West Central High School
Parent Newsletter - June 2022
Have a Wonderful Summer
Oh It has been a busy year full of changes and uncertainty, yet we are finishing the 2021-22 school year with regular exams, in class instruction and an in-person graduation. We have learned many lessons about resiliency and compassion during this time.
As we wrap up this year, we are sharing some important information as we move into the summer and you prepare for the 2022-23 school year in September. Read on for information on:
- PowerSchool offline until June 30
- The first days of school
- How to register for school if you are a new student
- Introduction to our new teachers
- Online Report Card and Timetable Information
- Timetable Change Requests
- NEW FLEX Block Bell Schedule
- Changes to grade 9 Option Structure
- Changes to the Phone System
- Opportunity with Sea Cadets
West Central Staff wishes you and your family a restful summer break.
PowerSchool will be Offline Until June 30
Dear Parents,
Powerschool will be offline until June 30. On June 30, report cards will be available online and the Parent Portal will reopen. Timetables will be available at the end of July.
Thank you for your understanding as we wrap up course, marks, and the 2021-2022 school year.
Thank you,
West Central High School Administration
How to Register - New Students Only
The page linked below will provide information and resources for New Student Registration for 2022-23 year. How to create a new account via School Engage, and how to contact Transportation for the bus.
Natalie Bowman - Social & English
Ms. Bowman was born and raised on a farm in Nova Scotia where she attended Acadia University, receiving a BA in History and English as well as a BEd in Secondary Education. She later went on to earn her MSEd in Educational Leadership from the University of New England in Maine and is currently working toward a Doctorate in Global Educational Leadership from Lamar University in Texas. Ms. Bowman's teaching experiences range from Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and as far away as China.
Mark Coleman - Fab & Mechanics
I have been a teacher for five years now, two of which were as a Fabrication Instructor at both Rockyview Schools and Foothills School Division. I have a passion for the trades and education, as such I am very excited to start this new chapter of my career at West Central High School as a Fabrication and Mechanics Teacher. I have been trained in welding at ACAD and SAIT and, though I have not taught mechanics yet, I have 13 years of experience as an elevator mechanic and constructor prior to becoming an educator, which means I have a strong mechanical aptitude and a great safety record. I am excited to meet the staff and students at West Central, and live in the beautiful community of Rocky Mountain House.
Candace Marshall - Band, Science & CALM
Candace is a mother to seven kids and new to the Rocky area, though she grew up in Sundre. She did the music program at Red Deer College specializing in vocal performance and developed a taste for jazz. After college, she focused on family and homeschooled her kids for six years in addition to leading the music team at church. In the spring of 2021, Candace finished her teaching degree through the University of Alberta and relocated to Rocky Mountain House. When offered the opportunity to cover Mr. Friesen’s leave in the second semester, she took it for the sake of the kids. She fell in love with every part of band directing, especially going to camp. She is excited to be putting down roots in this amazing community!
Brittni Turner - Science
Hi! I'm so excited to be starting at West Central in the fall. I was raised in Rocky, and live on a farm just outside of town. I love to go on walks, enjoy the west country, and spend time with my family and friends. I've been teaching high school sciences for the past five years. Have a great summer, and I look forward to meeting you in the new school year!
Marion Cale - Math
Mrs. Cale grew up in the Ottawa Valley and ventured west to attend the University of Alberta where she obtained a BSc in Chemical Engineering. After working in Calgary for a couple of years she went to the University of Calgary to complete a BEd and then started teaching in the West Kootenays in BC. She moved to Rocky to start raising her family and can now tell you the best playgrounds in Central Alberta. When she is not graphing exponential functions on her calculator she can be found chasing her kids on the bike trails or crafting with her glue gun and sewing machine.
Change in Grade 9 Options
West Central has changed the structure of grade 9 options for next year. Each grade 9 student will stay with their homeroom class and will cycle through 8 options, two at a time, for approximately 20 days. For example, first quarter a student may take Art day 1 and computers day 2 and in November (quarter 2) those two options will change. Students will take Health, Study Skills, Leadership, Foods, Construction, Design, Computers, and Art. Band 9 students will be in Band Day 1 block 4 all year, and will cycle through four options with their homeroom class on Day 2.
This structure will allow students to sample a number of courses they many not have had the opportunity to experience, and for more support in crucial areas of health, leadership and study skills.
Report Cards and Timetables are now online
As per our communication on our website, newspapers and parent emails, report cards and timetables are available online through PowerSchool.
Timetable Change Requests
Our office is closed June 29 and will open August 29, 2022. There is no one available to take calls or answer emails. If you would like to request a timetable change, please use the link on the button below.
Timetables - if you have failed a course or you are missing graduation requirements, you will need to fill out a “Timetable Change Request Form” online. It is important to understand that if classes are full or imbalanced, we may not be able to make the change you request. Timetable changes will not take place before August 30. Please check your email for the new timetable or the explanation why the course request could not be made.
FLEX block and Bell Schedule
The learning interruptions of the past two years have created significant challenges in student learning. High rates of absenteeism, incomplete assessments and the resulting learning delays are very concerning. As a strategy to support student learning, West Central and St. Dominic High School will be using a five day, rotational FLEX block schedule. What this means is each class block on a rotating day will have an additional 40 minutes for teachers to work specifically with targeted students on achieving essential outcomes and completing essential assessments. Students who are meeting the outcomes and have all assessments completed and submitted will have more flexibility. Grade 11 and 12 students are able to complete homework, complete online course work, work on their own or group work in the common area or library, work out, etc. Grade 9 and 10 students will remain in class, but are able to use that time for independent study, home work, work experience modules, etc. Please see the attached image for the ABCDE FLEX block schedule.
New Answering Message on Phones
Because of a reduction in staff, the phone system at West Central will be automated. If you are calling for absences, please call the attendance line. If you are calling for a specific person, you can connect using their extension or dial 0 for office staff. Thank you for your patience.
Would you like to be a Cadet Instructor to support Sea Cadets in Rocky?
The Canadian Cadet Organization (CCO) provides youth aged 12-18 with experiences and opportunities to support their development, thereby strengthening Canadian communities. Through fun, challenging and safe activities, youth learn leadership skills and civic engagement that support their transition to adulthood while gaining familiarity with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
The CAF employs adult instructors as part of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC). These part time employees are responsible for the delivery and administration of the cadet program within their communities. Training for these positions is supplied by the CAF with ongoing opportunities for promotion within the organization.
The CCO is currently in need of adults that are able to support #198 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) Yukon in Rocky Mountain House. We are asking you to share this information with people you may know that would have an interest in this opportunity to work with these incredible young people. If you could also share this information with your school/parent councils for distribution it would be greatly appreciated.
For more information about this, please contact me and I will have one of the Officers reach out to continue the conversation.
Jay Wilson
Sea Cadet Chair
Email: jay.wilson@abnavyleague.ca
Phone: 587-785-6189
Website: abnavyleague.ca
First Days of School
New Students - If you are new to West Central, please fill out the online registration form found on Wild Rose School Division website. You will need to provide last year’s report cards and a birth certificate. We will make an appointment to finish the registration. Please ensure you bring proof of address to the appointment.
August 30 & 31 ~ 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday 30, August - Grade 9 & 10
Wednesday 31, August - Grade 11 & 12
**Grade 9’s and new students to Rocky Mtn House can register any of these dates listed by appointment.
First Day of School
Thursday 1, September - Grade 9 ONLY
Friday 2, September - Everyone (Grade 9 - 12)
The following are the procedures and necessary steps for the above listed registration days and need to be completed in the order given. Please note that students cannot complete the registration process without their Student ID.
STEP 1: ID Photo Taken-Red Deer College Wing (you may order school pictures at this time)
STEP 2: Pick up Timetables