Principal’s Post Tomorrow we will be commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by participating in Orange Shirt Day and hosting a short assembly for our students. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools and to promote the concept that Every Child Matters.
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. There is no school for students on Monday. The Town of Banff has some wonderful information on their site about this day and a number of activities that will be held during the day. Hopefully you are able to participate in one of these with your family. You can find more information here: Town of Banff - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
If you would like to learn more about Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation, we encourage you to watch these videos with your family:
A big thank you to all our families for their generous donations for our Terry Fox Run! To date, we have raised $695. If you would still like to donate, you can visit BES Terry Fox Donation Page.
Spotlight on Learning Grade 8 Spotlight The Grade 8s were very fortunate to partner up with the Elbow River Watershed and experience an incredible day exploring the Bow River from upstream of Banff to downstream of Canmore. The day was deeply tied to the Grade 8 science curriculum, as students learned about the impacts of humans, landforms and other factors on our watershed, both locally and farther downstream. The day was packed with science as students tested the pH, oxygen levels, turbidity, nitrate and phosphate concentrations, and sampled invertebrates. Students walked away with mostly dry feet, an appreciation for our local watershed, and a wealth of knowledge gained.
Important Upcoming Dates
Sep 27 - Orange Shirt Day and Assembly at 1:15 pm
Sep 30 - National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - School Closed
Oct 4 - Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes)
Picture Day Proofs Picture Day proofs have been sent home for those students that had their pictures taken on September 12. We are requesting that families place their picture orders online at mylifetouch.ca. There are more choices and savings online, and this reduces paper handling. Place your orders by October 2, 2024 to take advantage of free shipping. Picture retakes will be on November 5, 2024. Students that missed picture day can also have their picture taken this day.
Circle of Support (formerly Rainbows Program) at BES Once again the Circle of Support: Family Changes Group (formerly Rainbows Program) will be offered at Banff Elementary School. Circle of Support is a group for children and youth that helps them to cope with life changes and losses in their life, such as separation or divorce of caregivers, family illness/injury or the loss of a loved one. The goal of the group is to assist children in expressing and understanding their feelings, accepting what has happened, normalizing grief and loss, and experiencing a sense of belonging in an accepting, non-judgmental environment. As a result of attending the program, participants have reported many positive changes, including significant improvements in well-being, coping skills, problem solving, understanding feelings, self-esteem, and communication skills. Students will meet in groups during non-instructional time within their school day, once per week for six weeks, and use creative ways such as art, games, discussion, and journaling to explore different topics. If you feel that your child(ren) could benefit from the Circle of Support group, please email Katie Barton at katie.barton@banff.ca. Students who participated in Rainbows last year are more than welcome to join this year. If you have any questions about the program or are not sure if Circle of Support is the right fit for your child, please feel free to contact Katie. The anticipated start date for the program is October 16.
Lunch Program School Council is thrilled to announce that our Lunch Program will run again on Thursdays. Please watch your email next week for ordering details. We are in need of volunteers. Please contact Lily Reid at lilyreid@ymail.com or sign up using the volunteer link when you place your order.
Important Dates Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar andclick here for the 2024-2025 Learning Calendars.
September 27
Orange Shirt Day - please wear orange - Assembly at 1:15pm
September 30
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - School Closed
October 4
Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes)
October 14
Thanksgiving Day - School Closed
October 18
Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes )
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 Criminal Record Check through the RCMP and sign a Confidentiality Contract as per Canadian Rockies Public Schools’Administrative Procedure 490 - School Volunteers andFOIPP. RCMP checks expire one year from the issue date. 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 Criminal Record Checks can be completed by the RCMP within 24 hours. Please click here for more information on volunteering opportunities.
School Fees For the third year, the CRPS board has decided not to charge lunchroom supervision fees for the 2024-2025 school year, reflecting our division's commitment to easing family financial pressures. Complimentary course fees (Grade 7 & 8) and incidental fees will be added to your Parent Portal account as required.
Before School Care Before School Care is being offered at no cost to families in need of childcare before school to enable parents to get to work on time. Before School Care will commence Tuesday September 3, 2024 and registration is required each year. It is available between 7:45 - 8:15 am. Please click here to register your child. Students who arrive at 8:15 do not need to register for the Before School Care Program.
School and Family Wellness Worker Emily Nicholson, our new School and Family Wellness Worker, 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 Welcome back BES families! We are so excited to have you here! Ms. Jenniex, with Right from the Start, will start visiting all the classrooms next week. If you have any questions about Right from the Start, please feel free to reach out to megan.jenniex@crps.ca. Watch for RFTS newsletter updates from your child(ren)’s homeroom teachers throughout the year to see what is happening with RFTS!
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 September Newsletter. More information about Settlement Services and a calendar of events is available at: www.banff.ca/settlement or follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSBV.CCBV/.
You can also check out our School Announcementshere (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, Follow/Tag us on Twitter and on Instagram 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. Remuneration is provided. Follow this link to find out more!
