Balfron Matters 


Monday 11 March 2024

 Weekly communication for staff 

Dear colleagues,


Thank you to all who contributed to the many co-curricular activities that ran successfully last week.  We are committed to offering the widest range of opportunities and activities to help our young people to find their thing and feel valued in our community.  Last week certainly didn't fall short.  I am aware that there are too many clubs, safe spaces and drop-ins to mention but last week I was delighted to help promote some fabulous opportunities.


Firstly, congratulations to Jasper Burnside and Harry Braid (supported by Emma and Kate) who are through to the final of the prestigious and hotly contested Donald Dewar Debating Tournament.  This is the second year in a row in the Law Society's annual national competition for the Balfron High School team. We wish them the very best of luck in the final.


Thanks to the science team who kicked off British Science week on Friday with all of S1 participating in the BodyWorks activities provided by the Science Centre.  A wide range of activities are available this week including talks and experiments.


Thanks to Neil and Aileen who highlighted Scottish Apprenticeship Week through assemblies and form class activities, videos and information to parents/carers. Where possible encourage our young people to consider the many options available beyond the traditional pathways.  It is important that they can see that we afford equal value to jobs, apprenticeships, college and university pathways.


Thanks to Andrew who organised Live-N-Learn to come in to work with S3 on Enterprise Workshops on Friday. There was a focus on building entrepreneurial attitudes, managing conflict, developing creativity, communication, time management and goal setting.  Pupils worked in small groups to solve a range of fun problems. 


It was great to see International Women's Day promoted across the school, also on Friday.  If you get a chance, take a look at the boards in PE and the library.


Our Eco Club launched Greenpeace UK's, The Big Plastic Count at assemblies last week. We would very much appreciate Form Class Leaders promoting and encouraging participation.  Individuals and groups are simply asked to count our plastic for one week (11-17 March). Results will be submitted and a Plastic Footprint showing where our plastic ends up will be sent back to us.


Inter-House has a positive influence on our positive school ethos.  It is fantastic to see our young people take a genuine pride in their House and enjoying the wide range of challenges. Last week University Challenge and Boccia were the focus with good levels of participation and support.  Thanks Neil for coordinating that and colleagues for leading activities to contribute to the range of competitions. This is the final week before the winning House is announced. 


Form Class Leaders, if you haven't started, please give The Social Dilemma a go with your class.  There are some important discussion points. Let's ensure that our young people are aware of the impact of social media on their wellbeing and choices. The link is in the #MobileMarch Form Class Activity slides.


Another busy week ahead with Working Groups meeting on Wednesday after school.  The Pupil Parliament is meeting on Tuesday periods 2 and 3 in the Strathendrick Suite.  In addition to sharing progress and ideas, our young leaders will be suggesting and discussing key points for a pupil improvement plan for next session.  More on that in due course.


It is Charity Week this week, led by Murrin and the Head Prefects.  Please note that Friday is non-uniform day to support the charities.


Please promote the Big Step Count Challenge with your Form Class.  The info has been posted on Year Group Google Classrooms. Groups of 5 should be counting steps between 11-24 March.


Thanks again for your professionalism and hard work. Have a great week.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High:

S3 Tracking

Science Week.... Charities Week


Mon: S3 Assembly

SNC Meeting, period 2


Tues: Pupil Parliament, P2-3


Wed: S4 Assembly

Working Groups


Thurs: S5/6 Assembly

Fri: S1/2 Assembly

Non-Uniform Day (Comic Relief)

Staff Book Club 18 April 2024

Last week at Balfron

Pics this week  include:


Please take photos and share with me directly or through Twitter (with pupils' permission).  Let's recognise and celebrate all the good stuff.  We will also share in the Parent Noticeboard. #wearebalfron

CLPL Corner

This week:

Promoting more active engagement with

Generative Learning Part 4: 

Thursday lunch, C8

Graphic Organisation - the concept map

Sign up here

Recent learning at lunch n learn

Frayer Maps for Vocabulary  

Make it Generative

Looking at mapping as a deeper way to organise, and integrate into memory

L&T Book Club March-June

A group of us met last week to choose a book, and once again, 

Making Every Lesson Count 

was the winner!


There are lots of copies of this book in our school, so if you want to join us please do. 


We will meet every third Monday lunchtime to discuss a chapter


If you have a copy and aren't actively reading it, please can you give it to me so I can redistribute - thanks!


New learning & teaching site

Links to:

*BHS toolkit*

*observation/tri-learning*

*Walkthurs*

*CLPL*

 SQA Calendar for Coursework and Assignments 2023-24

Balfron High School National 5 Calendar SQA Assignments
Balfron High School Higher Calendar SQA Assignments
Balfron High School Advanced Higher Calendar SQA Assignments

The Brew Box  ☕


It will be open at break & lunch to pupils as follows, staff are always welcome to come along and enjoy a coffee and the chat. 


Monday S1 & S6

Tuesday  S2 & S6

Wednesday         S3 & S6

Thursday S4 & S6

Friday  S5 & S6

February is LGBT History Month

Thanks to Ansley and Andrew for organising activities as follows:

Learning & Teaching Updates

Updated padlet:

L&T Resources

Lots and lots (and lots) of new links have been added to the resource padlet around the themes of our working groups. Click below to access.

BHS L&T Toolkit

 GLOW tile

This is now a tile on the glow BHS landing page - look out for it! 

Powering up our seniors for successful studying

Quick links for form and class resourcing

National supported study, free offer to all learners.


Click here

E-sgoil senior learning spaces


Click here

BHS study technique clips


Click here

Our Priorities for improvement 2023-24



Improvement Plan 23-24 draft

Assemblies January- March 2024

BHS Assembly Programme Jan-Mar 24

 CLPL opportunities

Digital CLPL  

 always available through the links below:

Teacher's Guide to the BHS Study Planner.webm

Teachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch

Weekly Study Planner 2022

BHS senior study planner

e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable

One portal to hold all information

ERP MyPortal.pdf

Useful Links