E-NEWS & Principal's Post

It was great to finally have winter come back for a visit! It was a very cold week here with lots of indoor recess times. It looks like some of the cold weather will be sticking around for the next little bit, so please ensure your child comes prepared with all their winter gear. We do try and get outside as much as we can but we do keep an eye on the temperature and windchill. If the temperature falls below -20 degrees celsius, we limit our time outside and when it is below -25 degrees celsius, we stay inside. Getting outside for fresh air is great for all of us, and if we bundle up, we can enjoy our recess time outside.
Have you downloaded the Bus Status 4 app yet? If you have a child on one of our buses, this app is essential for keeping you in the loop on late buses or cancelled buses. You can find the app at the Google Play store or at the Apple App store or click here.

Thank you to a concerned parent for reaching out to share that she has noticed students (and families) crossing diagonally across the intersection by the school. Students also cross the street before the crosswalks which is also dangerous.  We are hoping you can remind your child to safely cross at all intersections in town.  Banff is a busy place and the intersections around our school are very busy at all times of the day.  Thanks for working with us to keep everyone safe!

Spotlight on Learning
Grade 2 Spotlight

Grade 2s and 3s learned about being a good ancestor and began an art project to honour those who have come before us. We spent some time discussing the impact of our loved ones on our lives. We also made the connection to the recent passing of one of our own district’s valued and treasured knowledge keepers , Philomeme, whose presence and work in our schools will live on through those she shared her knowledge with. 

Grade 6 Spotlight


Grade 6 students are feeling grateful to get to experience skiing and snowboarding at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. A big thank you to the Pauw Foundation for making this opportunity possible and a huge thank you to the staff at the CRPS Outdoor Learning Centre for helping organize these awesome ski days!

Important Upcoming Dates

• Feb 6 - Lunch Program Session 2 ordering opens 
• Feb 7 - Staff Professional Learning 12:05 pm dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes)
• Feb 16 - Lunch Program Session 2 ordering closes at 11:59 pm

Lunch Program

Session Two of the School Council Lunch Program will run on Thursdays from February 27 - June 12 and ordering is now open. The order deadline for this entire lunch session is Sunday February 16 at 11:59 pm. Once the system is closed we cannot add additional orders. This is a purely volunteer run program. Please contact Lily Reid (lilyreid@ymail.com) to volunteer or sign up using the Volunteer tab in the MunchaLunch ordering system. Please remember to send your child(ren) with additional healthy snacks, a container with a lid and cutlery. No plates or cutlery will be available. Don't delay…order today by clicking here.

Report Cards
Semester one Report Cards are now available to view/print on PowerSchool Parent Portal. You can find instructions here on how to view report cards. If you require assistance logging into PowerSchool Parent Portal please contact the school office. Please note that attendance is taken two times (am, pm) per day. In the Attendance Summary, for example, 10 recorded absences is equivalent to 10 half day or 5 full day absences. The total absences also includes any future absences already reported.

Town of Banff Circle of Support
Circle of Support is a group for children 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. If you feel that your child(ren) could benefit from the Circle of Support group (February 26 - April 2), please click here for more information and to fill out the consent form and return it to the school office, the Community Services office at Town Hall or email it to katie.barton@banff.ca.

2024-2025 Caribou Kids Season Ski Pass Program
Banff school students will enjoy free skiing again this winter. Now in its 18th 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 online purchasing link. 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 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 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 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 were 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.

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!

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.

Out of School Club
The Town of Banff Out of School Club (OSC) is a licensed childcare program offering care for school aged children during the school year. 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 more details, program calendars, and information on how to register, visit www.banff.ca/kids. Winter Break registration opens to all on November 15th 2024 at 8:30am.

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/.

SWIS Upcoming Events:
Positive Ways to Parent
Tuesdays: January 14, 21, 28, and February 4
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 pm (online via Zoom)
Pizza will be provided.
Register here

Schooling in Canada: Grade to Grade
Date: Tuesday February 25, 2025
Time: 6:00– 7:30 pm (online via Zoom)
Pizza will be provided.
Register here

Filipino Youth (Grades 7-12) and Adult Workshops in Banff on Friday March 7
We are excited to invite Filipino youth and their families to join us for the upcoming workshops, hosted by Settlement Services in the Bow Valley. These workshops will be held entirely in Tagalog and feature engaging topics for both youth and parents.

For Filipino Youth (Grades 7-12)
Date: Friday March 7, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 3:00 pm (Half-day Friday, pick-up between 11:42 AM – 12:15 pm from different schools)
Location: Pioneer Room, Catharine Robb Whyte Building, Banff
Topics: Moving to Canada, life in Canada vs. the Philippines, skills building for success, and more!
Lunch and transportation provided.
[Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Reuni2025Youth]


For Filipino Adults
Date: Friday March 7, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Location: Pioneer Room, Catharine Robb Whyte Building, Banff
Topics: Reuniting as a family in Canada, building healthy relationships, and parenting in Canada
Dinner, childcare, and transportation provided.
[Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025ReuniAdult]


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.

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!