Balfron Matters
Monday 17 April 2023
Weekly communication for staff
Dear colleagues,
Welcome back! I hope that you have had a restful break. Many thanks to the team of staff who gave up their holiday to supervise the ski trip to Pila. Exhausting I'm sure, but no doubt many great memories made for our young people - thank you.
We have reached the final term of the session - time to review this year's SIP progress and set priorities for next year. Your input is much appreciated with this. Feedback and suggestions are being saught from staff, parents and pupils. If you are named on this year's SIP, please could you update the progress made/evaluation done.
On Wednesday in the Strathendrick Suite, Elaine Johnstone and I plan to meet with the pupils who are sitting less than 3 SQA exams. They are being offered an alternative programme that we hope will keep them connected with school while developing some core skills. Thanks to Elaine for coordinating this programme and to everyone who can support its supervision. These are the pupils and this is the programme. If you have time and something to add, please liaise with Elaine J - that would be much appreciated.
On Thursday we formally say goodbye to our S6 pupils. Thanks to Grace for organising the fun input in the Theatre on Thursday morning. This will run until break. Pupils will return for the more formal graduation at 6.30pm. Thanks to all the Leadership Team for preparing speeches and supporting this. All staff are more than welcome to come along to both events. It would be great to see you.
All S4 and S5 pupils should be in class as usual on Friday. This is their last day before study leave begins on Monday 24 April. The Games Hall will be the main place for exams again this session. With many rooms being utilised throughout the school, please be aware and help us ensure that we maintain a quiet environment for those sitting. Thanks to Phil, Lynne, Jennifer, Lesley and Penny Bath for the massive job done in preparation and throughout the exam diet.
Have a great week.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High:
Mon:
Tues:
Wed: S4-6 Study Leave Programme
(Strathendrick Suite)
Thurs: S6 Leavers Day (am, Theatre)
Graduation 6.30pm
Fri: CfE: Lomond 2, Science
Last week of term at Balfron
When people outside your walls know what you are doing, it gives value to those inside
Photos from the last week of term include:
The Owen Brittain debating competition - congratulations to winner, Harry Braid.
Curriculum map displays in Science
YPI winners
S1 with 'Ask me what I'm reading' badges
U18 rugby squad (last game)
Balfron HS golf team
Flexible Learning Ambassadors
Mrs Douglas and 1L1 organising donations for the Balfron Larder
SIP 2022-23 Review and Priorities for 2023-24
Assembly Programme April- May 2023
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Inservice Day programme (draft) - 28 April 2023
10 mins Pedagogy Power up
Retrieval Practice Revisit
Lots of Tri-Learning going on over the next few week - here's a few favourite resources that's been shared this year
Retrieval Practice Book Series
Don't forget, all three books in the series are packed full of ideas and available in the professional reading library.
CLPL opportunities
In house CLPL
Voluntary Sign up sessions
Low level behaviour challenges: TBC
In person E Bannatyne and C Appelquist:
Sign up available soon
Moving information into Long Term Memory - optimising our practice
April Inservice - Fri 30 April
All staff attend
Metacognition - w/b 1 May
In person, a second chance to participate in this workshop
Sign up available soon
Making effective use of Show me boards - w/b 8 May
In person, Sharing good practice session
Sign up available soon
Giving feedback - Exploring the many ways - w/b 15 May
In person, Sharing good practice session
Sign up available soon
External CLPL
BHS Professional Learning Notice board.
Search. Click. Book
Next week
With study leave and PRD on the horizon, there will soon be breathing space for our professional development interests.
Next week's BM will feature some new opportunities that might be of interest!
Powering up our seniors for successful studying
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=/
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Teachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
![](https://www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/product/1x/docs_32dp.png)
BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
Pupil Council Meetings
Tuesday 6 December
Wednesday 8 February
Tuesday 28 February
Wednesday 15 March
Tuesday 18 April
One portal to hold all information
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
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
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)