Upcoming Key Dates in October

• 6   Last Day to Drop Term 1 (3 credit) Courses
• 10 Registration Deadline for Language Course Challenges
• 11 Grade 11 Band Camp until Oct. 13th
• 11 Cross-Country Cities
• 11 Volleyball Selects Game@North Trail High School
• 12 Football Western @ JCS Shouldice Hellard Field 7:30pm – 9:30pm
• 12 Girls Volleyball St. Francis @ Western Jr Girls 5pm - 6:30pm and Sr Girls 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• 13 Red Mile Rumble Volleyball Tournament
• 14 Red Mile Rumble
• 13 Grade 12 Band Workshop 8:30am – 5:00pm
• 13 Spain Trip departs (Oct. 14 – 25)
• 17 Photo Retakes
• 17 Girls Volleyball Western @ All Saints Sr Girls 5- 6:30pm and Jr Girls 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• 17 Boys Volleyball E.P. Scarlett @ Western Sr Boys 5 – 6:30pm and Jr Boys 6:30 – 8:00pm
• 18 Football Crescent @ Western - Shouldice Hellard Field 7:30pm-9:00pm
• 19 Girls Volleyball Churchill @ Western Jr Girls 5 – 6:30pm and Sr Girls 6:30 – 8:00pm
• 19 Boys Volleyball Western @ Bishop Carroll Jr Boys 5 – 6:30pm and Sr Boys 6:30 – 8:00pm
• 20 Non-Instructional Day Parent – Teacher Conferences (no classes)
• 21 Cross-Country Provincials
• 21 Grade 12 Band Workshop (8:30am – 5:00pm)
• 23 Boys Volleyball Western @ Notre Dame Jr Boys 5 – 6:30 pm and Sr Boys 6:30 – 8:00 pm
• 24 Post-Secondary Fair (out of province 6-8pm in cafeteria)
  24 Girls Volleyball Aberhart @ Western Sr Girls 5 – 6:30pm and Jr Girls 6:30 – 8:00pm
• 24 Boys Volleyball Western @ Ernest Manning Sr Boys 5 – 6:30pm and Jr Boys 6:30 – 8:00pm
• 25 Grade 10 Band Camp (Oct. 25 – 27)
• 26  Football Playoffs start with quarter finals
• 26 Girls Volleyball Western @ Robert Thirsk Jr Girls 5pm - 6:30pm and Sr Girls 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• 26 Annual Drama Exec Rocky Horror Picture Show in the Theatre
• 28 CBE Language Course Challenges (Part 1: Portfolio)
• 30 Girls soccer city finals
• 31 Last Day of Term 1
• 31 Deadline for IB fees

Dear Families,

As we begin the Thanksgiving long weekend, we would like to extend our thanks to families for all of the work and support that you do for students on a daily basis. We have lots to be thankful for and to celebrate here at Western and you are a big part of that. First off for celebrations this week, a huge shout out to the three students that qualified for Provincials in golf. They drove to Lloydminster to represent Western Canada High School on September 25 and 26. All 3 did very well at the provincial level and finished within the top 14. In volleyball, the junior boys beat William Aberhart 3-2 and the nenior boys team won 3-0. Our cross-country team represented Western well at the meet at Saint Mary’s University on Wednesday and we wish them well in the cities next Wednesday. Go Redhawks!

Language Course Challenges

A reminder to students that Language Course Challenge registration forms need to be submitted to Ms. Neumann, their respective FLA teachers, Sr. Ariza for Spanish, or Ms. Scharf, no later than Tuesday, October 10th.
Coming up! School Council Meeting 2.0

WCHS Parent Council - Annual General Meeting

We want to thank you for your patience and ask that you please join the WCHS Parent Council Executive for our rescheduled General Council meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 @ 6:30pm - Virtual

Guidance Counsellor Albert Chieng will present on everything parents need to know to support their children applying for Post Secondary education. Additionally, our new principal Darrin Whitbread will provide an update and the floor will be open to take parent questions. 

Please watch your email for a meeting link on the day.  

Supporting Mental Health

Community Education Services (CES) of AHS offers a wide variety of FREE, online information sessions for the public concerning child and adolescent health and mental health topics. 

“Our expert speakers deliver timely, credible information and best-practice strategies to support the development and mental health of a child or youth in your life."

You can sign up to receive the CES newsletter and view past recorded presentations here: https://community.hmhc.ca/

For October presentations and other CES information click here: https://ces.hmhc.ca/?mailpoet_router&endpoint=view_in_browser&action=view&data=WzQyLCJmMzJlMGVhNDQ1N2YiLDIyODYsIjFkamt4enYxam9mNGNnd3dvd2tjY2s4a3dvd2N3Y2N3IiwzNSwwXQ

Competition Opportunity

The Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary is excited to extend an invitation to all Calgary and Southern Alberta Students, grades 9 to 12, to participate in the institute’s 16th Annual Calgary Brain Bee, which the date has yet TBD but will be sometime in the Spring of 2024. This event is organized by volunteers from the Neuroscience program and faculty at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.

They would like to alert potential participants of the 2023 Brain Bee Bootcamp, a collaboration between IYNA and the IBB, which aims to provide equitable resources to all students around the world in preparing for the Brain Bee competitions. The Bootcamp will take place between Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, December 17. I have attached a flyer outlining the times and details of the event. Students can register here.  The registration deadline is October 14 (even though the flyer says September 30th-ignore).

The Brain Bee is an international competition founded by the Society for Neuroscience which proceeds in a similar style as a traditional "spelling bee". Students are asked questions pertaining to the brain and nervous system. These questions and their answers are sourced from “Neuroscience: Science of the Brain” and “Brain Facts”. PDF versions of these books along with more information can be found at brainbee.ca. These competitions occur across Canada and the entire world. The winner of the Calgary Brain Bee will represent Southern Alberta at the Canadian National Competition and will win a scholarship to the University of Calgary Neuroscience program. An additional $300 in prizes will also be handed out to outstanding students.

Well Wishes

We hope that if you are travelling, that you stay safe on the roads, and enjoy time with family and friends. Have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend!