Headteacher’s Update – 15th March

March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 / balernohighschool

Good afternoon,

It has been another busy week with many National 5 assignment being uplifted by SQA.

This week’s updates include:

S3 Entrepreneurial Attitudes Workshop
Communication feedback
S2 Course Choice
S4/5 leavers event
Pupil use of language when messaging each other
Additions to the padlet

S3 Entrepreneurial Attitudes Workshop

On Tuesday this week all S3 students had the opportunity to work with Live-N-Learn to recognise and develop entrepreneurial skills & qualities required to achieve success in and out of school.

They reflected on the life skills they have developed so far, what existing evidence they have which demonstrate these and what they can do to gain more evidence.

Students learnt the value of setbacks & resilience planning, whilst understanding the importance of incremental improvement, growth mindset, personal responsibility & grasping opportunities.

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education

Communication feedback

As we move into our next cycle of improvement planning it would be helpful to gather feedback on the weekly HT update email and the school padlet.

The form will only take a few minutes to complete, many thanks to those who completed this in the last week. https://forms.office.com/e/Pvd5HCw0c5

S2 Course Choice

A reminder that S2 course choices should be submitted by Sunday 17^th March.

Currently only 52% of S3 choices have been entered to the online portal.

You can refer to the Pathways document Pathways Document | Balerno High School (wordpress.com). This link also provides a video to support your navigation of the Pathways document.

If you have any questions please contact your child’s Pupil Support Leader who will be able to help.

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education

S4/5 Leavers Event

In order to help us plan for an event for pupils and families of S4/5 leavers, please ask your young person to ensure they have completed this link if they intend on leaving school in May 2024. S4/5 Leavers Form

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education

Use of language when messages friends

We are aware that there has been an increase in the number of reports of young people using inappropriate language that falls under a hate crime when texting their friends, examples have included racist comments.

Can I ask for your support in reminding your child/ren that this use of language is not acceptable on any level.

To report any concerns pupils can use the QR codes around the school or the link available on their year group TEAM, as always they can also approach their trusted adult and PSL.

The school will inform parents/carers if this language is reported and in the past this has resulted in pupils meeting the School Liaison Police Officer to highlight the serious nature of using their phones in this way.

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education, Article 2 No discrimination

Additions to the Padlet

Support for families section

Anti bullying leaflet for parents/carers

General Section

Senior Phase Immersion Timetable

‘Our Balerno Way’ – Communications Padlet

We hope you are finding the padlet available on the school website helpful Balerno High School | 0131 477 7788 (wordpress.com) Balerno Community High School (padlet.com). If you have any feedback it would be much appreciated so we can take this into account https://forms.office.com/e/hZv1jq46jU

I hope you have a restful weekend,

Ros Ranger

Head Teacher

Headteacher’s Update – 1st March

March 1, 2024March 1, 2024 / balernohighschool

Good afternoon,

I hope you have had a good week, it has been so nice to have some dry bright days.

As part of this week’s update we have the following information:

Parent Council meeting 4.8.24
S2 course choice
Balerno Times – February edition
Reminder of collection for Community for Food
Reminder of collection for Edinburgh Women’s Aid – International Women’s Day
Additions to the padlet

Parent Council meeting 4.8.24

We would be delighted to welcome you to our meeting on Monday evening. It starts at 18:30 in the LRC. Please refer to the email you received earlier this week for details.

S2 Course Choice

Parents and carers of S2 pupils will have received an email yesterday with the subjects and log-in information to upload course choices for next year.

Please discuss the subject options with your child and submit these by Sunday 17^th March.

You can refer to the Pathways document Pathways Document | Balerno High School (wordpress.com). This link also provides a video to support your navigation of the Pathways document.

If you have any questions please contact your child’s Pupil Support Leader who will be able to help.

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education

Balerno Times – February bitesize edition

The Balerno Times Team have their next edition ready for you to read https://balernochs.wordpress.com/2024/02/23/balerno-times-february-edition/

Included in this issue:

Holocaust Memorial Day – Fragility of Freedom
RRSA groups from other City of Edinburgh Schools visit to Balerno High School
The honest guide to National 5 exams
Valentine messages
Book of the Month
Movie of the Month
The hockey report
Fashion at the Grammy Awards

And of course, Mr Hamilton’s joke of the month!

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education, Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts

Reminder of collection for Community for Food

The S4 Employability Group are organising a collection for Community for Food. They are a local food bank that support the delivery of food packages to families who have pupils attending schools within our locality. They opened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and having been improving people’s lives ever since. More information can be found at https://communityforfood.com/. You can donate food to the front reception with Mrs Louden, up to Wednesday 13^th March 2024.

You can bring the following items:

Canned food, such as beans, soup, vegetables and fruit.
Dried food, such as pasta, rice, noodles, crackers and biscuits
Sauce Jars e.g. – pasta sauce, pesto, olives and sun-dried tomatoes

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education, Article 24 Health, Food, Water , Environment, Article 26 Social and Economic Help

Reminder of collection for Edinburgh Women’s Aid – International Women’s Day

Following a successful collection last year, this year for International Women’s Day, we wanted to help women in our local community again. Joint research carried out by Scottish Women’s Aid and Refuge shows that 1 in 4 of UK women will suffer from some form of domestic abuse. We are collecting items to send to Edinburgh Women’s Aid who provide safe, temporary accommodation for women who have experienced domestic abuse. We are looking for donations of the following items. Due to hygiene reasons, these must be new items and not used or old ones.

Shampoo
Shower Gel
Conditioner
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Facial wipes
Face cleansing products
Face creams

Deodorant
Makeup
Body cream
Dry shampoo
Baby toiletries: bath gel,
cream (not nappies as they’re too bulky
and we can’t store them)

Please drop off any donations to Mrs Louden at reception by Friday 8^th March 2024. Thank you for anything you can donate.

The Equalities Team

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education, Article 24 Health, Food, Water , Environment, Article 26 Social and Economic Help

Additions to the Padlet

Celebrating success:

The link for the February bitesize edition of the Balerno Times is available.

‘Our Balerno Way’ – Communications Padlet

We hope you are finding the padlet available on the school website helpful Balerno High School | 0131 477 7788 (wordpress.com) Balerno Community High School (padlet.com) If you have any feedback it would be much appreciated so we can take this into account https://forms.office.com/e/hZv1jq46jU

Kind regards,

Ros Ranger

Head Teacher

Headteacher’s Update – 23rd February

February 23, 2024February 23, 2024 / balernohighschool

Good afternoon,

I hope you have had a good week and managed to find some time to enjoy the February break.

As part of this week’s update we have the following information:

S2 Course Choice
Collection for Community for Food
Collection for Edinburgh Women’s Aid – International Women’s Day
Padlet updates

S2 Course Choice

S2 students will meet with their PSL next week to discuss coursing for 2024/25.

You will have received an email with information earlier this week.

S3 includes English, Maths, Science, Social Subjects, Core PE, PSE and RMPS with personalisation and choice coming through the four additional subjects which pupils select.

Please refer to the Pathways document Pathways Document | Balerno High School (wordpress.com). This link also provides a video to support your navigation of the Pathways document.

If you have any questions please contact your child’s Pupil Support Leader.

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education

Collection for Community for Food

You can bring the following items:

• Canned food, such as beans, soup, vegetables and fruit.

• Dried food, such as pasta, rice, noodles, crackers and biscuits

• Sauce Jars e.g. – pasta sauce, pesto, olives and sun-dried tomatoes

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education, Article 24 Health, Food, Water , Environment, Article 26 Social and Economic Help

Collection for Edinburgh Women’s Aid – International Women’s Day

Following a successful collection last year, this year for International Women’s Day, we wanted to help women in our local community again. Joint research carried out by Scottish Women’s Aid and Refuge shows that 1 in 4 of UK women will suffer from some form of domestic abuse. We are collecting items to send to Edinburgh Women’s Aid who provide safe, temporary accommodation for women who have experienced domestic abuse. We are looking for donations of the following items. Due to hygiene reasons, these must be new items and not used or old ones.

Shampoo
Shower Gel
Conditioner
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Facial wipes
Face cleansing products
Face creams

Deodorant
Makeup
Body cream
Dry shampoo
Baby toiletries: bath gel, cream
(not nappies as they’re too bulky
and we can’t store them)

Please drop off any donations to Mrs Louden at reception by Friday 8^th March 2024. Thank you for anything you can donate.

The Equalities Team

UNCRC Article 28 Aims of Education, Article 24 Health, Food, Water , Environment, Article 26 Social and Economic Help

Additions to the Padlet

General Information:

RRSA Sway with February’s Article of the Month. Article 38, Protection from War

‘Our Balerno Way’ – Communications Padlet

We hope you are finding the padlet available on the school website helpful Balerno High School | 0131 477 7788 (wordpress.com) Balerno Community High School (padlet.com)

If you have any feedback it would be much appreciated so we can take this into account https://forms.office.com/e/hZv1jq46jU

Kind regards,

Ros Ranger

Head Teacher

Parent’s and Carer’s News

May 19, 2023 / balernohighschool

Good morning,

I hope your week has gone well, here are this week’s updates.

Included in this communication:

Holiday Monday
S1-S3 Sponsored Walk
S1-S3 Activity Days

Monday 22^nd May

Just a reminder that Monday is a school holiday for S1-S3, pupils should return on Tuesday 23^rd May at 08:30. Pupils sitting their N5 Practical Cookery SQA exam on 22^nd May should be aware Mrs Anderson will be in school if they have any questions.

Activity Days S1-S3

I have now met with all pupils who have requested a change to an activity. ParentPay is currently being updated to reflect these changes. If you are unable to access ParentPay for the activity your child has been allocated please contact the Main Office who can help you. Also, if you child would still like to make a change they must see me on Wednesday 24^th May as no changes can be processed after this date.

UNCRC Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture and Arts

‘Our Balerno Way’ – Communications Padlet

Kind regards,

Ros Ranger

Parent’s & Carer’s News

May 12, 2023 / balernohighschool

Good morning,

I hope you have had a good week, here are this week’s updates.

Included in this communication:

Sponsored walk S1-S3
Activity Days S1-S3
S1 Social Subjects trip
School uniform
School Communication
S6 Induction

Activity Days S1-S3

S1-S3 pupils have now received their activity information for the 30^th and 31^st May. Activities off-site are all full, so changes are not possible at this stage. For any young person who would like to amend a choice the option would be school based and allocated on the actual day. For any young person who would want to do this they should pop in to see me by the end of the day Tuesday 16^th. All pupils will meet the staff taking the activities on Wednesday morning next week to receive more specific trip information. Excursions with charges will be available on ParentPay later today.

UNCRC Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture and Arts

S1 Social Subjects trip

The S1 pupils were a credit to the school this week while they were out on their excursion, I hope they enjoyed their day out learning about Scottish History and Scotland over time.

UNCRC Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture and Arts

School uniform

I hope you have had the opportunity to read the email about the updated school uniform.

As shared in the email, if you have any questions or need clarity please complete this Form by 26th May and we will create a FAQ which we will share with you by mid-June.

Also if your young person requires any bespoke uniform requirements owing to medical or additional support needs, please make contact with their Pupil Support Leader so they can discuss and make staff aware. Any current arrangements in place will continue to be in place in August if appropriate.

Finally, the Parent Council are going to start collecting second hand blazers and school branded sportswear. If you have any items you would like to donate these can be handed into the school reception. Donated items will be available for sale before the end of the school year for those who want a pre-loved option.

UNCRC Article 29 goals of education, Article 2 No Discrimination, Article 26 Social and Economic Help

School Communication

We want to make you aware that it has come to our attention that some young people are blocking the school number on their parent/carers phone so the phone does not receive school attendance texts as they do not come from the main school number. We ask that you check that you can receive these messages, the number is 07860029539 or ##7860029539. Depending on your phone you should access settings, messages, filter unknown senders or blocked contacts. Many thanks for your support with this matter.

UNCRC Article 18

S6 Induction

For young people currently in S5, just a reminder that the S6 Induction day is the morning Friday 2^nd June 2023.

UNCRC Article 29 Aims of education

‘Our Balerno Way’ – Communications Padlet

We hope you are finding the Padlet available on the school website helpful Balerno High School | 0131 477 7788 (wordpress.com) Balerno Community High School (padlet.com) If you have any feedback it would be much appreciated so we can take this into account.

Wishing you a restful weekend.

Kind regards,

Ros Ranger

Immunisation Info

February 19, 2020 / balbulletin

HPV – Immunisation

The Community Vaccination Team will be in school on 23^rd March 2020 to administer the HPV vaccination to all S1 girls and boys and the second phase vaccination to S2 girls only.

All S1 pupils have received a consent form today. Please can this be completed and returned to the school office no later than Friday 28^th February.

S2 girls already completed consent forms last year.

HPV Vaccinations

March 27, 2019 / donnamckean

HPV Vaccination – S1 & S2

The NHS Vaccination Team will be in school on Wednesday 4^th April to administer the HPV vaccination. Please can you ensure your daughter is wearing either a short sleeved school shirt or a t-shirt under their school shirt to enable the vaccination team to access their arm easily.