Balfron Matters
Monday 24 April 2023
Weekly communication for staff
Dear colleagues,
Thanks everyone for your hard work, commitment and care in supporting our senior pupils to prepare for their exams. I know many will be back in for more support and revision throughout the study leave. Please reinforce the message from Phil that pupils must sign-in and wear uniform when they are in the school.
Thanks also to all involved in the S6 Final Countdown in the morning and graduation on Thursday evening last week. It was the first in-person graduation that we have had since 2019 and it was a lovely event. Our S6 were a credit to themselves and us on Thursday and I am sad to see them go. The wide range of university, college courses, apprenticeships and gap years referred to was impressive. I received much positive feedback and thanks from parents that reflects the work of the school in its entirety. It is great to feel that we make a difference - thank you.
The majority of pupils will be sitting SQA exams in the Games Hall. This helps with logistics and means that we need to use fewer classrooms for exams with large numbers. Thanks to the PE team for reorganising and accommodating this - it is much appreciated by all involved.
We have an exciting week of sports finals. Our S2 pupils pupils will be competing in the regional indoor Sportshall finals on Tuesday. On the same day our S1/2 rugby boys and U14 girls will be competing in the Glasgow Warriors final at Scotstound. Well done and good luck to all involved.
Our final inservice day of the year is on Friday. The programme is below for your reference. We will provide cakes courtesy of Hilary on Friday for everyone.
Team meetings are scheduled on the collegiate calendar for this week. Please ensure that you are reviewing TIP and SIP work to date and updating the evaluation of work in our plans.
Have a great week.
Elaine
This week at Balfron High:
Mon: SQA Exams begin
H Photography & H PE
Tues: N5, H, AH Geography
Wed:
Thurs: N5, AH Biology, H Human Biology
Fri: Inservice Day - CfE provided
N5, H Spanish
N5, H Music Technology
Last week (and the week before) at Balfron
When people outside your walls know what you are doing, it gives value to those inside
Photos include:
Senior Ski trip to Pila
Dr Burns being presented with 'We Care' award
S1/2 Boys & U14 Girls Rugby Teams
The S6 'Final Countdown'
SIP 2022-23 Review and Priorities for 2023-24
Assembly Programme April- May 2023
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Inservice Day programme - Friday 28th April
Pedagogy resources
There has been loads of resources shared over the last few sessions in the Balfron Matters, and we would have had time to engage with all of it.
The Learning and Teaching padlet is where these resources are stored, and is updated regularly.
Catch up on areas of interest at times that suit you
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
Using ActiStudio & Flipcharts - an introduction - w/b 1 May
For all those who have never used it before but would like a go!
Sign up avaliable soon
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
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=/
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Teachers Guide to the BHS Study Planner - 3 min watch
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BHS senior study planner
e-sgoil weekly online supported study timetable
One portal to hold all information
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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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