Dear colleagues,

We have made it to the last week of a very busy and demanding term.  Thank you for the many wonderful activities you have delivered in addition to the great work that goes into every lesson. Please continue to share photos with me directly and on Twitter.  It is great to share practice, inspire others and celebrate what we are doing at Balfron High.  I was reflecting on our achievements this term and their impact.  Here is a quick mention of some highlights from just this term alone - so much work to be proud of:

• Masses of extra-curricular activity throughout term

• Glasgow Warriors Championship winners

• SMART with your smartphone - parent digital safety group 

• Paired Reading at Drymen Primary 

• Debating Success - Finalists in The Mace Competition & Law Society's Donald Dewar Competition

• Pupil led newsletter for pupils - 'What's Up Balfron?'

• Our first Burns Supper delivered by FA Hospitality pupils

• S3 Humanutopia 

• S3 Sports Leaders organising and supporting sport in primary schools

• 7 Cities Hydrogen Challenge (finalists)

• S1 Microtyco & S2 YPI

• New book club

• Character Caricature Competition

• New Fencing club

• Lab Science at Forth Valley College

• Higher Modern Studies trip to London

• S1 STEM Energy Quest Event

• Continued commitment to period equity, the Balfron Larder and targeted families

• S1 Good Food - cooking with targeted parents & pupils

• S2 Family Learning event

• Online sessions for parents supporting wellbeing, mobile phone use & mental health

• Male Mental Health Week & Back Onside assemblies

• S2 Boys Leadership Programme

• Modern Apprenticeship Week

• S3 Climate Ready Classrooms with Keep Scotland Beautiful in geography

• Science week with input from Science Centre, online lectures & in person experiments & dissections

• U18 Football Forth Valley League Champions

• Ethical Conduct review, assembly feedback, training and planning for next year

Inevitably, I will have missed many more activities - apologies.  Please know that I am very proud of our collective work and would like to thank you all. The commitment to rebuilding our ethos is there for all to see. 

It's not over yet!  On Monday evening Pam and Heather are running an online meeting for parents on memory skills and key techniques for successful revision.  

I am looking forward to the Spring Concert on Tuesday evening. Thanks to the Expressive team and music tutors for their time and effort with planning and rehearsals.

Friday is the last day of term.  It is a uniform as usual day. We are asking the community for donations for the larder to be brought in.  Please reinforce this to your form class.

Good luck and thank you to staff running the senior ski trip over the break. Thanks for giving up your holiday to do this. Looking forward to seeing and sharing the photos.

As always, thanks for all the important things that you are doing.  Know that you are making a positive difference. Have a great week and a wonderful holiday when it arrives.

Elaine