Common Questions

Blue, White and Silver 

2. What time is recess and how long is it?

Recess is at 10:30am and lasts 15min. Grade 6s has recess on their own.

3. When is lunch and how long is it?

Grade 6 Lunch is at 12:15pm-12:45pm (30 minutes). The 7s and 8s have lunch at a different time.  

4. When do I get my locker?

You'll get your locker on the first day of school after we practice using the combination lock several times. 

5. Do we have to go outside at recess and lunch?

No, usually you can stay in the cafeteria. Sometimes the gym or some teacher's classrooms or the library may also be open.

6. Do we get needles in grade 6?

No, the school vaccination program happens in grade 7.

7. What sports are there?

WHMS Sports Opportunities

8. Are the teachers nice?

9. How many people are there?

10. Is middle school longer than elementary school?

Yes, it is, but with recess, lunch and homeroom time, you'll have lots of opportunities to stretch your legs.

11. Do we stay in the same room all day?

No, you have 2 main classrooms for your core subjects and you'll also see the music teacher in their room (Mrs. Ashley) and the Phys. Ed. Teacher (Mr. Ward) in the small gym. Some of you also visit the resource room or learning centre during the week.

12. What is the homework list?

The homework list is a list of students who have some work to catch up on. We have homework clubs or academic support during homeroom time for students to catch up on some work. You cannot play sports or go to the dances if you are on the homework list; however, your teachers always give you plenty of notice if you are on the list. 

If you are on the list, showing up for Academic Support is not optional. 

13. Are there dances?

Yes, there is usually a dance every month. Tickets are $7. There is also a canteen for snacks and drinks. You can also invite friends of the same age from other schools as long as they are in good standing (you will hear about the invitation process when it gets closer).

14. How long are the classes? 

Most classes are scheduled in 1-hour  or 1.5-hour blocks.  Sometimes a class might be a half hour, and sometimes you might have two math or ELA classes scheduled right after each other, but there is usually some time for a break in between.

15. What subjects will I have?

You will have English Language Arts, Math, Health, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, French, and ICT (Integrated Communication Technology). Some of you will also have some resources classes.

16. Do we stay with the same teacher all day?

No, you have at least 4 teachers.  Depending on your schedule, you might spend more time with one teacher in a day, but you'll always see at least 2 in one day.

17. Here is a sample grade 6 schedule. Times will be slightly different next year:

2022-2023 schedule Johnson - student 1.pdf

18. What can we do at recess and lunch?

You can go to the cafeteria or go outside. Outdoor sports equipment can be signed out for you to play with. In the cafeteria, there is a collection of board games and cards.  You can also spend time  hanging out quietly in the library when you see the door open! Some days some of your teachers may also allow you to stay in to catch up on work.

19. What can we buy in the cafeteria?

The cafeteria usually has many choices for snacks and lunches. You can preorder your lunches in the mornings, so you can use the express window for pick-up at lunch.

Here is a menu we used in 2020-2021.

20. What if I get lost?

There are lots of people here to help you find your way especially the first few weeks. You can always go to the guidance office or main office to get directions.  You can also ask anyone you see in the hall- students and staff at WHMS are very helpful!

21. What things do I need to bring?

Check out the Orientation Booklet on the homepage. Also view Mr. Ward's videos to find out about your gym gear.

22. What's the morning routine?

When you arrive at school, head to your locker to get organized for the morning. The Breakfast program starts at 8:35am every morning outside of Ms. Sampson's room if you need to get a snack. The cafeteria is also open for students to buy breakfast items or order their lunch.  Don't forget to see your teachers if you missed a day or if you need to catch up on some work.

At 8:50am the first bell will sound and you should head to your homeroom class. Here your teacher will do attendance and O'Canada will be played followed by school announcements then you are off to your first class (9:00am).

23. What are the rules? 

Check out the Saber school behaviour matrix.

The Orientation Handbook also has more specific rules and expectations in it.

24. What if I have a question over the summer?

Please visit this page to send us your question and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

25. How often is Phys Ed, and what gear do I need?

How Often is PE & What to Wear

26. How many students are in my house?


27. What supplies do I need?

Student supplies for the 2023-2024 school year are going to be purchased by the school.  The school fees  ($50) will cover those costs.  If your child wants a backpack, zipper binder, lunch bag, water bottle, gym clothes, etc., they are not covered in the fees and can be purchased by parents/guardians. 

28. Hungry?

We don't ever want you to go hungry. You can't concentrate on learning when you need food. We have a number of options for students to get food:

29.  Does every student get a Chromebook?

Yes, every student will have a Chromebook assigned to them; however, the Chromebooks are for in-school use only, so you don't get to take it home.

30. How do we get graded?

You may see comments and/or a 1, 1+, 2, 2+, 3, 3+, or 4 on your assignments. Students will get grades based on achievement levels. Check out this link for a description of the achievement levels.

31. Where can we see our grades.

You may be abe to see some grades in your Google Classroom but all grades for assignments get posted to the PowerSchool Parent & Student Portal. Please visit here for Parent Portal Set up instructions.

32. What bus do I take?

Here is a link to the Bus Planner Parent Portal. Don't worry! There will be lots of people helping you get on the right bus at the end of the day for the first few days.