Balfron Highlights
One of our Rock Bands performing
Embedded Files
Monday 3 March 2025
Monthly Update for parents and carers
Building Futures Together
Welcome to the first monthly newsletter, Balfron Highlights
Welcome to the first monthly newsletter, Balfron Highlights
Thank you to all of you who completed the survey on communication. Our communication was highlighted by some parents as an area for improvement, so sharing this monthly newsletter is one of our strategies to get better.
Each month I will share some highlights, successes and areas that we are working on. I hope this will help you feel more connected with our school. Of course feedback is always welcome. I am pleased to receive that directly
Thank you for your support and partnership.
Elaine Bannatyne
Head Teacher
How parents/carers can help raise standards at Balfron - #inthistogether
How parents/carers can help raise standards at Balfron - #inthistogether
Our top asks to maintain expectations and standards :
Send your child in full school uniform - set the tone for a positive day, part of the Balfron Family
Maximise their attendance and punctuality - only stay off if absolutely necessary
Talk about what your child is learning with them. Help build resilience - learning should be hard!
Read Write Chrome is an amazing extension available on Chromebooks that we encourage learners with dyslexia, dysgraphia or language difficulties. If your young person falls into this category, ask them to show you how it works and encourage them to use it in and out of school.
The video below gives an overview and is worth a look. Staff at Balfron have all recently done some training on this and are encouraging pupils to use the support.
Head Teacher Drop-ins
Head Teacher Drop-ins
You are welcome to drop-in to school to chat with the HT without an appointment at the drop-in times listed below. Parents will be seen on a first come, first served basis.
Next Drop-ins::
6th March, 3.30-5pm
30 April, 3.30-5pm
28 May, 3.30-5pm
17 June, 3.30-5pm
Recent Wider Achievements at Balfron - a flavour
Recent Wider Achievements at Balfron - a flavour
Last week at Balfron
Thanks to Mrs Boyle, the English Team (plus Mr Duffy) for their commitment to and love of the library. Thanks to all who have donated books for our new senior section. The pictures left, provide a small taste.
Thanks to Mr Cameron for organising the apprenticeship workshops with Aggreko. They are a fantastic local partner.
Thanks to Miss Gibson for coaching and taking the girls football team to Cumbernauld for the regional round of the Spar Cup having qualified through the local round. Thanks to Mrs Quinn for driving buses and supporting our teams!
Flowers for Mrs McLay from the young people as a big thank you for organising and leading the recent successful ski trip to Austria.
Susannah Stewart from the ASN Outreach Team leads the lunch and learn workshop for staff on adaptive teaching strategies.
Last week:
Congratulations to our S4 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Graduates. The Duke of Edinburgh runs with the support of the Balfron Award Group who run our skills sessions and expeditions. We are extremely grateful to them.
February
Trip to Kelvingrove Art Gallery
Senior Ski trip to Austria
Collaboration with Spanish pupils from Santander
February
Inservice Day collaborating on inclusive classrooms
S2 Mock Election in Modern Studies
Grease Rehearsals
Inter House Lip Sync
Scottish Institute for Dance Workshop
January
Dance-athon. This fundraiser for the upcoming school show raised approx £900. Well done to all involved!
January
Netball Festival - Balfron High Squads
Improvement discussions at Balfron
Improvement discussions at Balfron
Senior Phase - Attainment matters
Faculty Heads have been meeting with their teams and the HT to discuss the prelim results and how we best support our young people in the run up to SQA exams and course completion.
Mr Slavin has shared a survey on the condensed prelim diet. The purpose of condensing the diet was to give teachers and pupils an extra week focused together in class, so we will not know the overall impact until the final results are published. We are aware on the impact on our young people particularly S4 pupils and are carefully considering our approach next session. It is important to remember that not all subjects have exams and a significant and equally import number of young people do not require study leaver, so careful consideration needs to be given to planning for all pupils.
We have been doing a considerable amount of work with our young people on study skills - generally and linked to particular subjects. There is a video that has been shared with our pupils that give examples of how to study made at Balfron for Balfron Learners. I hope sharing this will be useful for parents supporting your children.
You can also take a look at some of the work that has been done on study skills through form time.
Helping Your S4-6 child?
Join us in chatting with them about these:
Supported Study 24-25
Core 4Weekly Study Planner 2024The Balfron Clothing Co in partnership with our Eco Club
The Balfron Clothing Co in partnership with our Eco Club
Thanks to Jackie from the Parent Council collaborating with Mrs Youens and our Eco club, we are delighted to offer our uniform pop up shop at school in our reception at lunchtimes on Wednesdays as follows:
Wednesday 19th March
Wednesday 26 March
Wednesday 23 April
The pupils are keen to help spread the word about the stall and increase the recycling of uniform as well as their plans to help with the recycling of non-uniform clothing. We really hope that this will support our community and reinforce our commitment to learning for sustainability. Together we can save the planet!
Balfron 28.2.pdfPage updated
Report abuse