All updates can now be found on our parent notice board – What’s happening at Balfron?https://padlet.com/bannatynee01s/z8o9ox6lju7fptgq

Working with the Parent Council, we have put together these FAQs. 09092021

Balfron High Contingency for 50% operation

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope that you are safe, well and able to enjoy some of this good weather.

Staff safe return to school

We are working towards staff being able to access the building again on 8th June to work from school where possible. Please do note that we have some colleagues who are shielding or self isolating and will continue to work from home.

S3 Curriculum

We have agreed that given the time we are going to lose, it is wise to have the S3 to start their N5 curriculum from August.  Mrs Short will lead this refined choice process.  For the month of June, S3 pupils will embark on the 9 subjects that they chose and move to 5 in August (as well as English and maths). This will give pupils a short time to experience subjects before making a decision. We appreciate this will not provide as rich an S3 experience but believe it is expedient in the circumstances.

Google Classroom

Next week, new S2 will remain in the same classes unless told specifically by their teachers.

New S3 pupils should log into Google Classrooms linked to new courses.  English and maths will stay broadly the same for now.  I have attached the codes for your info and will post them on the school website and in the Show My Homework notifications.

ICT 

To support blended learning, the Council vision  is that S1-3 will have Chromebooks and the infrastructure will be updated so that S4-6 can bring their own device.  This will mean, in theory, that every child should have their own device to use for learning in school and at home.  Please could I have your help to identify how many S4-6 students may not have access to an appropriate device and would ask you to complete this very brief survey https://forms.gle/v9kJfoj8hazvpnFa7

Return in August

We are working hard behind the scenes planning for the safe return of young people on August 11th.  There is no doubt that this will look quite different to ‘normal’ and will offer pupils a blend of some face to face in class learning in smaller groups and continued home learning. As you can imagine, there are many issues to work through from curriculum to transport while keeping everyone’s safety in sharp focus. The numbers that can safely travel by bus is limited.  With that in mind, I know some people may be able to bring drop their children at school.  To help us with planning , please could you indicate on this survey if you would be able to transport your child to and from school or if your child depends on the bus service https://forms.gle/zUetrG8azizjRtBv5

Staffing

Congratulations to Mr Blair who has secured a post at Linlithgow Academy from August. We will really miss him but wish him the very best of luck, health and happiness. His English post will be advertised imminently. It is great that Ms McKeown will be back from maternity leave – I know the team will be delighted. Mrs Fernie is moving to PT Pastoral role with responsibility for stage 3 and 4 pupils.  A new PT ASN/Support for Learning post will be advertised shortly.  I hope to have this appointed for August along with the English post.  I am grateful to Clair Miller for her great work as acting PT Expressive Arts.  This acting post will be extended into the new session.

SQA Estimates

The SQA estimates deadline was last week and I am really pleased with the work teaching staff and the leadership team have done.  We have analysed the data from a whole school, subject and pupil perspective. I believe that we are absolutely in line with expectation and patterns and hope that when the time comes in August, I will be able to share a positive picture.

And finally…

Thanks to those of you who took part in the Balfron-a-thon.  There was a nice buzz among the community.  It was great to see pupils and staff in pictures and videos and fantastic to raise money for our partner charity.

Very best wishes to you all,

Elaine Bannatyne

7/5/2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this email finds you and your family safe and well.  I am keen to provide an update to share some new information and address some questions that have come in to us.

Firstly tomorrow, Friday 8th May, is a holiday!  It is a good time for our learners and staff to take a break. I have asked staff to avoid posting on Show My Homework or Google Classroom.  I hope that helps everyone.

New timetable

• The new timetable will start for National Qualification courses (new S4-6) on Monday 11th May.
• Mrs Short has been making contact with individual pupils to ensure that appropriate changes have been made where necessary.  She is available via email (copied-in). If our child needs confirmation of courses, please ask them to email her directly.
• SQA results will be out to pupils on 4th August.
• Please note that, all going well, the leadership team plan to be available on the 5th August after the SQA results have been awarded to pupils, should further changes be necessary.
• The new timetable for current S1 and S2 pupils will begin on 1st June. More info to follow nearer the time

Face to face classes

• I am afraid we are not currently in a position to offer face to face learning & teaching.  Nationally and locally there are issues relating to safeguarding of young people and finding a safe IT platform.  This  needs to be addressed and agreed before we can proceed.  If there are are any developments to this, I will let you know. In the mean time, we will use Show My Homework, Glow and Google Classroom for learning.  We are posting general ideas, information and successes on Twitter and Instagram.

 

Prefects

S5 pupils have been invited to apply for prefectship and other senior positions.  There is a link on the page on school website here: Prefects

Mindful May

In partnership with Back Onside, we have launched the ‘Mindful May Challenge’ on Twitter and Instagram for our pupils.  We recognise the importance of well being, particularly at this very challenging time.

We will be promoting all aspects of positive mental health and strategies to support it Mindful May Challenge

And finally, 

I hope this Hello message from some of the staff brings a smile to your face.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help or support in any way.

Very best wishes,

Elaine Bannatyne

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this email finds you and your family healthy and safe and you are adapting as well as possible to these strange new times.  I appreciate that each family has different circumstances and priorities and that it may be more difficult for some of our pupils to access of the home learning tasks given.

I have attached updated versions of our FAQs for S1-3 and S4-6.  The new information has been highlighted so that you can find it easily.

We have had a number of emails from parents regarding the work set.  Some pupils (S1-3) have found the quantity of work overwhelming while others have got through it quickly.  I would like to reassure you that we all appreciate that circumstances and needs differ and we do not want to add to anxiety at an already unsettled time. Where learners feel overwhelmed, please reassure them that that we understand.  We do not have the same expectations of every student. The activities that we post on-line are there to support learners and families and should not be a burden. The health and wellbeing of our young people is a key priority at this time. We are working hard to strike the balance between supporting wellbeing and learning.

Regardless of the stage of your child, I have asked staff to post all information through Show My Homework so that you can use your pin to access the tasks given.  We are also monitoring pupil log-ins to help us understand engagement rates.  As a school, part of our job is to make sure that everyone is safe.  If your child has not logged in to Show My Homework, please let us know that they are safe.  It is most likely that we have been, or will be, in touch by phone if this is the case.

I am aware that the circumstances have impacted some parents‘ ability to work.  Please remember that there is provision to support those whose income has been affected. Here is the link to Stirling Council’s free meals and Education maintenance Allowance: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/learning-education/schools/school-meals-uniforms/school-uniforms-free-meals-ema/  I would urge you to apply if your circumstances have changed.

The teaching staff provide work for all pupils daily.  Please continue to encourage your child to engage as appropriate.  They should log-in for some time each day where possible.  S1 and S2 pupils will continue with courses until the timetable changes on June 1st.  They will then become S2 and S3 pupils respectively.  We will give details on what these changes mean nearer the time.

The new National Qualification courses will start officially on May 11th for current S3-5.  Please be aware that Show My Homework will not be updated until 1 June due to our Management Information System change date.  Teachers will invite pupils to sign into new Google Classrooms from 11 May.  Please note that these may not be your child’s teacher longterm.

We wish our outgoing S6 very best wishes on their next chapter.  They have been a fantastic year group who have a very bright future.  We would really like to bring them back together when we are able to do so safely – watch this space!   As outlined in the FAQ, we are here to help with any transition issues and happy to talk through any concerns and provide advice.

As you know, teaching staff are working hard following SQA guidelines to put together estimates for the SQA. This process will be completed and submitted by 29 May.  Please note that we are not in a position to share estimates at this stage.

Here is a link to the latest information from the SQA for learners: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/41266.html

Here is a link to the latest information from the SQA for parents: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/93825.html

I want to reassure you that teaching staff have been posting tasks on Show My Homework and Google Classroom for our students.  We are very keen to provide continuity to learning as well as we possibly can.  It is important that our young people take advantage of this.

I am aware that the amount of work being posted may seem overwhelming to some of our young people.  I have asked teaching staff to ensure that there is enough appropriate curricular work to help young people stay focused and to progress with learning. All of our young people have different needs and can access resources as required.  Teachers will provide feedback and guidance when pupils engage with materials.

Temporary Scholar guest account for S3 learners