Balfron Matters 


Monday 27 February 2023

 Weekly communication for staff 

Dear colleagues,

I hope that you have had a great weekend and enjoyed some improved weather. Please note that I am out of school on an inspection most of this week and will not be able to pick up emails. The DHTs will be available throughout the week.

To help with our improvement planning, there are three school surveys for your consideration. Both will close at the end of this week for analysis.  Alistair Campbell asked me to share a Network Evaluation:

Please could Form Class Leaders ask young people to complete the pupil Ethical Survey in Form Time, if they have not already. Pupils need to be signed into their Stirlingschools account to be able to access the survey.

Thanks to everyone for your efforts in reinforcing uniform and general standards.  I know how frustrating and challenging this has been and very much appreciate your support.  It has been worth it.  I see an improvement already.  In an effort to get parents support, I sent an email reinforcing our expectations on Friday to all parents/carers. I forwarded this to you for information. 

Please stick with the consistent message to our young people:

Thanks to those of you who are able to help with the Supervision Rota.  The more of us the better particularly at the start and end of break and lunch. If you can help contribute to this please add your availability. If you are no longer available, please remove your name. Hilary is happy to provide a snack or lunch to those on duty. 

Thanks to David and Nicola for their input in assemblies last week.  Both spoke really well.  I have been chatting with young people at breaks about their mobile phone screen time. The range is really interesting.  Please get behind #MobileMarch and World Book Day (2 March).

Have a great week.

Elaine

This week at Balfron High:

S4/5 course choice meetings

Team Meetings


Mon: Lomond House Assembly

S3 DofEd Meeting (period 1)


Tues: School closed to pupils


Wed: School closed to pupils


Thurs: Campsie House Assembly

H Modern Studies London trip 


Fri: Endrick House Assembly 

S2 Tracking due

CfE: Flexible Learning

Last week at Balfron

When people outside your walls know what you are doing, it gives value to those inside.

Photos from the last week include: Creative Writing Workshop with author Kirsty Logan; new library books; FA hospitality students providing breakfast rolls for staff on Friday morning; new fencing club; pics from Shrove Tuesday; pics from the Glasgow Warriors Championships.

Thanks everyone!

Inservice Days - Reminders & Evaluation


Please take a few minutes to give some feedback on the inservice days.  This will help us focus on and shape improvement.  Google form on the right. The presentations can be accessed below and can also be found in the staff google drive.

Inset 3 Meeting 13/2/23
Inservice ASN Presentation.pptx
Curriculum DB.pptx
Copy of Nurture Inservice Day 13th Feb2023

10 mins Pedagogy Power up


This Week:

Working memory and managing the cognitive load


Main takeaways from in service:



Next week:

Responsive teaching strategies


 CLPL opportunities

In house CLPL

Upcoming Voluntary Offers:


Increasing Challenge


Adaptive teaching using the working memory model


Promoting positive behaviour


April Inservice

Moving information into Long Term Memory

External CLPL


BHS Professional Learning Notice board. 

Search. Click. Book


**Check out the update schedule from Education Scotland**

Subject resource training with Scholar


Find out how to the most of this amazing online learning resource

both in the classroom and at home.


SCHOLAR Webinar Programme January-June 2023.pdf

Powering up our seniors for successful studying

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

Pupil Council Meetings

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

One portal to hold all information

ERP MyPortal.pdf

 Calendar 2022-23

23 February S4 Parents meeting (online)

28 February Pupil Council

2 March Higher Modern Studies London trip

6 March D of Ed BAG Meeting, 7pm

7 March Parent Council meeting, 7pm

8 March S5/6 Parents Meeting (online)

10 March Non Unifrom Day (back on Side)

Boys Mental Health Day

13 March Climate Ready Classrooms (geography)

Science Week

15 March Pupil Council

16 March S3 Bronze D of Ed session, 7pm

22 March Insight visit (Lewis Paterson)

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. 

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