Dear Henry Wise Wood Students, Families, and Community members, 

August is upon us! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer and many opportunities to get outside and connect with the land. This time to rest and rejuvenate is so valuable in preparation for the exciting new school year ahead. 

We are pleased to welcome retired Education Director Teresa Martin to the Principal role from September to February as I will be away enjoying some travel on a deferred salary leave. Ms. Martin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and is familiar with our Warrior Community, having been a guest administrator at Wise Wood for a portion of last year. Thank you for welcoming Ms. Martin to the Warrior Family! 

As you know, the provincial government has created new cell phone legislation. We will be sharing CBE- specific information and “what families need to know” tips when it becomes available. 

Student course schedules will be visible in PowerSchool as of today, Monday, August 12. Please see the information below from Student Services regarding course change requests. Please note that complimentary (option) course changes are not available for Grade 10s. 

For school start-up, please note the Passport to Success dates. This is a valuable opportunity for our returning Warriors to re-acquaint themselves with the school and visit our post-secondary Fair, and for our new Warriors to get comfortable with the new setting. Students will take photos, receive school ID cards and school tours will be available for our new students.

• Grade 11 & 12- 9am-noon on Wednesday, August 21
• Grade 10 & all new to HWW- 9am-noon on Thursday, August 22 

Classes begin for all students on Thursday, August 29.

• Grade 10s attend all day
• Grade 11s and 12s attend afternoon only. Regular timetable begins Friday, August 30. 

Highlighting 1 additional date, please mark your calendars:

• Wednesday, September 11, 6-8pm- Henry Wise Wood staff will be hosting our Meet the Teacher Evening, more information to come. 

We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead at the Home of Artists, Scholars and Champions! 

Aileen Smyth, Principal

“Everyone needs a place to retreat; a spot where the world grows quiet enough for the soul to speak.”

~ Angie Weiland-Crosby 

Passport to Success – August 21 and 22

Wednesday, August 21 – For Grade 11 and Grade 12 students

On Wednesday, August 21, we invite Grade 11 and 12 students to the school to have their school photo taken, visit with Alberta Post Secondary representatives as well as meet with their guidance counsellor if necessary to:

• Review their graduation status and plan including credit count and required courses
• Ensure required courses are timetabled or there is a plan for completion. There will not be course changes available at this time, only the addition of necessary grad requirements
• Begin the conversation around plans for next steps after high school including post- secondary, employment or gap year.

Students are welcome and encouraged to attend with parents during the following times based on their last names:

In conjunction, we will also be hosting a small Post-Secondary fair with Alberta post- secondary partners.  Students and families can talk to representatives to find out more about post-secondary programs, admissions and unique opportunities. 

Participating institutions include:

• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• Alberta University of the Arts
• Ambrose University
• Athabasca University
• University of Lethbridge
• SAIT
• Mount Royal University
• St. Mary’s University
• Bow Valley College
• The King’s University
• Olds College
• Concordia University
• Lethbridge College
• Red Deer Polytechnic
• Calgary Fire Department 

Thursday, August 22 – For Grade 10 students & those new to Henry Wise Wood High School - We invite our new Warrior students and families to our school to support a smooth transition into the 2024-2025 school year. This includes ALL grade 10 students and any new grade 11 or 12 students. 

Students and families will have an opportunity to connect with some of our LINK Leaders, receive timetables and key school information, have their school photo taken, receive their school ID, as well as explore the school to find key locations, classes and Warrior Connect homeroom on a self-guided tour.

Families are welcome to attend the following times based on their last names:  

First Day for Students - Thursday, August 29

Please note August 29 will be staggered entry

• Grade 10s all day
• Grade 11 and 12s afternoon only 

Schedule for the Day Thursday, August 29, 2024:

8:45                                             Grade 10s Arrive and remain all day

9:00 - 12:00                                Grade 10 Link Activities and Orientation

Lunch Break 12:00 - 1:00          Food Trucks (Bring money)

*All Grade 10 Music students meet in music room before going to Food Trucks

12:00                                          Grade 11/12s Arrive

12:30                                          ALL Grade 11/12 Music students meet in the music room.

1:00                                            Outdoor / Indoor Bell Rings for all Grades to move to Period 1 class

Student ID

Student ID cards are issued on Passport to Success days and on September 3 & 4. Students need to have these cards with them while at school. 

Photos

Photos will be taken on Passport to Success Days and September 3 & 4. These photos are used for the Yearbook as well as ID cards. There is a Photo Retake Day in October. 

Lockers

Will be assigned through Warrior Connect homeroom. Two students will be assigned to each locker. School locks will be provided. 

Fees

Complementary course fee information will be available in PowerSchool in September.

Information regarding Yearbook purchase will be sent to families in September. Yearbooks are distributed in June. 

Parking Passes

Parking pass sign up will begin September 3 in the main office. Grade 12s will have priority sequence. Parking pass distribution will begin on September 23. Please see the main office for a parking pass application. 

Textbooks

If you have textbooks from last year, please return these on the first day of classes, Wednesday, August 29. New textbooks will be assigned in class. Please note that textbooks need to be returned in order to sign out new books. You will need your ID cards for this process. 

Extended Summer Absences

Attendance is very important for student success, and we want our Warriors to have a great start in their courses. If you are delayed in getting back and your student will not be in attendance August 29 or later, please notify henrywisewood@cbe.ab.ca so we can record the attendance correctly and notify the teachers. 

School Supplies

We ask that students bring a binder, paper and pen/pencil for the first day of school. Teachers will give students a list of any required additional supplies. Please see below the information on Math calculators.

Media Forms in School Engage 

Families are asked to update Demographic information and complete Media release forms in SchoolEngage.

We would like to ask that at least one parent / legal guardian for each student sign up for their MyCBE account prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

• For parents without a MyCBE account, to create one see: MyCBE - Creating a Parent Account
• For parents with an existing MyCBE account, to add a student see: MyCBE - Adding Additional Students

A MyCBE account will be required to:

• Access your child’s program information (e.g., course assessments, daily attendance record, report card)
• View your child’s learning
• Book School Conferences
• Submit school forms (e.g. Demographic Verification, Annual Authorization, Volunteer Registration and/or Citizenship Information Update)
• Pay fees, apply for waivers or register for transportation

Note | For a visual guide on how to find the CBE ID within SchoolEngage, see: SchoolEnage CBE Student ID

Timetable Change Requests

Please note: due to space constraints and class size limitations, complementary (option) course changes are not available to Grade 10s.

Course change requests at this time of the year will be limited to the following needs:

• No pre-requisite for a scheduled course  
• Missing a required core course for diploma/certificate requirements 
• Changes required due to summer school results 
• Change an academic course sequence (20-1 to 20-2; Physics 30 to Science 30) – please ensure that this change has been discussed with parents
• "See Counsellor” appears on timetable  

Note:  We are unable to accommodate requests for specific teachers or to place a course in a specific period or semester.  Some students may now have their 4 or 5 option choice if one of their preferred options could not be scheduled. Students who meet the above criteria for a course change may complete the Microsoft Form below.  

If a course is being requested that goes against the recommended course sequence, the Course Sequence Change form must be initiated before changes can be made In PowerSchool.

Course Change Request Form

Requests for Online Courses

Grade 11 or 12 students may request one online course with CBe-Learn.  Please keep in mind that this does not replace a Henry Wise Wood in person course and that students will not be granted an additional spare by taking a course online.  The online course is taken in addition to the minimum 7 courses per year for grade 11 students and 6 courses per year for grade 12 students. 

Similar to a traditional in-person course, students can anticipate dedicating between 6-8 hours per week per course. Students are expected to maintain a regular presence within their online course. Daily work is recommended for students to be successful, so it is critical that students are able to manage time well and commit to the demands of an online course in addition to their in-person coursework.  Online courses run during the same time span as a semester and any 30 level courses will have corresponding Diploma Exams.

Students wishing to complete an online course with CBe-learn must submit the Microsoft Form below:

CBe-learn Online Course Request Form – Registration will be confirmed by CBe-learn prior to course start.

Graduation - HWW Class of 2025

Grade 12 Graduation Information

Date:  Friday, May 30, 2025

Place: Grey Eagle Event Centre

Ceremony Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

**Please note:  Grads are guaranteed 2 tickets per graduand with the potential for adding more tickets if availability permits.

More details will be available through Warrior Connect and the Grade 12 D2L Shell.

Banquet Time: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Looking for Information? Please check the Henry Wise Wood Website for up-to-date information as it comes available. 

Warrior Athletics

Welcome to Wise Wood! We offer a variety of programs in each season and look forward to having our new and returning Warriors get involved. The following teams run in the fall: cross country, football, girls soccer, golf and volleyball. Please find the athletic try-out form on our athletics page on our website and bring to the first day of practice. For more updates, check out our Instagram page @wisewoodwarriors or email the Athletic Director, Karen Cheney kacheney@cbe.ab.ca, with any further questions. PLEASE NOTE: Football and Senior Girls/Boys Volleyball start before the first day of school. GO WARRIORS!

Cross Country

Football

Girls Soccer

Golf

Volleyball Senior Girls/Boys Grade 11/12’s

 Volleyball Junior Girls/Boys Grade 10

Math Department

Well, summer is here and it is time to take a short break from your math studies. Relax, rest and rejuvenate so that you are ready to study hard in September!

If you are a new student coming to Henry Wise Wood…Welcome! You will be taking math courses at a school that has a history of top results in mathematics in the Calgary Board of Education. We offer all levels of mathematics courses and our main goal is for students to develop an appreciation and respect for math. 

All of our math courses require students to own their own calculator. If you are registered in a –3 or –4 course, a regular scientific calculator is required. If you are registered in a –1, –2, 10C, GATE or IB course, a graphing calculator is required. We suggest purchasing a Texas Instruments TI84 CE or a Casio 9750 GIII. If you plan to purchase another model, please hold off until school starts and check with your teacher to make sure the model is appropriate and approved by Alberta Education. 

If you enjoy doing challenging and strange but also beautiful Math problems, please plan to participate in the math contests that are available to Henry Wise Wood students. Listen for announcements early in the fall for details on how to get involved. All of the Henry Wise Wood Math teachers look forward to teaching you in the Fall! 

Science Department

Welcome to all of our new Warriors! We are thrilled to have you join us this fall. Through the sciences program, we aim to inspire a deep appreciation for the natural world, while also helping you build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We hope you'll discover and pursue your passions with us. 

For all Grade 10 science courses, students are required to have their own calculator. While both scientific and non-scientific calculators are acceptable, we recommend a scientific calculator for its ease of use, especially in conjunction with your mathematics courses. Additionally, all Grade 10 science students will need to purchase goggles for $9.00, which you will keep and use throughout your labs in Grades 10, 11, and 12. Please take good care of them! 

We offer after-school support through the “Wise Guys” program, available Monday to Thursday in the Science hallway on the 2nd floor from 3:33pm to 5:00pm, starting after the second week of school. This is a wonderful opportunity to get into the habit of completing your homework and studying with friends, with an expert teacher on hand to assist you as needed.

We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Social Studies Department

The HWW Social Studies Department wishes everyone a great summer! We also hope that you are looking forward to more stimulating discussion of historical, political and economic issues in September. We look forward to seeing everybody in the fall; whether you are taking IB or -1 or -2 or -4, we know you’ll enjoy social studies next year. Relatedly, if you are looking for some Social Studies related extracurricular activities, please don’t hesitate to join one of Wise Wood’s many clubs! 

There is Interact and Agents for Change if you are interested in volunteering and fundraising and general humanitarian causes, or Debate or Model UN if you prefer more political activities. Lots of choices, so get involved! 

Fine Arts Department

The Drama Department had a lot of fun this year trying new things and doing two awesome shows! In the fall our first play Almost, Maine was a huge hit! People laughed, cried and enjoyed the thoughtful story. In the spring, we took on a massive adaptation of the Shakespearean classic, Romeo and Juliet. This show was a giant team effort and once it hit the stage, it was really something special.

Moving into next year we excited to be offering Technical Theatre and Musical Theatre in the timetable! Want to get involved? Keep an eye out for audition information and how to join the Tech crew in the fall! 

Language Testing

Welcome to Henry Wise Wood! Our Languages Department has an excellent opportunity for incoming grade 10 students who have a background in Spanish or French. If you feel that your skills in either of these languages are proficient then you are welcome to join us at Henry Wise Wood on August 22 at 10:00 am in room 116 to challenge the 10-level course. If you are successful and receive 65% or higher, you will be placed in the 20-level language course and will receive credits for the 10-level. 

English as an Additional Learner Language Testing

To all English as an Additional Language (EAL) students and families,

We are looking forward to seeing many familiar faces and getting to know the newest additions to the Warrior family this coming fall.  Please note that Language Benchmarking will be taking place in September.  Students will meet with one of their class teachers to complete the Speaking and Listening assessments, and the Reading and Writing assessments will take place September 10 from 9am – 12pm.  These assessments are a government requirement and are mandatory for every student who has a 301, 302, or 303 language code.  If you are unable to attend this benchmarking session or have questions about your EAL language code, please feel free to contact the school.

Have a restful summer, and we look forward to seeing you in the fall!  

School Council & Parent & Alumni Association

Your School Council and Parent & Alumni Association executive teams will be changing over in the fall. We need you!

Parents/Guardians are needed to fill the following roles:

• Chair
• Vice-Chair
• Treasurer
• Vice-Treasurer
• Secretary

Elections will be held at our Annual General Meeting on October 28. 

Come and say hello at our first meetings of the 2024-2025 school year, Monday September 23, beginning at 6:30 pm, or connect with us by email, if you would like to chat. 

Together, the School Council and the Parent & Alumni Association provide financial support for a variety of clubs, replacing broken or old equipment, and bringing more guest speakers to the school.

We are very fortunate to have a team in place that has been working hard on policy and documentation, and there is lots of opportunity for mentorship.

Casino Volunteers Needed Oct. 23 & 24

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