2012-2013 high school application steps

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 student's birth certificate (and, if born outside Canada, landing papers/immigration documents - ideally in the form of a Permanent Residency Card). A copy of the student's immunization records is also requested. Making the required photocopies/scans now will save you time later!

Step 2: ATTEND the information evening.
Students and parents are invited to an open house on January 25, 2012 from 7:00- 8:30 pm. in the mid-high gym. At this time, the Westmount program and philosophy will be outlined, teachers will be available to answer grade-or-subject-specific questions, and classrooms will be available for viewing.

Step 3: DOWNLOAD the application package.
Application packages will be available HERE, starting the evening of January 18, 2012. If the form does not download immediately, click on F5 or refresh your web browser to ensure that you are working from the most recent version of the web page.

Step 4: SUBMIT the completed application package.
There are THREE 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 15, 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 (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 the student has one. If the student child is not receiving gifted programming in his/her present school setting, the school might not have developed an IPP;
- academic resume (click here to download the details);
- recent Psychological/Educational Assessment, only if you already have one. Please note, however, that this documentation will be 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 Westmount's registration desk, located in the 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 student and/or parent(s). The other form gets completed by a teacher or adult familiar with, but not related to, the student - please direct him/her to complete this form online.
The nomination form to be completed by the student and parent(s) is HERE.
The referral form to be completed by the teacher/other adult is HERE.

Step 5: ATTEND the Student Assessment Day.
Students applying for grades 9-12 will attend a morning of activities at the school on March 2, 2012.
Arrival is at 8:45 AM, when room assignments will be given. The assessment activities for High School applicants run from 9:00 AM to noon; while he/she is at the school for these assessments, the applicant is to sign up for an interview time. Please note: all students who submitted applications by the application deadline are expected to attend this intake assessment day - there will be no formal "invitation" to attend.

The assessment day includes the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test (CCAT), which "provides information on the studen'ts 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. Students should also bring a snack or light lunch.

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, by March 23, 2012. 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 be required 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. Students entering grades 9-12 will also fill out course selection forms (available online, usually in May) once their deposit has been paid.

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.

QUICK LINKS:

High School Application Downloads: all four must be completed in order to apply
Application package
Parent and student nomination form
Teacher/other adult referral form
Academic resume guidelines

Why Westmount? click here for a "white paper" by Martha Faulkner, entitled Choosing a School Program for Gifted Students; click here for a message about High School at Westmount by one of our past grade 12 valedictorians!

Please note: Westmount Charter School's mid-high laptop program is currently under revision. If you wish to see the way this program has worked this year, click "one-to-one laptop program" in the links menu on the right hand side of this page.

Go to: Mid School Admissions • Grade 2-4 Admissions • Grade 1 Admissions • Kindergarten Admissions

18 January 2012

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