Staff at BES had a wonderful professional learning afternoon on Friday last week. Our teachers were engaged in Building Thinking Classrooms activities. This involved staff working in groups on rich math problems. The big difference is that we were all working on vertical whiteboard surfaces. Although this may seem like a novel way to work, there is research that shows that engagement increases when working this way! We have seen some classes doing this already this year and students are really enjoying it!
We are thrilled to share that some of our students had a remarkable opportunity to participate in a student assessment panel at a recent Assessment Conference in Canmore. In front of an audience of over 300 teachers, these students spoke confidently about their experiences with assessment practices, offering valuable insights from a student’s perspective. Their participation not only showcased their communication and leadership skills but also gave teachers a unique opportunity to understand assessment through the eyes of students. We are incredibly proud of their contribution to such an important educational conversation! Spotlight on Learning Grade 2 Spotlight Gr. 2s have been busy exploring behaviours of light in science.
Grade 6 Spotlight Grade 6 students in Mr. Conniff’s class used critical thinking skills and collaboration to solve problems. Students work together on problems at vertical whiteboards which encourages collaboration and engagement!
6W has started weekly online public speaking lessons with SpeechDojo facilitated by a student from the University of Alberta. We will be learning about pacing, volume and other strategies to support our public speaking and presenting skills. Grade 6 has also been learning about the greenhouse effect and climate change as part of their new science curriculum. Lynx was discussing with us the results of our experiment related to greenhouse gases and the processes involved in scientific method.
French Spotlight This week in French we recognized the Canadian holiday taking place this weekend: l'action de grâce (Thanksgiving). We completed a task writing and drawing things we are thankful for, and then shared these with the entire class through a cercle de gratitude. Part of the French curriculum is recognizing and celebrating holidays around the world. Throughout the school year, if you would like to share a holiday, tradition, or day of recognition honoured in your family (through a very brief presentation) please email Mme. Jackie! jacqueline.robertson@crps.ca
Important Upcoming Dates
Oct 10 - Lunch Program Ordering Deadline 11:59 pm
Oct 14 - Thanksgiving Day School Closed
Oct 18 - Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes)
Lunch Program School Council is thrilled to announce that our Lunch Program will run again on Thursdays. Session one will run from October 17 - February 13 and ordering is now open and the order deadline for this entire lunch session is Thursday October 10 11:59 pm. Once the system is closed we cannot add additional orders.
Please note that our suppliers have advised that the following items are gluten free: The Curry House - Butter chicken and rice Banff Center - Chicken strips and chips Pho House - Fried rice, cucumber sushi rolls as a bonus Silver Drago n- Plain rice and stir fry veggies The Fairmont Banff Springs - sausage
This is a purely volunteer run program. We are in need of volunteers. Please contact Lily Reid (lilyreid@ymail.com) to volunteer or sign up using the Volunteer tab in the ordering system. Don't delay…order today by clicking here.
Special Gathering to Commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation All CRPS schools will be hosting a special assembly in October with our Knowledge Keepers and Eli Snow. This assembly will feature a grand entry, some history on truth and reconciliation, guided exercise on understanding residential schools, knowledge keeper sharing, and an explanation of jingle dancing. We will be hosting our assembly on October 17 from 1:30 - 2:30 pm - families are welcome.
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 (CTF) course fees for Grades 7 and 8 students have been added to your Parent Portal account and are due by October 31, 2024. You can pay school fees online and obtain a copy of your invoice through your Power School Parent Portal account. Once you sign on, under navigation, click on Student Fees. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office. 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.
Important Dates Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar andclick here for the 2024-2025 Learning Calendars.
October 10
Lunch Program Ordering Deadline 11:59 pm
October 14
Thanksgiving Day - School Closed
October 18
Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes )
October 25
P/T/S Conference booking system opens - watch for more details
November 1
Staff PD - 12:05 pm Dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes )
November 6 / 7
P/T/S Evening Conferences
November 8
P/T/S Morning Conferences
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.
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 October 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.
Homestay families needed in Banff, Canmore or Exshaw for international high school students (Grade 10-12) from Feb-June 2025 Do you have a spare bedroom? Become a host family for our International Student Program! Remuneration is provided. Follow this link to find out more!
