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

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.