Mr. Westra's Classes
Thorhild Central School
Thorhild Central School
Welcome to my classes
Everything you need to know about each class can be found here, plus some extra stuff
A Little About Me
Although I lived in Calgary until I was eight, my family moved to a farm 25 miles NE of Edmonton, where I went to grades 3-9 in Gibbons, and 10-12 at Sturgeon Composite High School in Namao. Upon high school graduation in 1982, I went to the University of Alberta for one year in the Engineering program, and then most of two years at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Eventually I went back to school (in 2001), and graduated in 2003 with a B.Ed from the University of Saskatchewan.
Between 1985 and 2001, I worked. For two years I was the Front-End Manager at Champion Feeds in Westlock, AB., responsible for the buying and selling of everything that was not feed related. In 1987, I became a partner in Westralia Farms. We milked 60 cows three times per day, ran a 200 head cow/calf operation, and farmed approximately 4500 acres of predominately feed grains and oilseeds. During this time I sat on many community boards, as well as volunteered in a variety of community clubs.
Farming has given me a wide-range of experiences that I have been able to incorporate into my teaching. I have built my own house, and many out buildings. I have built and/or modified equipment that was used in our business. It was necessary to become competent in accounting practices, as well as soil science/management and much more in order to be successful in the farming business.
I left farming in 2001 to return to school. I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2003, which was the year many teachers in Alberta were laid off. Thus, the only employment I could obtain was in Beechy, SK., where I worked for two years. After subsequently teaching for one year at Ashmont Secondary in Ashmont AB., I moved to Calgary with my two children, where I was the Chair of Mathematics and Science at Calgary Christian School. In December, 2013, I received my Masters in Education degree from the University of Calgary.
In the fall of 2015, I decided to take on a new challenge, and moved to Chilliwack, BC, to teach at Unity Christian School, where I was employed teaching Grades 9-12 Math, Science, Chemistry, and Physics. However, after only one year is was clear to me that I had moved too far from my family so I returned to Alberta in 2016. I taught part-time for a couple of months in an Elementary grade five class before obtaining a full time position at the Morinville Learning Centre where I was employed as the Math and Science Teacher as well as the Technology Specialist.
At Thorhild Central School I am a high school math and science teacher, as well as junior and senior high building construction.
Family is very important to me. My parents and brother and his wife live just North of Gibbons
I have one daughter, Megan (26), one son, Curtis (23). Megan has a B.Sc. in Anthropology, and is an internal auditor for an automobile company. Curtis went to the States and played volleyball for a couple of years and currently works for Mr. Lube.
My 2019-2020 Semester 2 Schedule