Balfron Matters 





Monday 25 March 2024

 Weekly communication for staff 

Dear colleagues,

Congratulations to Campsie House who edged the Inter-House win by 50 points over Lomond House. It was great to see the whole school together for the announcement.  Massive thanks to everyone who has supported Inter-House throughout the year.  Many of our young people really get behind the competition and have a genuine sense of pride in their House. We are committed to supporting young people to find their thing, and keen to increase the range of opportunities available. Please consider how your team could add to the programme.

The Spring Concert certainly did not disappoint.  It was wonderful to hear the wide range of music on offer.  Thank you to Steven and Cairi who led the planning and organisation of the concert. Thanks to the whole team who pulled together to make it a fabulous evening.  I have posted a few short excerpts below to share a flavour.

We are pleased to be in a position to appoint five permanent posts when we return after the holiday.  As the process is rigorous, including observed lessons and a pupil panel, it means that it is impossible to avoid disruption.  We plan to appoint no more than two per week and thank you in advance for your help with observations and patience where the timetable is changed.  The posts being appointed are Business, HE, English, Maths and Technologies.

More change ahead... Massive congratulations to Andrew Lauder who secured a new PT post on Friday.  Andrew will be going to Preston Lodge High School in August as PT Health and Wellbeing. I know you will want to join me in congratulating Andrew.

Well done to our young people who are part of the Balfron High Strathendrick U18 Rugby team.  As Neil highlighted at the whole school assembly last week, the team did fantastically well to make it to the final of the national U18 plate.  While they did not manage to hold QV off, they played great rugby and should be very proud of their achievements.  The final score was 27-36.

The Working Group Leads had a positive meeting last week.  Plans for the Learning Festival on the inservice day are coming together.  Your lead will check with you whether you would prefer to host a display, give a presentation or lead an activity to showcase your learning. Michelle will come up with a super, grand plan to maximise sharing on the day. Thanks in advance to her!


David has identified an issue where a clash has emerged between the S2 trip to the Ardeche and the S1 Parents Evening.  Twelve teachers are away that week. At the SNC we have suggested that we move the S1 parents meeting from Thursday 16th May to Thursday 30 May.  If you have feedback or questions on that, please see David, your professional association rep or me. 


Some of you may be interested to tune into the new podcast 'The Inside Track' featuring our Former Pupil Ross Murdoch reflecting on his Gold medal win in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. 


We have made it successfully to the last week of term! Thanks again for your professionalism and hard work.  Have a great week and a fabulous, well earned holiday when it comes.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High:

Team Meetings


Mon: S3 Assembly cancelled

Final Practical Cookery exam


Tues: Final Practical Cookery exam

The Owen Britton Memorial Debate (P7)

P7 Transition Meeting (5pm)


Wed: S4 Assembly


Thurs: S5/6 Assembly

S2 YPI final (pm)

Fri: Holiday

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

Spring Concert - a short excerpt of our fantastic musicians

Our Young People & Mobile Phones - Update

Much work has been done to listen, survey and understand all staekholders' views while considering best practice for our young people. Thank you for your feedback on the draft policy.  I will certainly add something to clarify that headphones are a distraction and should not be worn in class.

The policy is out to parents for consultation and feedback.  Meanwhile, we depend on eachother for consistency and support.  Here are some key things in our practice that should be in place to support maximum focus:

I am looking forward to the Owen Britton Memorial Debate on Tuesday afternoon (period 7 in the Strathendrick).  The motion is "This house would make Balfron High a mobile phone-free zone".  If you get a chance to come along, please do so to support our young people and hear the high quality debate.  Many thanks to Kate and Emma for organising this.

Mobile Phone Policy (draft)

Last chance to add staff feedback on the draft policy

CLPL Corner

Lunch N Learn This Term


Thanks for the fantastic turn out at lunch n learn this term. It was a pleasure to deliver the course on Generative Learning to so many enthusiastic learners!


The course content can be viewed below:

Make it Generative
Make it Generative
Make it Generative 3 Drawing

Recent learning at lunch n learn

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