E-NEWS and Principal's Post

It was wonderful seeing all of your smiling faces and energetic bodies on our first day back! We're thrilled to welcome both our returning students and our newest CUBS (kindergarten students). We can’t wait for them to officially join us on Friday!

Our Welcome Back assembly on Wednesday was a huge success. We introduced our newest staff members:

• Jill Young (Grade 1)
• Rachel Dueck (Grade 5)
• Megan Iskauskas (Education Assistant)
• Michelle Masniak (Right From The Start)

We also want to give a warm welcome back to all of our returning staff!

During the assembly, we shared the new CRPS Land Acknowledgement video, created in collaboration with the CRPS Knowledge Keepers as part of the G7 Summit Legacy Project. You can watch this beautiful video here: CRPS Land Acknowledgement.

We were also fortunate to have two incredible groups from the Banff International String Quartet Competition perform for us: the Bow River Quartet from Calgary and the Peak Quintet from Vancouver. A huge thank you to Ms. Schaufele, a BES parent and the Artistic Advisor for the program, for helping arrange this special performance.

Save the Date!!! We will be hosting our BES Open House on September 11 from 3:15 - 4:15pm.  We hope you can drop by for a visit to meet your teacher and visit your child’s classroom.

We hope everyone is settling in and is enjoying the start of the 2025-2026 school year. If you didn’t get a chance to read the 2025-2026 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 29 - Full day of school (no Kindergarten classes on Fridays until November 14)
• Sep 1 - Labour Day - School Closed
• Sep 11 - BES Open House 3:15 - 4:15 pm
• Sep 11 - School Picture Day (Individual & Class Photos) 

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 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 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!