School Message
We hope you had a nice winter break, and that 2025 has started well.
As we finish classes for this first semester, I’d offer another reminder to please check our website for exam information. It is important that students are aware of when they need to be here, and give themselves ample time to do so. Having said that, we recognize that emergent issues may arise, if your grade 10 – 11 child is not going to be here, contact should be made with their assistant principal immediately. IF a grade 12 student is potentially going to miss a diploma exam, then please contact Mr. Wiebe at shwiebe@cbe.ab.ca, and he will advise you of next steps and pass on pertinent details to Alberta Education. (Students who are needing to finish other assessments should be in contact with their teachers directly.)
We are welcoming next year’s students on Monday, January 27th for Grade 9 Tours and our Open House. Semester #2 will start on Tuesday January 28th. More information related to these will come out later this month.
Upcoming Dates
- Last Day of Semester 1 Classes
- Friday, January 10th
- First Day of Semester 2 Classes
- Tuesday, January 28thAward-winning
Updates
Drama Auditions
All students are invited to audition for the spring drama production, Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes, by Governor Award-winning playwright Jordan Tannahill. Audition sign up in located on the bulletin board in Drama/Band hallway. No experience necessary!
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!
Creative Writing and Publishing Course for Second Semester – Sign up today!
Do you love writing? Are you interested in exploring both your written voice and expression? Do you need some more credits to graduate and want to earn them in a creative way? Then it sounds like you should sign up for Creative Writing and Publishing next semester! This is a brand new option course being offered at Western Canada High School next semester during Period 3. In this multilevel course, you will be able to create new pieces of fiction, work on existing pieces that you “just can’t find the time to finish during your regular life”, read unique pieces of literature, have the opportunity to learn about the publishing process from published authors, and meet people who have a similar passion for reading and writing.
Anyone can register, no matter what grade you are in currently! If you are in grade eleven or twelve, you will have the opportunity to earn retroactive credits for the 15 and 25 levels of this course. This means as a grade eleven student you can receive ten credits or as a grade twelve student, you can receive fifteen credits upon completing this course. This also means, as a grade twelve student, you can enroll and receive credits for a 35-level option and use this course for your university applications.
If you would like to learn more about this course, see Ms Savoie in Room 330 during tutorials or email her at brsavoie@cbe.ab.ca . If you are ready to register, make an appointment with your guidance counsellor as soon as possible.
Reminder to Student Associations:
There will be no association meetings the weeks of Jan 13, Jan 20, Jan 27.
Student associations will resume the first week of February!
Final / Diploma Exams REMINDERS – All students will need PHOTO ID for their exams. Their Western student ID will do, but if they have lost it, they can also use other valid photo ID (driver’s license/passport). Please remind your child about this! I have set up a bulletin board in the main foyer that shows where every student is writing every diploma exam. Please remind your child to check out the board to see where they are writing, and to contact me asap if they see any issues - Thank you! - Mr. Wiebe
Get to know the Friends of Western Canada High School Society
We are a non-profit organization whose objective is to facilitate and improve the extra-curricular activities of students at Western Canada High School.
Your donations flow through the organization to the benefit of current students.
We embrace the philosophy of community integration and school wide benefit with a goal that all students have a place to express themselves.
If you wish to donate to the students extra-curricular activities or to a specific extra-curricular activity please contact us at friendsofwestern2@gmail.com . Receipts will be given to amounts of $25.00.
Secure Storage of Personal Items During Exams
Grade 10 and 11 students can safely store their essential belongings at the front of the classroom or exam space for the duration of the exam, but will not have permission to access them until the exam is completed.
Grade 12 students will have their items securely stored in Room 154. Please ensure you bring your Student ID for both drop-off and pick-up from Room 154.