• a place for ALL gifted learners: whether you're an expert on nature, or a musician, or a voracious reader, or a math-science whiz, there is room for you at Westmount
• an emphasis on understanding concepts, and the opportunity to "show what you know" in dozens of different ways
• small class sizes, great friends and dedicated teachers who get to know you!
• an emphasis on learning how to learn, and Inclusive Education Plans to help you work on meaningful educational goals
• a caring learning environment that honours differences: it's cool to be who you are!
• clubs, school teams, lunchtime intramurals
• humanitarian trips and High School "Human Condition" courses
• an Integrated program for all grade seven students, building on the learnings from our previous "Project Earth", "Footprints" and "Innovations" programs
• Beginner Band program for grade 5 and second languages (French or Spanish) throughout mid-grades
• easy access via Calgary Transit, School bus, or in your own vehicle
• opportunities to proceed beyond grade level once you have understood the concepts of the entire curriculum at the present level
• full range of High School courses including Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
• Summerstock Theatre program
• readiness for post-secondary: check our grad/alumni information!

Our middle school/mid grades program places a strong emphasis on enriching and deepening student learning that demonstrates proven performance. We continue to stress the importance of community and citizenship, while celebrating student achievement and success. Realizing that both grade 5 and grade 6 students are just coming out of an elementary-school environment, special attention is given to making a gradual transition into mid-grades for these younger students.

Westmount has established an ambitious one-to-one laptop initiative at mid/high school. For 2010-2011 this program included grades 6,10 and 11, in 2011-2012 grades 7 and 12 have also joined the program, and in 2012-2013 the program will include all mid-high grades. Final details of the 2012-2013 program are still being set, click here for further information.

Fundamental to our program is the expectation that students direct their learning by organizing Alberta Education curriculum learner outcomes into relevant learning experiences and products that demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. Our continuously evolving program includes a wide variety of course selections such as:
-Art
-Band
-Choir
-Dance
-Drama
-English
-Environmental/Outdoor Education
-Ethics
-French**
-Grade 7 Integrated Program
-Journalism
-Lego-Botics
-Math
-Physical Education and Athletics
-Science
-Science & Technology
-Social Studies
-Spanish**
-World Music
-Yoga
(click on subject names for available links)
** - NOTE - Westmount students are introduced to both French and Spanish in grade 5, and will need to continue in one of these languages (or both) throughout grades 6, 7 and 8.

A Student Awards program was started in 2007-2008 by Student Council - application forms are available in the spring, on the Student Council bulletin board.

As part of Westmount's understanding of the world around us, a number of travel/learning opportunities are available to our students on a fee-for-service basis. In general, the trips are aimed at a particular grade, but in certain circumstances students in another grade (typically one grade higher than the rest of the group) may be included. These trips include the Westcoast Trip in Spring Break for grade 8 students. In May 2012 there is also a special Fine Arts trip to New York City. For information about grade 9-12 trips, click here.

30 January 2012

Mid-Grades Links

Download our Mid-Grades brochure!

Westmount's Provincial Achievement Test results.

Mid Grades application procedures.

As a publicly-funded program for gifted learners, we do not charge tuition. For a schedule of our school fees, click here.

Our mid and high school grades are housed in Calgary's University Heights community at 2215 Uxbridge Dr NW T2N 4Y3 - previously the home of Sir William Van Horne High School.

Click here for more information about how to choose a program for your gifted child, and Westmount's program philosophy!

Westmount is piloting an "Inclusive Education Planning Tool" in grades 1-8 this year. For more information, click here, and check the Sept 29 article in our Online Newsletter!

Click here to see the structure of the Westmount Admin team.
At the Mid-High campus, Mrs Marylyn Waters is your first contact for grade 5, Mr Chris Hooper for grades 6-8, Ms Dani Sever for grades 9-11, and Dr Shelley Robinson (Principal of both campuses) for grade 12.

Mid-Grades School Day 2011-12

Gr 5-8 classes begin at 8:30 AM and end at 3:22 PM.
class 1, 8:30 - 9:45 AM
mid school "recess" break, 9:45-10:00 AM
class 2, 10:00 - 11:15 AM
SQUIRT*, 11:15-11:45 AM
Lunch, including an outdoor "recess" break, 11:45 AM-12:40 PM
class 3, 12:40-1:55 PM
mid school break, 1:55-2:00 PM
class 4, 2:00-3:15

*SQUIRT = Sustained Quiet Uninterrupted Reading Time

Grade 7-12 students are allowed to leave the campus at lunch time, but grade 5 and 6's are not. For another lunch option at Westmount, click here.

In order to promote student security, all visitors to the school, including Westmount parents, are required to sign in at the office to receive a visitor's badge. Westmount's photo ID badges are also available for parents.
All students from grade 6-12 also have photo ID badges, as part of Westmount's commitment to student safety and security.

Staff are available to supervise students from 8:15 AM-4:00 PM only - parents are expected to make every effort to pick up students by 3:30 PM.

To respect the needs of students with life-threatening food allergies, Westmount students are to refrain from bringing foods containing nuts or nut products to school.

NEW! to report that a student is going to be late or absent, phone 403.217.9427 and pick option 1.