APPLICATION STEPS FOR GRADE ONE for the 2012-2013 school year (for 2013-2014, skip down to the bottom of the page, just above the Quick Links):
Step 1. PREPARE your documentation
As noted below in step 4, when it is time to apply, the school will require a number of documents, including a copy of the child's birth certificate (and, if the child was born outside Canada, landing papers/immigration documents - ideally in the form of a Permanent Residency Card). A copy of the child's immunization records is also requested.

Step 2: ATTEND the information evening
Parents are invited to a Kindergarten/Grade One information session on January 18, 2012 at our Elementary Campus, 728 - 32 St NW, from 7:00- 8:30 pm. in the school's main gym.
This session will cover topics such as:
• understanding "Giftedness" and how it relates to your child;
• understanding the Westmount Charter School program, at Kindergarten, grade one, and beyond;
• the importance of the proper educational "fit" between child and program.
Children do find the evening quite long and child care is not available on-site for this evening event. Parents, please make your own child care arrangements rather than bringing young children to this event.

If your child has very specific learning needs, and you would like to discuss these with one of our administrators, please begin the process by attending one of the information nights listed above. You will find that our program addresses a wide array of gifted learners' needs, and at the information night many teachers, administrators and other staff members will be available to answer questions.

Step 3: DOWNLOAD the application package
Application packages were available on this page, starting the evening of January 18, 2012. The link has now been closed, until such time as all "on time" applications have been completely processed. If you wish, you may check back at a later date to see if the link has been reopened.

Step 4: SUBMIT the completed application package
There are TWO PARTS to completing the application:

Part One: the downloaded application packages are to be fully completed with all documents attached, and received by the school no later than 4:00 PM, February 8, 2012 in order to participate in our March 2, 2012 assessment day. NOTE: In order for applications to be considered after this deadline, they must be accompanied by a recent Psychological/Educational Assessment; late applications will not be reviewed until all applications received by the deadline are processed.

The following documents must accompany the application package:

- photocopy of Birth Certificate and, if applicable, Immigration Papers (ideally in the form of a Permanent Residency Card);
- any relevant medical information regarding your child (e.g. allergies or medical conditions plus details of all required treatments or accommodations);
- photocopy of school Report Cards (current year), Attendance Records;
- a current IPP, if your child has one. If your child is not receiving gifted programming in his/her present school setting, the school might not have developed an IPP;
- a recent Psychological/Educational Assessment, is required of late applicants;
- immunization records (requested, but optional);
- recent photo of student (optional).

Completed applications, including all accompanying documentation, are to be scanned and emailed to registrar@westmountcharter.com, or delivered in person to the school's elementary office, 728 - 32 St NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V9.

Part Two: complete the nomination forms online and submit. These forms do not need to be printed out and e-mailed in, they are to be completed online. One form gets completed by the parent(s). The other form gets completed by a teacher or adult familiar with, but not related to, the child - please direct him/her to complete this form online.
The nomination form to be completed by the parent(s) and the referral form to be completed by the teacher/other adult were online links. These links have now been closed, until such time as all "on time" applications have been completely processed. If you wish, you may check back at a later date to see if the link has been reopened.

Step 5: ATTEND the Student Assessment Day
Students applying for grade 1 will attend a full day of activities at the elementary campus, 728 - 32 St NW, on March 2, 2012.

Arrival is at 8:45 AM, when room assignments will be given. Please be courteous when parking your vehicle - please obey zones where there is "no parking", "no stopping" or "parking by permit only" signage, including the west side of 32 St NW which is NOT available for parent parking.

The assessment activities run from 9:00 AM to 2:45 PM. Students who submitted applications by the application deadline are expected to attend this intake assessment day. There will be no formal "invitation" to attend, just come! PLEASE NOTE, however, that there was a record number of applicants for grade one this year, and several applicants have been contacted directly to inform them that their child is not being invited to attend on assessment day.

The assessment day includes the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT), which "provides information on the student's verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal abilities.  The verbal [assessment] is intended to determine a student’s ability to reason with words or language. The second part of the assessment [quantitative] attempts to evaluate a student’s aptitude to reason with numbers. The final section [non-verbal] measures the capability to reason involving shapes, patterns and abstract concepts."*

In order to prepare for this day, students should get a good night's sleep the night before - there's nothing they need to "study" ahead of time. Please send lunch and a couple of snacks with your child, as well as appropriate outdoor wear so they can participate in some active time outdoors.

Step 6: WAIT for notification of our decision
After students have completed the Student Intake Assessment, a final decision will be made by the Selection Committee as to program suitability. All applicants will be notified by email of the Selection Committee’s decision, toward the end of April. Please ensure that we have your correct email address on file!

Step 7: COMPLETE the online acceptance/registration process
If a space is offered, families will need to complete the online acceptance/registration process and pay a non-refundable $100 deposit to confirm their acceptance at Westmount. Deadlines and instructions will be clearly stated when the spaces are offered.

Please note: families that are applying to join us in the coming school year need to notify us of any changes/additions to their child’s personal information. Examples may be: address, home/work phone numbers, e-mail addresses, custody issues, emergency contacts, medical conditions, allergies, and any psychological or educational reports. In order for us to better serve your family’s needs, it is imperative that the school be made aware of any changes.

For admission to grade one in 2013-2014, please be aware of the changes to our Kindergarten program in 2012-2013 (click here for details). Enrollment in Westmount's Kindergarten program in 2012-2013 does not guarantee enrollment in grade one, but Westmount's 2012-2013 Kindergarten students will be given first priority in 2013-2014 placement decisions.

QUICK LINKS:

Why Westmount? click here for a "white paper" by Martha Faulkner, entitled Choosing a School Program for Gifted Students.

Go to: HighSchool Admissions • MidSchool Admissions • Grade 2-4 Admissions •Kindergarten Admissions

1 March 2012

* - thanks to the Medicine Hat Catholic School Division for this explanation of the CCAT