[citation needed] Barton Secondary School’s mission statement was "Educating students to become lifelong learners and contributing citizens in a challenging, changing, multi-cultural world."

[4] BSS was founded on November 11, 1961, as part of the Board of Education for the City of Hamilton's plan to have enough schools available for children of baby boomers.

Over a four-year period, results were studied and in 1976, the semester system was deemed a success and adopted by other schools in Hamilton and the surrounding area.

[5] Lemieux, who stated that she was a transgender woman, had come under fire internationally for wearing extremely large prosthetic breasts that she claimed were real to her job as a shop teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School.

Oakville Trafalgar High School was subject to protests, petitions, public outbursts and a string of death and bomb threats due to the outrage towards her.

The memo informing parents of that fact said “should the school be subject to any disruptions or protests; we are committed to communicating with you as openly and as frequently as possible to ensure student safety – and to share any operational plans.

Students were not informed of the reason, and a routine fire drill earlier that day caused confusion until news that it was a bomb threat was posted on the Hamilton police X (Twitter) account.

BSS took part in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board's Programs of Choice method that tailors learning to specific areas of interest.