Headteacher Key Information Update
What a start to the year we've had! Please find a few updates about our news and life in school during January.
Staffing Update
- Miss Thomson safely welcomed a baby boy, Brodie, at the start of the month. Mum and baby doing very well.
- Miss Martyn (Home Economics) has taken up her temporary Principal Teacher of Guidance for Grange House post.
Prelim Diet 2
We're nearing the end of our second prelim diet. Final dates below. The recent closure due to the storm meant we had to make a few changes to the diet. S5/6 National 5 Mathematics now takes place on the morning of Tuesday 4 February with Higher Spanish Reading & Writing moving to the afternoon. Higher Spanish Listening assessment will now take place on the morning of Wednesday 5 February.
S1 Pupils - Change to Lunchtime Arrangements
A reminder that S1 pupils are now permitted to leave the school grounds over lunchtime (13.10 - 13.50) if they wish. Pupils should remember they are representing the school when they are out in the community and should therefore be responsible with regards to conduct, disposing of litter and practising good timekeeping to ensure they are not late to class Period 6 (13.50). Pupils should remain in the school grounds over break time.
School Uniform Orders - supplier info
Many of you will remember the shop on Kirkcaldy High Street who sold our school ties, blazers and a range of other school wear items. The shop is now closed but BE Uniforms still operate online.
The website is https://www.border-embroideries.co.uk
You can order our half-zip tops by following the link below which is also on our website (this is a different supplier)
Parent/Carer Feedback Opportunities
Merit/Demerit System
The Promoting Positive Relationships working group are hoping to gather some opinions and viewpoints from parents/carers about the use of the current Merits/Demerits system. We are hoping to make some changes and updates to the system to ensure that there is clarity amongst pupils and parents/carers about how the system is used. The current system informs parents when young people are praised for their learning and inform parents/carers of times when young people have not upheld our school values or acted responsibly. Any feedback and viewpoints would be greatly appreciated to help us enhance and develop the system to improve outcomes for young people and make sure you are getting the information that is most helpful for you in supporting your child(ren). Please complete the survey by clicking the link below which will remain open for another week.
Mobile Phone Use in School
We're moving into our pupil voice consultation phase this term and will shortly, during PSE, be giving all learners the opportunity to comment on their use of mobiles in school, the impact this has on their learning and wellbeing and what they think should be included in our future policy. We'll be asking parents/carers in due course too.
HT Update Feedback
You can always feed back about anything in the HT updates by using the link at the bottom of the update.
What's happening across the school?
Polar Academy
Further to my last update, we will have our Polar Academy information assemblies on Friday 7 February. All pupils in S2 - S5 will hear from the Polar Academy team about the opportunity and will have a chance to put their name forward for consideration. You can find out more about the Polar Academy programme here.
Charity Work
Our MVP donations at the end of last term meant that we could donate £450 to Fife Rape And Sexual Assault Centre (FRASAC) and £450 to Fife Women's Aid.
Our S6 superstars - Anna and Beth - raised £165.50 by organising a staff tombola and raffle which they have decided to donate to The Yard, Fife. They hope this will go towards supporting families in our area to access the support.
Our Festive Jumper Day raised over £200 for Kirkcaldy Food Bank.
Our Staff Christmas Bauble fundraising initiative raised over £500 which will be donated to Ward 34 - Chemotherapy Day Unit, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Fife Festival of Music
As always, we're incredibly proud to have around 130 young people participating in this series of performances again. You can find the programme for the festival here.
Thanks to all our brilliant instrumental teachers and class teachers who work so hard with our young people to prepare them for these events, and to our young people themselves for demonstrating such confidence, commitment and leadership. Thanks, also, to our families who support at home - it's a huge team effort!
P7 Transition Ceilidh
We loved welcoming lots of our future S1 pupils to join us for our Transition Ceilidh event again this week. They were a fantastic bunch and we are certain they will be a great S1 group when they come up to Balwearie High School in the next few months.
College Hospitality Takeover Day - 29 January 2025
Some of our hospitality learners in S3 attended a day at Fife College to take over! They had a fantastic experience and learned about different roles and skills in the hospitality sector.
S3 Netball Success against Fettes College - 28.1.25
The girls did Balwearie proud - they not only won the closest match ever but they did it under difficult circumstances and managed to remain calm, polite and determined. The final score after a full 1 hour match and then 10 mins extra time was Balwearie 36 v Fettes 34.
Next meeting is on Monday 10 February, 7pm in the Information Centre - all welcome to attend
Previous meeting minutes are available to read here.
If you would like to support and sign up for the lottery - click here
If you would like to find out more about the Parent & Carer Voice - click here
If you'd like to leave any feedback related to this update, please use the form below.