The Bear Broadcast February 3, 2025
Belonging, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, Safety
Principal’s Message
Do plan to attend our School Council meeting on Monday, February 3rd at 4:15pm. All parents and guardians of BCHS students are welcome. This is the monthly occasion to find out more about what is happening in the school, how students are doing, and to share your voice. We will have some student leaders present to share their perspectives and to outline the initiatives they are working on to bring us closer together as a school community. We will also hear about CRPS’ plan to establish Student Advisory Groups in both high schools for 2025-2026.
- Natasha Miles
Grade 12 Diploma Results
Diploma exam results will be available in myPass on February 18th. If a student feels that their diploma exam was not scored appropriately, the can request a rescore in myPass. The deadline is February 27th. There is an administration fee payable to Alberta Education for each diploma exam rescore requested. This fee is paid by the student.
New Student Passwords
In order to protect students' online access to their CRPS Google accounts and to help teach them the good practice of changing passwords periodically, students have been issued with new passwords. On Saturday, February 1st the switchover will be made and students will not be able to log onto their CRPS Google account until Sunday. Students must not share their passwords with others.
Report Cards
Report cards for Semester 1 will be issued in Power School on Friday, January 31st at the end of the day. Please do look at these as they are important documents describing your child’s progress to date. Teachers often provide suggestions for the semester ahead.
Grade 9 students have had their learning assessed using Outcomes Based Assessment (more information can be found here). Their report cards will look different to grades 10 - 12 report cards and also to those they received at Banff Elementary School in Grade 8. Please take the time to look beyond the percentage mark and read what outcomes your child has strengths in and what outcomes your child can continue to make progress in. Teachers have placed considerable emphasis on this section of the report card. By going through this section with your child you can support them in understanding what skills and understandings they can develop further in the second half of the year.
Shared Vision of Learning
All Canadian Rockies Public Schools are committed to Inspiring Hearts and Minds. We ALSO have a Shared Vision of Learning that defines our collective beliefs about learning that guide our actions. Each day we consider how we will strive to empower learners to be critical, creative thinkers, innovators, problem solvers, effective communicators, and collaborators, who are globally aware, independent, and responsible citizens. This is the second of six belief statements and exemplification of how we are living our beliefs at BCHS.
- We believe that diversity of experiences and connections in nature and community enhance learning beyond the classroom.
In Semester 1 we embraced this by:
- Making a donation through real product sales to our community’s Food Rescue that supports our students with their daily toast and bagels at school
- Encouraging all students and staff to take part in the annual Hike Day in September to one of seven locations in Banff National Park
- Taking our Foods 9 class to the Sysco warehouse in Calgary to explore the food distribution chain in our region.
- Providing a venue for our students to earn credits in Technical Theatre at the Banff Centre’s community concert
- Grade 10 starting their Wim WE Outdoor Education credit based program by hiking the local C-Level Cirque on Cascade Mountain
Next week we will learn what has happened at BCHS in regard to the third ‘believe’ statement during semester 1. Do visit our Shared Vision of Learning display board in Purkis Hall to explore this vision in action further.
Did you know?
Fun Facts from our School Annual Results Report!
This report was shared at the School Council meeting in November and will be shared with the Board of Trustees in February. Provincial and divisional surveys of all students, Grade 10 parents, and all teachers are conducted in the spring We always strive to make the results even better every year and in the spring we will be seeking input from our stakeholders as we go through the process of developing a new four-year School Education Plan for 2025-2029 to help prioritize actions to address change and progress. In order for more of our community to know about some of the details, we will share a couple each week in this newsletter so that we can get ready for the planning process coming up. On Wednesday, February 5th our student leadership council will meet with two members of the CRPS Senior Admin team and undergo a process called ‘Student Voices’ to gain feedback from them on life at BCHS and as a starting point for developing the new education plan.
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Fact #1: 6.5/10 students recognise that there are positive teacher-student relations. This is higher than the Canadian norm.
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Fact #2: Grade 9 students achieved a level of excellence in Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies significantly above the provincial average in their 2024 Provincial Assessment Tests.
Wellness Weekly Tip
Exciting things are happening at BCHS! If you’re looking to improve your mental health, the Wellness Committee is here to help! Two new initiatives rolled out in January:
The Wellness Committee came up with an idea to support students getting help quietly if they need it. We placed unique stickers in bathrooms and students can take a sticker and put it on an assignment when they turn it in. This will signal that the student needs a check-in with an adult. We want to make sure that it is done discreetly so all students feel safe to ask for help!
Looking for additional resources? See the new “Mental Health Matters” bulletin in the upstairs hallway. Many of us will struggle with mental health in our life times; help us end the stigma and be a part of the conversation!
Ms. Emily and Ms. Bekar are available to provide mental health support while at school. Please reach out if you or someone you know is struggling, or call/text or chat anytime by reaching out to KidsHelpPhone.ca or 1-800-668-6868.
Extra Curricular News
Athletics
Basketball:
Practices
- JR & JV Boys practice on Mondays & Thursdays from 3:30-5:00pm
- JV Girls practice on Mondays from 5:00-7:00pm and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00pm
- SR Girls practice on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00pm and Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00pm
- SR Boys practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00-7:00pm
Basketball Games
- Feb. 4th - SR Boys BBall Game @ CCHS from 3:30-5:00 pm
- Feb. 5th - JV Girls BBall Game @ CCHS from 5:00-6:30 pm
- Feb. 7/8th - SR Boys Basketball Home Tournament
Volunteers 2024-2054
All volunteers need to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check with the RCMP every 12 months. This usually only takes a few days - contact Renee Husdal, in the office for more details and a form. Throughout the year we need volunteers for field trips, as coaches for teams, and other extracurricular activities.
School Fees
ALL semester one fees (including volleyball) are now overdue.
You can find a listing of school fees here.
School fees can be paid online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Once you sign on, under "Navigation," click "Student Fees."
Please click here for instructions on how to make a payment using PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Debit or credit card payments can be made online through your Parent Portal.
If you wish to pay by cheque, cash, or tap & pay, you can do so through the BCHS Main Office.
In cases of financial hardship, please email Renee Husdal for a "Fee Waiver Form" or call her at 403-762-4411.
The Week Ahead
Monday,February 3rd, 2025
- School Council - 4:15pm
Tuesday, February 4th, 2025
- Green Team/High Hopes meeting at lunch room 208
- Teacher support at lunch
- SR Boys BBall Game @ CCHS from 3:30-5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 5th, 2025
- Student Voices at Student Council meeting at lunch
- Teacher support at lunch
- JV Girls BBall Game @ CCHS from 5:00-6:30 pm
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
- Grad meeting at lunch
- Teacher support at lunch
- PE 20/30 skiing at the Nordic Centre in Canmore - afternoon
Friday, February 7th, 2025
- Half day Friday - A and B blocks
- SR Boys basketball home tournament Friday and Saturday
- Gr 12 Course withdrawal deadline
Upcoming Dates
- Feb. 10: Avalanche Skills Training (AST) presentation to Grade 10s for WimWe program
- Feb. 12: Grade 9 immunizations
- Feb. 13: 10A AST at Lake Louise
- Feb. 14: 10B AST at Lake Louise
- Feb. 14 & 15: SR Girls basketball tournament in Hanna
- Feb. 17 - Feb 21: No school for students
- Feb. 17 - Feb 19: No school for staff
- Feb. 20 & 21: Teachers at annual ATA convention
- Feb. 21 & 22: SR Boys Basketball tournament in Pincher Creek
- Feb. 24: Classes resume
- Feb 25th: SAIT Dual Credit Introduction to Cooking session #1
- Feb 26th: CRPS Board public meeting
- Feb 28th: SR Girls basketball home tournament
Host Families Needed for International Students!
The CRPS International Student Program is looking for local Bow Valley families to join our Homestay Program from Feb-June 2025. Being a host family is a truly meaningful experience for all involved as you share culture, language, activities, and memories that will last a lifetime. Please check out the Homestay Website where you will find all the information you need about hosting a student including a link to the Homestay Application.
SWIS Upcoming Events for Parents
The SWIS (Settlement Services in Schools) team is offering the following free events aimed at foreign-born students, parents, and family members. If you have any questions or would like more information about these sessions or other services offered by the SWIS Team please contact them at SWIS@banff.ca. Participants will be able to access Pizza Vouchers for these online sessions, please see the registration links for details.
1. Schooling in Canada: Moving from Grade to Grade and Graduation
This workshop provides an in-depth overview of the Canadian education system, including the progression from one grade to the next and the specific requirements for high school graduation.
Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM (online via Zoom)
Pizza will be provided.
[Register here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Grade2025]
2. Filipino Youth (Grades 7-12) and Adult Workshops in Banff on Friday, March 7th, 2025
We are excited to invite Filipino youth and their families to join us for the upcoming workshops, hosted by Settlement Services in the Bow Valley.
These workshops will be held entirely in Tagalog and feature engaging topics for both youth and parents.
- For Filipino Youth (Grades 7-12)
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Half-day Friday, pick-up between 11:42 AM – 12:15 PM from different schools)
Location: Pioneer Room, Catharine Robb Whyte Building, Banff
Topics: Moving to Canada, life in Canada vs. the Philippines, skills building for success, and more!
Lunch and transportation provided.
[Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Reuni2025Youth] - For Filipino Adults
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Pioneer Room, Catharine Robb Whyte Building, Banff
Topics: Reuniting as a family in Canada, building healthy relationships, and parenting in Canada
Dinner, childcare, and transportation provided.
[Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025ReuniAdult]
News
Bow Valley Settlement Services Information and January newsletter click here.
Follow the link to view the highlights in The Brief from the January CRPS Public School Board Meeting.
BCHS Bear Tools
- Parents, please ensure you can log on to Parent Portal. Look for the PowerSchool Quick Link on our school webpage or click here. This is where you will access daily updates on your student’s marks and attendance, school fees, and more.
- Grade 10-12 students can access their official Alberta Education transcript of marks through a myPass account (myPass.alberta.ca). Grade 10 marks will start to appear after the first semester.
- The 2024/2025 Student / Parent Handbook is available on our home page. Do have a look as it contains a lot of important information about how our school operates, our expectations, our celebrations of student success and dates for the whole year including diploma exams.
- Please click this link for the 2024 - 2025 School Calendar
- For archived newsletters please click here
- Check out the BCHS Events Calendar https://bchs.crps.ca/.
Social Media
A great way to stay connected to our school is through our social media platforms. Make sure that you follow our school social media sites at the following addresses:
Website
Bear Celebrations
If you have a BCHS Celebration that you would like to share with our community, please email natasha.miles@crps.ca