Principal’s Post Welcome back to a new school year! It was wonderful seeing so many smiling faces on our first day! There has been lots of energy and excitement as we visited classrooms and welcomed our students back. We have a great year of learning ahead for our students and staff. Priority areas this year will focus on health and wellness, student and staff engagement in learning, student supports, and literacy/numeracy. We will also look to seek out meaningful ways to engage families in our school community.
We would like to welcome some new staff to BES this year. Ms. Mayne will be teaching Grade 5, Mr. Higginbottom will be teaching Grade 8, Ms. Nicholson is our new School and Family Wellness worker, and Ms. Tamberg is a new Educational Assistant. We know they will love being a part of the BES community.
I would like to thank everyone for welcoming me to this incredible school. I look forward to getting to know all of our students and families this year!
Spotlight on Learning Team building activities for students on their first day of Grade 6! When asked what skills were required to complete the cup stacking challenge they replied, “teamwork, communication, participation, and patience”.
This week in French, we created les cartes postales (postcards) and presented them to our classmates. Oral language will be a huge focus this year, and I am so proud of the students for taking a risk to speak a new language in front of an audience! Students were expected to write and speak trois phrases (three sentences) in Frenglish- a mix of familiar French words and phrases, and English. A round of applause for our French learners!
To introduce Grade 7 Social Studies, which focuses on Canadian history, students attempt to create a current map of Canada from memory!! There is a buzz and some chuckles in the room as students attempt to remember provinces, territories, capital cities, major bodies of water, and oceans! Let’s see who will make the best map!!
Grade 3s working on patterns and spatial reasoning with a Math thinking challenge.
Grade 3 students are already busy engaging in mathematical thinking tasks sparking curiosity and discussion. These tasks create an environment where students can explore, collaborate, and develop critical math skills. Our Grade 3s jumped right in and began to take ownership of their education!
We hope everyone is settling in and is enjoying the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
If you didn’t get a chance to read the 2024-2025 Back to School letter shared last week, please click here to review as there was lots of important information shared in this letter.
Important Upcoming Dates
Aug 31 - Full day of school
Sep 2 - Labour Day - School Closed
Sep 12 - BES Open House 3:15 - 4:30 pm
Sep 12 - School Picture Day (Individual & Class Photos)
2024-2025 Annual Demographic Update/Permissions & Consents Thank you to those who have already completed the online 2024-2025 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 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.
Picture Day School picture day is on Thursday September 12, 2024 for both individual and class photos.
Important Dates Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar andclick here for the 2024-2025 Learning Calendars.
September 2
Labour Day - School Closed
September 12
Open House 3:15-4:30 pm
September 12
Picture Day (Individual & Class Photos)
September 18
First School Council Meeting 3:30 pm at BES
September 20
Terry Fox School Run
September 20
Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes )
September 27
Orange Shirt Day - please wear orange
September 30
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - School Closed
October 4
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 Vulnerable Sector 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 Vulnerable Sector 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.
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 August 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!
