School Message
Hello to our Western families,
As we head into our winter break, we certainly hope that there is an opportunity for our families/students to enjoy some quality time with friends and loved ones. Whether staying in Calgary or traveling further abroad, please make the most of the two weeks away from school commitments and responsibilities. We thank our students for working so hard in their classes right up until today, with a reminder that there will be one more week of classes to go in the first semester upon our return on Monday, January 6th.
On behalf of our entire staff, much thanks to our Parent Council for organizing our staff appreciation event this past week and, of course, to all who contributed the various treats for that. WE have all eaten a bit too much, with. none of our arms needing to be twisted.
And, finally, to those who responded to our call to help support some of our students/families in need, a most heartfelt 'thank-you' as well. A newsletter shout-out is not nearly sufficient (so please also see the cards we've sent home). But, we did want to let everybody know that thirteen students and their families were extremely grateful for this unexpected and timely assistance.
All the best,
Darrin Whitbread, Principal | Western Canada High School
Upcoming Dates
- Winter Break (No School)
- Monday, December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd
- Last Day of Semester 1 Classes
- Friday, January 10th
Updates
Rideau Park 2023-2024 Yearbooks
Rideau Park’s 2023-2024 yearbooks have arrived at Western. If you were in grade 9 at Rideau Park last year and ordered a yearbook, please come to the Main Office for pick up.
Celebrate Western Auction Items
Items available for pick up now. Please check in with Ms. Hanley in the Main Office for assistance. Please note: you will need to provide your receipt and for some orders, government issued photo ID.
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 bus 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!
Drop-in
We will be available for Drop-in visits starting January 7 to February 3 no appointments are needed. Please check the door for the posted hours each week as the counsellors are going to be out of the school for the Junior High Visits during this period.
CBE Learn Online Registration will be starting January 7th for Grade 10,11 and 12.
WCHS Giving Tree
sponsored by Students’ Council
Students and staff generously contributed almost 2,000 canned/dried food items for the Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Home Heart Network. The Foundation supports women and families leaving domestic violence.
A two-week campaign by Clubs, Classrooms and Staff has resulted in every family unit at the Home Heart Network receiving: Peanut Butter, Pasta/Rice, Canned Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, Canned Vegetables x 2, Canned protein x 2, Canned Beans, Canned Soup x 2, Rice Crispy Treats, Fruit Snacks (Welches), Apple Sauce, and Mr. Noodles x 2.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE result that highlights community giving and generosity by students, teachers and staff. Thank you to all participating classes and teams for helping families in need this holiday season.
Congratulations in particular to the Western Mental Health Matters Association for bringing in the most physical contributions. Ms. Boyce, Mr. Vliestra, Ms. Kennedy, and Ms. Kwan’s classes also raised considerable cash donations which enabled us to buy peanut-butter and additional protein (canned tuna) to add to every food hamper. Each of those teachers & classes raised $140 - $240 for this cause. Many hands make for light work, and many generous hearts make a big difference!
Final / Diploma Exams
A notice to parents that all students in period 2 have been given exam planners with a page of the most important exam rules and guidelines that need to be followed for all assessments. If your student was away the day it was handed out, or have a spare in period 2, please ensure that they pick one up from the main office. PLEASE GO OVER this handout with your child! It is critical that they know when and where they are writing their exams, and the rules that they will be required to follow. After the Christmas break there will be a bulletin board set up in the main foyer that shows where every student is writing every exam. If your child has any questions about final exams, please have them email me, or see me in the main office. Please help your student study diligently for their final assessments, as hope is a poor substitute for preparation! - Mr. Wiebe
Western Robotics Club Excels at VEX Tournament
Last weekend, students from Western’s competitive Robotics Club competed at the VEX Robotics Tournament at STEM Innovation Academy, facing off against over 40 teams from across Alberta. After three months of hard work designing, building, and coding their robots for the game High Stakes, all eight of our teams performed admirably.
Six out of eight teams from Western made it to the eliminations round:
- 3300A (David A, Elida De B, Stella F, Oliver K, and Jeannie Y)
- 3300B (Naneh A, Edmon H, Kadence K, Leo K, Aaron L, Ruby McV, and Veer S)
- 3300C (Dean K, Nykin L, Graeme W, Fergus W, and Aris W)
- 3300D (Josh C, Aamir J, Courtney K, Zhangyu L, Ryan Q, and Ilya T)
- 3300E (Srihari K, Victor P, David W, Evan Y, and Logan Z)
- 3300G (Kiara/Kai C, Emily C, Diana L, and Christina Z)
Other success included:
- Team 3300C reached the quarter-finals and is now ranked 3rd in Alberta for skills.
- Team 3300E ranked 7th, 3300C ranked 10th, and 3300D ranked 13th out of 45 teams in the qualifiers.
Two of our club's volunteers and leaders were also part of the two winning teams at the event.
This first tournament of the season was a great start, and we’re excited for the next event, Mecha Mayhem, taking place February 7-9, 2025, at the BMO Centre. For more details, visit RobotEvents.
The students are already designing new robots and refining their builds for the upcoming competition. Please join us in congratulating them and supporting them at their next tournament!