General Expectations

Dress Code
Student attire at school should be suitable for learning activities. Just as there is a mode of dress suited to office work, the playing field or gymnasium, various informal or formal functions, there is also a mode of dress suited to classroom learning and educational activities. To that end, students are expected to dress in a clean, neat and appropriate manner by:

  »» Refraining from wearing headwear in the school except for medical or religious reasons, or unless required by the teacher for educational reasons.
  »» Wearing clothing void of pictures or slogans displaying drugs, alcohol, violence, racism, profanity or making direct or indirect sexual suggestion.
  »» Wearing clothing that appropriately covers the body.
  »» Wearing footwear at all times for health and safety reasons.

Students failing to meet the above dress code will be referred to Administration or a School Counsellor. Students will have the option of meeting the dress code by removing headwear, putting on footwear or 'covering up' by putting on school-provided clothing or they will be sent home to change their clothing before they will be permitted to return to school. In the event of continued disregard for the dress code, Administration will arrange a meeting with the student and parent/guardian.

Food and Drink
NO food or drink will be allowed in computer labs or the gymnasium.  Teachers will make individual decisions about allowing food or drink in their classroom.  Before a decision to allow food or drink in a classroom is made, a teacher must survey their students to ensure there are no serious food allergies. Students are expected to clean up the area where food and drink are consumed.

Lockers / Locks
Lockers and locks are rented through the school and assigned at the time of registration. Lockers must be locked at all times. The school is not responsible for articles missing from lockers. You cannot keep anything considered illegal to possess in your school locker, such as:

»» drugs
»» alcohol
»» stolen property
»» anything that could be used as a weapon
»» anything deemed by the school or police to be a danger
»» anything else illegal to possess

In accordance with WRPS AP354, even though students put locks on their school lockers, they should not have an expectation of privacy for their locker. Lockers are the property of WRPS. WRPS reserves the right to open, search, and inspect school lockers without notice to students if WRPS has reasonable grounds to believe that students have anything listed above in the locker. In accordance with WRPS AP354, WRPS may invite the RCMP to search the locker areas and outside of closed lockers with Narcotic Detection Dogs. If the Narcotic Detection Dogs detect drugs or any other item listed above in your locker, WRPS authorities and/or the RCMP may open and inspect your locker.

Lockers must be emptied and the lock returned to the Book Room in June. Lockers must be cleaned and free of pictures, posters, stickers and writings. Monetary penalties will be assessed to those who do not comply.

Smoking/Vaping
WCHS is a smoke-free environment. Smoking/vaping is strongly discouraged, for health reasons, but students who choose to smoke/vape while at school are asked to do so off school property. Smokers/vapers are required to cross the street to smoke/vape. This expectation includes the use of smokeless tobacco.

Surveillance Cameras
WCHS uses a number of video cameras throughout the building as a supervision tool to monitor the school premises in order to provide students with a safe educational environment.

Zero Tolerance
To further provide all students with a safe and positive learning environment, the WCHS Administration has instituted a policy of zero tolerance for harassment, violence and illegal substance abuse. Each student is held responsible for his/her personal actions. The privilege to attend Wetaskiwin Composite High School carries with it the obligation to maintain acceptable behaviour.

Attendance Expectations
»» Students are expected to be in class, on time, on a daily basis. Students who are repeatedly absent may lose their registration in that class.
»» The responsibility for regular attendance rests with the student and the student's parents/guardians.
»» Parents/Guardians have the responsibility to notify the school in advance of any absences to ensure consideration is given to any upcoming assignments or exams.
»» Students who miss exams and assignments due to absence are responsible for contacting their teachers on the first day back and for making arrangements to complete work missed.

Procedures
»» The classroom teacher will discuss attendance expectations with their students at the beginning of each semester.
»» Teachers will record attendance in the PowerSchool.
»» Excuses will be coded as "verified" if a note or phone call is received from the home (i.e. parent/ guardian) testifying to illness, necessary appointments, family emergencies, etc.
»» If a student's absences have not been explained by 3:30 pm on a given day, home contact will be made that evening utilizing the Autodialler.
»» In accordance with school policy, students whose absences are deemed to be excessive will be withdrawn from individual courses.  Student circumstances will be considered and provision made for appeals to be heard.

Signing Out
If a student needs to leave the school for any reason during class time, they should sign out with one of the administrative assistants in the General Office.

Spare Periods
Students with spares are expected to use this time wisely. Students not wishing to utilize the library during their spares must go to the school cafeteria or leave the school building. Students should NOT be loitering in the hallways during class time. Part-time students are to leave the school (unless working in the library) when not in class.

Expectations:
    WCHS is a “hat free” environment.  Students are required to remove head covering (hats, toques, bandannas, etc) prior to entering the school.
           
Cell Phones 

As part of our ongoing efforts to create an optimal and distraction-free learning environment, please review the following guidelines to assist you in the 2024/2025 school year's start-up. These guidelines support the recent Ministerial Order 014/2024, which came into effect this September.

To ensure consistency across all schools, our division has developed a clear and structured approach in dealing with student cell phone use in the classroom.  

1. Five-Steps:
   Verbal Conversation - Reminder: The first step is a gentle reminder to the student about the policy. This is an opportunity for a positive and constructive conversation.
2. Office: If the student continues to use their device, it will be placed in the school office for safekeeping.  The student may pick up their phone at the conclusion of the day.
3. Office - Parent to Pick Up: Should the issue persist, the device will remain in the office, and a parent or guardian must pick it up.
4. In-School Suspension: Continued non-compliance will result in an in-school suspension, reinforcing the importance of following the Ministerial Order.
5. Out-of-School Suspension and Parent Meeting: As a final measure, the student will face an out-of-school suspension, and a meeting with their parent(s) or guardian will be required to discuss the situation and find a way forward.

This structured approach, paired with positive reinforcement, will support students in understanding the importance of adhering to the Ministerial Order. This is to help ensure our students develop self-control, focus, and a sense of responsibility.

We encourage everyone to embrace this approach enthusiastically, and to approach each step with the goal of guiding  students toward success. Let’s celebrate this initiative as we step forward in creating powerful learning environments where all students can thrive.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students' well-being and academic success. Together, we can make a significant difference in their educational experience.

Please Note:  In the event that a student does not comply with the request to relinquish their cell phone, electronic devices or hats,  that student will be referred to their grade advisor.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact WCHS!