Curiosity, thinking outside of the box, and a nurturing community.” Founder’s Day was a joyful reminder that our story began with one remarkable teacher—and continues with every Torrey who learns, grows and leads here.
