E-NEWS & Principal's Post

We are thrilled to share our BES/CRPS Shared Vision of Learning Board! At CRPS, we are committed to Inspiring Hearts and Minds. This Shared Vision of Learning defines our collective beliefs about learning that guide our actions. Our beliefs include instructional excellence, development of the whole child, fostering positive relationships, responsive task design and assessment, staff professional growth, and connections in nature and community. Thank you to the many students and staff who shared their insights into how we live the Shared Vision of Learning at BES each day. We also want to send out a special thank you to Ms. Sunderland and her leadership students for doing an incredible job with the setup of the bulletin board! We hope you take some time to have a look at the display during our Education Week Open House on April 10 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm.


Education Week April 7 - 11
BES will be celebrating Education Week from April 7 - 11. During this week, we will celebrate all the hard work our students and staff put into learning each and every day. We will be running some school wide literacy, numeracy/STEM and Earth Week activities. We will also be host an Open House for families to drop in to enjoy some fun learning activities alongside your children. The Open House will run on Thursday April 10 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. We hope you can join us!


Science Fair April 2
BES will be hosting our first Science Fair in 5 years! Some of our students in grades 3 - 6 have been working hard on their projects this year and we are excited to showcase their work in the afternoon of April 2. Parents are invited to visit and see the student work from 1:30 - 2:30 pm on that day. Please drop by and congratulate our students on their hard work!

Spotlight on Learning
Grade 1 Spotlight

Grade 1's have built confidence and collaborative problem solving skills during our math blocks! Most days, students are presented with a critical thinking problem and work with partners to solve these problems while standing and working at white boards. These past few weeks, Grade 1's have practiced some self-assessment during this group work with a focus on the following teamwork skills:

Empathy - am I listening to my partner and sharing the work? 
Persistence - how am I moving forward even when things are tricky?
Body with the group - am I beside my partner, showing them I am their partner in this?

We keep our self-assessments on the white boards so that we can come back to them the next day and try to glow and grow!


In science, Grade 1's have been busy investigating the pathways and movement of animals and objects! After learning about different pathways, movements, speeds and directions, students designed and built marble mazes. It was so inspiring to watch Grade 1's try, try and try again to make a maze with a pathway that could be followed! 

Through these activities, we have focused on the following parts of our Share Vision of Learning:

1. We create opportunities for learners to develop habits, skills and mindsets that build their social, emotional and academic competence.
2. We cultivate a culture of caring, listening and communicating with empathy to understand and be compassionate toward others.
3. We design differentiated tasks that provide opportunities to practice such competencies as critical and creative thinking, problem solving and innovation.
4. We collaborate to use evidence of learning gathered through products, performances, observations and conversations to respond to learner needs and inform instructional decisions.

Grade 5 Spotlight

Grade 5N is combining Social Studies with graphic art. Using only Google Drawings (and a lot of patience and attention to detail), students are representing an iconic landscape of a specific area of Canada in digital format. Very cool!!!

Important Upcoming Dates

• Apr 2 - TOB Summer Fun Day Camp Registration 8:30 am 
• Apr 2 - Science Fair - Open to parents from 1:30 - 2:30pm
• Apr 2 - Grade 7 & 8 Dance 3:30 - 5:00 pm at BES
• Apr 4 - Staff Professional Learning - 12:05 pm dismissal for Grades 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes)
• Apr 7-11 - Education Week
• Apr 10 - BES Open House 2:00 - 3:02 pm
• Apr 14-25 - School Closure for Spring Break - see you April 28 

2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration is open for children that will be turning 5 by December 31, 2025. Please register your child as soon as possible to help us with our 2025-2026 school year planning and to receive important information on the upcoming Spring Into Kindergarten visit in May. Please click here to register.

2025-2026 BES Intent Form
Please help us with our planning for the 2025-2026 school year by letting us know if you intend for your child(ren) 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. Please complete a separate form for each child by April 11, 2025. Please note: children already attending Banff Elementary School do not need to submit a new registration for the next school year, even if your child is in Grade 8 and going to BCHS, but we ask that you please click here to complete the intent form.

Save the Date - BES Grade 8 Farewell
We will be hosting our Grade 8 Farewell in the afternoon of Wednesday June 25. More information will be shared in the coming months.

Parent Discussion Group

The purpose of a parent discussion group is to offer a space where parents of youth can share experiences, challenges, and advice in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. These groups provide emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation, and help parents develop coping strategies for common parenting challenges. They also offer access to resources, education, and skills related to parenting, family dynamics, and child development. Additionally, a parent discussion group can foster a sense of community and collective problem-solving, allowing parents to learn from each other’s successes and difficulties.

During each session, a facilitator will use the first 50 minutes to present on a topic, leaving the final 40 minutes for group discussion. A different topic will be presented each week relating to the challenges parents of youth (ages 0-18) may be facing.

Registration is separate for each session and registration will open on March 31, 2025.
Location: Banff Public Library (101 Bear Street, Banff)
Dates: Tuesdays - April 29 - July 8 
Please click here for more information on the topics and dates.

Wolverines Flag Football Registration


Lost & Found

The lost & found at BES is growing again since the winter break. Please ask your child to check for lost items and please be sure to visit the lost & found area while here at P/T/S Conferences.

Important Dates
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar and click here for the 2024-2025 & 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 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. It is available between 7:45 - 8:15 am. Registration is required each year - 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.

Town of Banff Summer Fun Day Camp Registration
This popular summer program is not just about childcare for school-aged children, but creating experiences and memories that last a lifetime. Summer Fun runs Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. (includes lunch hour supervision)  from Wednesday, July 2 – Friday, August 22. We are open for all children going into grades 1-6. There is no programing offered on weekends and Statutory Holidays. For more details, program calendars, Specialty Camps, Youth Camps, and information on how to register, visit www.banff.ca/kids. Summer Fun registration opens to all Banff Residents on April 2 at 8:30am, and April 30 at 8:30am for Non-Residents.

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.

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!