Dear colleagues,

As we approach the end of a busy and successful first term, I would like to thank you for your fantastic and unwavering commitment to our young people and school community. I can see clearly that we are well on our way to recovering our positive and inclusive school ethos of achievement and attainment after the inevitable negative effects of pandemic. As the BM often highlights, our young people have great teaching, amazing opportunities and well intentioned and caring adults to help navigate their education and the challenges of their teenage years. Thank you.

It's Challenge Poverty Week. Led by Modern Studies students, this will be the focus of assemblies throughout the week. We agreed that Friday should not be a non uniform day. The reason for this is that we felt it would undermine the message about the costs of the school day that some young people and their families face. Please join us in encouraging those who can, to bring a donation for Start Up Stirling and the Balfron Larder on Friday.

There is likely to be a bit of disruption on Tuesday as we run the inter-house swimming gala. Many young people are involved. Please bear with us. We are delighted that Ross Murdoch, former pupil and Commonwealth 2014 and 2022 medal winner and 2016 gold European medal winner, will be with us. You will see some new graphics on the swimming pool. We hope that celebrating and highlighting Ross's success will motivate and inspire current and future pupils at balfron High. We are hoping to formally brand our pool, The Ross Murdoch Swimming Pool.

Last week, sixteen S4 pupils participated in and welcomed the opportunities presented in the Columba 1400 Leadership Academy. It was humbling to see them embrace the principles of values based leadership, engage positively and fully with the activities, discsussion and challenges. It reinforced that in the right environment with time set aside, with the support of committed adults, young people can achieve beyond our expectations.

I am very grateful to Andrew and David for joining the group on the trip to Skye. Both were inspiring role models and massive supports throughout. It is hard to describe the particular brand of magic that Columba 1400 offers, but what is clear is guiding principles of warmth of welcome, warmth of hospitality and the warmth of the sense of being on a shared journey are critical factors in creating something very special.

Our Columba graduates have created a plan for a project to address some of the unkindness that we have seen and addressed in school. Watch this space...

As always, thanks for your hard work and professionalism. Have a fantastic holiday when it comes.

Meanwhile, have a great week.

Elaine