Hello to our Western families,
As we head into the last month of the school year, and the last two weeks of classes before exams, our students are extremely busy - wrapping up spring sports, taking part in Fine Arts performances, being recognized at grad and at various awards nights, and (of course) finishing their remaining coursework. If you haven’t taken a look at PowerSchool lately, we’d encourage you to do that so you’re aware of your child’s progress; if you have questions for teachers, please reach out to them accordingly while there is still time to address any concerns.
In addition to our 3300C Robotics team, who will appear a bit later in this newsletter, more congratulations are in order to:
Daniel O, who demonstrated elite composition skills in combining the words/rhythms of two Nigerian folk songs in Yoruba, and came up with the musical accompaniment, for a piece at the Choral Concert last night as a heartfelt tribute to his mother (and all mothers) and, Poet L, who recently won gold at provincials in her weight class for women’s boxing.
As demonstrated repeatedly, we have amazing students at Western Canada High School and we’re proud of their various accomplishments, even when they’re ‘just’ doing all the right things on any given day.
Thank you,
Darrin Whitbread
Principal | Western Canada High School
Updates
Youth Employment Centre
A representative from the Youth Employment Centre will be onsite in the school foyer on 3 and 10 of June from 11:50 to 12:30. Check them out and see how they can help you get employed!
The Youth Employment Centre can help with resumes, cover letters and provide interview tips – for free!
🎓 Attention Grade 12 Graduates:
- Professional Grad Ceremony Photos Pickup
A representative from LifeTouch photography will be available in the cafeteria on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30, for graduates to pick up their professional photos that were taken at the graduation ceremony last week. Please bring photo ID to make the process easier. - Certificate & Portfolio Pickup
If you were unable to attend the graduation ceremony on May 22, your personalized certificate and red portfolio are now available for pickup in the Guidance office.
Diploma Breakfast “Grab and GO!”
An update on the “Grab and GO!” Breakfast program for exams. It will run June 11th – 17th, and they are still looking for specific items to be donated, or volunteers to help out. If you are able to donate or would like to still jump in as a volunteer, please reach out to Bridgette Moore at b.f.moore@shaw.ca
Student Exam Planner
A student exam planner will be given to all students in period # 2 this Friday. This is meant to be filled in with exam dates, times and locations to ensure that students know when and where they are writing. There is also a list of major exam rules on the back of the planner. Please talk to your child and ask to see their schedule to ensure they have done this! Extra copies will be in the main office for students who miss that day of school or have a spare during period # 2.
Western Robotics Team Wins Award at World Championship!
From May 5–9, one of Western Canada High School’s robotics teams, 3300C, had the incredible opportunity to compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship held in Dallas, Texas. This event brought together the top 814 robotics teams out of 11,000 from across the globe, sectioned into 10 highly competitive divisions.
After months of dedication and countless hours of designing, building, and programming, Team 3300C – Graeme, Nykin, Dean, Fergus, and Aris – proudly represented their school on the world stage. The team not only qualified for the elimination bracket, but also achieved an impressive 11th place in the Research division.
In addition to their strong competitive performance, 3300C was also honored with the Create Award, a prestigious recognition given to a team that demonstrates a design of creative engineering solutions to one or more of the challenges of the competition.
The VEX Worlds experience was a culmination of the team’s collaboration, perseverance, and passion for STEM, marking a significant milestone in their robotics journey.
3300C’s Progression at Worlds:
https://youtu.be/kG4OllvNu58?si=Adzt_BVXIi051HZn
Le Certificat de compétences en immersion française :
The French Immersion Certificate of Achievement:
The grade 12 students who completed the French Immersion Program were presented with their certificate at a special assembly on Wednesday, May 28th. These students have earned 45 / 50 / 55 credits of their mandatory 100 credits to graduate in French. This year, 213 students were recognized. What an accomplishment!
We wish them the very best in their future endeavours as we know that their efforts within this programme will open many doors of opportunities throughout their lives.
Félicitations et bonne chance à tous !
Free Resource for Parents: ConnectED
This resource is provided from Sarah Winstanley of “The Project to End Domestic Violence”.
We know parenting isn’t always easy — especially when it comes to talking about friendships, dating, and boundaries. That’s why ConnectED Parents has been created as a free, research-backed initiative that helps parents guide children aged 6–20 toward healthy, respectful relationships. It is delivered entirely through text messages, putting hundreds of healthy relationship resources in the hands of parents.
Starting in September 2025, those who sign up will get 2–3 short, practical texts each week — tips, tools, and ideas you can use in real life. Over 6 months, you’ll receive around 70 messages to help you:
✔️ Start open, honest conversations about relationships and dating
✔️ Boost your confidence as a parent in connecting with your child
✔️ Prevent dating violence before it starts
This initiative is led by Shift, a research hub at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work. And there's more — you can also provide your feedback to help us continue to improve the initiative for other families.
Want to learn more or sign up?
👉 https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_782Y1lwgpX8lSF8
Have questions? We’re happy to chat — just email Lianne Lee at LiLee@ucalgary.ca, and stay up-to-date with us on social media.
Let’s help the next generation build safe, strong relationships - it all starts with you!
Warmly,
Sarah Winstanley (she/her)
Knowledge Mobilization Lead & Curriculum Developer, ConnectED Parents
Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
slwinsta@ucalgary.ca