Dear Families,

we have been excited to welcome students, staff, and families back to school for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. It has been an amazing few days watching the students settle into their classrooms and learn new routines. On Friday, we held a welcome back assembly to build community and allow students to meet all the staff at WDS. We were thrilled to use our new sound system during our recent assembly! This fantastic upgrade was made possible thanks to the generous support of our School Council. A heartfelt thank you to our council members for their continued dedication to enhancing our school community. Your support truly makes a difference! 

Demographics 

If you have changed your phone number, email address, mailing address, students' preferred name (Alias), or emergency contacts, you must update the Demographic Verification Form via MyCBE.  Technical Support: SchoolEngage​ - Demographic Verification Form  

School Communication 

Each week, you will receive a weekly update like this one from the administration to keep you informed and connected to the school community. This year, EES and Grades 1-6 teachers will send home student agendas daily to share what students are learning about to celebrate your child's learning journey. In Kindergarten, the teacher will be sending home a communication folder. Kindergarten parents will be receiving monthly communication through a monthly newsletter. Teachers in EES and Grades 1-6 will be sending home a monthly communication to families through School Messenger.   

Attendance 

To report an absence or late arrival to West Dalhousie School, call the school's attendance line at 403-777-6110, ext. 1. You must provide the child's full name, grade, and teacher, along with the reason and anticipated length of the absence. 

Student Fees & Service Registration 

If your child(ren) will be staying at school during the lunch recess, please register them for the Lunch Supervision Service through your MyCBE account.  

Parents/guardians may also apply for a fee waiver if needed. To learn more about the waiver process, please visit the CBE Waivers page. 

Medication  

Medication should be given to children outside school hours if possible. Should your child need medication at any time at school, a Student Health Plan form must be completed and given to the school office. We cannot give children medication without this form, and we have no medications available at the school that are not sent by parents for specific children. All medications sent by families will be kept at and given out in the main office. Medication should be in the original container with your child’s name on it. If your child has a medical condition such as asthma, allergies etc, please fill out the forms below and submit it to the school office. 

Forms You Need  

Student Health Emergency Response Protocol Form 

This form is to be used when there is a student health issue requiring attention. This includes when there is a request to administer medication.  

Student Health Plan 

This form is to be: 

• completed if a physical or medical condition may affect the student's attendance at school 
• completed if medication is to be taken at school, 
• reviewed and updated annually or sooner if there is a change in the student's health concern or school registration. 

Meet the Teacher 

We invite families to meet their child’s teacher on Thursday, September 25. Teachers will host two group sessions to share important information about the school year: 

• Session 1: 3:30 PM 
• Session 2: 5:00 PM 

Please plan to attend one of the two drop-in sessions. Each session will be the same and include a presentation and an opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Individual Program Plans 

If your child is on an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) or in the Enhanced Educational Supports (EES) classroom, your child's homeroom teacher will contact parents/guardians to book a meeting time in late September or early October. 

School Council 

One of the ways you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of WDS students is by participating in school councils. School councils help nurture and inspire students to achieve their full potential by connecting students, schools, and your community. We have our first school council meeting on Thursday, September 11 at 7:00 pm in the school Learning Commons. Please see the meeting agenda for more information. We welcome all parents to come to the meeting and see what the school council is all about. If you attend the meeting, you are not required to sign up for key council positions or volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering opportunities with the school council, the obligations are minimal. 

Toys and Treasures 

Students should not bring personal items to school, such as toys, Pokémon cards, fidgets, sports equipment etc. that are not directly related to their schoolwork. In addition to being a possible distraction and/or hazard, the security of these items cannot be guaranteed.  

Important Dates  

Have a great weekend, 

Rhonda Williams, Principal

Keri Glowacki, Assistant Principal