March 2025 Newsletter

MARCH EVENTS

Click Here to view the ERS Community Calendar 

Click Here to view the ERS Kindergarten Calendar 

Click Here for the 2024-2025 CRPS Learning Calendar

ALBERTA EDUCATION SURVEY

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a world-class education for Alberta’s children, Alberta Education will again be conducting our annual survey of grades 4, 7 and 10 students and their parents or guardians. The survey will gather important information about student’s and parent’s school experiences, and will help to inform continuous improvement in our education system. The survey will also be sent to all teachers in the province. In some schools, all students in grades 4 and above – and their parents or guardians – will be surveyed. Please see this link for more information.

ASPIRING WRITERS

Last fall, 14 students from Mrs. Billings’ class entered a short story writing contest through Polar Expressions Publishing, a Canadian publishing company from BC. Every fall the publishing company hosts a writing contest for Canadian students from kindergarten to grade 12. The stories had to be original and had a maximum of 450 words.  Seven students from Mrs. Billings’ class have made it through the first round of judging and will have their stories published into a book called Space Shark! The book will include short stories from Canadian students from kindergarten to grade 4. Their stories will now advance to the final round of judging for a chance to win a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize. ERS will be receiving a copy of the book Space Shark which we will add to our school's library. 

PINK SHIRT DAY AT ERS

On Wednesday February 26th, we celebrated Pink Shirt Day at ERS. Pink Shirt Day started in 2007, when a group of teenagers organized a high school protest to show support for a student who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Today, Pink Shirt Day is celebrated across Canada and in many other parts of the world. The message for the day is to stand up to bullying and that it has no place in our schools. We had many students being amazing “Upstanders.”  An upstander is a person who recognizes injustice, knows their personal strengths and uses those strengths to create change.  Students created skits with solutions based on scenarios and some also made buttons with Ms. Kat. 

DANCE OFF!

Not only was February 14th Valentines Day, ERS also had its first dance off!  All classes for the previous two weeks were studying dance as part of the physical education curriculum.  Each grade gave a school performance during a Dance Off Assembly and at the end, the entire school danced to the same song.  What fun event, and perhaps a new ERS tradition.

KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS VISIT

On February 5th we had our Knowledge Keepers, Virgil and Ollie join our Kindergarten and grade 4 classes.  They shared stories of what life was like for the Stoney Nakoda people prior to the settler’s arrival.  Sharing stories of lifestyle, travelling routes, and traditional life.  They also talked about how the Stoney Nakoda people are connected to the land. 

Please see the image below of a lovely tribute, made by our students, to one of our previous Knowledge Keepers Philomine, who sadly passed away earlier this year. 

THE KEY TO CONFIDENT READERS STARTS AT HOME

Supporting Young Readers at Home! The journey to literacy is unique for every child, and parents play a key role in building reading confidence. At Elizabeth Rummel School’s Literacy Night on February 12th, families explored how reading develops and how small, consistent efforts at home make a big impact.

While some children pick up reading easily, 70 percent need structured instruction and repeated practice to strengthen literacy skills. Reading 20 minutes a day exposes children to nearly 1.8 million words a year, boosting vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Parents can help by reading aloud, playing word games, and encouraging writing through fun activities like grocery lists or storytelling. For more information check out the Blog Post on our website, including a link to the Literacy Night slide deck.  

OUR SHARED VISION OF LEARNING (Part 5)

At Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS), we are committed to Inspiring Hearts & Minds. This Shared Vision of Learning defines our collective beliefs about learning that guide our actions. In what ways will we strive to empower learners to be critical, creative thinkers, innovators, problem solvers, effective communicators and collaborators, who are globally aware, independent, responsible citizens.

We believe that diversity of experiences and connections in nature and community enhance learning beyond the classroom. As learners, we:

• collaborate to create and honour relationships with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, Elders and other community experts to provide authentic learning experiences.
• design experiential learning opportunities and environments that authentically engage and stretch learners.

EXTRA CLOTHES!

ERS is asking for all students to keep a change of clothes in their backpacks at all times. With the warmer weather comes puddles and mud, and we are unable to provide all students with a change of clothes, meaning parents may have to bring some to the school during the day. 

We would also appreciate any donations you can share of indoor and outdoor clothing to add to our closet – we gladly accept clean items in good condition (no rips, tears or worn knees) for all sized kiddos.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION 

Did you know that CRPS Transportation provides Bus Status updates, both on their website and in an app that you can download onto your phone? Never miss an update again!

• Click here to see website bus updates: Bus Updates
• Click here to download the app for your Apple phone: Bus Status 4
• Click here to download the app for your Android phone: Bus Status 4

VOLUNTEERING

Elizabeth Rummel School loves and greatly appreciates all of our volunteers! We require all volunteers who help in the school or on field trips to complete a Criminal Record Check through the RCMP. The Criminal Record checks expire one year from the issue date. Prior to volunteering, please email your legal name to the school office at ers.info@crps.ca or to your child’s teacher, to request an RCMP Fee Waiver Letter and we will email it to you. Please note it can take up to a week to get the check back from the RCMP. 

• Promotes positive mental health in your child’s class
• Runs pro-social clubs
• Supports positive school culture by creating whole-school events
• Supports staff with social-emotional programming

Ms. Kat works at Elizabeth Rummel School, putting her B.Ed to good use in her universal classroom presentations on mental health and wellness. Dovetailing AB curriculum and best practices for positive mental health, Kat supports the social/emotional development of all students at ERS. Kat looks for quiet moments in her day, and she loves to laugh with her family and friends. Click Here for more information about the amazing work done through RFTS and our Success Coach Ms. Kat!

Canadian Rockies Public Schools
Please follow CRPS on Facebook, Follow/Tag us on X and on Instagram so you can stay up-to-date on all CRPS school related issues, updates and information. Please click here for the CRPS Board Meeting Calendar, Agendas and Highlights.

Homestay families needed in Banff, Canmore or Exshaw for international high school students (Grade 10-12) from Feb-June 2025
Do you have a spare bedroom and space to share Canmore with an international student? Become a host family for our International Student Program! Remuneration is provided. Follow this link to find out more!

Settlement Services
Settlement Services provides Permanent Residents of Canada, Live-In Caregivers and Refugees with the support they need to settle in the Bow Valley. 

More information about Settlement Services and a calendar of events is available at: https://www.banff.ca/settlement Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSBV.CCBV/ 

Click here for the: March 2025 Newsletter Link

SWIS Upcoming Events:
Filipino Youth (Grades 7-12) and Adult Workshops in Banff on Friday March 7
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 – 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

For Filipino Adults
Date: Friday March 7, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 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

Click Here for the Community Calendar - Town of Canmore 

The Family Connection Centre is dedicated to building connected and resilient children, youth, and families through strength-based programming. All programs and services are free, and we welcome referrals from community partners and organizations for any parenting-related challenges or concerns. As a central hub for families, we provide a safe space to land when you’re unsure of what you need.

Individual and Family Supports

The Family Connection Centre provides one-on-one support through our dedicated Family Support Workers. This free service is available to all Bow Valley families either virtually or in person. Our team works with families to identify needs, set goals, and build capacity.