Balfron Matters
Monday 12 December 2022
Weekly communication for staff
Dear colleagues,
Another super busy week is in the bag and the end of term is approaching at speed.
We had much to celebrate last week. Rotary Young Musician of the Year on Monday provided our young people with a fantastic opportunity to perform in the prestigious competition. My thanks go to Steven McIntyre for organising this - chasing young people, linking with Iain Dickie from the Rotary and organising adjudicator, Katherine Wren (RSNO Viola player). Congratulations to winner Tom Horrocks and runner up and Maggie O'Donnell on their outstanding performances on piano and voice respectively. We had some lovely feedback from Katherine:
..."and thanks for having me. I really enjoyed my morning and was impressed by the standard and commitment of all your pupils. Clearly a thriving department. If you ever need someone again, I'd very happily come over. Wishing Tom and Maggie the best of luck in the next round."
Wednesday night saw some staff and pupils at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre for the finals of The Scottish Sports Awards. It was humbling to be in the presence of top class athletes such as Eilish McColgan, Eve Muirhead, as well as our own FPs, Ross Murdoch, Colin Gregor and Lewis Stewart. While it was not Balfron's night, it was a night to be proud of what we offer, contribute and achieve in sport. I am painfully aware that we would not get anywhere near the finals of such a prestigious competition without the hard work and commitment of staff and partners who give their time, energy and enthusiasm to sport and physical activity in our school. I recognise that this, along with other extra curricular opportunities, makes an incredible difference to our young people.
Our Attainment and Achievement visit took place on Wednesday. Feedback was highly positive and I'd like to pass on thanks to everyone for their commitment, rigour and care of young people sitting national qualifications. Despite the disruption of the pandemic, last session our pupils achieved highly and often better than our virtual comparator. This session I am keen that we do all we can to keep young people in courses, particularly at Higher, improvements should be on the horizon.
Matt Harvey from McLaren High School has been appointed acting PT Expressive Arts while Anna is on maternity leave. He will join us from 16 January.
Congratulations to all nine of our probationers who submitted positive interim profiles to the GTCS last week. Great to see that first milestone overtaken. I hope that they and their mentors can now relax (a bit) and enjoy the end of term.
This week I am on a deployment to the Highlands for an HMIe inspection. It is a massive privilege to be part of the team. I hope to be able to share much of what I learn with you on return. Claire Appelquist is the deputising depute and in charge during this busy week that has dances and a parent nights scheduled. Thank you, in advance, to everyone who is helping with these.
Many thanks for you hard work and professionalism at this challenging time.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High:
Mon: Form: S4 Course Choice Assembly
P1: S5/6 Prelim assembly
Tues: S3/4 Ceilidh
Wed: S2 Parents Evening
Thurs: S1/2 Ceilidh
Fri: Christmas Jumper Day
Christmas Lunch
CfE - E2 Health
Last week at Balfron
When people outside your walls know what you are doing, it gives value to those inside.
This week we have pictures of Fraser Cranna and Logan Nisbet at the Future Chef competition, Rotary Young Musician of the Year winners and competitors, Bake Club festive biscuits, Holly Gayler with her age group trophy won at the Scottish Development Cup, HE pupils enjoying lamb dhansak for St Andrew's Day, S1/2 Netballers after their winning games against Bearsden Academy, more delicious festive crinkle cookies made in Practical Cookery and the Balfron Team - former, current and associates at the Scottish Sports Awards.
Thanks for the pictures - keep them coming!
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Music Prelims This Week
The music performance prelims are taking place next week on Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th and Friday 16th December.
The timetable for the exams is on the left. PLEASE NOTE - Pupils should leave class 20 mins before this time so that they can get their instrument tuned and warmed up prior to their exam.
Anna
Study Skills Resources
National weekly study sessions: https://www.e-sgoil.com/
BHS Study techniques website: https://sites.google.com/stirlingschools.net/bhs-study-skills/home
NeLO Learning Spaces: https://www.thinglink.com/card/1421866155961745410
Achieve: https://achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/user-start/?next=/
Our School Christmas Card
Thanks to the Art team who coordinated our annual Christmas Card competition. There were many fantastic entries and it was tricky to choose.
Lillie Sullivan, 1C1, created this beautifully detailed card that will be sent to our parents, partners and friends of the school on behalf of all staff and pupils.
If there is someone you would like to add to the list, please give their name and email address to Lesley Edwards asap.
With sustainability in mind, almost all of our cards are now sent via email.
Christmas Concert
The rehearsals have sounded fabulous after school over the last few weeks. Lots of work and time has gone into preparing for the concert - sincere thanks to Anna, Cairi, Steven and the music instructors for their commitment.
Our concerts are always of an incredibly high standard and the Christmas Concert is a great way to bring in the festive spirit at the end of term. The young people have been rehearsing incredibly hard and it is always a pleasure for them to perform our repertoire to a packed audience.
I hope that you will be able to join us for the concert on Tuesday 20th at 7pm.
Well done and thanks to Bethan, S4, for designing our poster.
Equity Matters
Our Young People
We have 52 pupils now receiving Free School Meal (FSM) entitlement. These pupils are supported by our Pupil Equity Funding (PEF). Please have a regular check of the list. It is particularly important that these pupils are considered when planning any trips or activities which have a cost. Please use the 'Equity Checklist' to guide planning regarding reflective questions to ensure we are fully supporting these young people.
PEF list & Checklist: FSM 22/23
Hampers 2022
The PEF team will be coordinating 20 Christmas Hampers again this year for targeted families. If you can, please donate to the hampers by Wednesday 14 December. A box for donations is located in the staff room. Here are a few suggestions for donations:
Thank you again to staff for your continued support.
Fiona
Powering up our seniors for successful studying
Don't forget, we have an abundance of useful resources to help seniors on the run up to the prelims.
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Teachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
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BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
Increasing Challenge
We continue with a series of CLPL around challenge.
Show me boards have been getting discussed a lot again recently. They significantly improve the participation levels in the classroom, and act as a high feedback, low stake way to check for understanding. In this video, Adam Boxer really shows the full potential for these humble boards and what we can achieve using them. Watch for loads of great ideas! OR, have a quick read of the blog from Teaching Delusion.
In house CLPL Professional Learning Opportunities
Join us for Edublethers, new ideas, old ideas and sharing good practice
Increasing challenge in our classrooms
Monday 19th December
Strathendrick Suite 3.45
Who's thinking?
How do we achieve a learning environment where everyone is accountable for participating in thinking?
Join us to explore techniques and tweeks
External Professional Learning Opportunties
STEM and Learning for Sustainability CLPL Opportunities
This fab new all-in-one-place CLPL calendar has just been published by Education Scotland.
The list of opportunities to book into events is excellent. Many are free and online as well. Have a look by clicking here
SQA Understanding Standards Events
Use the QR code to see what's on offer
Scottish Learning Festival 22
All sessions now available to watch on Education Scotland's You Tube channel
Pupil Council Meetings
Tuesday 6 December
Wednesday 1 February
Tuesday 28 February
Wednesday 15 March
Tuesday 18 April
Here is the link to our school improvement plan. It is a real, working document that will be updated and amended as we go through the session. Thanks to everyone for input. If there is anything that you would like to add or ask, let me know.
Calendar 2022-23
12 December EB, HMIe deployment (all week)
14 December S2 Parents Meeting
14-16 Dec N5 & Higher Music Practical Prelims
16 December Christmas Jumper Day
20 December Christmas Concert
1 February Pupil Council
28 February Pupil Council
15 March Pupil Council
18 April Pupil Council
Health & 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
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