E-NEWS & Principal's Post

It has been a great week here at BES! Everyone is settling into their new routines and adjusting to classroom and school expectations. We have been reviewing the CUBS code with our students and working hard to ensure that everyone is being safe and respectful in the classrooms, hallways, shared spaces and outside at recess. We also spent some time in our grade 7 and 8 classes reviewing the expectations for when they are off site and in our community at lunch hour. We expect them to be on their best behaviour while being offsite and in our beautiful community!
We have a busy week coming up at BES! Photo day is on September 11 and students will be getting individual and class photos taken. We will also be hosting our Open House after school on that day. It is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and to connect with other families and friends! We hope you can join us. 

We are in the planning stages for our upcoming Terry Fox Run/Walk. We will be hosting our assembly at 9:30 am in the BES gym and will then head out for our run/walk. Our students in Gr. 1 - 3 will do their run/walk on the Elk Field while our grade 4 - 8 classes will run along the river on the pathways. Please join us for this wonderful event! We encourage everyone to donate a Toonie for Terry! You can donate here: Terry Fox School Run - Banff Elementary School Fundraising Page: https://schools.terryfox.ca/BanffElementary 

We would like to send out a special thank you to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for donating a one hour voucher for complimentary bowling at Bowl Valley for each student. These vouchers will be sent home with students by the end of the week. We appreciate them reaching out and providing this opportunity for our community to engage in a fun, family friendly activity here in Banff! 

Spotlight on Learning
Grade 3 Spotlight
As we welcomed our Grade 3 students back and settled into school routines, we focused on building connections and fostering positive relationships which included many "get to know you" activities. In a recent thinking task, both Grade 3 classes combined to collaborate and explore the value of the letters in their names using addition in different ways. This engaging activity encouraged problem-solving and effective communication, empowering them to develop critical thinking skills while working together as a team.

Grade 7 Spotlight
Our Grade 7 STEM challenge was a powerful, hands-on learning experience. By building popsicle stick catapults, students used the scientific method in real-time, iteratively testing, analyzing, and refining their designs to hit the target. This process sharpened their critical thinking and engineering skills in a tangible and exciting way. Beyond the academics, the challenge was a fantastic exercise in teamwork. Students learned to collaborate effectively, communicating their ideas and merging different perspectives to create a functional design. They built resilience by working through frustrations and design failures together, learning to problem-solve as a group and celebrating their shared successes.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Sep 11 - BES Open House 3:15 - 4:15 pm
• Sep 11 - School Picture Day (Individual & Class Photos) 
• Sep 19 - Terry Fox School Run - Banff Elementary School Fundraising Page: https://schools.terryfox.ca/BanffElementary
• Sep 19 - Staff Professional Learning 12:05 pm dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes)

BES Open House
We are excited to welcome all families to our Open House on Thursday September 11! Please drop by between 3:15 and 4:15 pm to visit your child’s classroom and meet their teacher. We will also have some displays in the Den from Right From The Start and the Town of Banff. Be sure to pop by and get some information about the programs and services they offer. We look forward to seeing you! 

2025-2026 Annual Demographic Update/Permissions & Consents
Thank you to those who have already completed the online 2025-2026 Annual Demographic Update. If you have not already completed the update, please log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and click on SchoolEngage on the left side bar at the bottom. Once you have signed in to your SchoolEngage account, click on the bell at the top right hand corner. You will see the incomplete forms in blue. This is the place to give permission for walking field trips, which start immediately, along with permission for Grades 7 & 8 students only to leave the school grounds at lunch. Please contact the school office if you have any questions.

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 2 and registration is required each year. It is available between 7:45 - 8:15 am. Please click here to request before school care during the 2025-2026 school year. You will be contacted to confirm your registration in this program. Students who arrive at 8:15 do not need to register for the Before School Care Program.

Picture Day
School picture day is on Thursday September 11, 2025 for both individual and class photos.

Important Dates
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar and click here for the 2025-2026 Learning Calendars.

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 and FOIPP. 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 fourth year, the CRPS board has decided not to charge lunchroom supervision fees for the 2025-2026 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.

School and Family Wellness Worker
Emily Nicholson, our 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
Hello BES families! I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Right from the Start (RFTS) Coordinator here at BES. My name is Michelle Masniak, and I’m thrilled to be working with all of you and your children this year. I will be visiting classrooms starting next week, supporting teachers and students as part of the Right from the Start program. If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at michelle.masniak@crps.ca. Stay tuned for regular updates and news from your child’s homeroom teacher throughout the year, where you’ll learn more about what we’re up to in 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 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 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, 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!