We are a liaison group between parents/guardians, teachers, administration, community and School Board to encourage communication, involvement and cooperation with the goal of maximizing individual student learning and enhancing school life. As a parent or a guardian with a child in the school, you are considered a member of School Council.
BES Council Operating Policies
Involvement in School Council is a meaningful, hands-on way to have a direct, positive impact on your child’s educational experience. We invite everyone to have a voice.
We encourage parents to be involved by helping in your child’s classroom, volunteering to help on field trips, volunteering to help as a Mountain Reader, Nature Explorer parent, or Lunch Day helper.
We welcome all parents to join our Council meetings to learn, observe, and have a voice. Whether you can come for one meeting, or every meeting, for 30 minutes or the full hour and a half, your involvement is welcome.
HOW WE ENGAGE
BES Council meets on a monthly basis (generally the third Wednesday in each month, watch the BES website calendar and FB postings for meeting times).We meet to share ideas and discuss issues affecting our children’s education. We seek ways of optimizing this critical phase of early childhood learning. Council works as a team of parents/guardians, administration and teachers to ensure school policies, programs and services and the allocation of funds best support this learning.
Our purpose is to:
- support the students, staff and community of BES
- have open discussion and provide feedback on ideas and concerns from parents and staff
- connect with the parent community on key messages
- stay connected with CRPS and Alberta Education
- support unique programs at BES through community connections, fundraising and grant applications, volunteerism
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT COUNCIL SUPPORTS
We support all of the activities that take place at BES, but there are a few unique programs at BES that School Council supports by providing funding, resources, and leadership in collaboration with the school.
These programs include:
- Mountain Readers
- Nature Explorers
- Lunch Days
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Curriculum Enhancements as recommended by the BES staff team
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many ways to volunteer with Banff Elementary School. Please click the link to learn more.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Contact a Council Member, or the BES Principal, Craig Kestle, for more information.
David Shackleton, Chair drshackleton@gmail.com
Alex Eaton - Vice-Chair
TBD - Secretary
Satu Tzotzos, Treasurer
Debra Kapitzke, Lunch Program
Craig Kestle, Principal craig.kestle@crps.ca
Deb Cavanaugh, Teacher Representative