Whistle Bend Elementary
Whistle Bend Elementary School is a new Kindergarten to Grade 7 school located at 33 Olive May Way in Whitehorse and designed for up to 425 students. The new school will be ready to welcome students in August 2024.
Learn about school enrolment
Every school in the Yukon has a specific attendance area. A student’s home address determines their attendance area. We expect students to attend a school in the attendance area of their primary home address.
The attendance area for Whistle Bend Elementary School includes the neighbourhoods of:
- Whistle Bend; and
- Takhini (north of the softball fields).
Look at the maps for attendance areas.
Enrolment for kindergarten
If your child will be 5 years old by December 31, 2024, they can start kindergarten in August 2024. In the Yukon, kindergarten is optional. Your child can start school in Grade 1 if you prefer. We recommend kindergarten. It helps a lot with your child's early learning.
Kindergarten registration is now open for all Whitehorse schools.
Enrolment for grades 1 to 7
All families in the Whistle Bend Elementary School attendance area have been sent an individual enrolment letter. If you did not receive a personalized letter, please contact us. Families with children attending a school board will not receive a letter, as their current school enrolment will not change.
Automatic enrolment for grades 1 to 5
Students entering grades 1 to 5 in August 2024 with a primary address in the Whistle Bend Elementary School attendance area will be automatically enrolled at the new school unless they are currently enrolled in a program of choice (see “Exemption for programs of choice” below).
Exemption for programs of choice
Students currently enrolled in a program of choice (French Immersion, Catholic Education, Aurora Virtual School, or a school operated by a school board) are exempt from automatic enrolment at Whistle Bend Elementary School.
Exemption for grades 6 to 7
Students entering grades 6 or 7 in August 2024 are exempt from automatic enrolment at Whistle Bend Elementary School.
Out-of-area transfers
To apply for an out-of-area transfer
- Contact the superintendent, Trevor Ratcliff by emailing trevor.ratcliff@yukon.ca or phone 867-667-5180.
- Submit an out-of-area transfer application form before May 1, 2024.
Transfer applications are considered for exceptional circumstances, and are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. There is no guarantee that a request will be approved.
Enrolment for students new to the attendance area
If your family is newly moving to the Whistle Bend Elementary School attendance area from outside of the Yukon, you must register for school online at Yukon.ca/register-child-school.
If your family has moved to the Whistle Bend Elementary School attendance area from within the Yukon and you have not received a letter from the Department of Education about enrolment for your child, contact them before May 1, 2024 to update the address information on your child’s file.
You can contact the Department of Education:
- by email at publicschools@yukon.ca;
- by telephone at 867-471-0899; or
- in-person at 1000 Lewes Boulevard in Whitehorse from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
School staffing
With the support of the Whistle Bend Elementary School Council, the Department of Education has hired Principal Jeff Cressman to lead the school administration. Mr. Cressman has been working in Yukon schools since 2007. Mr. Cressman looks forward to being part of building a school culture and welcoming the new school community.
Currently, Principal Cressman is working with the Department of Education to hire the rest of the school staff, based on projected enrolment for opening the school.
School council
On September 11, 2022, 5 candidates were nominated and elected by acclamation to form the Whistle Bend Elementary School Council.
As school planning continues, the school council will engage with their community to understand local priorities, values and expectations. You can email them at: wbesschoolcouncil@gmail.com
The next school council election is scheduled for May 2024.
Whistle Bend Elementary School Council meeting minutes:
- September 11, 2023 (Annual general meeting)
- May 8, 2023
- April 17, 2023
- March 6, 2023
- February 13, 2023
- February 6, 2023
- January 9, 2023
Design and construction
Whistle Bend Elementary School is the 1st new elementary school to be built in Whitehorse in more than 20 years. Construction began in late 2021.
The school incorporates modern educational practices and technology to prepare students for their futures. Kobayashi + Zedda Architects (KZA) designed the building. They’re an architecture and planning firm based in Whitehorse.
The school is being built by Ketza Construction Corporation. They’re a Yukon company with more than 50 years of construction experience.
School features
Whistle Bend Elementary School is an energy-efficient, 4,360 square metre (46,900 square feet), 2-story building. Its windows and skylights let in lots of natural light.
The new school also features:
- cultural spaces;
- shared learning spaces;
- specialized education rooms;
- a library;
- administrative spaces;
- classrooms;
- bus and student drop-off areas;
- vehicle and bicycle parking areas;
- outdoor student and learning areas;
- a playing field;
- playgrounds that contain a mix of open and native woodland; and
- solar power.
See the school campus.
While construction continues, staff from the Department of Education attended a site visit in September 2023, hosted by Ketza Construction Corporation. We have included some photos and information for families below.
Each Grade 1 to 7 classroom features built-in cubbies and storage, a sink, an exterior door and windows for natural light, in-floor heating, and a mounted whiteboard.
(photo by Government of Yukon, September 2023)
The shared learning spaces connect to 3 or 4 classrooms and will feature a variety of furniture to accommodate groups of varying sizes.
(photo by Government of Yukon, September 2023)
All learning spaces are located on the lower level of the school, as shown in this floor plan. There are also washrooms, gymnasiums, and teacher collaboration spaces on the lower level. Both stairs and an accessible elevator connect the 2 levels of the school.
(image by Government of Yukon, September 2023)
The smaller, upper level of the school includes spaces for administration activities, advisory and counselling activities, sensory activities and regulation, and accessible washrooms.
(image by Government of Yukon, September 2023)
Contact
If you have questions about the new elementary school email publicschools@yukon.ca or phone 867-667-5068 (toll-free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5127).