E-NEWS & Principal's Post

The Principal’s Post
Welcome to spring! On behalf of the staff at BES we hope your family enjoys time with each other, time with friends, and time outside in the beautiful landscapes that surround us! This year has been a wonderful learning journey and we look forward to the final months of school after returning from the break. BES is thinking about next year and we would like to hear from you to let us know if your child(ren) will be returning to BES in the fall. Please take a moment to read the “Next Year School Planning” section below and fill out the Intent Form. 

Spotlight on Learning
Grade 1s have been learning about their new wellness and P.E. curriculum with a focus on the topic of financial literacy. Students have an understanding that goods and services are either traded or bought with different forms of money. Students were introduced to the hard work it takes to design a business! They worked in teams to create goods that they were interested in, worked in teams to create stores, and then used a bartering system to trade their goods! 
   

Grade 7s have kicked off a baking unit in Foods and Nutrition by making some chocolate chip cookies then they used coding and circuits to make electrical musical instruments in Applied Digital Skills this week. Click here to see the musical instrument.


Important Upcoming Dates

• Mar 29 - School Closure - Good Friday
• Apr 1-12 - School Closure - Spring Break
  
  

RFTS Spring Break Activities
RFTS would like to share a Spring Break Activity Challenge for students looking for fun things to do during Spring Break. Please click here to find out more.

Next Year School Planning
Please help us in our planning for the 2024-2025 school year by letting us know if you intend for your child to continue with Banff Elementary School (or Banff Community High School if your child is currently in Grade 8) or if your child will not be attending BES or BCHS. We request all families to complete this Intent Form by April 28, 2024.

Please note: children already attending Banff Elementary School do not need to complete a new registration for the next school year, even if your child is in Grade 8 and going to Banff Community High School.

BES Open House Grades K-8 Students & Families
Save the date May 1, 2024 3:15 - 4:15 pm for the BES Open House. Watch for further details after Spring Break.

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.

Important Dates
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar and click here for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 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 for the 2023-2024 school year.

School and Family Wellness Worker
Deanne Arada, 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
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!

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.

CRPS International Student Homestay Hosts Needed
CRPS is looking for Canmore & Banff families to host our next incredible cohort of 50 international students arriving in August 2024! Make meaningful connections, share your different cultures, learn a new language, and build life-long memories & friendships! Commitments of 5 months and 10 months are available, with monthly remuneration provided. For more information and to apply, contact international@crps.ca or 403-609-6072. Please click here for more information.