Admitted Student Package 2026-2027

Welcome to WRCA! We are so excited that you are joining our community.

This page is designed to help your family prepare for the start of the school year. Because details can change quickly, the most up-to-date information will always be shared through the weekly Friday newsletters. Look for those starting on Aug 28, 2026.

Families with Senior School students (Grades 6-12) are encouraged to review this information together before September.

2026-2027 start and end times, calendars, and office hours

See table below for start and end times for 2026-2027. The School Holiday Calendar (2026-2027) can be found on the Schedules and Calendars webpage. The Event Calendar for 2026-2027 will be added to the same webpage by the end of June 2026. The Event Calendar password is WRCA4LIFE.

GRADE LEVEL	START TIME (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri)	START TIME (Wednesdays)	END TIME (Weekdays)	EARLY DISMISSAL (Selected Dates)
Junior Kindergarten	8:40	9:10	2:50	11:35
Kindergarten – Grade 5	8:30	9:00	3:00	11:45
Grades 6 – 7	8:10	8:35	3:10 (Wed: 3:20)	11:55
Grades 8-12	8:00	8:35	3:20	11:55

There will be a mandatory all-parent meeting in September 2026. This meeting is typically held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday after school begins. Please watch the weekly newsletter for confirmed details closer to the date.

Regular office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The main office phone number is 604.531.9186.

Summer office hours for 2026:

Jun 29 – Jul 10: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Jul 11 – Aug 16: closed
Aug 17 – 28: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Aug 31 onward: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Getting ready for the start of school

Ensuring a smooth transition for new students is a top priority for WRCA.

Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten have separate orientation plans, welcome events, and an additional handbook. Families will receive more information by email closer to the start of school.

WRCA will do its best to connect new students in Grades 1–11 with a current student in the same grade. To help make this connection, WRCA may share your email address with a current WRCA family so they can contact you before the school year begins.

Families of new Grade 1-11 students are also invited to campus on Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026, at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., for our New Families Connection event. This informal gathering is a chance to explore the campus, meet a few current WRCA families, and help students become more comfortable with the school layout before the first day. A visit ahead of time can ease first-day nerves and make the transition to WRCA feel smoother. This is a non-uniform event with no formal agenda.

Grade 6 students and their parents are invited to a special orientation evening on Thursday, Sep 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Further details will be shared via email in advance.

The first day of school for Grade 1-12 students will be Tuesday, Sep 8, 2026, and it will be an early dismissal day (see times in table above). New students in Grades 7-11 must remain at school until 2:30 p.m. for orientation, school Wi-Fi setup, and assistance with accessing ManageBac. Additional first-day information will be shared in the school newsletter before school begins.

Tuition, uniforms, and school supplies

The 2026-2027 tuition fees and tuition calculator can be found at wrca.ca/tuition.

Please order your uniforms as soon as possible to ensure you have the items in time for September. WRCA uniforms are supplied by InSchoolwear. Families can order online from the InSchoolwear website using the school code wrca, or shop at the Burnaby retail location at 7666 Winston Street, Burnaby, BC. Note that the Burnaby location will be operating by appointment only for in-store shopping during the month of August. See the InSchoolwear website for further details.

WRCA also operates an onsite uniform store in the foyer of the Admin Building. Families can purchase gently used uniform items, try on supplier samples, and purchase Senior School neckties. Proceeds from gently used uniform sales support the school’s Benevolent Fund. Visit the WRCA Uniforms webpage for the onsite store hours and uniform photos.

Please label all uniforms and other belongings clearly, including lunch kits, water bottles, and bags. Uniform items that are not labelled or collected may be donated to the gently used uniform program. Families can also monitor the WRCA Lost & Found Facebook group for missing items.

Grade-specific school supply lists will be posted on the WRCA School Supplies webpage by the end of June 2026.

Communication

Please make sure the school office has your current phone number and your primary email address, ideally one you check regularly. If your contact information changes, notify the office as soon as possible at records@wrca.ca or 604.531.9186. This is especially important in case the school needs to reach you quickly.

Parent and guardian email addresses submitted with the application will automatically be added to the school newsletter distribution list before the school year begins. If you would like additional family members, such as grandparents, to receive the newsletter, email admissions@wrca.ca.

Please add communications@wrca.ca to your address book or safe senders list.

The WRCA weekly newsletter is emailed every Friday and includes reminders, deadlines, announcements, and important information for the coming week. If you are not receiving the newsletter by Aug 28, 2026, please check your junk or promotions folders and then contact the office if needed. Email: records@wrca.ca or phone: 604.531.9186.

WRCA also uses ManageBac to distribute report cards and support communication among teachers, students, and parents. Parent accounts are created before the school year begins using the email addresses supplied in the application. Families then receive a welcome email with instructions for completing the account setup. If you would like a different email address used, please contact admissions@wrca.ca. Report cards are issued via ManageBac at the end of each term in December, February, and June.

Families may contact teachers directly by email. Teacher email addresses follow the format lastnamefirstinitial@wrca.ca, and students and parents can also access teacher contact details through ManageBac.

Hot lunch

WRCA offers a hot lunch program for purchase, available to students in JK through Grade 12 Monday to Friday and provided by local vendors. Parents/guardians are responsible for creating their own hot lunch account, placing orders, and paying for lunches directly. Ordering details are shared in school emails. For additional information and FAQs, see the WRCA Hot Lunch webpage.

Classroom allocation

Class lists are created each year by the previous year’s teachers, with input from the incoming teachers, the principal, and the Educational Support Services Coordinator. Many factors are considered, including educational support needs, English language learning needs, class dynamics, friendship groups, gender balance, learning profiles, student personalities, the needs of new students, and relevant family considerations.

Because many of these considerations are confidential, WRCA cannot discuss every factor behind class placement decisions. Even so, class lists are built with the goal of helping every child flourish. WRCA values the quality of teaching in every classroom and believes students will be well supported in whichever classroom becomes their home for the year.

Transformational Learning Opportunities (TLO)

TLO trips are a priority for WRCA leadership and teachers. Dates and details will be shared once plans are finalized, but the following trips are planned for the 2026-2027 school year:

Grades 4 and 5: Camp 45 at Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre in Lindell Beach
Grades 6-8: Student Spiritual Retreat (SSR) at Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge
Grades 9-12: Student Spiritual Retreat (SSR) at Rockridge Canyon in Princeton
Grades 10-12: TLOs to Mexico and another international destination (yet to be determined)

Yearbooks

Each year, a team of students and a teacher-coordinator design the yearbook. Yearbooks are available for purchase online, and families will be notified through the weekly newsletter when they go on sale. Yearbooks are distributed in June.

Technology use at WRCA

Appropriate use of technology is an important priority at WRCA. The WRCA Board of Directors has approved a Technology Use Policy to protect both the school and the users of its technology resources. Families should refer to Policy 1206 – Technology Use Policy for the most current policy details.

Student use of mobile devices, including cell phones and smartwatches, is prohibited during school hours and during school-related activities for two main reasons:

Safety: the school cannot monitor internet access outside school-managed systems, and school filtering only applies to school-provided Wi-Fi.
Social and learning focus: mobile devices allow texting, social media use, and email checking, all of which can distract both the individual student and those nearby.

The following regulations apply during the school day:

School hours are defined as the time from a student’s first class to the end of their last class of the day.
Students may keep a phone or other mobile device in a locker or backpack on mute, but they may not take it out during recess, between classes, at lunch, or at any other point during the school day.
Any mobile device that is seen or heard during school hours will be confiscated and stored securely in the Principal’s office.
Confiscated devices are returned only to a parent or guardian who may pick up the confiscated device before or after school on the following school day.
School-related activities include field trips, TLO trips, music events, athletics, and other school events. For Grades 10-12 overnight trips, please refer to the full Technology Policy.

If you need to contact your child during the day, please phone or email the school office. WRCA will do its best to pass the message along.

WRCA does allow appropriate technology for educational purposes. Students in Grades 6-12 are expected to bring a suitable computing device, such as a laptop, and may use it only when directed by a teacher for schoolwork such as research, writing, presentations, and other learning tasks. Students who misuse an otherwise permitted device – for example, by gaming on a laptop – may also have that device confiscated.

Examples of inappropriate technology use include:

Trying to bypass the school firewall or other security measures
Accessing websites that WRCA considers inappropriate
Using technology for non-educational purposes during school hours
Using devices that are not permitted under WRCA policy
Using or sharing a personal hotspot in a way that bypasses school internet filtering
Using another person’s network credentials
Deliberately reducing the quality of network service for others
Disconnecting, removing, disabling, or damaging school-provided technology equipment

Class Parent Representatives (CPR)

At WRCA, each class has a Class Parent Representative (CPR) who supports the school, the teacher, and the parents in that class. The CPR program exists to:

Facilitate communication between parents and the school’s administration, faculty, employees, and students.
Foster a sense of community among families and between parents and the school.
Provide a platform for constructive and positive parent input.
Communicate school views, policies, and programs to parents.
Help organize student and parent activities that align with the school’s vision, mission, and purpose.
Serve as a resource to the school community.

Fundraising

We love the transformational impact our WRCA community has on the lives of our students and on the families, friends, and communities they encounter. This is Kingdom work, and their stories are incredible. We ask all families to prayerfully consider their commitment to partnering with us through our various fundraising initiatives. We have a number of exciting things planned for the coming year and look forward to sharing more details with you soon.

For more information, families can contact Cindy Louw, Director of Advancement, at louwc@wrca.ca.

Volunteering

Volunteers are an integral part of the WRCA community, and all community members are encouraged to get involved. WRCA asks every family to complete a minimum of 20 volunteer hours each academic year. These hours may also be completed by other family members or close family friends, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or trusted friends. Volunteering is a practical way to support the school and build relationships in the WRCA community.

Families who do not complete the 20-hour requirement by the end of the school year will be charged a $400 fee instead. The September parent meeting counts as one volunteer hour for each parent who attends.

Volunteer opportunities are advertised in the weekly newsletter. Families are responsible for tracking their hours on a Volunteer Hours Form and submitting the form to the office at the end of the year.

Criminal Record Checks and volunteer drivers

All volunteers must have a valid Criminal Record Check (CRC), including a vulnerable sector check, completed specifically for WRCA. Once completed, a CRC is valid for five years. There is no cost to the applicant.

In addition to the CRC, parents who would like to drive students for field trips or athletics must also:

Complete the Volunteer Drivers Form
Submit proof of current vehicle insurance showing at least $2 million in third-party liability coverage

For instructions on completing your Criminal Record Check and/or driving for WRCA, please visit the WRCA Volunteering webpage.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences take place in the first term and third term. Both conference days are non-instructional days and will be noted in the school calendar.

Start of year and first days of school

Junior Kindergarten families will be contacted by Mrs. Houston to arrange home visits and classroom visits instead of regular classes during the first week of school. Home visits will occur between Tuesday, Sep 8 and Thursday, Sep 10, and classroom visits will take place on Friday, Sep 11. Gradual entry for Junior Kindergarten students takes place during the week of Monday, Sep 14 to Friday, Sep 18 and full-day attendance begins on Monday, Sep 21.

Kindergarten students will be invited to attend a classroom visit during the week of Sep 8, 2026. Kindercamp week, which serves as gradual entry, takes place during the week of Monday, Sep 14 to Friday, Sep 18 and full-day attendance begins on Monday, Sep 21.

Students in Grades 1-5 begin school on Tuesday, Sep 8, 2026, and it will be an early dismissal day.

Communication and Seesaw

Homeroom teachers will communicate with families regularly by email. To help teachers manage the start and end of the school day well, please keep drop-off conversations brief and use pickup time or email for longer discussions whenever possible. Teachers may also ask to schedule a meeting when a longer conversation is needed. If you have a concern, WRCA asks that you speak with the teacher first before bringing the matter to the principal.

Junior School uses Seesaw to document and share classroom learning. Seesaw functions as a digital portfolio that follows students through their years at WRCA. Teachers and students can both add items to a student’s journal, and teachers may also post assignments for students and families to complete at home.

At the start of the school year, your child’s teacher will provide information on how to access Seesaw. Families are encouraged to sign up so they can also receive important Junior School-specific communications through Seesaw.

Beginner Band Day, athletics, and clubs

Beginner Band Day, which is a non-uniform event, is held on Monday, Aug 31, 2026, for incoming Grade 5 students. Students receive instruction in instrument care, assembly, posture, and first notes so they are ready for the school year. Families should contact Mrs. Eckert at eckerte@wrca.ca by Friday, Aug 21, 2026, to make sure an instrument is available. More details will be sent closer to the event.

In Grades 4 and 5, students are encouraged to participate in cross country, track and field, and introductory volleyball and basketball mini-clinics.

Junior School clubs vary from year to year and may include activities such as Chess Club, Maker Space, Lunchtime Choir, the Christmas Musical Drama Team, Running Club, and Crafting Club.

Orientation and first day information

The first day of school for Senior School students is Tuesday, Sep 8, 2026, and it will be an early dismissal day.

New students in Grades 7-11 must remain at school until 2:30 p.m. on the first day for orientation, school Wi-Fi setup, and assistance with accessing ManageBac. These students should bring their laptops, which will be stored in a secure location during the morning activities. Students should leave all other school supplies at home on the first day.

Students should wear their PE uniform. If they do not yet have one, a dark T-shirt and dark athletic shorts without logos are acceptable.

Additional first-day information will be shared in the school newsletter before the start of the school year.

School life and student activities

WRCA offers a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved in school life. WRCA SALT (Servant and Leadership Team) helps create community, school spirit, and student activities throughout the year. SALT includes student representatives from Grades 8-12 and works in partnership with the Student Life Coordinator, Mr. Bigornia. Applications for the following year’s SALT team open in May.

The SALT Cafe is open to Senior School students at lunchtime and sells snacks and drinks. Proceeds support student life initiatives.

Senior School students are also encouraged to participate in athletics and clubs. Athletic opportunities include cross country, volleyball, basketball, badminton, golf, and track and field. More than 60% of WRCA students participate in athletics. Team participation fees range from $35 to $250, depending on the sport and grade level, with possible additional costs for travel or playoffs. PE teachers introduce teams to students, and coaches use TeamSnap to communicate schedules and updates to families.

Senior School clubs are typically led by Grade 11 and 12 students and may include debate, business, French, chess, board game, crochet, and other interest-based groups. Information about clubs is shared through ManageBac, SALT, social media, the clubs bulletin board, and the weekly parent newsletter.

Student routines and campus procedures

Parents receive class allocations and general (grade-level) timetables through ManageBac on the Thursday before school starts. Students also receive a printed individual timetable on the first day of school.

Students are assigned both a locker and a lock. These remain WRCA property and must be treated respectfully. Lockers and locks are distributed on the second day of school, so students should avoid bringing all of their supplies on the first day. New Grade 7-11 students should bring only their laptop for first-day orientation; it will be kept in a safe place until needed.

Students in Grades 8-12 may leave campus at lunch only after their parent or guardian has completed the Off-Campus waiver form, which is distributed at the start of the year. Off-campus lunch privileges begin on Monday, Sep 21, 2026. Students must sign out and sign back in at the office every time they leave and return.

Students who plan to drive to school must register their vehicle and park in the underground parkade rather than the main lot. WRCA charges a $50 deposit for a parking fob. The deposit is returned when the fob is returned. If a fob is lost, a new $50 deposit is required.

Course planning and academic support

Grade 10 is an important planning year because many course credits are required for the B.C. Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). At the end of Grade 10, students choose their Grade 11 and 12 courses. WRCA is committed to helping students reach their goals through a variety of graduation pathways.

Families who would like more information about course planning, graduation pathways, or senior course selection can visit the Pathways to Graduation webpage or contact Mrs. Perrin, Academic Counsellor, at perrinm@wrca.ca.

Senior School device requirements

WRCA uses a Bring Your Own Device model for Grades 6-12. Students need a laptop that can support regular classroom learning, research, digital creation, and assignment management.

Minimum device requirements include:

Ability to connect to Wi-Fi
Weighs under 4 lbs.
Battery life of at least 6 hours per charge
A full keyboard
A screen size of at least 10 inches diagonally
A mouse for Grade 6-10 design classes

Families should consider the student’s age when choosing a device. Grade 6 students usually benefit from a smaller, lighter, and less expensive laptop with as few detachable accessories as possible. Grade 11-12 students may want a device that can continue into post-secondary use. Personal preference can also matter if it helps a student take greater ownership of the device and care for it well.

Do not buy an iPad as your child’s primary school device. iPads and similar tablets do not run required programs effectively for courses such as Design, and they are less useful for everyday school tasks such as word processing and ManageBac. In Grades 11-12, a tablet may be a helpful supplement to a laptop, but it should not replace one.

Please note that if you purchase a MacBook and enable parental controls, your child may be unable to connect to school Wi-Fi.

WRCA provides student licensing for several software products, so families do not need to purchase these separately when buying a device:

Office 365: Students in Grades 6-12 can install Microsoft Office on up to five personal devices. This currently includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, and Outlook.

Adobe Creative Cloud: Students in Grades 6-12 receive access to the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite and may install it on up to two personal devices.

Tuition & Fees Important Dates / School Calendar & Hours Uniforms School Supplies