School Message
Hello to our Western families,
A special shout-out to our facilities staff, who have been dealing with the winter weather conditions over these past two weeks – with many more weeks to come, of course. Whether clearing snow, dealing with slippery entrances/foyers/halls, or just having more students in the building at lunch, we appreciate the daily efforts of our staff to keep our lovely building in great condition.
As the year has progressed, an increasing number of students/families have been identified who are facing significant financial challenges. While there are families in need every year, whom the school tries to support in a number of ways, I’d also suggest that we are seeing some changes in our demographics which is elevating this concern to a level not historically seen at Western. With that in mind, and with Christmas approaching, I would like to appeal to our parent community for some assistance in potentially helping support a broader group of families this season. We would like to purchase some gift cards from stores like Walmart or Superstore, where families can go to get groceries, personal necessities, and possibly even some small gifts for their children. While we never want to take away from other initiatives we promote, such as our Giving Tree event, I believe that our community has the capacity to step up in a number of ways. If you might be interested in helping with this, even in a small way, could you please contact me directly at ddwhitbread@cbe.ab.ca. and I will provide more details on how to do that.
Thank you,
Darrin Whitbread, Principal | Western Canada High School
Upcoming Dates
- Non-Instructional Day
- Friday, November 29th
- Winter Break
- Monday, December 23rd - Friday, January 3rd
Update
Attendance
Parents and guardians may report their child’s absence by calling 403-228-5363, option 1, or emailing westerncanada@cbe.ab.ca. When providing an attendance update, please include the student’s full name (spell the last name clearly if leaving a voicemail), the reason for the absence, and the timeframe of the absence. Attendance updates may take longer during bus delays, winter weather, or events affecting attendance, as the school manages approximately 2,250 students. Please allow one school day for updates to be made. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Voices Through Time: A Winter Choral Celebration
We hope you'll join the WCHS Choral Program for Voices Through Time: A Winter Choral Celebration on Monday, December 9 at 7 pm at Knox United. From a strong, brooding Gregorian chant to a lively madrigal (aka 1600s pop), to passionate Romantic Era classics to a rousing Gospel piece, there's something for everyone on the program. Tickets are available at the door for $20. We would love to see you there!
The choirs will also be singing on the final day of The Calgary Carol Festival on Monday, December 2, at Knox United at 7 pm, alongside nine other choirs in support of the food bank. Entrance to the festival is by food or cash donation at the door.
Join Us in Supporting the Calgary Food Bank!
Food Bank Drive
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This holiday season, our school is proud to partner with the City of Calgary through Ward 8 and the Calgary Food Bank to help families in need. Until December 7th, we’re asking students to bring non-perishable food items to school and drop them in the donation bins.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community, show the spirit of giving, and teach our students the importance of helping others.
Top Wish List Items:
🍅 Canned pasta sauce
🍅 Canned tomatoes
🍝 Pasta
🍚 Rice
🍼 Diapers & Baby Formula
If you’d like to contribute another way, consider making a monetary donation by clicking here or scanning the QR code below. Every donation makes a meaningful impact!
Thank you for joining us, the City of Calgary, Ward 8, and the Calgary Food Bank in this important cause. Together, we can make a difference for families this holiday season!
French Immersion – French Challenge Exams
This is a reminder that the exams will take place on Monday, December 2 for FR10-9Y and on Tuesday, December 3 for FR20-9Y – after school in a variety of classrooms. Students will be given the assigned room in class.
2025 Yearbook
The last chance to buy a discounted 2025 yearbook is November 29th. Order yours here! https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1114704/Western-Canada-High-School/
Western Canada High School E-Sports League
The WCHS Computer Science Club is looking for several League of Legends players to play-test League of Legends in our school lab in the afternoon of December 3. A successful test will result in the restoration of the inter-school League of Legends E-Sports League! Students who are interested should contact Mr. Chow in room 182.
School Council
Dear WCHS Families,
It's that time of year again! We will be hosting the annual Staff Appreciation event December 17-19, 2024 and we need your help! As a token of our appreciation, we will be providing breakfast and lunch for our wonderful WCHS staff on these dates. Please sign up here to make a food/supply contribution or in the case that you cannot do so, we encourage you to send an e.transfer to wchsexec@gmail.com so that we can fund this event. All monetary contributions will be used to purchase food/beverages for our beloved WCHS Staff.
- ·Food contributions can be sent to the school office between 8-9:30 AM on your chosen day
- We've provided a few suggestions but if you would like to contribute something else, please just let us know so that we do not buy something similar to supplement that day
- Please attach a list of ingredients as there are a number of WCHS staff with dietary or allergy restrictions
- Remember to mark anything sent with "Staff Appreciation" and send items in a disposable container
- Items like beverages / chocolates / plates etc. can be dropped off starting December 9th but please mark them clearly
Do you own or know someone who owns a restaurant in our community? If you are interested or know someone who might be interested in sponsoring this WCHS tradition we'd love to hear from you! Please reach out to autumn.holden@live.ca to discuss this.
And finally, if you have time, please volunteer to help us with general task support such as decorating, setup and tear down. Sign up here!
Thank you in advance for your support in making our 2024 Staff Appreciation a success! Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
The WCHS Parent Council Executive Committee
Celebrate Western
Dear Parents,
New and exciting items have been added this week to the Celebrate Western online auction.
Thank you to the parents who have already placed their bids. If you haven't already done so please check out the auction and how to support WCHS
www.givergy.ca/celebratewestern2024
Happy Bidding and Shopping!
