E-NEWS Spotlight on Learning

Spotlight on Kindness in our World
On Friday February 15 BES celebrated Pink Shirt Day, a day when people across the world are encouraged to wear pink to show that they stand against bullying. It is also a day to celebrate the kindness that exists in our school and community. Students were ‘caught’ every day leading up to Pink Shirt Day doing kind things for others. Every act of kindness was recognized by students and staff receiving a pom pom and a note of kindness to take home. All of the pom poms were collected and added to our very colourful kindness display that is in our front gathering area. BES is proud of the daily acts of kindness we see everyday in our school!

Important Upcoming Dates

• Mar 3 - 12:00 pm dismissal for Gr 1 - 8 (no Kindergarten classes) 
• Mar 3 - P/T/S Conferences booking system opens 9:00 am
• Mar 8 - 6K/F Bake Sale
• Mar 12 - P/T/S Conferences booking system closes 11:55 pm

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
March 15 Evening conferences 4:00 - 7:00 pm - regular classes during the day 
March 16 Evening conferences 5:00 - 8:00 pm - regular classes during the day
March 17 Morning conferences 8:30 - 11:30 am and P.D. in the afternoon
no school for students all day

For our Spring P/T/S Conferences, you will have a choice of a virtual meeting or an in-person meeting. Please note there are two schedules: one for Grades K-7 to book a 15 minute conference with homeroom teachers and one for Grade 8 to book a 10 minute conference with both Grade 8 teachers at the same time. Please ensure to select the correct schedule when making your booking. Appointments for parents and students to meet with teachers can be booked online at https://banff.schoolappointments.com, where you will be able to login or register for a new account if you did not make one in the fall. This system is opening Friday March 3 at 9:00 am and appointments can be booked until Sunday March 12 11:55 pm. After March 12 the online booking system will be closed - parents will be required to email their child's homeroom teacher directly to change or cancel an appointment. Appointments can also be made with our Principal, Mr. Kestle, our Music teacher, Ms. Gadon, or our School and Family Wellness Worker, Ashley Butenschon, by emailing them directly (firstname.lastname@crps.ca). Please click here for instructions on using this booking system. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

Turkey and Syria’s Terrible and Disastrous Earthquakes - Bake Sale
BES Grade 6K/F will be hosting a bake sale on Wednesday March 8 to raise money for the people left homeless in Turkey and Syria. Students in 6K/F are going to be selling homemade cookies, cakes and muffins that will all cost $2 each. All of the money raised will be donated to the Red Cross and World Vision foundations. If your family would like to donate any baking for their sale, it would be appreciated and can be dropped off on Tuesday March 7 at the BES office. Please click here to read more information on their cause.

Alberta Education Assurance (AEA) Survey
The Alberta Education Assurance survey gathers feedback on the quality of education provided by school authorities and their schools. Schools and school authorities use this information to understand how they are doing and plan for the future. Here at BES this information helps guide our Four Year Education Plan as well as drives our school initiatives. Parent feedback is very important to us. The parent survey package will be mailed out by Alberta Education starting around February 6th. In the package parents will be directed to either complete the surveys online or return completed paper copies directly to Alberta Education. Requests for a survey in one of the supported languages (French, Punjabi, Cree, Korean, Denesuł̨in̨e, Tagalog, Chinese (Traditional or Simplified), Arabic, Spanish or Urdu) can be made to the Banff Elementary School office or the System Assurance Branch (EDC.SystemAssurance@gov.ab.ca).
         

Important Dates
Please click here to view the BES Community Calendar

News from the Office
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 an annual 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.

School Fees Now Overdue
Banff Elementary School fees are available on PowerSchool Parent Portal and are now overdue. As per Canadian Rockies School Division’s Administrative Procedure 503, payment for school fees is due 30 days after invoicing. Please contact the school office to make payment arrangements if payment has not been made at this time.

School and Family Wellness Worker
Ashley Butenschon 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
Ms. Jenniex is now sending home monthly updates for each classroom! To check out what other classes are doing, or to read prior months' updates, go here: BES RFTS Monthly Updates. For information on Right from the Start at Banff Elementary School or to contact me directly, please email megan.jenniex@crps.ca.

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 March Newsletter. More information about Settlement Services and a calendar of events is available at: www.banff.ca/settlement or follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/settlement.services.in.the.bow.valley.

You can also check out our School Announcements here (this is updated frequently) for more information. Please like us on Facebook or follow BES on Instagram @banffelementaryschool for news and reminders.

Canadian Rockies Public Schools
Please follow CRPS on Facebook, and Follow/Tag us on Twitter, 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 (and for temporary host families over April Spring Break, 2023). Remuneration is provided. Follow this link to find out more!