Weekly Update Header


School Message

Good Afternoon to our Western families,

Our graduation banquet ticket sale window has come and gone, and we have now sold out of tickets for the evening banquet event. While all families who purchased tickets during the sale window were able to receive tickets, we are unfortunately not able to accommodate those who missed the sale window or additional ticket requests. In years past, our banquet has been held at the BMO Centre, which has a very large capacity. This year, BMO was not available in our grad window, as it was booked for a national volleyball competition. This forced a number of schools into different venues or much-earlier dates. A school of our size has limited alternatives, and after exploring what might have worked, we chose the Hyatt. The Hyatt has limited seat availability compared to previous years, which we know has caused some frustration and disappointment; please know we share these feelings and have worked to create the best possible event given the many restrictions and considerations we are working with. We appreciate your understanding and are looking forward to celebrating all of our grads with their families at our morning ceremony at WinSport.

As our Outdoor Pursuits program continues to grow, we're working to ensure all students have access to the gear they need to fully participate. If you have any gently used gear collecting dust that you'd be willing to donate, it would go a long way in supporting students who may not otherwise have access to this equipment. We are currently looking for items, including sleeping bags, sleeping pads, hiking packs, and tents. Items can be dropped off at the school's main office. Please connect with Travis Locey (ttlecexasbe.ab.ee) if you need to arrange pick up or have any questions.

Thank you,

Kelsey Harding, Assistant Principal | Western Canada High School

Upcoming Dates 

  • Friday, April 24th 
    • Non-Instructional Day | No School for Students 
  • Friday, May 15th 
    • Non-Instructional Day | No School for Students 
  • Monday, May 18th 
    • Victoria Day | No School for Students

Student Spotlight

Congratulations to Nathan Z. for qualifying for the 2026 International Biology Olympiad in Lithuania this summer!  Only four students are chosen to represent Canada each year.  WCHS and the Biology Olympiad Club members appreciate Nathan’s dedication and expertise and wish him the best in representing Canada (and WCHS) at the competition. 

Updates

30/31/35 Level IB Exams start Tuesday, April 28th 

  1. Students are still expected to attend their regular and non-IB exam level classes and will only be excused from them if they interfere with a scheduled IB exam. 
  2. Students are not to hang out in the hallways when they aren't writing exams.  They can be in class, in the cafeteria, the library, or off-campus. 
  3. The IB exam schedule is posted on the IB page of our school website.  All morning exams begin at 8:30 and all afternoon exams begin at 12:30.  Students are expected to show up 10-15 minutes early so that seating can be found, approved calculators cleared, etc... 
  4. The location of exams will be posted at least 2 days before each exam.  It will be posted on the bulletin board in front of the main office and the display case in the Physics hallway across from the combatives room (room 080).  (Exam regulations are also posted there) 
  5. Most IB exams are written over two consecutive days.  If you are going to be late or are going to miss an IB exam, please email serivers@cbe.ab.ca as soon as you know.  
  6. Please bring a pen and some ID for all exams.  Science exams also require a pencil for the Paper 1a multiple choice, and a pencil can be used for Math / Science graphs and diagrams.   
  7. Translation dictionaries are ONLY allowed for students writing History in French. 
  8. Watches are not allowed (even non-digital).  We will have times updated regularly and/or clocks visible. 
  9. Students do not need to know their candidate number - most students will be arranged in alphabetical order. 
  10. Students must stay for a minimum of 2 hours and must NOT discuss the exam online for at least 24 hours. 
  11. Questions can be brought to Ms. Rivers. 

Honour Society 2025-2026 

The “honour roll” list of qualifiers (CBE #’s only) should be posted by May 1 in the display case between the main office and student services.  Qualifying students have a minimum average of 80% in their grade level core classes (plus a second language if available), and no grade level core class can be below 69%.  Mistakes and oversights happen every year, so please inquire with Ms. Rivers if students expect to see their student number (once posted) and can’t find it.  Non-CBE online and in-person classes are not taken into account unless students specifically request a re-calculation.  Classes that are currently being taken (or re-taken) online will also not be taken into account unless screenshots of progress can be emailed to Ms. Rivers serivers@cbe.ab.ca .  Certificates will be handed out at our Honour Society Celebration taking place in the main gym on Tuesday, May 26th (more information to follow).  Anyone not picking up a certificate that evening will be able to pick it up after that date. 

Outdoor Gear Donations Needed 

Our Outdoor Pursuits program continues to grow, and we are excited to provide more opportunities for students to learn, explore, and connect with the outdoors. To help ensure that all students can participate fully, we are currently seeking donations of gently used outdoor equipment. 

We are looking for items such as: 

  • Sleeping bags  
  • Sleeping pads  
  • Hiking backpacks  
  • Tents  
  • Camp cookware (pots, pans, and basic cooking equipment suitable for outdoor stoves)  

If you have any equipment at home that is no longer being used, we would greatly appreciate your support. These donations help reduce costs for families and ensure equitable access for all students in the program. 

Items can be dropped off at the school office, or you can contact Mr. Locey to arrange a pickup if needed. 

Thank you for supporting outdoor learning at our school! 

CANstruction

 

CANstruction

Sign a team by May 1st for the student event. 

All contributions are welcome whether part of a team or not! Let’s support the Calgary community and have fun doing it. Yes, you CAN! 

Save on Student Study Guides & Digital Resources 

We are excited to share a special offer for educational resources through a new partnership between EducationMatters and Castle Rock Research. You can purchase valuable study materials at a significant discount and help raise funds for EducationMatters. 

This is a great opportunity to get supplementary resources to support your students' learning this school year, especially in preparation for diplomas and final exams. 

How to Order:

  1. Visit CBE’s unique online portal: CBE Site Sale — Castle Rock Research 
  2. Select our school’s specific ordering page. 
  3. Place your order and pay directly online. 

All print materials will be delivered to the school and distributed to students. 

Summer School 2026 Registration Update 

Summer School Request Form Closes Friday, May 1st at 4:00 pm. 

Students requesting summer school courses either online (CBe-learn) or in-person (Chinook Learning Services) will be required to complete the online form to make their summer school course request. Students may register for a maximum of one course. Please review course offerings before completing the course selection form (linked below). Course and location availability are extremely limited. Submission of this form does not guarantee placement. You will only be able to submit the course request form once. If you need to adjust your request or your plans have changed, and you need to cancel your request, you will need to connect with your Guidance Counsellor before May 8th. 

CALM Summer School Requests 

If interested in enrolling in CALM, in addition to completing the WCHS Summer School 2026 Course Request Form, a parent/guardian will need to complete the Opt-in Consent forms and email the completed form to  westerncanada@cbe.ab.ca. This will ensure that your student is enrolled in the correct version of the course. The forms are linked below. If no form is returned, the student will be placed in the 'no consent' group. Forms must be emailed no later than May 1st, 2026.  

e 

University Visits April 2026: 

Your Future

Centre Stage 2026 

Mark your Calendars for the amazing annual Dance Show:

Centre Stage
April 30 or May 1
7pm in the WCHS Theatre.  

centre stage

June Exam Schedule

June’s exam schedule has been finalized and is available on Western’s website.  It can be found under the tab Teaching & Learning, then Exam Schedule. 

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. 

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! 

Independent Student Form 

Age 18 is the legal age of majority in Alberta, which affects the rights of parents/guardians of students who reach the majority to receive certain information from The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and CBE schools concerning that student.  

When a student reaches the majority, he/she/they become an “Independent Student” under the School Act. Alberta's Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) prevents the CBE from disclosing personal information concerning an Independent Student to any persons (other than that individual), including to the parent/guardian, unless the individual consents in writing. Without such written consent being received by the CBE from the Independent Student, CBE is not able to share personal information with the parent/guardian concerning the Independent Student. Such information includes, but is not limited to, attendance records, parent/teacher conferences, field trips, suspensions, report cards, and similar matters.  

The required consent form is emailed to students in advance of them turning 18. Students may also obtain a copy of the form from the main office. 

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. 

Subscribe to School Messages 

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. 

Grad Fees – Now Due 

Grad fees this year are $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 we ask ALL outstanding fees, from current and previous years, be paid in full prior to the end of the year. 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 MyCBE account and are available from the start of the school year until June 30. Please check out more information here.