JGD Weekly Update | March 16–20, 2026

Note: Student Progress Conferences are on Friday, March 20 – Online only, 8:00 AM–2:00 PM. No school for students.

Ramadan Mubarak

With the end of Ramadan approaching and Eid celebrations upcoming, if your student will be away for any reason, please contact the school. You can leave a message on the general line with your student's first and last name and a reason for their absence – please speak slowly and clearly so we can record their name correctly. You may also email your student's Assistant Principal to have their attendance updated.

All You Need to Know About US Universities

Interested in applying to post-secondary in the USA? Come to the Learning Commons at 8:15 AM on Wednesday, March 18 to hear from a recruiter and a former Dief student who will share inside knowledge on the application process.

Class of 2026 – Scholarships

As you begin making plans for post-secondary, don't forget to look into scholarship opportunities! EducationMatters is a great resource for CBE students to find and apply for scholarships. Set up your account to see what is available to you.

EducationMatters is offering online sessions to walk students through how to use their website. Sessions run from 4:00–5:00 PM on the following dates:

Sign up at Awards | EducationMatters under the "How to Apply" link.

Congratulations – Senior Basketball Teams

Congratulations to our Senior Girls Basketball team on winning Bronze in Medicine Hat, and to our Senior Boys Basketball team on their season. Well done to all players and coaches!

Student Progress Conferences – March 20

Student Progress Conferences are scheduled for Friday, March 20 from 8:00 AM–2:00 PM, online only. Bookings opened on Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00 PM and will close on Thursday, March 19 at 12:00 PM. Each meeting block is 10 minutes in length. Please see your student's MyCBE schedule for teacher names.

If you are not available on March 20 or if spots are full, please contact your student's teacher directly to make alternate arrangements. MyCBE is the best place to view all assignment and assessment results. If you don't have access, ask your student to log in with their CBE username and password. For assistance with booking, please use the conference booking instructions.

April Report Card Comments

Report cards will be viewable on April 14. For this reporting period, students who are meeting passing expectations will receive a percentage grade only, without comments. Students who are not meeting expectations will receive a supportive comment covering Areas of Strength, Areas for Growth, and Next Steps in learning.

Comments and marks will be temporarily unavailable beginning April 6. If you have questions after viewing the report card, please contact your student's teacher. You can also attend the online Student Progress Conferences from 8:00 AM–2:00 PM on Friday, March 20.

School Council

Our next School Council AGM Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00 PM – the first Tuesday after Spring Break. We are looking for parents interested in joining JGD School Council. Available positions include:

Chair

The Chair calls and presides at all school council meetings, serves as chief spokesperson for the association, reviews all communications prior to distribution, votes in case of a tie, and is an ex-officio member of all committees. The Chair liaises with school administration, reviews minutes prior to distribution, and prepares presentations used at meetings.

Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair assists the Chair in all school council activities and carries out duties assigned by the Chair. In the event of the Chair's absence, resignation, incapacity, or extended leave, the Vice-Chair assumes the Chair's responsibilities until the next AGM elections. The Vice-Chair is copied on all communications prior to distribution.

Secretary

The Secretary attends all meetings, keeps accurate minutes, and sends out minutes for distribution. The Secretary also maintains the school council's email account and distribution list, and manages all correspondence and documentation for the council.

Key Communicator

This is not an executive position. This person attends CBE-organized meetings (approximately 3–4 per year) and provides a synopsis of what was covered, which can be shared at the next council meeting.

A School Council Meeting will be held at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, April 14, with Trustee Laura Hack attending to answer questions. Please register using this form.

Canadian Citizenship Ceremony – April 23

We are hosting a Canadian citizenship ceremony at John G. Diefenbaker High School on Thursday, April 23 at 10:30 AM, where 50 new Canadians will be sworn in as citizens. (Please note: the date has been shifted 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 let us know what stage in the process you or they are at, and whether you are interested in being potentially scheduled for this event. Include your UCI or Citizenship application number and direct your reply to Mr. Bill Hilton at behilton@cbe.ab.ca.

2025–2026 Semester 2 School Fees

Semester 2 school fees are now posted and ready for viewing and payment through your MyCBE account or in person at the Business Office. Additional items still available:

• Calculator Rental – order here
• Parking Pass – order here

Ride of the Chiefs – April 17

Our Leadership students are organizing the annual Ride of the Chiefs (ROTC) for its 11th year – a 12-hour bike-a-thon raising money for the Alberta Children's Hospital. Over the past decade, our school has raised over $160,000, including $20,000 last year.

We are looking for 12 parent volunteers to help supervise from 3:30–5:00 PM on April 17, 2026 at John G. Diefenbaker High School. Requirements: a valid police clearance (ePIC) and registration as a volunteer.

To sign up, please go to SchoolEngage and complete the Volunteer Registration form. Once registered, email your form and police clearance to johngdiefenbaker@cbe.ab.ca. Thank you for supporting our students and the Alberta Children's Hospital!

Cell Phone Use

John G. Diefenbaker teachers and staff are following Alberta Government legislation regarding cell phones. Teachers only allow students to use their phones when it is part of the learning.

Please do not text or call your child while they are in class, or if you do, please do not expect an immediate response. Students are not permitted to take calls or texts during instruction and will face consequences if they do. In an emergency, please call our main phone number and ask one of the secretaries to contact the classroom directly. Parent contact during class time has become a concern in our building and we appreciate your assistance!

Diefenbaker IB Hoodies – Please order yours today

Student Artist Feature – Aryna A.

Aryna A. is a Grade 12 student with a passion for art. She has spent most of her life drawing and attended art classes when she was younger. Aryna enjoys sketching, digital art, and painting across a wide variety of subjects – from character drawings to mountain paintings. She has recently shifted her focus to digital art, inspired by cute art styles such as Sanrio and Miffy, with the hope that her art will one day convey the same sense of happiness and comfort. Aryna uses shadows and unique angles to give her drawings depth, while carefully selecting colours that reflect the feelings she wants to portray. She hopes to one day combine her love of writing and drawing to create comics. Her art can be found on Instagram.

Athletics and Events – Week of March 16–20

Free Community Events/Resources