The Bear Broadcast

Belonging, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, Safety

Principal’s Message

On Thursday, June 26, we celebrate the Class of 2025 at our Graduation Ceremony at the Banff Springs Hotel starting at 12 noon. Grads need to arrive for the all-important class photo at 11:30am. This is the highlight of our school year as we celebrate all of our Grade 12 students’ years at Banff Community High School. We share with parents, families, and friends the stories and achievements of our wonderful students. We send them off into their futures knowing that their time has come to an end at high school and that they are ready for the next chapter in their lives. We are proud of them all!

This is also the last newsletter of the year! We wish all our students who are leaving BCHS this June the very best and we hope they know that they will be missed!

2025-2026 school year starts again for the rest of us on Tuesday, August 26th. This is an organisational day where students come to meetings by grade group (see below for times). This day is also Photo Day! We will send out a welcome back letter on August 21st and students will be able to see their schedules live on August 22nd.

- Natasha Miles

June 2025 Exam Timetable

Diploma exam results should be available on July 21st in myPass. Congratulations to the Grade 9s who have now finished all their PATs!  

All exams start at 8.30am. Students need to come prepared with their writing implements (including HB pencils, calculators, and erasers), snacks, and water. There will be toast, bagels, and jam out for students who need an extra breakfast before or after the exam.  Cell phones, ear buds, and Smart Watches are not allowed in the exam room.

Please let the school office know if your child is ill prior to the exam. For diploma exams, students will not be able to write the exam on another day. They will need to rebook their exam at an alternative exam centre in August through myPass. Students need to arrive within the first hour of the exam starting.  

The exam timetable is available here. Please note:

• Diploma exam dates are fixed by the province and exams cannot be taken on another day.
• Final exams can be written on an alternate date if a student cannot attend due to sickness or a family emergency. Final exams can only be written until June 24. Please make arrangements with the teacher.

Your Voice Matters!

There is still one more week for parents to complete the Canadian Rockies Public Schools’  Parent Satisfaction Survey, Please complete it by June 30th. It contains 46 questions and takes no more than 15 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and anonymous.

Thank you for helping us shape a strong future for every learner.

Important Information for year end

• School Fees 

If school fees are not paid by June 27th, outstanding accounts will be sent to collections. If sports fees remain unpaid at the start of the next season’s play, then a student will not be able to play on the team. Families can apply to Kidsport and Jumpsport for help with sports fees.

If a family is unable to pay school fees or wants to request a reduction in fees due to financial circumstances, there is a procedure to follow outlined here https://www.crps.ca/download/348784 . The application should be made to the school principal. 

Please check your Parent Portal account to see if there is anything outstanding.

• Lockers and Library Loans

Students should have emptied their locker and returned their lock to the office. After June 23rd, any items found inside will be donated to thrift stores over the summer.

There are still a number of textbooks, novels, and Chromebooks that have not been returned to the library. Did you know a text book costs $130 and a Chromebook costs $200?! If a textbook or Chromebook is not returned before June 27, the replacement cost will be added to school fees and Grade 12 students will not receive a graduation certificate from the school until all books are returned or all replacement costs are paid.

• For Grade 12s

GRADS - YOU MUST MOVE YOUR DATA AT THE END OF THE YEAR or YOU WILL LOSE
IT!

You should have a myPass account set up. This is where you will request transcripts for post-secondary applications. While you're there, check that your mailing address is correct - this is where Alberta Education will mail your diploma.

If you are applying for post-secondary scholarships, use a personal email account,
not your CRPS email.

You will need to move your data before you leave BCHS. Accounts will be turned off in July.

Google has tools to help you including:

Download - if there are only a few things you want to keep, including items shared with you, download a copy of individual files or folders.

Forward important emails to a personal email account. Learn more.

Transfer your content - copy your drive and email files to a personal Google account. Learn more.

Archive/Takeout - download a copy of items owned by you in all G Suite services into one zip file. Learn more.

Transfer Ownership - If others will need to use files you own, you can transfer ownership to someone else at CRPS using sharing options, or they can make a copy for themselves. Learn more.

• Report Cards

Report cards will be available on Friday, June 27 at 4:00 pm in Parent Portal. 

• Parent Portal account

Please ensure you can log into Parent Portal. Look for the PowerSchool Parent Portal Quick
Link on our school website or click here. This is where you will access report cards, attendance
updates, and school fees. If you have trouble with your username or password, please contact
the school office.

Extra Curricular News 

Athletics

Host Families International Program still seeking Homestay placements

The school division is still seeking Host Families for our International Student Program. The district recognises the commitment involved in opening a home to an international student and offers a generous monthly compensation to ensure hosting is a rewarding experience for families without impacting them financially. Each year, BCHS welcomes between 6 - 8 students from around the world, providing an opportunity to enrich our school community with global friendships and cultural exchanges.

If you’re thinking about possibly hosting a student, we encourage families to explore a five month trial period (Sept.- Jan.).  This is a great way to experience the program and see if it’s the right fit for your family. By participating in this program, you and your family will build lifelong friendships with students from around the world, welcome a big brother or big sister into your home, share cultures and traditions, and give these students an opportunity to experience our amazing Rocky Mountains.

If you are interested in exploring the opportunity to host an international student this fall,  please contact  chris.macphee@crps.ca, steve.greene@crps.ca, laura.mooney@crps.ca or annette.young@crps.ca .

Some local host families share their experiences hosting an international student in these videos:

• A Banff family shares their rewarding experience
• What’s it like to host as a single person?

Summer Work Experience
Get paid AND earn credits this summer

Many of our students will be working at a summer job in July and August. Did you know that students can earn credits towards high school graduation as well as earning money? Students can earn one credit for every 25 hours worked, up to a maximum of 15 credits, which can be applied toward the 100 credits required for graduation. These can even be 30 level credits!

If students already have a job secured, register for work experience by June 27th. The following steps outline the registration process:

1. Student Registration: The student and a parent or guardian must complete the Parent/Guardian & Student Work Experience Registration Form.

2. Employer Registration: Students should discuss this opportunity with their employer to ensure their support because the employer will be sent an Employer Registration Form (sent directly to them via email) that is similar to the student's registration form. This ensures everyone is aware of what is happening and is on board. 

3. Monthly Submissions: Students will be sent an invitation to join a Google Classroom where they will submit their proof of hours worked and a brief reflection on their experience at the end of each month.

If students are applying for a job but do not have it secured yet. We would love for you to still get credits. Still apply using the directions above as soon as possible and we will try our best to get you registered.

Work experience can conclude at the end of the summer or continue into the school year, depending on the student's ongoing employment and interest in earning additional credits.

 If you have any questions, please email us at offcampus@crps.ca for more information.

The Week Ahead

Monday, June 23rd, 2025

• Math 31 final exam
• Math 10C & 10-3 final exam

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025

• Physics 30 diploma exam
• Math 20-1, 20-2 & 20-3 final exam
• Through the Lens exhibit opening at the Whyte Museum 5:30pm

Wednesday, June 25th, 2025

• Science 30 diploma exam

Thursday, June 26th, 2025

• Class of 2025 graduation ceremony at Banff Springs Hotel 12noon

Friday, June 27th, 2025

• Last day of school for 2024-2025
• Final report cards issued

Upcoming Dates

• August 21st - School office opens for 2025-2026
• August 26th - Organisation and Photo day for students
  • Grade 9: 8:30-9:45am
  • Grade 10: 10:00-11:15am
  • Grade 11: 12:30-1:30pm
  • Grade 12: 1:45-2:45pm
• August 27th - Lessons start at 8:25am
• September 1st - Labour Day schools closed

Healthcare Career Exploration Camp 2025

See healthcare careers in action! Get hands-on experience trying out different procedures, tools, and skills, guided by professionals working in their field.

This in-person event is for students going into grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 who are interested in learning more about the career options available at AHS and what it takes to get there. You will be sent a participation link and further information once you submit your application.

Attendees may be exposed to real medical situations, medical images, and information that some may find graphic and disturbing.

For any inquiries and additional information, please contact us at Youth.Careers@ahs.ca.

The Exploration Days are happening at a variety of locations across Alberta this summer including Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Calgary, and Red Deer.

Here are the dates/locations with space still available:

• Grande Prairie: August 21–22, 2025
• Lethbridge: August 7–8, 2025
• Red Deer: August 13, 2025 (August 12 is now full)
• Calgary (Peter Lougheed Centre): August 13, 2025 (for self-identified Indigenous students only — no registration fee for Indigenous youth)

Full event details, including the registration links, are available on the AHS Student Engagement webpage.

News

Bow Valley Settlement Services Information and June newsletter click here.

Follow the link to view the highlights in The Brief from the May CRPS Public School Board Meeting.

Wellness Counsellors

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.

CRPS Annual Calendar 2025-2026

At the March CRPS public board meeting the 2025-2026 calendar was approved. It can be found on the CRPS website HERE. Also on the same link, you will find the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 calendars that the Board has approved in principle. 

BCHS Bear Tools

• Parent Portal: provides daily updates on your child's marks and attendance, school fees, and more. 
• myPass: official Alberta Education transcript of marks for grades 10-12
• 2024/2025 Student / Parent Handbook contains important information and dates.
• 2024 - 2025 School Calendar
• Archived newsletters
• BCHS Events Calendar
• International student host families wanted - apply here

• Volunteers: need a criminal or vulnerable RCMP check yearly. Contact the office for more information.
• School Fees: course fees are now overdue. Basketball fees have been added.
  • School fees can be paid online through PowerSchool Parent Portal.
  • In cases of financial hardship, please email Renee Husdal or call 403-762-4411.

Bear Celebrations

If you have a BCHS Celebration that you would like to share with our community, please email natasha.miles@crps.ca