Dear Banff Trail School Families,
Next week, our school will be celebrating le Carnaval de Québec in our own special way. This is just one of many Francophone celebrations held across Canada over the year, but certainly one of the largest ones. In terms of winter festivals, it is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Growing up in Winnipeg, the Festival du voyageur was the large, local celebration of Francophonie, and I am pleased to see that its traditions continue to this day, with many parallels to Carnaval. It certainly had me gain an appreciation for snowshoeing, sashes, and pea soup (the pea soup took a while for me to appreciate, admittedly…)! Interestingly, the two Franco-Canadian mid-winter celebrations overlap slightly, running from February 6-15, and February 13-22.
The modern version of Carnaval has existed since 1955 (after first taking place in 1894), which celebrates the music, traditions, foods, and lifestyle of French Canadians, both current and past. At our school, we introduce students to various Carnaval games, host a traditional Sugar Shack (where students will enjoy warm maple toffee served on snow), and experience a performance by Folklofolie. Many other activities will be taking place, based on class schedule and grade-level, that can include bracelet-making, singing, dancing to traditional French-Canadian songs, snowshoeing (if we get some good snowfall), and more. Since it is an outdoor festival, many activities will of course take place outside, so a reminder to dress your children for the weather. Thank you again to our School Council, who supports our school in allowing for the above events to occur free-of-charge for all families.
There are many other ways that we try to infuse Francophone culture into what we do at the school, including by engaging students with Francophone authors and literature, leveraging French music and artists in class work, and incorporating French-language videos into the learning. Integrating such various French resources is critical to the deployment of French Immersion programming; culture and language go hand-in-hand, and we aim to immerse students in the beauty of French as much as possible.
I hope that our annual Carnaval celebration is one that your child has grown to look forward to, or if they are newer to Banff Trail School, will come to associate with joyous learning about the French culture, as they grow.
For your consideration:
Spirit/Theme Day(s): We have a couple events that are connected to themed attire in February. Students are invited to wear Carnaval-themed clothing such as plaid shirts, toques, moccasins or slippers, arrowed sashes or scarves tied around waists from February 9th to 11th. Then, on Wednesday, February 25, Canada recognizes the day as “Pink Shirt Day”, in support of anti-bullying awareness; we encourage everyone to wear your favourite pink shirts for that important day.
Dates of Significance: A reminder that the CBE maintains an acknowledgement of the many ways that communities in Calgary host celebrations at various times of the year. To those who celebrate the Lunar New Year (February 17, 2026), an early Happy Year of the Horse to you! Other significant dates in February include noting that it is Black History Month, Ramadan begins mid-month, Valentine’s Day (February 14th), and Pink Shirt Day (February 25).
Illness in Children: Primary Care Alberta shared the following resource with us, which we are happy to share with all families, relating to fevers in children: Fever in Children • Research Based Resources. You will also find links to information about many other ailments that children can experience. As always, to help mitigate the spread of illness in our classes and school, we ask that you please keep and care for sick children at home until they are better. Thank you!
Student Teachers: We are happy to announce that we will again be hosting some Student Teachers, beginning in March, with the final touches being put upon which grades will receive a placement. We have some exemplary Teachers in our school to use as models, and are happy to support post-secondary students’ journey towards teaching in French Immersion.
Student Code of Conduct: Schools are asked to share with families the CBE’s Student Code of Conduct, which I encourage everyone to review. The document helps to support school environments that are positive, safe, respectful and productive.
Upcoming Dates:
February 9-11: Carnaval activities/celebrations
February 10: Registration closes at noon
February 12, 13: Teachers’ Convention; school closed to students
February 16: Family Day (School Closed)
February 24: Report Cards available in PowerSchool
February 25: Pink Shirt Day
February 27: Non-instructional Day, no school for students
March 9-12: School-wide skating at Triwood Arena
March 19, 20: In-person School Conferences (details to come)
March 20: No school for students
March 21-29, inclusive: School closed for Spring Break
March 30: School resumes
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend together,
Ryan Turner
Principal, Banff Trail School