Balfron Matters
S1 Football Squad after their 4-1 win against Stirling High
S1 Football Squad after their 4-1 win against Stirling High
Monday 4 November 2024
Weekly communication for staff
Building Futures Together
Dear colleagues,
Thanks for your contribution to a successful first week of term. We had a positive attainment review with our new Service Manager who recognised the great work being done to improve attainment across the school - many thanks to you all. #buildingfuturestogether
Our in-house CLPL programme is central to supporting improvement. Massive thanks to Michelle for coordinating the extensive programme and to everyone who is sharing interesting practice. This week, Claire is delivering a session on exploring thinking routines with question starts. Come along to C8 on Thirsday lunchtime. More details below.
The mobile phone working group met on Wednesday and reviewed staff feedback on the new policy. Here is a link to the minute. Key points:
new policy will start in new January term with S1-3
this will give time to communicate with all stakeholders and clarify procedures
all S1-3 will be expected to place phones in boxes at the start of each lesson
S4-6 will be expected to have phones off/silent and out of sight
phones will be immediately confiscated if used/ seen in lesson.
Mental Health Matters
Thanks to Lucy who has collated the available staff wellbeing activities. These are below for your information. It was fantastic to see the start of many activities in place to support male mental health this month. Massive thanks to Neil for highlighting this at House Assemblies last week and for leading and organising this:
This round of assemblies will be led by our S4 Male Mental Health Ambassadors
Friday is Male Mental Health Day - non uniform for boys
The Equalities Group have organised Form Class activities to raise the profile of male mental health for S1-3
The Charities Committee have helped organise staff v pupil games to raise money for our main mental health partner, Back Onside
Monday 4 November - Staff V Pupils Football (Astro)
Some staff and pupils are undertaking the moustache growing challenge of Movember
Move for Mental Health - walk, run or jog 2k each day at 1.15pm around the school. To help Neil keep track, please sign up here
Please note that the assembly programme is regularly updated. It can be accessed through the staff Google Drive or on the Notice Boards section on the right hand side of each BM.
Massive thanks to those of you who are able to support the Supervision Rota at a break or lunchtime. It makes a huge difference to have a staff presence. If your circumstances have changed please update the rota.
Thank you for hard work and professionalism. Have a great week.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High:
S1 FCL interviews
Mon: S3 Duke of Edinburgh Assembly
Sports Council, period 4
Tues: Parent Council, online 6.30pm
Wed: S1 Assembly
S5/6 Parents Night
Thurs: S2 Assembly
Fri: S3 Assembly
Male Mental Health Day
Notice Boards
Click the hot chocolate to nominate someone for a Thankful Thursday hot drink
Pics below include:
Pumpkins and poetry in Flexible Learning
Stage make-up in S3 drama, linked to 'The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty'
S1 Football squad 4-1 victory at Stirling High School
MVP being delivered to S1 by S5/6
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 #buildingfuturestogether
Inhouse CLPL 24-25
active learners - active thinkers
Coming Up In November
Thursday 7 Nov
Claire Appelquist
Exploring Thinking Routines with Question Starts
Thursday 14 Nov
Malcolm McFarlane
A novel approach to using google slides as a cooperative learning tool
Wednesday 21 Nov
Why you should be using Quizlet
Retrieval practice, games mode, QQT, and AI, powers this tool up to be a remarkable addition to our repertoire
Thursday 28 Nov
Head Prefects - The Core 4 Study Skills
Come and hear the about the work our head prefects are doing in study skills - and how you promote our Core 4 study techniques into your lessons
Thursday 9 Nov, C8:
Exploring Thinking Routines with Question Starts
Use this excellent routine to structue questioning for deeper thinking,
Claire Appelquist, will take you through her favourite - be ready to pop on the safety googles and discover your inner scientist.
All resources from Lunch n Learn for Active Learning will be posted in this google classroom.
For access to all the templates, use the code to join: 6a7mbjk
Sharing our Resources
Feedback from our festival was super positive, it was clear we all enjoyed sharing and learning from one another
Please share useful resources here
Professional Reading Library - Strathendrick Suite
More Digital CLPL
always available through the links below:
Education Scotland:
Professional learning modules
to work through at your own pace.on Scotland: Professional Learng Modules
Powering up our seniors for successful studying
Quick links for form and class resourcing
National supported study, free offer to all learners.
Teachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
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