School Message
Good Afternoon to our Western families,
As we finally/maybe are through the winter-y weather as May begins, we're also on the downside of this school year; having said that, we do still have more than five weeks of classes to go before we're into final assessments. A reminder that we want/expect students to stay focused on finishing their courses strongly, even in grade 12 and even if they've already been accepted into post-secondary institutions. If a student is at the school and not in class, just as a random example, they'll likely end up chatting with an assistant principal to determine how the rest of the day is going to play out. Or, if students have a last-period spare and are being disruptive in the cafeteria, they may be 'encouraged' to head home early to... take advantage of the nicer weather.
Somewhat related to that, we're into yet another iteration of the student-organized Senior Assassin elimination game, where participating students tend to bring and wear related nonsense paraphernalia to indicate that they are 'safe' while displaying said
item. It is important to say that our grade 12 students have been well-behaved so far regarding this activity, but I will also point out that we will be asking students to remove water wings(!) if they're wearing those and will be confiscating water guns if we see them. Those, in particular, can be disruptive within a school setting, and some can look a little too real for our liking. If they are 'playing', please pass along some good advice to your child.
Congratulations to the 15 students from Western who qualified for Badminton Provincials, taking place in Red Deer this weekend. Good luck! And, though we mentioned them before, we had a number of students qualify for Cross Country Provincials (delayed from the fall) who were supposed to end up in Camrose last weekend - but that was tentatively rescheduled and then, ultimately, cancelled. We know that our six athletes would have placed well, and we applaud their dedication to the up-and-down season that took place this year.
Thank you,
Darrin Whitbread, Principal | Western Canada High School
Upcoming Dates
- Friday, May 15th
- Non-Instructional Day | No School for Students
- Monday, May 18th
- Victoria Day | No School for Students
Student Spotlight
Congratulations to the student artists who created our spring drama production, Backwards Dive. It was a real honour to premiere a new piece of Canadian theatre at WCHS!
Updates
Dual Credit Summer & Fall Opportunities Still Available
See Mr. Smith in room 083 (Tech Centre) if you are interested in putting together an application. Completed application will be submitted by May 8th
Summer 2026
- Boilermaker
- Carpentry
- Finishing Trades
- Medical Terminology
- Psychology
Fall 2026
- Building Trades
- ICT
- Introduction to Indigenous Studies
- Pre-employment Carpentry
- Pre-employment Pipes
- Pre-employment RV Tech
- Veterinary Assistant - Face-to-face
- Veterinary Assistant - Blended
See Unique Pathways website for course descriptions: https://tinyurl.com/y7x5b86v
Summer Learning Opportunities
New I CTS Summer School Programs
- Introduction to Welding (Forest Lawn HS)
- Introduction to Cosmetology (Centennial HS)
- Introduction to Engineering (Sir Winston Churchill HS)
- Introduction to Broadcasting and Podcasting (Sir Winston Churchill HS)
- Introduction to Networking and Cybersecurity (Sir Winston Churchill HS)
- Deadline: May 8, 2026
Students may also be interested in earning credits through:
Summer Off-Campus Opportunities
Summer Off-Campus allows students to earn high school credits through paid or volunteer work in Calgary. Students must secure a job placement and have HCS3000 completed. Students without a job placement can apply with CAREERS for internships (careersnextgen.ca).
- Work Experience
- Internship
- Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
- Deadline: June 12, 2026.
How to apply for these programs:
Students meet with their Off-Campus Coordinator or Guidance Counsellor in Student Services.
Looking for other work? Check out the Youth Employment Centre.
Model UN Trip to Montreal in November 2026
We are currently planning a student educational trip to Montreal, QC, for the Secondary School’s United Nations Symposium (SSUNS). The dates for this trip will be November 10th to November 15th.
This symposium will bring together students from across Canada, the United States, and further abroad to engage in study, debate, study and interaction on pressing global issues. We are offering this program to students who express a strong interest in debate and international affairs and who will commit themselves to preparing to represent our school at the Symposium. Delegates will be assigned a role (country) for the Symposium, either on a committee or a non-governmental organization. In addition to the four-day conference, we will be participating in the following sightseeing activities (subject to changes): a tour of McGill University, a tour of historic old Montreal, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Museum of Archaeology.
If interested, please follow the link for more information. There will be an online parent meeting on May 4th, and invitations will go out to families who have filled out the form.
https://forms.gle/6sD4BWXzordu6KDS6
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
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!
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. The grade 12 list is not likely to be ready until next week. 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.
Graduation Banquet Table Planning Sheet
Students and families who have purchased Graduation Banquet tickets and wish to be seated together must submit a completed Grad Table Planning Sheet (hard copy) to Mrs. Irwin in Student Services by the end of the day on Friday, May 1.
Link to Form:
International Languages
Spanish Student Exchanges Deadline for applications extended for current grade 10 students
We are pleased to share that, as part of our ongoing work to strengthen program capacity and coordination with partners in Spain and Mexico, we have seen strong interest and a growing number of applications in these partner regions. In light of this, we are reopening applications and extending the deadline.
Interested students should speak to their Spanish teacher should read the information available from the website, and then speak to their current or semester 1 Spanish teacher: Sr. Dumélie or Srta. Cebrecos Sebastián prior to MAY 8th.
The deadline for submitting the application to their teacher is MAY 14th.
Further information, including application materials and program details, is available on our website:
https://www.alberta.ca/student-and-educator-exchange-programs
May Scholarships and Bursaries:
Western Canada Alumni Bursary ($3,500)
Awarded to 5 students demonstrating leadership and financial need.
Apply via the Guidance Office or the WCHS website.
Deadline: May 1, 2026, at 12:00 pm (submit to Guidance or email Mme Plante).
Bill Gibson Bursary ($7,500)
For Grade 12 students entering a full-time undergraduate program at a Calgary post-secondary institution. Requires leadership, financial need, and one reference. Renewable up to 4 years.
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Apply: calgaryfoundation.org/student-awards
Owen Hart Foundation Awards ($4,000)
Multiple awards for our students attending post-secondary. Minimum 70%, leadership, and financial need required.
Deadline: May 30, 2026
Apply: https://calgaryfoundation.org/awards/scholarships-awards-bursaries/
EducationMatters Awards (Various)
Many scholarships and bursaries are available through one general application.
Note: Do not use your CBE email.
Apply: educationmatters.ca
Calgary Italian Sportswomen’s Association Scholarship ($5,000)
For female students of Italian descent with strong academics (75%+), athletics, and community involvement.
Deadline: May 20, 2026
Apply: calgaryitaliansportswomen.ca
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.
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.