Balfron Matters
Monday 20 November 2023
Weekly communication for staff
Morning everyone,
Congratulations to Connell Duffy on the arrival of his son Charlie. We wish you and the family all the very best.
On Friday the school raised £738.10 for Children in Need which is the most we have ever raised. The Charities Committee led by Murrin Thomson did a fantastic job organising the day's events.
Congratulations to Summer Davidson, Sophie Bilsland and Imogen Wilson who took part in the GCHQ National Language Competition 2023. The National Language Competition (NLC) is a virtual competition where teams from schools around the UK compete against each other to solve language-based puzzles and score points. The three pupils really enjoyed the experience and we are very proud of them. Well done. Thank you to Marie-Claire Maxwell for organising.
Also, congratulations to Genevieve, Zofia, Harrison and Murdie for coming 3rd in the Top of the Bench competition this week. Thank you to Oonagh Murray for taking them through to Forth Valley College and getting the team ready.
Wednesday's Book Swap went well with may young people going away loaded up with new novels to read. Thank you to Nicola and the English Team for organising.
S3 Parents Evening is tonight. Soup will on offer in the Atrium beforehand. This week DHT are taking the lead with the assemblies.
Have a good week everyone.
Kind regards
Claire
PS: If you have embarked on your Christmas shopping you might consider going through easyfundraising. Money goes into the school fund if you do.
Link below
Link to Thankful Thursdays
This week at Balfron High:
S3 Parents Evening
Mon: S3 Assembly
S3 Parents Evening
Tues:
Wed: S4 Assembly
Thurs: S1/2 Assembly
Fire Warden Training
Fri: S5/6 Assembly
Advance Notice 8 December 2023
Fri: Christmas Fayre (10-2pm)
Last Week at Balfron High School
Balfron High School
The collection of photos are from Children in Need, GCHQ National Language Competition, Top of the Bench Competition, Book Week Scotland
The Brew Box ☕
1st December 2023
Forth Valley College Foundation Apprenticeship will be serving breakfast - all staff are welcome to come along
It will be open at break & lunch to pupils as follows, staff are always welcome to come along and enjoy a coffee and the chat.
Monday S1 & S6
Tuesday S2 & S6
Wednesday S3 & S6
Thursday S4 & S6
Friday S5 & S6
Assemblies week beginning 13 November
Anti-bullying Assembly 2023.pptx#Dresstowasteless.pptxStaff CLPL Inhouse offer
Twilight sessions 3.45
All sessions are designed to be short bursts with lots of sharing of ideas
All welcome
Upcoming this Term
Science of Learning at BHS
What is this and how do we use encoding and retrieval to power up our pedagogy at BHS
Probationers, new staff and the well seasoned, all welcome!
Revisiting Retrieval
Power up their memory!
A quick revisit of retrieval and sharing our strategies - lots of new ideas on show!
Learning & Teaching Updates
Updated padlet:
L&T Resources
Lots and lots (and lots) of new links have been added to the resource padlet around the themes of our working groups. Click below to access.
BHS L&T Toolkit
GLOW tile
This is now a tile on the glow BHS landing page - look out for it!
Powering up our seniors for successful studying
Quick links for form and class resourcing
S4 Study Skills
Form Class Activities
All S4 form classes will have a series of study skill activities delivered to them between now and Christmas. This will happen during form class.
It will include training in the Science of Learning in order to improve the effectiveness in the way they study, and filling in weekly study plans with support.
S4 will be re-familiarised with the terms encoding and retrieval, and how we can use study methods that maximise the effectiveness of study though these processes.
Using this language in class with help our S4 to consolidate this learning and see the relevance across their curriculum.
The BHS Senior Study Planner S4 will use can be viewed below.
SQA Calendar for Coursework and Assignments 2023-24
Our Priorities for improvement 2023-24
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
Assemblies October - December 2023
CLPL opportunities
Digital CLPL
always available through the links below:
Below is a link to Dougie's Tech Tips Play list. Always worth a look - great tip on getting rid of adverts from presentations using YouTube this week.
Teacher's Guide to the BHS Study Planner.webmTeachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
Weekly Study Planner 2022BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
One portal to hold all information
ERP MyPortal.pdfHealth & 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