E-NEWS and Principal's Podcast

The Principal’s Podcast
Please click this link for the Principal’s Podcast. Today's podcast is all about the Banff Schools Holiday Concert happening on the night of Wednesday December 13. Watch the podcast to find out all the details of the concert. It is sure to answer anything you were unsure of or questions you might have about this amazing event.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Dec 13 - Banff Schools Holiday Evening Concert at the Banff Centre 
• Dec 13 - Holiday Baking Fundraiser Order Forms Due
• Dec 15 - Staff PD pm - students dismissed at 12:05 pm (no Kindergarten classes
• Dec 20 - Christmas Assembly 2:00 pm BES Gym

Holiday Baking Fundraiser
BES Grade 8 students are baking cookies and will be selling them to raise money for our “Give What You Can, If You Can” campaign. Please click here for more details and the link to place your order by December 13.

Banff Schools Holiday Evening Concert
Banff Elementary School and the Banff Centre are thrilled to work together again this year to bring you the “Banff Schools Holiday Concert” at the Jenny Belzberg Theatre in the Banff Centre! BES and BCHS will be hosting two shows on the night of Wednesday, December 13. Show times: 5:00 - 6:00 pm and 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Students need to be dropped off at the Jenny Belzberg Theatre at 4:45 pm and picked up from the theatre lobby at 8:00 pm. Parent volunteers are always appreciated! Please contact the school office at bes.info@crps.ca if you can help or have questions about volunteering for this event. Please click here for more information, including the ticket links and the program schedule.

BES Student Council Food Drive
Let’s support our community by collecting the items most needed for our food bank. Items can be brought by students to their classrooms until December 13 - see below for items based on grade.

• Division 1 (K-3) - Toiletries & New Toys/Books/Games (toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant, soap, shampoo) 

• Division 2 (4-6) - Canned Food & New Toys/Books/Games (pasta, sauce, soup, canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetable, can opener)

• Division 3 (7-8) - Bulk Items/Dry Goods & New Toys/Books/Games (granola bars, cereal, oatmeal, sugar, rice, powdered milk) 

Give What You Can, If You Can Holiday Campaign/Supports
As the heart of the community, Banff Elementary School is always looking for ways to support our families and our community. As we are aware that community support is limited this year, BES is working to support as many of our families as we can this holiday season. From now until December 15th, we are holding a “Give What You Can, if You Can” Campaign. We are looking for donations of:

• Grocery gift cards 
• Monetary donations (cash, cheque made out to Banff Elementary School)
• New, unwrapped family board games (e.g. Uno, Snakes and Ladders, etc.)

Donations can be dropped off at the BES main office.

Could Your Family Benefit from Support this Holiday Season?
If you or someone you know may benefit from additional support this holiday season, please let us know by filling out this (confidential) form by December 18 BES Holiday Support Request Form. Support is not guaranteed, and is dependent upon donations received. For a list of community supports available this holiday season, please click here.

Holiday Spirit Week Dec 18-22
BES Grade 7/8 Student Council would like to invite all students, staff, and volunteers to participate in our Holiday Spirit Week from December 18th to 22nd, 2023. Please choose a couple of days or go all out and participate for the entire week. This is a great way to build school spirit and community before we all enjoy the December break. Student Council will also be leading and judging the annual Classroom Door Holiday Decorating Contest, helping with the Give What You Can, If You Can Holiday Campaign and hosting our in-school Holiday Assembly.  A huge thank you to School Council for providing funding to support these student-led initiatives.

• Monday, December 18 - Cozy Winter Footwear - Wear your warm and cozy slippers or festive socks!
• Tuesday, December 19- Winter Wonderland - Wear blue and white... maybe even some sparkles and snowflakes! 
• Wednesday, December 20- Holiday Cheer Headwear - Wear your antlers, elf hat or Santa hat!
• Thursday, December 21 -  Candy Cane and Peppermint Day - Wear red, white and green in your best stripes, plaids, checkers and polka dots!  
• Friday, December 22 - Pajama Day (morning only)

2023-2024 Caribou Kids Season Ski Pass Program
Banff school students will enjoy free skiing again this winter. Now in its 17th year, Banff Lodging Co and Banff Mount Norquay are happy to offer the Caribou Kids Season Pass program for students enrolled at Banff schools. Please click here for more information and the registration form. All payments and inquiries should be directed to Banff Mount Norquay.

Important Dates
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar and click here for the 2023-2024 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 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.

Before School Care
Juggling work and family can be challenging. Banff Elementary School would like to support families by offering before school care. This program starts at 7:45 am and students will play in the gym until 8:15 am - students please enter through the Den doors off of the Elk playground. This is a free service for BES families and registration is required - please click here.

School and Family Wellness Worker
Deanne Arada, 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
Interested in what’s going on at BES with Right from the Start? Ms. Jenniex has monthly newsletters for every grade! You can check them out here, BES RFTS Monthly Newsletter 23/24. Ms. Jenniex can also be contacted at Megan.jenniex@crps.ca if you have any questions or want to learn more about the program!

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 December 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!