School Message
Hello to our Western families,
And Happy New Year! While it all too quickly can fade into the distance, we trust you enjoyed some quality time with family and friends over the winter break. We are happy to be back to finish this rather disjointed first semester, with two more weeks to go. Please check PowerSchool to see where things are currently standing for your child and contact individual teachers if you have any questions.
As was mentioned previously, our annual Celebrate Western online auction has been moved to the new year – February 22 to March 1. A number of volunteers are required for this initiative, which is very much appreciated by the school; if you might be willing to help, please send a message to celebratewesternauction@gmail.com, and somebody will get back to you shortly.
Our school will be hosting Grade 9 Tours and Open House for the 2026/27 school year on Tuesday, January 27th. While this information has been sent to our feeder schools, if you are aware of non-CBE families hoping to come to Western for next year, we would encourage you to let them know as well.
At different times last year, we took the opportunity to recognize our students’ various community contributions and/or accomplishments, and we’d like to continue that in our newsletters. While we have a sense of school-related matters, parents are invited to send us other things that we might want to include.
Darrin Whitbread
Principal | Western Canada High School
Upcoming Dates
- Friday, January 23rd: Last Day of S1 Classes
- Monday, January 26th & Tuesday, January 27th : Non-Instructional Days
- No School for Students
Updates
Extended Absences
It is the school’s responsibility to ensure parent(s)/legal guardian(s) understand the impact that extended absences may have on their child’s education. When parents/guardians wish to remove their student from school for an extended period of time (longer than 3 days) for reasons other than illness or bereavement, we ask that an Extended Absence form, available in the main office, be completed and submitted.
MyCBE Accounts
Parents, legal guardians, and independent students will need to create a MyCBE account to complete required forms, pay fees, etc. To create an account, please see the MyCBE Support page HERE. If you are experiencing difficulties in creating your account, please see Ms. Hanley in the main office.
Attendance
To report your child’s absence, please call 403-228-5363, option 1, or email westerncanada@cbe.ab.ca. When providing an update, please include: The student’s full name (spell the last name slowly and clearly if leaving a voicemail). The reason for the absence. The timeframe of the absence. Please note: Attendance updates may take longer during transit delays, winter weather, or other events affecting attendance, as the school manages records for approximately 2,250 students. Updates may take up to one school day. To avoid delays, please do not leave multiple messages unless correcting a previous one. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
Subscribe to Stay Informed
Due to Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), you need to subscribe online if you want to receive email or text messages on “commercial” school topics such as the Weekly Update or IPP communication.
2024-2025 Rideau Park Yearbooks
Students who were in grade 9 at Rideau Park last school year, and who ordered a yearbook; they are now available for pick up in the main office at Rideau Park School, during their office hours.
Lifetouch – Fall Photo Ordering
Thank you for allowing us to capture your child’s school photo this year!
It's not too late to order your fall photos at mylifetouch.ca using your child’s Student ID number (found in your student’s online profile, e.g. PowerSchool)
How to Order Online
Go to mylifetouch.ca
Log in to your account or continue as a guest
Select “Student ID”
Enter your school’s name, province, and postal code
Click the blue “Continue” button
Enter your child’s: Full name, Student ID number, Your relationship to the student
Click “Find Student”
When the photo appears, click “Yes, this is my student”
Choose from available photo package options
Complete your order online
Need Help?
Lifetouch Customer Care Line: 1-866-457-8212
Quick, easy, and secure ordering – your child’s school memories, delivered to you!
Grade 12 Grad Photo Bookings – Lifetouch Studio
Grade 12 students who are graduating this year, who would like to book a grad photo session at the Lifetouch studio, may do so by making a booking HERE.
For assistance, they can call 403-255-5440
Spring Drama Production Auditions
Auditions for the spring Drama Production will be taking place after school on Thursday and Friday this week in the theatre. We are excited to be partnering with the Werklund Centre For The Arts on this one. Stay tuned!
Join Choir!
Both choirs are accepting new members for the second semester! Meet new friends and have fun learning music in a supportive environment. With classes taking place outside of the timetable, there’s no reason not to. No experience is required, and you’ll earn extra credits. Interested students are welcome to drop inon and try a class in January. See Ms. Reinhardt in the choir room or email sjreinhardt@cbe.ab.ca for more info.
STUDENT SERVICES
CBe-Learn Second Semester Online Course Requests:
Students, please come to student services and register indrop in person with your guidance counselor.
All students (Grade 10, 11, and Grade 12’s that missed the December deadline): Jan 13-15, 2026.
in Scholarship Updates:
The Schulich Leader Scholarship. A Schulich Leader is a student who has been selected by one of 20 partner universities to receive $120,000 or $100,000 to pursue an undergraduate degree in STEM. In addition to this large financial award, they join an elite network and benefit from student enrichment opportunities throughout the year. Schulich Leaders are entrepreneurial-minded and exemplify academic excellence AND leadership, creativity, and charisma, with strong consideration for financial need. Our Schulich Leaders are pursuing careers in technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, business enterprise, and applied scientific research. For information: Schulich Leaders website
For nomination, please send the following to Mme Plante (maplante@cbe.ab.ca) by January 20th, 2026
- An essay on how you are entrepreneurial-minded, demonstrate leadership and creativity, and meet the requirements for the Schulich Leader Scholarship
- A copy of your résumé
The National Scholarship Program – Western University Candidates
· National Scholarships are designed to recognize all-round excellence. They are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic performance to candidates who demonstrate the ability for creative and innovative thought and a passion for the pursuit of learning. National Scholarships also recognize exceptional achievement in extracurricular activities such as the arts and athletics. A special emphasis is placed on a candidate's commitment to community service through ongoing contributions to school and community life.
- National Scholarship Program Information
- If you want to be one of 4 Western Canada High School nominees, please have one page essay describing your ability for creative and innovative thought and your passion for the pursuit of learning, and a copy of your résumé by Feb. 2nd, 2026, to Mme Plante (maplante@cbe.ab.ca)
Career and Post-Secondary Planning
Students who are unsure about their future plans may benefit from exploring the following Career and Education planning tools.
Calgary Trades & Technologies Collegiate
Provides Calgary Board of Education (CBE) high school students with hands-on opportunities to explore and experience careers in skilled building trades and related technologies, fields that are in high demand across Alberta and Canada, and careers that power the world around us.
In partnership with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), this pathway supports:
- Real-world experiences
- Hands-on training
- Direct exposure to industry experts
More information is linked here,. The expression of interest form must be submitted by January 16th, 2026.
Graduation Ceremony – Fee Now Due
The fee for the graduation ceremony this year is $85, including GST. This fee has been added to your graduating student’s account and is now payable via your MyCBE account or in person at the Business Office.
A reminder that ALL outstanding fees, from current and previous years, must be paid in full for students to be able to attend the graduation ceremony and banquet. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please see below how to apply for a central fee waiver. This waiver must be completed for a student to be considered for a school-based waiver of fees.
Centralized Fee Waiver
No child is ever denied access to an education in the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) because of an inability to pay. If you can't afford the fees, there are several ways to qualify for a central fee waiver.
Waiver applications for the current school year are found online through your MyCBEaccount and are available from the start of the school year until June 30. Please check out more information here.
French Immersion
BELCANFRAN exchange program between Alberta and France/Belgium
Dear parents,
You are invited to attend a presentation on the Belcanfran 11-week reciprocal exchange program.
The presentation will be made by Lise and Ron May, who have coordinated reciprocal exchanges in France and Belgium for the past 19 years.
Belcanfran is a NON-FOR-PROFIT reciprocal family exchange between Alberta and France/Belgium that promotes the French language development through a linguistic a culture immersion within family and school settings.
For more information, please consult our website: www.belcanfran.com. Please refer to the website for details about the program, the application process, and payment dates.
- What? Belcanfran exchange information meeting
- When? Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Where? Wildwood Community Centre
- 4411 Spruce Drive, SW
- Calgary, Alberta
Lise and Ron May
Belcanfran Exchange Foundation coordinators
403-606-8742 cell
403-949-3816 res
IB exams for May 2026
Please pay any outstanding IB exam fees unless you have made arrangements to spread out the payments. This week is the last chance to register for May IB exams (or to drop IB exams for a refund). If you expected a confirmation of registration email and have not received it, please email Ms. Rivers serivers@cbe.ab.ca asap. IB Exam schedule: May-2026-IB-Exam-Schedule.pdf
Valedictorian/Grad Speaker Applications
Valedictorian/grad speaker applications are now available for interested grade 12 to pick up from the main office.