Monday 22 August 2022
Weekly communication for staff
Dear colleagues,
I hope you had a good first week. I've been reflecting on last week's In-service days and discussing them with the Leadership team and some other staff. Getting the balance between planning time and professional learning during in-service days is tricky. I think that we all share that there was an info overload and that there must be a better way to do what we share information. Here is a link to the evaluation. If you have suggestions, they would be much appreciated. Your feedback generally is really important so please take 5 minutes to complete the evaluation.
The Deputes are running assemblies this week. S6 will not have an assembly as they will be linking with new S1 in Home Areas to establish buddying support.
I am keen to get the Pupil Council started and underway. Form Class Leaders, please could you appoint Pupil Council Reps for the year. Meetings will be fortnightly from 1 September. Times of the day to be emailed when confirmed with Head Prefects.
I have received notice of a Thematic Inspection. The focus is on the implementation of the new approach to recording and monitoring incidents of bullying and how well this is supporting young people. Balfron High has been selected as one of the 35 schools (Primary, Secondary and ASN) that HMIe will visit across the country. The visit will last one day. Here is a link to our school policy Preventing & Challenging Bullying Behaviours. You may be selected to join a focus group, so please do ensure that you are very familiar with our policy. For those interested, here is a link to the national guidance.
Last session we did a piece of work around respect, bullying and what our young people experienced. This was followed up by assemblies, Humanutopia input and many individual support provided by Form Class Leaders and the Pupil Support Team. I do not yet have a date for the visit, but will keep you all up to date with this.
Thanks for your hard work and professionalism. Have a great week.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High:
Monday: Monday merit check
Tuesday: Duke of Edinburgh Meeting 7pm
Wednesday:
Thursday: School Photographs
Friday: CfE - SLT/Expressive Arts
School Priorities 2022-23
Wellbeing – staff, pupils, community
Recovery - re-establishing positive school culture of challenge
Learning, Teaching and Assessment - the science of learning, digital approaches, assessment
PEF & Equity
2022 Pre-Appeal Results are now available for analysis on the Results Machine
https://www.thecfemachine.co.uk/index.php User name: balfronhs (Password by email)
CLPL Corner
Massive thanks to Michelle for her inspiring input to each House Team over the in-service days. As you know this is the year of Challenge at Balfron High School and our whole school focus is cognitive science. Retrieval practice is a fantastic start.
Suggestions for professional learning from now until Christmas will focus on retrieval. So here is Kate Jones' podcast "Retrieval Practice: The Basics".
Also provided is a link to a brilliant website, "A collection of retrieval practice research and resources".
Leadership Thoughts & Perspectives
This week I have selected an episode that highlights the importance of supporting colleagues with ideas.
Showing support for those who bring ideas and take risks not only provides support at that moment but also tells others that they will be supported in the future.
Let's find space to share and support ideas at Balfron High.
School Counselling Service
My name is Karin and I am a qualified counsellor, employed by Stirling council to be the school counsellor at Balfron high. I have been qualified as a counsellor for 14 years now and have many years experience working with a range of issues.
I am based on the first floor, next to flexible learning. If my door is open please feel free to pop in and say hello. My working days are Tuesday to Friday.
Time2talk
If a pupil is identified as needing support then please encourage them initially to come and see me for a time2talk session-This is a 15/20 min chat, gives them the opportunity to meet with myself and find out more about the counselling service. There is available time2talk sessions every week during form/break or lunch time.
Time2talk form- Attached-please print and display in your classroom-pupils can also access the QR code on their glow tiles.
Counselling
If a pupil would like counselling then a referral form needs to be completed by PS of their house , if not allocated to PS then their form teacher can also complete the referral.
If a pupil is 11 and under then we need permission from parent/carer for the y/p to attend counselling. If 12 and above then no permission is required. Counselling sessions are confidential, usually weekly and not time limited to a certain amount of sessions.
Leaflet about the counselling service for pupils-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1StjpK156AkV_ummm7DLVTO9KURrHTNCI/view
Leaflet about counselling service for parents/carers-https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oqMjzVJOaz4GoQsMLN5gJSb-FF-uRgBP/view
A video explaining the Stirling school counselling service-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6mhoasbVcQ
Additional support
Together all (16+)-https://togetherall.com/en-gb/
Kooth (10+)-https://www.koothplc.com/
Professional Learning Opportunities
Freshers Fayre
Thanks to Fiona for orgnaising the Freshers Fayre and everyone for promoting their activties and supporting the S1s and S2s being out of class.
There is always a great buzz at the Freshers Fayre. A welcome addition were the challenge stations.
To get a flavour, have look through the pics on the left.
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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