Summer Newsletter | August

Principal's Message

We hope that our Warrior family is enjoying a lovely summer! Continue Reading

Student ID

Student ID cards are issued on Passport to Success days and on September 3 and 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 and 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 the end of August. Information regarding Yearbook purchase will be sent to families in September.

Parking Passes

Parking pass purchase and sign up will be begin in September. More information to come. Grade 12s will have priority sequence.

Textbooks

If you have textbooks from last year, please return these on the first day of classes, Thursday, 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.

First Day for Students

Please review the attached School Opening Schedule for August 29 to September 6. Please note August 29 will be staggered entry as listed below.

Schedule for the Day Thursday, August 31, 2023

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

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.

Extended Summer Absences

Attendance is very important for student success, and we want our Warriors to have a great start in their courses. That said, 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 teacher. This will also help us prepare for when your student attends their first day back.

Our Back to School webpage has been updated for our Fall 2023 return to school.

Passport to Success – August 21 and 22

Wednesday, August 21 – For Grade 12 students intending on graduation in June 2025

On Wednesday, August 21, we invite Grade 11 and 12 students to the school to have their school photo taken 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 if possible during the following times based on their last names:

In conjunction, we will also be hosting a small Post-Secondary fair with local post- secondary institutions. 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
• Alberta University of the Arts
• University of Lethbridge
• SAIT
• Mount Royal University
• St. Mary’s University
• Bow Valley College
• University of Alberta

Thursday, August 22 – For students 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 2023-2024 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 (necessary for 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:

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 stream (20-1 to 20-2; Physics 30 to Science 30) – please ensure that this change has been discussed with parents
• “See Guidance” 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.

• Course Change Request Form

 Requests for Online Courses

Grade 11 or 12 students may request one online course with CBeLearn. 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 CBeLearn must submit the Microsoft Form below:

CBeLearn Online Course Request Form – Registration will be confirmed by CBeLearn prior to course start

Athletics

Football

Volleyball

Girls Soccer

Cross Country

Math Department Information

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 AB Ed.

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!

Drama Department Information

It was a big year for the Theatre Department at Henry Wise Wood. We welcomed Mr. Simon to the team and he was able to provide a level of professionalism to all of the school events as well as Shows. We produced a Variety show in the winter and saw a wide array of talents displayed from dancing to singing and everything in-between. In the spring we put on Clue with two incredible casts. We saw over 500 people attend the show and it was a great success. On a more sombre note, Mr. McDonald will be leaving the Drama position and moving to the Math and CTS departments. Ms. Ykema will be taking over the position and is thrilled to be coming to Wise Wood!

Language Testing

Welcome to Henry Wise Wood! Our languages department is introducing a new 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

(Previously called English Language Learners (ELL))

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

On August 30, 2023 from 9:00am -12:00pm, all of our EAL students are asked to come in to complete the reading and writing components of language benchmarking. It is important to note that this benchmarking is a government requirement, and is mandatory for every student who has a 301, 302, or 303 language code. If you are unable to attend this benchmarking session, you will need to make alternate arrangements once school is back in session.

Have a restful summer, and I look forward to seeing you in the Fall!

Katherine Martin
EAL Learning Leader

Student Services Updates

Community Education Sessions through AHS
There are upcoming free virtual sessions: Brain Development and Technology; and Target Dyslexia. You can sign up for a session using this link.

Teen Triple P (Positive Parenting Program)
Free online course for parents with teenagers that provides effective strategies to positively influence your teenager's development and life skills. Click here for more information.

Girls Summer Programs (Grades 5-12)
The Women’s Centre of Calgary is offering FREE summer leadership programs for Grades 5 to 12. The Girls Programs provides girls, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary children and youth a safe space to share their knowledge of leadership, activism, and community building. We facilitate various activities that include crafts, discussions, and most importantly, youth-led sessions, where youth practice their leadership and activism skills. Participants consistently tell us that our programs are fun and help them feel more confident and connected. Discussions and activities are led, through a gender specific lens, on topics youth are interested in. The Women’s Centre will provide all craft supplies and lunch meals. Bus tickets will be available for participants to attend program as needed. Please note, participants can attend one program, if they choose to attend another program for their age group, they will be waitlisted.

• Girl Force (Grades 7-9) Monday August 14th to Thursday August 17 9:30AM - 4:00PM

Complete registration form here: https://www.womenscentrecalgary.org/girls- programsregistration/

Youth Arts Action- Art for Social Change Throughout the Decades (Antyx)
Registration is OPEN Dates: July 9- August 29 FREE
Ages: 12-18

Over the summer, our program will delve into the power of art for social change by exploring different art styles that were prevalent or emerged during each decade starting with the 1960s. Through hands-on activities, discussions, and reflections, youth will learn about the role of art in addressing social issues, self-expression, and fostering positive change within their community. The cumulative event will be an open house where youth will come together to explore new styles of creativity alongside other Antyx Programs.

Click here for more details.