Meet the Teacher Night
Thursday, September 24 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Meet the Teacher Night will be held on Thursday, September 24 from 5:30–7:00 PM.
Families are welcome to visit teachers at their convenience throughout the evening. There are no scheduled appointment times, and the event will follow an open-house format.
Please have your child’s timetable available on MyCBE/PowerSchool to help you find their teachers throughout the evening.
Please note that this is not a Parent/Teacher Meeting to discuss your student’s progress. Please make an appointment separately or wait until parent/teacher conferences, which will occur on October 15 and 19. More details will follow closer to those dates.
Meet the Teacher Locations
- 5:30–6:00 PM: Administration and Student Services presentation in the Main Gym. Everyone is welcome, with the presentation geared more toward new Grade 10 students.
- First Floor: Math, Science, PE, Music/Band, Foods, Student Services
- Second Floor: ELA, Social Studies, EAL, Second Languages, Student Supports
- Lower Floor: Art, Beauty and Style Exploration, Construction, Computer Science, Business, Design Thinking for Innovation (DTFI)
- Mall: Outside agencies
JGD Music Parents Association Harvest 2026 Campaign
We are very pleased to announce that this year we will be running an exciting new fall fundraiser until October 6, 2026!
We have partnered with a distinguished Okanagan orchard to sell their delicious farm-fresh apples.
These are not just the ordinary apples we are used to getting in our grocery stores. This century-old family farm has won all kinds of major awards for its fruit. They won the prize for growing the best apples in Canada for eight straight years.
Because we’re sourcing them directly from the farm, you can buy them at below-grocery-store prices.
Plus, with each box sold, the JGD Music Parents Association will raise $8–$10. The funds raised are important for providing music program resources that enrich and enhance our students’ experiences in the band and choir programs at JGD.
Funds will go toward:
- Festival fees
- Bussing
- Scholarships
- And much more
Please also consider sharing this fundraiser with your nearby friends and family. Sales are open until October 6, 2026, with an estimated delivery date of October 21, 2026.
Everything is done online, so you won’t have to deal with collecting money or keeping records. All you need to do is share a link via email or text message.
JGD Music Parents Association Harvest 2026 Campaign
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We hope you will consider participating in this fundraiser. This is a fresh and healthy product of the highest quality and at a very good price that you can be proud of offering to your friends and family.
Thank you for your support,
John G. Diefenbaker Music Parents Association
Orange Shirt Day
On September 29, John G. Diefenbaker will be observing Orange Shirt Day as a school community.
It is an important time to reflect on the meaning of the orange shirt and to honour residential school survivors, remember the children who did not make it home, and recognize the lasting impacts of colonialism in Canada.
We urge all students to wear orange on this day.
Every Child Matters!
International Baccalaureate Exam Fees
Students registered in 30-level IB courses will write IB exams in May.
- Cost: $210 per exam
- Payment: PowerSchool or the Business Office
- Exam order deadline: October 30
- Exam fees are not refundable after October 30, as fees will be paid to the IB Organization.
- Chinese exam fees will be added later.
The Loran Scholarship
Calling all Grade 12s!
The Loran Scholarship is a comprehensive leadership-enriched program for students entering university for the first time.
There are 160 financial awards being offered for students entering university in fall 2027.
Interested? Visit the Loran Scholarship website or come see us in Student Services.
Application deadline: October 15
Student Parking
- Vehicles must have a JGD parking permit clearly visible at all times and hanging from the rear-view mirror.
- Vehicles must be parked in the student lot on the south side of JGD, next to Sir John A. MacDonald School.
- Parking permits are non-transferable.
- Yearly fee: $50
- Parking passes must be renewed at the beginning of each school year.
- Vehicles without a valid parking permit will be ticketed and potentially towed at the owner's expense.
- Administration reserves the right to suspend parking privileges for unsatisfactory attendance or behaviour.
- Limited quantity; first come, first served.
Calculator Rental at the Business Office
- Semester rental only
- Deposit fee: $50
- Upon return of the calculator at the end of the semester, the school will keep $20 for the rental fee and $30 will be credited back to the student's account.
- A $70 charge will apply for an unreturned calculator.
School Fees
Please log in to MyCBE to pay all school fees, including:
- Course fees
- Field trips
- Goods/services
- Yearbook
- Other school fees
You may also come directly to the Business Office to pay.
Student ID Cards
If you do not have a student ID card, please see Ms. Richards in the Learning Commons to have your photo taken.
- First card: Free
- Replacement card: $5, payable in the Business Office
SchoolEngage: Demographic Verification and Annual Authorization
Student demographic verification is required annually.
If you have not verified your demographic information for the 2026–27 school year, please log in to your SchoolEngage account and verify your student’s information.
Technical support and instructions are available through SchoolEngage.
Annual authorizations requiring parental consent are also required for the 2026–27 school year.
These include:
- CBE Use of Student Information: Outlines instances when student information may be shared publicly in day-to-day school work.
- Consent for Use of Student Information by News Media and Outside Groups (Third Party): Provides information about including students in media events where images may be recorded and used by third parties.
E-Scooters, Motorized Bicycles and Scooters
In accordance with City of Calgary bylaws, motorized scooters are not permitted on sidewalks or school property.
Therefore, we cannot encourage or be complicit in allowing students to ride motorized scooters or motorized bikes on school grounds.
Due to space limitations, we are also unable to store student scooters. Scooters, bikes and other conveyances can be locked to the bike racks by the main doors.
Bicycle Safety and Security
We are happy to see so many of our students riding bikes to school.
All youth under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet according to City of Calgary bylaws and the Alberta Traffic Safety Act.
Diefenbaker has a bike rack out front where students can store their bikes and scooters using a quality lock. We do not have the space or capacity to store student bikes inside.
Many students' bikes are quite nice and often expensive. Sadly, bike thefts occur even during school hours. A quality bike lock that comes with insurance is good prevention and a deterrent.
Diefenbaker High School and the Calgary Board of Education are not responsible for lost or stolen bikes or scooters.
Important Reminder: Vaping
Vaping at school is serious. It is not permitted on school property and may result in suspension or charges under provincial legislation.
We encourage families to speak with their children about the importance of making choices that help keep our school safe.
Parent and Guardian Notification: Use of Electronic Technology
At the Calgary Board of Education, we believe that thoughtfully chosen digital tools and resources enrich teaching and learning, support student engagement, and prepare students for success in an increasingly digital world.
Technology allows students to collaborate, create and access personalized learning opportunities in ways that extend beyond the classroom.
At the same time, we recognize the importance of protecting student personal information. All digital resources used in our schools must comply with the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and Administrative Regulation 1061: Responsible Care and Security of Information.
Before any digital tool or application is introduced, it is carefully vetted by the district to confirm:
- Its educational value for student learning
- Its compliance with the Alberta Protection of Privacy Act (POPA)
- Alignment with district policies, including AR1061
Families can be assured that the applications used in classrooms are appropriate for learning and meet privacy and security standards.
All schools review and post their specific Digital Citizenship plans annually on their website. These plans support students' digital competencies, including being:
- Respectful
- Informed
- Involved
- Balanced
- Responsible
- Safe
Please follow the link provided by the school for a list of websites and applications that may be used in your child's classroom.
Together, we are committed to ensuring both the educational benefit of technology and the privacy and safety of our students.
If you have questions about how your child's information is used or about specific applications, please contact Jason Arrell, Principal, John G. Diefenbaker High School.
Athletics & Events Schedule
Area | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In-School Events | |||||
After School | School Council Meeting — 6:00 PM | Meet the Teacher Evening — 5:30–7:00 PM | Non-Instructional Day — School closed for students | ||
Athletics / FACTS Events | Girls Soccer vs. FLHS — @ FLHS, 4:30 PM | JrG Volleyball vs. NTHS — @ NTHS, 5:00 PM SrG Volleyball vs. NTHS — @ NTHS, 6:30 PM | SrB Volleyball vs. LBBHS — @ Home, 5:00 PM | Cross Country Meet — @ Bowmont, 4:00 PM |
The Spotlight
The Spotlight is a place where we look forward to working with and showcasing all of our talented artists of Diefenbaker.
Above are some Artist Trading Cards created by our current Visual Art students.
We will have our first Lunchbox. Watch for announcements about our Lunchbox Showcases, happening at the end of each month.
Our Leadership in the Arts (LITA) class will continue every Thursday at lunch in the Art Room. If you are interested, please come and find out more.