Balfron Matters


Monday 19 December 2022

Weekly communication for staff

Dear colleagues,


Happy last week of term! We have made it. Thank you for your patience and flexibility on Friday with the weather difficulties. I watched it unfold on the Leadership Team Whatsapp group, feeling helpless from 270 miles away. Surprisingly, the weather was less challenging up north. As a rule, if the weather appears dangerous, please do not venture out. If we remain open, we can always delay the start of the day.


I would like to extend a personal thanks to Claire Appelquist for deputising last week. It was one of our busiest weeks to lead and manage, with two dances and a parents night in the evenings adding to an already busy week.


The pictures and videos from the S3/4 and S1/2 Christmas dances looked fantastic! Thanks to everyone who gave up their time to help plan, run and supervise the ceilidh. The dances are on the list of events that young people remember and speak of fondly about their time at school. They, like other extra-curricular activities, build a sense of belonging and community as well as getting us all into the Christmas spirit!


Thank you to everyone for their contribution to ensuring the S2 parents evening ran smoothly on Wednesday. It is an important time for clear understanding of progress, feedback and advice with the first opportunity to make course choices on the horizon.


It was great to see the school choir performing last Sunday in Killearn with the Strathendrick Singers. They were fabulous - are al credit to the school.


As you know Amanda Short leaves hes substantive role at Depute Head for Lomond House at the end of term. Amanda has been a fantastic team mate and friend to us over the years. It was lovely to see so many collegaues, past and current, at the Birds & Bees for her retiral party last Friday night. I know some collegaues were unable to go, so we will further mark Amanda's service to Balfron on Wednesday in the Strathendrick Suite at lunchtime.


We will also be wishing Anna Barrie and Susie Gill very best wishes as they embark on their respective maternity leaves. We are looking forward to hearing about and seeing pics of the new arrivals to the Balfron family. Matt Harvey (McLaren HS) will be picking up the acting PT Expressive Arts role from the 16th January. Joining Fiona Galloway, Amanda Short will be heading back to her first love, picking up some of Susie's biology cover.


Thank you all so much for your hard work and professionalism. I wish everyone a positive end of term and enjoyable, restful and well deserved holiday.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High:

Team Meetings


Mon: Xmas Jumper Day (rescheduled)

Xmas Lunch (rescheduled)

S5/6 Ceilidh


Tues: Christmas Concert, 7pm


Wed: French & German Prelims

S1 Panto (periods 3 & 4)

Bring & Share Lunch

Thurs: Last day of term


Fri: Holiday


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 S1 and seniors enjoying festive baking in HE, pictures of our Choir who were invited to sing at Killearn Church with the Strathendrick Singers and of course the S1/2 and S3/4 Christmas Dances.

Thanks for the pictures - it is a great way to share and celebrate the work of our school.

Higher French & German Prelims This Week


The following pupils will sit their TALKING prelim exam on Wednesday 21st December:


French

      Poppy Sleight 9.00 am

      Caroline Smautz     9.15 am

      Caitlin Bradwell      9.30 am

      Jasper Burnside       9.45 am

      Caitlin Douglas     10.00 am

      Archie MacKay       10.15 am

      Matthew Piper       10.30 am

      Eva Scott            11.30 am

      Lucy Walne          11.45 am

      Amelie Nimmo       12.00 pm


German

      Caroline Schmautz  1.50 pm

      Ellis Williams      2.05 pm

      Maria Proroka  2.30 pm

      Poppy Sleight    2.50 pm



Aplogies for the disruption this may cause. Pupils should report to ML 5 minutes before their allocated Prelim time.


Corrine Anderson

Cinderella - adapted by Naomi Irvine

Ciairi Edwards has been running an after school show group. They have been working on the panto adapted by Naomi Irvine. The show group will perform their short version of Cinderella to S1s on Wednesday during Period 3 and 4 as follows:


P1 - CAST ONLY - Dress rehearsal in drama studio


P3 - Sets 4,5,6,7 in maths come down to watch


P4 - Sets 1,2,3 in social subjects come down to watch

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.

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.

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

End of term Retrieval Fun

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

C8 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


Sign up by clicking here

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



BHS Assembly Programme Oct-Dec 22

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.

Improvement Plan - Balfron High School

Calendar 2022-23

19 December Christmas Jumper Day

20 December Christmas Concert

22 December Close

9 January School re-opens

10 January Prelims begin

1 February Pupil Council

28 February Pupil Council

15 March Pupil Council

18 April Pupil Council

Collegiate Calendar 2022-23

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

Reducing+Risks+in+Schools+guidance+-+version+6.1+-+September+2021.pdf
BHS SIP & Recovery Plan 202-22.docx