Balfron Matters
Monday 18 December 2023
Weekly communication for staff
Morning everyone,
It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have received a Gold Scottish Languages Employability Award from SCILT. Many thanks to Marie-Claire Maxwell who was instrumental in submitting all the required information. They received some super feedback from the verification panel. Well done to all young people and staff.
On Friday the Charities Committee raised just over £200 for Save the Children. Many thanks to all those who wore their Christmas jumpers and contributed to this worthy cause. On another note I want to highlight the efforts of 3L2. This year 3L2 decided to start a Christmas charity project. They voted for their preferred charity supporting Dunelm's 'Delivering Joy Appeal', organised groups and bought presents for young children from a nursery group. The staff in Lomond 2 and especially Susie Gill (Form Class Leader) are all very proud of pupils for the kindness they have demonstrated towards others in need.
Last week the S3/4 and S5/6 Dances were fantastic. Thank you to all the staff who organised the dances and also those who helped on the night. Tonight we have the S1/2 Christmas Dance and on Wednesday our Christmas Concert. This Friday is non-uniform day and we are asking for contributions to Balfron Larder.
Thank you for all your hard work and professionalism this term. It's certainly been a busy one. I wish everyone a restful and peaceful holiday.
Kind regards
Claire
Link to Easyfundraising Balfron HS
Link to Thankful Thursday Nomination's
This week at Balfron High:
Team Meetings
Mon: S1/2 Christmas Dance
Tues:
Wed: Christmas Concert, 7pm
Thurs: Staff Bring & Share Lunch
Fri: Non-uniform and items for Balfron Larder
School finishes: 1pm
Last Week at Balfron High School
Balfron High School
This week's collection of images are from the S3/4 and S5/6 Dances. 3L2's charity contributions, winners of the S1 Christmas Card Competition and the Gold Scottish Languages Employability Award.
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
Staff CLPL Inhouse offer
Twilight sessions 3.45
All sessions are designed to be short bursts with lots of sharing of ideas
All welcome
Upcoming this Term
Revisiting Retrieval
Power up their memory!
A quick revisit of retrieval and sharing our strategies - lots of new ideas on show!
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
S4 Study Skills
Form Class Activities
All S4 form classes will have a series of study skill activities delivered to them between now and Christmas. This will happen during form class.
It will include training in the Science of Learning in order to improve the effectiveness in the way they study, and filling in weekly study plans with support.
S4 will be re-familiarised with the terms encoding and retrieval, and how we can use study methods that maximise the effectiveness of study though these processes.
Using this language in class with help our S4 to consolidate this learning and see the relevance across their curriculum.
The BHS Senior Study Planner S4 will use can be viewed below.
SQA Calendar for Coursework and Assignments 2023-24
Our Priorities for improvement 2023-24
Increased consistency in Learning & Teaching
Improved Wellbeing & Inclusion of all young people
Increased offer in Curriculum
Increased Attainment & Achievement
Increased influence of Pupil Voice on Improvement
Assemblies October - December 2023
CLPL opportunities
Digital CLPL
always available through the links below:
Below is a link to Dougie's Tech Tips Play list. Always worth a look - great tip on getting rid of adverts from presentations using YouTube this week.
Teacher's Guide to the BHS Study Planner.webmTeachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
Weekly Study Planner 2022BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
One portal to hold all information
ERP MyPortal.pdfHealth & Wellbeing - Counselling for staff
Did you know counselling is available through Stirling Council?
Employee Counselling is available through our Occupational Health provider, People Asset Management (PAM)
There are a few ways employees can request Counselling.
Stuart Shaw on shaws@stirling.gov.uk
Contact hr@stirling.gov.uk
Call Ann at PAM on 0800 882 4102
If you want some more information about counselling, what to expect or looking for self-help resources then please pop in and see Karin Figliolini or drop her an email.
Useful Links