E-NEWS Spotlight on Learning

Our Kindies and Grades 7/8 mingled together to work on some math measurement activities outside.

Our Kindy students are learning how to program commands for directions to the bee-bot.

Our Grade 3 students are very excited to ski at Norquay as part of their Outdoor Pursuit Program. Special thanks to the PAUW Foundation for help in making this happen!

Important Upcoming Dates

• March 11 - Hot Lunch ordering closes
• March 11 - P/T/S booking system closes at 4:00 pm
• March 16 & 17 - Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences - evening
• March 18 - Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences - morning (no classes for students)
• March 18 - Professional Development - afternoon (no classes for students)
• March 23 - CRPS Public Board Meeting 7:00 pm
• March 25 - Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness Did you know that more people have epilepsy than those who have Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and Cerebral Palsy combined? 1 in 26 will be affected by epilepsy and there are over 65 million people living with epilepsy worldwide.Purple day for Epilepsy Awareness is a grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness  worldwide. Purple day is March 26, but BES is recognizing this day on March 25 (Friday). Please wear anything purple in support of raising awareness for everyone who is affected by epilepsy. 

Hot Lunch Program
School Council is thrilled to announce that our Hot Lunch Program will start again on March 17. This lunch session will run from March 17 - June 16 and the order deadline for the entire lunch session is today, Friday March 11. We will be using the MunchaLunch ordering system and once the system is closed we cannot add additional orders. Please click here for more information and the order system link. 

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences - booking system closes at 4pm today

March 16 Evening conferences 4:00 - 7:00 pm - regular classes during the day 

March 17 Evening conferences 5:00 - 8:00 pm - regular classes during the day

March 18 Morning conferences 8:30 - 11:45 am and P.D. in the afternoon
- no school for students

For our March P/T/S Conferences, you will have a choice of a 15 minute telephone meeting, virtual meeting or in-person meeting. Appointments for parents and students to meet with teachers can be booked online at https://banff.schoolappointments.com. You can also book appointments with our Music teacher, Ms. Gadon, using this system. You can use the account you created for the November P/T/S Conferences or if you require a new account please click the REGISTER tab on the menu bar. This system is now open and appointments can be booked until 4 pm on Friday, March 11. After March 11 the online booking system will be closed - parents will be required to email their child's homeroom teacher directly to change or cancel an appointment. Please click here for further instructions on using our School Appointments booking system if needed.

For an appointment with our Principal, Nadine Trottier, please email her directly at nadine.trottier@crps.ca. You can also make appointments with our School and Family Wellness Worker, Ashley Butenschon, by emailing her at ashley.butenschon@crps.ca. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

Lost and Found
The number of items in our Lost & Found has been growing again. Please ask your child to check out the lost & found tables. Please feel free to come by and check for lost items, especially if you’ll be in the school for P/T/S Conferences next week.

Alberta Education Assurance Survey
By March 25 you may receive information from Alberta Education regarding an annual Education Survey. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey, it helps us in our ongoing effort to plan, design and implement strategies to make our school community better. If you need the survey to be translated in another language or have any questions, please contact our principal at nadine.trottier@crps.ca.

Town of Banff Children & Youth Programs
The Town of Banff offers a variety of programs for children and youth, including Out of School Care and Spring Break programs.
April 4-8 & 11-14 Into the Wild Nature and Forest Play Camp $42 daily *Banff Access cardholder discounts available. Spring Break Camp participants will meet in the Banff Recreation Grounds at the Rundle Cabin. Drop-off is between 12:00 – 12:30 pm. Pick up is between 5:00 – 5:45pm. This is a play-based, child-led outdoor program. All curriculum is emergent, dynamic, and driven by your child’s interests. Special attention in programming is given to the change of seasons and the unique flora and fauna of Banff National Park. This week-long camp features an Indigenous-led tour, forest bathing, shelter-building and a nature walk with a local interpretive guide! Children (K-grade 5) will also enjoy plenty of opportunities to immerse themselves in rich, sensory-based experiences in the woods, imaginative play, singing, crafts and tinkering. For more information or to register your child, please call 403 762-1251 or visit https://banff.ca/195/Children-Youth. 

2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration
Please follow this link to view important information regarding 2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration.

CRPS Public Board Meeting Highlights
Please follow the link to view the Board Highlights from the February 23, 2022 Public School Board Meeting.

News from the Office

Volunteering
Banff Elementary School loves and greatly appreciates our volunteers! We require all volunteers who help in the school or on field trips to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check through the RCMP and sign a Confidentiality Contract as per Canadian Rockies Public Schools’ Administrative Procedure 490 - School Volunteers and FOIPP. Prior to volunteering, please email your legal name to the school office at bes.info@crps.ca to request an RCMP Fee Waiver Letter and we will email you back the letter, required forms and instructions. Often Vulnerable Sector Checks can be completed by the RCMP within 24 hours. Please click here for more information on volunteering opportunities.

School Fees
Banff Elementary School fees are available on PowerSchool Parent Portal and are now due. Debit or credit card payments can be made online through your Parent Portal. If you are unable to make full payment at this time please contact Joanne Geyer at joanne.geyer@crps.ca to make payment arrangements. Please click here for instructions on how to make a payment using PowerSchool Parent Portal.

School Events Calendar
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar

School and Family Wellness Worker
Ashley Butenschon is here to help support families and students with their social and emotional well-being. Please contact her at 403-762-4465 ext 6089. One more way Canadian Rockies School Division is here to help support not only your child, but also your family.

Right from the Start
Right from the Start have been busy talking about kindness, friendship, and healthy relationships. All of those things are important for safe and caring communities! BES Success Coaches can be reached by emailing Megan.Jenniex@crps.ca or Michelle.Skingle@crps.ca. You can also check out our website for resources or find us on social media.

Settlement Services
Settlement Services provides Permanent Residents of Canada, Live-In Caregivers and Refugees with the support they need to settle in the Bow Valley.  Please click the link for the Settlement Services March Newsletter.  More information about Settlement Services and a calendar of events is available at: www.banff.ca/settlement or follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/settlement.services.in.the.bow.valley.

You can also check out our School Announcements here (this is updated frequently) for more information - see info on a FREE Glee Club Class and The Basement schedule. Please like us on Facebook for news and reminders.

Please follow CRPS on Facebook, and Follow/Tag us on Twitter, so you can stay up-to-date on all CRPS school related issues, updates and information.