JGD Weekly Update | April 20-24, 2026

Friday, April 24^, Maatoomsii’ Pookaiks – No School for Students

Canadian Citizenship Ceremony

We are hosting a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony at John G. Diefenbaker High School at 10:30 AM on Thursday, April 23. This is a very special ceremony at which 50 new Canadians will be sworn in as Canadian Citizens. (Please note: We have shifted the date from April 21).

If you or any close family members or friends have an open application for citizenship with IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), please advise us what stage in the process you/they are and if you are interested in being potentially scheduled for this event. Please include your UCI or Citizenship application number. Direct your replies to Mr. Bill Hilton at behilton@cbe.ab.ca and this information will be forwarded to IRCC.

Post Secondary - Scholarships/Awards

Tuition is Expensive;
Where can I find scholarships/awards to help with post-secondary?

• Grade 12 students are encouraged to create an account on ScholarTree.ca for access to scholarships
• Create an account with EducationMatters.ca for access to student awards
• Subscribe to ScholarshipsCanada.com to receive scholarship opportunities in your inbox!
• Subscribe to yconic.com to receive scholarship opportunities in your inbox

Visit the websites of the schools that you’re interested in attending to learning about entrance scholarships as well as to other scholarships that you can apply.

See our Scholarship Information on our website.

Grade 12 April Checklist

The countdown is on for the big day! All graduating grade 12 students need to:

• Check the graduation list that is displayed in the main hallway* and make sure that your name is on it!
• Make sure that you have access to/have created your myPass account
• Check (and double check) that you have received credit in CALM as it is a GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
• Make an appointment with your contact in Student Services if you are worried about your graduation status

*The graduation list will be updated again after T3 marks are finalized

Watch our Graduation Information for any new information.

ROTC Fundraiser - Ride of the Chiefs

Our annual Ride of the Chiefs fundraiser is happening today, Friday, April 17. The event is to raise money for the Alberta Children's Hospital. Our 50/50 draw for ROTC is still live for a few more days! The draw will happen on Tuesday, April 21. 

To participate in the draw, support the Alberta Children's Hospital, and maybe win some cash, please follow the linkRide of the Chiefs (ROTC) event.

Summer School

Now that we have your attention…

• If you are looking to take Summer School online, Vista Virtual (https://www.vvschool.ca) and Golden Hills Learning Academy (https://www.goldenhillslearningacademy.com) are NOW OPEN for registration.
  You do NOT need to see Student Services to register in either of these schools.
• If you are wishing to take Summer School in-person, or online through CBe-Learn you will need to listen to announcements from Student Services. Registration through CBE-learn will start on May 4. Student Services MUST register you.

Questions? Concerns? Please come see Student Services

Diefenbaker IB Exam Schedule May 2026,
please use link:   

IB Exam Schedule

Comments on the April Report Card:

Understanding how your student is doing with respect to the Program of Studies and the CBE Outcomes are always viewable in PowerSchool before and after the reporting period.  If you have further questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher.  Comments and marks were not viewable from April 6 to April 14.  They are now viewable and represent Term 3 marks.

For this reporting period, students who are meeting passing expectations of the course will only receive a percentage grade without a comment.  Students who are not meeting expectations will receive a supportive comment with Areas of Strength, Areas for Growth and Next Steps in learning.  If after the report is viewed, you still have concerns or questions, please contact your student’s teacher.

Biology 20 and Biology 20 IB

Just prior Spring Break the Biology 20 and Biology 20 IB classes attended a field trip to the Calgary Zoo. On the field trip the classes were able to engage in hands-on experiences in the curricular area of Ecosystems and Evolution. One class attended the Changes Program where the class explored the concepts of adaptation, classification, evolution, and speciation in a four-hour program. The second class explored the concepts of ecosystems and evolution through Edu Trek Asia. Adaptation, evolution and speciation was looked at through the lens of Asian specific animals. Both programs were mostly funded by Pivotal Energy.

Athletics & Events Schedule

Diefenbaker IB Exam Schedule May 2026

See our Exam Schedule page for all Exam Information