Dear Banff Trail School Parents and Guardians,
As we complete the final full week of school with students, it seems appropriate to offer thanks for the many successes that students and families have achieved over the past 10 months. As I greet students and families in the mornings as they enter the school, I see students who are excited to be here, who have grown immensely in their ability to communicate meaningfully with me in French. As I visit classrooms, I see students who, despite some changes to what school looked like in the past, are eager to learn, committed to applying themselves as best as they can, and experiencing the joy of what school should be like. Learning this year has been mutual; staff and I have learned immensely from students about resiliency and adaptability in a changing environment. We have done our utmost to make this a productive, safe year for all students, and in turn students (and families) have risen to the challenges presented to them. A big BRAVO to you all for your unending efforts in support of a challenging, unforgettable, yet productive year J.
On that note, the staff and students of Banff Trail are very grateful for all the amazing volunteers who worked so hard this year to provide great activities like Bike to School Day and Grade 5 Farewell events for our students. All students in the school signed their names to a letter in the word 'Merci' (Thank you). Then, the letters were assembled to create the words 'Merci'. The Grade 5 students also created flowers to add to our 'Thank you' message board. Unfortunately, we were unable to host a Volunteer Tea to show our gratitude to our valued volunteers, but we (and the grade 5 classes in particular at this time of year!) want you to hear and see our thankfulness. The Grade 5 students absolutely loved the t-shirts, lunch, speaker gift and Treasure Quest activities!!
A special 'goodbye for now' message for our amazing group of grade five students, who will be moving on to various other locations (yet most continuing on to Branton School). We hope that you have found your time here at Banff Trail to be a great overall learning experience, and we all look forward to hearing from you in the future, as you move on to other challenges in life and school. Don't ever hesitate to let us know how your life is unfolding; we always love to hear from alumni! You will always hold a special place in my heart as well, as my first group to move on from this great school. You have shown confidence, creativity, strength, and compassion, all of which will serve you very well in the next chapters of your life. You are a very strong, capable group; you will do AMAZING in grade 6, wherever you go!
Finally, as families continue to navigate the evolving COVID-19 rules for our province and abroad, I encourage you to be constantly considering how to continue or enhance the learning for your child or children. Some opportunities can be pre-planned (such as buying a book about trees found in Alberta, and then trying to identify them; visiting museums/cultural events; introducing to new skills such as ordering a ukulele to play with and learn a song or two; having students make a list about what they should pack for a trip); other times, you can seek opportunities in the moment (such as learning more about bats, if you find some flying around at dusk; estimating the cost of items as you visit the grocery store; chatting about some current events and perspectives found in local/national/international news). You are no doubt keenly aware that you are teachers as well, as you model your values and expose your children to the wonders of our world!
For Your Consideration:
Report Cards: Report Cards will be viewable in your MyCBE/PowerSchool account; currently, the CBE is enabling home access effective just after midnight tonight, so should be accessible for tomorrow morning (ie Saturday, June 26th, 2021). As always, please feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions about your child's report card.
Upcoming Important Dates:
Monday, June 28, 2021-Regular School Day
Tuesday, June 29, 2021-Last day of classes for students
Wednesday, June 30, 2021-Appeals Day/Organizational Day; no school for students. After June 30, note that the school is closed, and will not be checking emails, phone messages, etc until our re-opening in late August.
Friday, August 27, 2021-Office re-opens 8:00-2:30pm for registrations, assistance, etc.
Monday, August 30, 2021-Welcome message(s) from next year teacher(s) sent to families at approximately 5:00 pm
Wednesday, September 1, 2021-School Resumes for all students.
Staff Departures: Though we continue to work through staffing for the 2021-22 school year, at this point we can sadly announce two departures from our school. Ms. Krista Ferguson will be moving back to Ontario, and Ms. Mireille Lapointe will be moving back to British Columbia. You will both be dearly missed, and we are all grateful for the role you played in helping our students achieve their potential, in a caring environment.
We hope you have plenty of outdoor, fun learning experiences planned for your families. As always, be safe, and we very much look forward to seeing all returning students again on September 1st.
Have a wonderful summer,
Ryan Turner
Principal, Banff Trail School
