E-NEWS Spotlight on Learning

Important Upcoming Dates

• Mar 17 - No School for Students all day (P/T/S Conferences & P.D.)
• Mar 22 - School Council Meeting 3:30 pm at BES
• Mar 24 - BES is recognizing Purple Day (Mar 26) - wear purple to show support for those living with or affected by epilepsy

Purple Day
Did you know 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime? Purple day for epilepsy was created to raise awareness and show support for those living with and affected by this disease. Show your support on March 26 by wearing purple of any kind! Banff Elementary School will recognize Purple Day on Friday March 24 - wear purple to show your support. Check out this video to learn more about epilepsy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EElPknTQb4

2023-2024 Lunch Program Needs You
Thank you to Susan and Chris for all their hard work setting up and maintaining the BES Lunch Program over the last few years, along with the weekly volunteers that deliver/pick up and serve the food. The Lunch Program, supported by School Council, requires a new team of volunteers to coordinate the program for the 2023-2024 school year. We need you to fill one of these positions by the end of May to ensure the Lunch Program continues next school year and that training is available:

1 or 2 Organizers (to share the duties) - setting up the lunch session twice a year (contacting vendors for dates, menu items and calculating orders), coordinating the setup of the Munchalunch online system, food delivery, clean up, as well as liaison with other Lunch Program volunteers, School Council & BES Admin.

1 Volunteer Coordinator - recruit, train & coordinate the lunch servers as well as find replacements when required.

1 Computer Savvy Person - to manage our MunchaLunch online system (very simple & user friendly). It requires approximately 2-3 hours of time with each lunch session (twice a year).

We will also need parent volunteers to serve the lunch for about 25 - 50 minutes over the lunch hour (siblings are welcome), along with volunteers to pick up items from the vendors when required. 

Please contact Susan Hughes shughes2014@outlook.com or Chris Lamothe chrislamothe@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.
   

Important Dates
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar

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 an annual 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 Now Overdue
Banff Elementary School fees are available on PowerSchool Parent Portal and are now overdue. As per Canadian Rockies School Division’s Administrative Procedure 503, payment for school fees is due 30 days after invoicing. Please contact the school office to make payment arrangements if payment has not been made at this time.

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. This is one more way Canadian Rockies School Division is here to help support not only your child, but also your family.

Right From The Start
Ms. Jenniex is now sending home monthly updates for each classroom! To check out what other classes are doing, or to read prior months' updates, go here: BES RFTS Monthly Updates. For information on Right from the Start at Banff Elementary School or to contact me directly, please email megan.jenniex@crps.ca.

Town of Banff Children & Youth Programs
The Out-of-School Club (OSC) is a licensed childcare program offering care for school aged children, September to June. With a focus on child-led play, exploration and natural curiosity, OSC aims to connect children through indoor and outdoor programming. The OSC program hours compliment the Canadian Rockies Public School calendar- providing care during the after school hours, PD days, parent/teacher interviews, the staggered kindergarten entry and school breaks. For details and how to register, visit www.banff.ca/kids.

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. Please like us on Facebook and follow BES on Instagram @banffelementaryschool for news and reminders.

Canadian Rockies Public Schools
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. Please click here for the CRPS Board Meeting Calendar, Agendas and Highlights.

Do you have a spare bedroom? Become a host family for our International Student Program! We are looking for 5 or 10 month commitments (and for temporary host families over April Spring Break, 2023). Remuneration is provided. Follow this link to find out more!