Dear Banff Trail School Families,
In CBE schools, we are constantly considering numerous high priorities at once; for example, at the top of my list are the high important foci of managing student safety to the best of our ability, along with constantly seeking to provide the most robust opportunities for students to grow academically, socially and physically. But priorities do not end there, and an important ‘secondary’ priority for us is to provide opportunities for students to explore personal areas of interest, whether that be via opportunities within existing lessons in the classroom, or through opportunities such as the upcoming May clubs. As mentioned previously, we needed to cancel the grade 3-5 clubs for the first time in 5 years due to October’s labour action, but we will be proceeding with the grade 1 and 2 clubs next month. The signup sheet for grade 1 and 2 students is included in the Related Information section of this message. Having spoken to both parent and students, these are cherished opportunities for students to either connect with an aspect of learning that is familiar to them (such as for those that love Minecraft at home and also want to enroll in that club at school), or to engage in something new (perhaps by joining the karaoke club!). No matter the reason, this is an opportunity for students to develop confidence, awareness, and appreciation for the many opportunities to learn from amongst the wide range of skills that exist.
If you have a student in grades one or two, please use some time this weekend to sit down with your child to discuss some of their passions, and to see which club might interest them (if they are interested in joining one; it is an optional opportunity, but a great opportunity at that). Perhaps it could also give you some insight into other areas that you may want to explore with your child outside of school, as they develop a greater sense of their passions and love for learning. If your child is in K, 3, 4, or 5, though they will not be participating in a club at this time of year (we are planning to resume clubs for grades 1 to 5 next year), it could still serve as a great conversation starter with your child, to see if there are aspects of learning that they might want to explore (possibly alongside you!) outside of the school.
For your consideration:
Elementary Track & Field City Championships: We welcome you to support a new opportunity for elementary students across Calgary. The Elementary School Track & Field City Championships will take place on Saturday, May 30 and is open to students in Grades 3–6. This event is designed to build physical literacy through fun and inclusive experiences in running, jumping, and throwing, helping to address a gap in opportunities for younger students. Information can be found here.
Volunteers in the building: In an ongoing effort to maintain the safety of all people in the building, a reminder to our many, wonderful volunteers who help at Banff Trail School: When working in the building, never open the exterior doors for anyone, whether a child, fellow parents, or other adults. Entry to the building is carefully controlled via the office, at the front doors. If you see someone knocking on the door for entry, let a Teacher, the office, or a staff member know. Thank you!
Spare clothing: This is a time of year where puddles and slush can become more plentiful. We encourage all students, especially our younger ones, to have a spare change of clothing in their backpacks, in case of any wet clothing.
Alley drop off: Thank you to our School Council and volunteers for the promotion of safety during drop-off of students for the school, notably in the reduction and/or elimination of drop-offs occurring in the alley along our field. A reminder as well to not stop in our bus zone, so that we can streamline the arrival and departure of buses both before and after school. We welcome you to use our Hug & Go section of road along the front entrance of the school, and/or make use of the plentiful parking available along nearby and adjacent roads (please be mindful of signage and/or traffic laws!).
Upcoming dates:
April 24: Non-Instructional Day (school closed for students)
April 30: ‘It’s Time for Spring’ Theme Day
May 4-28: Grade 1-2 Clubs
May 1-14: Lacrosse Residency
May 6: School Council, 6:30pm
May 6: Hats on For Mental Health Day
May 7: New (for 2026-27) K-1 Orientation Evening-for those not yet at Banff Trail School
May 11: Anita Crowshoe, Knowledge Keeper, on site
May 13: Jump Rope for Heart Kickoff
May 15: Non-instructional day, no school for students (staff being recertified with First Aid)
May 18: Victoria Day, School Closed
Have a wonderful weekend together,
Ryan Turner
Principal, Banff Trail School