Remembering Queen Elizabeth II
On the 21st September Mr McNeil, along with some pupils and staff, planted a rose to commemorate the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
S4 Prelim Exams
On the 21st November 2022 our S4 year group will undertake their Prelim Exams. A copy of the Prelim timetable has been shared with pupils and staff. A copy is also available below.
Study Support in S4-6
After the October break a number of departments will be offering supported study sessions. In addition, there will be a general study session available for all learners each Thursday in the Info-Centre from 1545 - 1700. Below is out list of study sessions on offer.
*Please note that all these sessions are subject to change over the year but teachers will ensure they update learners on these.
Dates for the diary
Thursday, 27 October - S4 Parents' Evening (Virtual)
Tuesday, 8 November - Parent Voice Meeting (2)
Friday, 18 November - Inset Day 3
Monday, 21 November - S4 Prelims begin (2 weeks)
Thursday, 24 November - S5/6 Parents' Evening (Virtual)
Tuesday, 6 December - S3 Parents' Evening (Virtual)
Monday, 12 December - S1 Parents' Evening (Virtual)
LNER Customer & Community Investment Fund
We’ve been shortlisted as part of LNER’s Customer and Community Investment Fund. Please vote for Nature & Nurture under the Education and Employability theme using the following link - https://bit.ly/3RNx77X
Advanced Higher Modern Studies Trip to HMP Perth
On Tuesday 20th September the Advanced Higher Modern Studies Class went to visit HMP Perth. We met with Richard Coupe, Head of Operations, and Glenn Miller, one of the Managers, who showed us around the prison. We were taken through the visitor area to experience a prison visit from their perspective and were also taken through reception where the prisoners are admitted. We were shown the different cell types; single cell, double cell and a safe cell. It was interesting to be able to ask prisoners questions and have discussions with them. They told us how prison had impacted their personal life, rehabilitation and their outlook on the future. Next we got to see the bricklaying workshop where prisoners can gain skills and qualifications that can improve their life on release. We also visited the prison radio station and had great conversations with the prisoners who were preparing material. We then had a final chat with Richard and Glenn to reflect on the experience and learn about how they are trying to improvement the prison experience. It was great to have the opportunity to visit a prison and the information we gained is invaluable for our course.
Quadcopter Challenge
The team is called ERA 1723 and is made up of 4 S2 students. So far we have passed phase 1, competing against 11 schools to make it to the regional finals. If we are successful at the regional finals we will go ahead to the UK finals, down in England.
The theme this year is Sustainability and specifically our team is designing and building a prototype quadcopter (drone) to help combat against animal poaching in Africa. The quadcopter challenge is UK wide and organised by Raytheon Technologies, one of our DYW partner
Practical Woodwork - Outdoor Learning
Our S3 Practical Woodwork class have been out and about in the Beveridge park looking at different types of trees and learning about how their timber for class is prepared.
Bell Construction Link
On Tuesday 6th September the Design and Technology department welcomed Kirsty Doherty who is the community engagement officer from Bell. Uk into school. Kirsty spoke with 60 of our senior pupils about the range of apprenticeships they offer and the opportunities available.
She was able to talk them through the recruitment process and they also heard from Liam who is 2 years into his painting and decorating apprentice.
The pupils had lots of questions for Kirsty and Liam and felt the presentation was informative, many have already expressed an interest in pursuing a career through the apprenticeship scheme.
Any enquires on how we can support our pupils with the apprenticeship scheme please ask the Design and Technology department!
Pupil Support Update
Pupil Support have been bramble picking from our own Balwearie bushes and learning how to stew the fruit. Our Healthy Breakfast group have also been exploring different healthy options such as tomato and egg wraps and banana pancakes.
Drama Trip to James IV: Queen of the Fight
A group of National Qualification pupils attended the Festival Theatre on 4th October to see this production about a little-known period of Scottish royal history which is getting exciting reviews and promises to be visually spectacular.
Sports Update
Congratulations to S2 pupil, Eva Holburn-White, who was selected to represent Scotland in the U14 Home Internationals Basketball Tournament
Adam Lee S2 finished a credible 9th place in the recent Alfred Dunhill Schools Golf Competition. This was a multi-regional event played on the Dukes course, St Andrews. Adam commented that, while he thought the course was challenging, he had thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
Parent Voice
On 7th September we held an open evening and Parent Voice AGM event. It was attended by around 100 parents along with some your people. Parents were treated to a tour of the school by our senior prefect team and were invited to stay for the AGM meeting.
At the AGM our co-chairs, Louise and Josephine, signalled their intention to step down from their roles and we are hopeful that replacements can be appointed at our next meeting on 8th November. Gayle Thomson and Alexis Gilmour are also stepping down in their roles as secretary and treasurer as their children have now left Balwearie.
All the staff at Balwearie would like to thank Josephine, Louise, Gayle and Alexis for all their support during their time in their respective roles.
https://www.facebook.com/BalwearieParentVoice/
Introducing the Home Economics Department
We have a large Home Economics department at Balwearie High School, with four practical classrooms, five teachers and a food technician. We are very proud to teach a diverse range of subjects which include; Higher/N5 Health & Food Technology, N5 Practical Cake Craft, N5/N4 Practical Cookery, NPA Bakery as well as Food Tech in the BGE.
Across all our subjects our main aim is to promote health and wellbeing and help our students make informed decisions when it comes to their own health and the food they eat.
We use our curriculum to help engage our students and introduce them to the world of work through courses which link with local industry, exciting job and further education opportunities. Next year we hope to introduce new courses including Barista Skills level 5.
The nature of our department allows us to get involved in a lot of fundraising, we raise funds for Cash for Kids, Macmillan Cancer as well as funds for the school. We enjoy raising the profile of our department at school events where our students can showcase their talents and hospitality skills.
Over the last few years we have introduced ‘Balwearie Food Cam’, which offers free food (either cooked in the department, leftovers or food from the school canteen that can’t be used) We have a fridge that all pupils can access during the day if they are hungry or have forgotten their money, we can always help a rumbling tummy while helping us reduce our food waste.
We are a team who like to work together and play together and this year alone we have had; trip to the Royal Highland Show, department walks, karaoke, bingo, after work drinks and we all got dressed up for the school prom.
We like to celebrate the successes of our department and our team using our popular socials, follow us @Balweariefood on both Instagram and Twitter.
Mrs Farmer
Principal Teacher Home Economics
What made you want to be a Home Ec teacher?
I trained at QMU Edinburgh but after my degree I went to live in London and work as a Home Economist in industry; development chef for Tilda Rice, Home Economist for Nestle and worked freelance on numerous cookery books, cookery magazines preparing foods for photography. When I returned to Scotland I worked in Adult Education in a deprived area of Edinburgh and I really enjoyed teaching people how to cook, using basic ingredients but helping to improve the nutrition for their family. From there I knew I wanted to teach young people to cook and pass on my skills, passion and knowledge of food and nutrition.
If you weren't a Home Ec teacher what would you like to have been?
I would really like to have studied more and perhaps be a nutritionist, (still food related) helping support local communities with their diet. Either that or a food journalist for a travel magazine like Conde Nast.
What's been your most memorable food experience?
I have been very lucky to travel and I have many memorable food experiences, eating bugs in Thailand, Michelin Star dining at Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles and the Sunday buffet at Raffles Singapore but I’m equally happy eating local Scottish seafood which has been cooked on the BBQ.
Mrs Cura
Teacher of Home Economics
What made you want to be a Home Ec teacher?
I wanted to become a Home Economics as it was my favourite subject at school. I went on to Abertay University to study ‘Food, Nutrition & Health’. During the 3rd year you do a placement, I decided to try teaching (I’d never even thought about it before). I went to a school in Glasgow on a 10-week placement, I loved every minute. The pupils & staff were so welcoming, I knew this was my future.
If you weren't a Home Ec teacher what would you like to have been?
When I was in S2 I wanted to be either an occupational therapist or a prison officer. As I went through school this changed and I looked towards a career in nutrition as that was my big passion.
What's been your most memorable food experience?
My most memorable food experience is cooking Christmas dinner for my immediate family during Covid. We were meant to be going to my sisters but then my nephew got a text alert. So, we had to scrap it. My sister left a box of food on my door step and I then cooked Christmas lunch. I loved spending time with my boys & husband but I missed my extended family. I couldn’t wait to see everyone and celebrate in our usual way!
Miss Grigor
Teacher of Home Economics
What made you want to be a Home Ec teacher?
I have always been interested in nutrition and I spent most of my senior years at high school in the Home Economics Department either studying the different subjects they offered (Health and Food Technology, Lifestyle and Consumer Technology & Practical Cookery) or helping out in S1-3 classes. My Home Economics teachers at school inspired me to go to University to study nutrition further and pass on my knowledge and passion to future generations.
If you weren't a Home Ec teacher what would you like to have been?
I would have gone into Primary School Teaching if I wasn’t a Home Economics Teacher.
What's been your most memorable food experience?
I have two – the first one would be afternoon tea at the Balmoral in Edinburgh. Second would be an 8-course dinner menu at Michelin star restaurant ‘The Cellar’ in Anstruther.
Miss Wylie
Teacher of Home Economics
What made you want to be a Home Ec teacher?
I had a great Home Ec teacher when I was at school that inspired me, he was very supportive and knowledgeable about the subject. I completed a week work placement when in 4th year of high school and I chose my schools Home Ec department as my placement. I really enjoyed that week learning about what it takes to be a teacher and decided that’s what I wanted to do. I also had a keen interest in food and nutrition so knew that would be something I would enjoy continuing to learn about at university.
If you weren't a Home Ec teacher what would you like to have been?
Probably a professional organiser… I’m a tidy person.
What's been your most memorable food experience?
Eating pizza on the streets of Rome every day when I lived there during a university summer break. I lived and worked for an Italian family as an Au Pair looking after their 8-year-old girl.
Miss Martyn
Teacher of Home Economics
What made you want to be a Home Ec teacher?
I had wanted to be a primary school teacher when I was younger but when I went to secondary school Home Economics was the subject I enjoyed most. I found the food science so interesting and loved learning all about the different nutrients. I really enjoyed learning new cooking skills that I could take home and make things for my family. As I got older I wanted to be able to help others learn how to make good quality healthy food.
If you weren't a Home Ec teacher what would you like to have been?
If I didn’t move to Scotland, plan B leaving school was to go to catering college and then hopefully become a dessert chef. I’d have liked to open my own cake shop.
What's been your most memorable food experience?
I was raised on a farm so I've always grown-up eating food that I’ve grown and picked. One of my earliest memories of cooking and food is making rhubarb crumble with my mum using rhubarb from our garden. I used to make the crumble topping while she peeled and sliced the rhubarb. It was the very first recipe I learned to make and is still one of my favourite desserts.
When I finally got flour during the first lockdown in 2020 little mini rhubarb crumbles with Irish butter was the first thing I made.
Mrs Barrowman
Home Economics Technician
What’s the best thing about being a technician in the Home Ec Dept?
Kids walking out of class saying that the food they made is delicious.
What challenges do you face being a technician?
Making sure all food is ordered and in on time.
If you weren't a Home Ec Technician what would you like to have been?
I’m not sure, I have been a dinner lady working in the school canteen for 19 years and then I was head hunted to be a Home Ec Technician by the Headmaster at the time Mr Mackenzie.
What's been your most memorable food experience?
The last picnic that I went on with my mum to Silversands in Aberdour. We all had sandwiches and my brother arrived with a whole roast chicken and sat with it on a board on his knee and proceeded to eat it, this made us all laugh.
Credits:
Created with images by webandi - "calendar wall calendar days" • Hero Images/Hero Images - "View from behind of girls on soccer team."